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Nothing wrong with the 7x65R in my mind. I use mine on everything from Roe Deer to big Red Stags. I have a 16/7x65R over and under cobination gun built in Ferlach a J Hambrusch. I will quite happily take a shot at 200yds provided I have a good steady rest - eg a back pack. On stags - 173gn RWS bullet goes straight through giving a good wound channel - its doing 2750fps at the muzzle, yet on Roe I use a handloaded 139g Hornady bullet at c2650 fps - nice and mild. And when I go to Africa, it will be with me. Its very accurate if I do my bit.

One comment, based on my experience with the above gun, is that they are a little more difficult to shoot accurately than a bolt gun. This is more to do with their handing than anything else. Double rifles tend to have the weight between the hands, and are stocked for shooting from a standing position. It means that they handle beautifully and quick onto target.

A bolt action, especially a heavy barreled one (or with a moderator stuck on the end) has a lot more weight out forward, making them a little easier to shoot accurately over a long range. This is not an issue, but you must plan accordingly - I am always looking for good solid field rests on which to rest my pack and it very quickly becomes instinctive.

A double / combination gun also needs to be held firmly, front hand on the forend etc.

You also have to bear in mind that with most doubles / combination guns, the barrels are soldered together, and hence when a shot goes off, the barrel heats and expands and will bend towards the soldered barrel.

In practice I find shot number one from cold barrel goes to point of aim. A second quick shot (ie a quick reload and fire) goes an inch high, 3rd shot is two or three inches high. Bear in mind on combination gun I have just one rifled barrel, on a double, the 2nd barrel will counter this effect, and the barrels themselves are thin and cool very quickly. In practice this is not an issue. The first stag I did shoot with this rifle took three shots - heart / lung shot - first shot he showed no reaction, second shot he slightly wobbled, third shot he went down. Total time - 20 seconds - I was disgusted with my shooting until I grolloched him - all three shots were good killing shots within an inch or so of each other, all three had gone through the heart / lungs and actually the first shot would have been enough. He just hadn't read what he should do with a 173gn Brenneke bullet through the heart and lungs. He did n't know I was there. Most other deer I have shot either drop to the spot and kick for a few seconds, or run ten to fifteen yds and fall down dead.

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