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The article in itself really only covers a portion of the process when using doubles or bolts. The article is talking of the process required to fire two aimed (effective) shots and is not talking of charging animals specifically. Like DV, many of us will have used or still use doubles for gamebird shooting and this style of gun is almost exclusive on the clay target field so there is likely a vast amount of experience amongst shooters who post here on using this type of firearm. As we know the success of using this style of quick pointing and shooting gun which comes into its own for game bird shooting and clay target shooting in terms of speed of firing two effective shots, is its fit to the shooter and pointability exactly the same as required for a double rifle.

I fully concur than under most circumstances the double rifle (not necessarily the user of it) is capable of firing two effective shots on game faster than perhaps any other firearm type including I might add, a semi-auto.

But all this is only half the story as once the double shooter has discharged his two shots he is then faced with reloading his gun, and those of use who use this style of gun on game birds or running game will know, this is not an easy task if doing it on the run when trying to keep tabs on the game and watch where one is running or moving. On DG invariably where the animal is not down and out with the first shot and often the second has been fired quickly after the first, then the PH is grabbing or urging the shooter to get into another position to shoot again. From my observation of video shot in the field (forget trials on the range) the reloading of a double is difficult if trying to move at the same time, most often the shooter stands and reloads and then has to catch up or follows the PH with an empty gun and then reloads or maybe has managed to reload on the run usually lagging behind the PH while he accomplishes the task, all the time he is not watching the game or likely where he is running. Accomplishing this task in the open is obviously going to be somewhat easier but add broken ground and brush it just gets a whole lot harder.

Meanwhile the bolt user may also have discharged two shots which as the article proposes can often be accomplished at the same or in some cases quicker than a double (effective aimed shots) but then his gun is in exactly the same state as a double would have been before shooting started i.e. still has 2 (or 3) available shots which can be got away at a similar rate to the double if needed. At any stage the bolt user can easily operate his bolt action while on a full run and can likely recharge the magazine if wished while watching the game and watching his step as he moves.

Does all this make any difference to the outcome in the field, possibly not, a bit of slowness to accomplish some of the tasks here or there may not.

Now to facing a DG charge, absolutely the double gives two sure shots (most of the time) without taking your eyes from the target. If the animal is close then the bolt user has to make sure of his first shot, if the animal starts the charge further away then he is not disadvantaged in so much as he should take his first shot to allow enough time to reload for another follow up, still 2 shots the same as a double user. For either user they will have to rely on their PH or another hunter to clean up if 2 are not enough unless the animal started its charge well out then the bolt user can put plenty of lead downrange!!!!!

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