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Allen, for the most part it is a personal preference, being that I simply like the S/S more than the O/U. There are technical reasons as well, and they are the reason I spicifically rule out dangerous game with an O/U!

The proper sequince of fire with an O/U double is to fire the bottom barrel first. As is reccomended by most knoledgable DG hunters with double rifle, you fire the first barrel, and quickly reload that barrel, so your rifle is not completely unloaded in the initional seconds of the fight, in case of a charge from another in the herd, or even the one you just shot. This is most often practiced when hunting in herds, where an empty rifle, even for a second can be disasterous, when the herd bolts from the first shot! The bottom barrel is the hardest to reload, since the rifle must be broken very wide, to expose the bottom chamber. Addtionally, the rifle recoils differently with each barrel, with the bottom barrel recoiling almost streight back into the shoulder, while the top barrel has a tendency to rise high being higher above the horizonal cg of the rifle. When reloading both barrels it is simply easier to reload both barrels on a S/S than it is to reload an O/U similtaniously. IMO, the system simply is not suited well to the job of defense weapon. This is not to say they will not work, but that they are simply not the best choice, IMO!

There some things I will not use when faceing a big "BITE BACK" in the bush,if I have the choice, where a double rifle is the best choice of weapon. They are an O/U rifle, an automatic safety, a single trigger, or any double rifle with a rimless cartridge. I can live with auto ejectors but prefere extractors. Others may use what ever they choose, however!

It is simply my opinion, a rifle designed for fighting big dangerous animals, in close quarters, should be as simple, and as idiot proof as it is possible to make it. IMO, that is a S/S double rifle, that fits the shooter, with two triggers, and a manual safety, and exractors, and is chambered for enough cartridge for the job at hand! If you are shooting DG at 100, to 200 yds, then any rifle will do, but dangerous game is not really dangerous at 100, or 200 yds. The double rifle is most valuable where the opponant is within 35 to 40 yds, in tight cover, especially in a herd sittuation. In that type conforntation, no fumbleing with an awkward rifle is a good idea. To me the O/U is more awkward than a S/S, and may cost you dearly!

Those are the reasons, I do not like the O/U for dangerous game, but then you knew that already, as I've stated it many time prior!

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..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

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