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As anyone, who knows me, will tell you, as if you didn't already know it, rimless cartridges are not my favorite things in a double rifle. However, if I have a preference for one rimless over another in a double rifle, it would likely be a standard rimless, like the configuration of the 0ld 30-06. Second to that configuration would be the configuration on the various belted magnums, like the 458 Win Mag, or the 375 H&H magnum. Last would be a rebated rimless, like the 416 Rigby. IMO that rebated rimless case would exacerbate any reliability problem caused by a rimless cartridge in a double rifle.

There are several folks on this and other sites that use belted rimless, and standard rimless cartridges in their double rifles without any mishap at all. I've had a couple myself, but they were 8x57 Mauser, and one chambered for 9.3X62, not in dangerous game rifles. They happened to be very well made German rifles, and cape guns, and gave no problem. I think in the case of very well made doubles like the Marcell Tyes, or others of that class, the rimless chamberings seem to not be as much of a problem, at least in the cases I've been made aware of. Like anything the cheaper you go the more likely the problems will show their true nature, IMO!

Many cuss these rounds on a chamber pressure basis, and I don't necessarily agree with that completely, as long as the owner doesn't try to hot-rod the loading. The hot-rodding of those cartridges, however, is more likely, IMO, by the folks who are attracted to those rounds in the first place. This is because these people are basically bolt-action guys who suddenly show a desire for a classic double rifle to hunt big things in Africa. They are, however, attracted to the cartridges they've used in their bolt rifles, and used to pushing the loads in their bolt rifles to the absolute limit. If these guys pick very upscale doubles, then the chances of a mishap, is lessened, but many who are also shopping for a bargain, and a rimless cartridge in a double rifle may be in for some grief. The best of these guys are those who tend to use factory ammo, and do not re-load, so they hold pressures low.

Merkel chambers the 416 Rigby, but they don't sell well, and if you want one, you can most likely get one at a bargain, brand new, because the dealers have trouble moveing them!

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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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