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The Zoli is certainly an option! The cost is one reason, not a very good one, but a choice never the less. If the draw-backs of this rifle become obvious during a close quarters charge, where absolute dependability is very important, the last thought going through your mind, will not be how much you saved when you bought the rifle, I assure you!

In regard to the ZOLI O/U double rifle, I’m not sure they chamber their rifle for the 450/400NE 3”, but if they do, the rifle must be set up properly, or all bets or off! I know HEYM makes their O/U double chambered for 470 NE, 450NE 3 ¼”, and 375 H&H flanged, but it is set up properly for dangerous game use, or as close as an O/U can be set up for that purpose. It will cost you considerably more than a ZOLI, however.

IMO, the O/U double rifle is not the best choice for a rifle used for dangerous game. The O/U has several drawbacks that can be eliminated. However the eliminated features brings the cost up considerably, and all are not ilimentable (not a word)! I must admit, an O/U that is set properly, is far better than a PF bolt rifle, or even a CRF bolt rifle, but not by much, IMO! A well set up S/S double rifle is head and shoulders above them all, and is as good as it gets, in a fight!

A properly set up double rifle, for dangerous game use, is first and foremost of side-by-side configuration. The S/S platform allows the rifle to be re-loaded both barrels simultaneously, with the action only needing to be opened about 1/3 rd as wide as an O/U to reach both barrels. Secondly, the rifle should have “TWO” triggers, with both barrels cocked on opening of the rifle.

Most O/U double rifles only cock the bottom barrel, and the usual single trigger is not selective, so that the shooter has only one choice to fire the bottom barrel only, with the recoil cocking the second barrel. The single trigger has two very serious faults! #1, the single trigger is the only item that comes on any double rifle that if broken in any way, turns a double rifle to a 10-pound club, taking the whole rifle out of service. #2 With a recoil cocked top barrel, if one has a dud, or a squib load in the bottom barrel the top barrel is not cocked.

Even if the O/U rifle cocks both barrels on opening, and the rifle is fitted with a single non-selective trigger, it automatically fires the bottom barrel first. This may not be the barrel one chooses to fire first, with a soft in one barrel, and a solid in the other. With this type O/U a misfire, or broken striker on the bottom barrel, and the trigger is a mechanically advanced trigger (positively advanced trigger to the next barrel) so the top barrel can be fired. NOW, you re-load, and the trigger has to go through the bottom barrel with it’s broken striker, before the top barrel can be fired. Effectively giving you a single shot rifle, that requires the trigger to be pulled twice for every shot.

The next thing that usually comes on double rifles of the O/U configuration is an auto safety, some that cannot be changed to manual. A DGR double should never be fitted with an automatic safety. Auto safeties can, and have gotten people killed.

If one MUST have an O/U double rifle for a DGR, it absolutely must be set up properly! The rifle must be a manually cocked rifle for both barrels on opening. It must have two triggers, so one can choose with barrel he wants to fire first.

In the case of a misfire on the first barrel, one simply changes triggers, and fires the other barrel, as long as both barrels are cocked on opening. In this instance, a broken trigger, a broken tumbler spring. or striker, and you still have working single shot. With a single trigger, or a recoil cocked second barrel, the rifle can be a death warrant if something breaks.

IMO, the best double for use in a close in fight, is a S/S double, fitted with two triggers, and manual safety, chambered for a low pressure “FLANGED”cartridge, of from 9.3 up to about 577NE, with a very good choice in the 400-to 450 range of bore diameter, that pushes a heavy for caliber bullet at a fairly modest speed, (in the 2000 to 2550 fps range) in the 10 to 12 pound range, and fitted to the shooter!

I have both O/U and S/S double rifles, and both double and single triggers, and some with auto safeties, that are cocked by the recoil of the lower barrel being fired. However, these rifles are used on the firing range, and on nothing more dangerous that a whitetail deer. All my doubles, that are used for dangerous game, are Side by side, with double triggers, and manual safeties, and I have zero concern when moving into the weeds with a bite-back! The thought, however, of moving into the long grass with a punctured, and pissed off LION with an O/U double rifle in my hands that is fitted with a single non-selective trigger, and an auto safety, absolutely scars hell out of me!

The choice of a double rifle, or any other type rifle, that is to be used to pull your nuts out of the fire, is a personal one, and if an O/U, with a single trigger, auto safety, and a recoil cocked second barrel, floats your boat, then set sail! My choice will be something quite different, however!

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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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