Kevin I have a pretend scenario for you.
Yes, did ever go into production? The French model was still around a few years ago and may still be. I was surprised at how lite they claimed. It also came in big bore.
that rifle does exist, abet custom. I’ve seen a few 458 browning bars and 416 Taylor’s and maybe there are some 375/338s.
Danger comes with dangerous game. If a big name guy like Selby gets snuffed and it makes the news, the gunmaker's image won't get tarnished. That's just part of the game. It's like a Daytona driver getting killed in an accident. Does anyone ever blame the automobile manufacturer? And yes, today's gunmakers do give rifles to celebrities, particularly writers. I used to know one of those guys personally.
I will thow in my .02 on this one. My answer would be, strictly from a utilitarian perspective if you negate all nostalgia from the equation, a yes. I have used semi auto rifles a lot and they are definitely superior in a tight spot. The ability to put multiple shots on target quickly and precisely without having to break your sight picture is hard to beat!
Wyatt, in your “pretend” scenario you did Not include the word RELIABLE and without consideration for “reliable” how could anyone even “pretend” to compare a Double Rifle to a semiauto? Yes, any rifle can fail but a semiauto is subject to “jam” and that can turn it into a single shot or less.
Spot on as always. To many people what you hunt with is just as important as the hunt itself. Again I think everyone should do it the way that is best for them
I was operating in the idea that anyone who hunt dangerous game would use a rifle 100% reliable. Of course things happen and can happen to all of them.
Yeah, they only use semis for the world’s most dangerous game.
Yeah, Mike has been hunting elephants with Buzz for decades, very experienced. He has hunted more elephants than most have hunted Impalas.
Semi autos catch a lot of flak on jamming, in my experience though, a well maintained semi auto that has been shot enough to know it is a reliable rifle really does not offer that much, or at least not that much more of a possibility of a failure than any other rifle. If semi autos were that prone to failure the army wouldn't use them to hunt DG. Even now the snipers are going away from bolt action rifles to the M110 semi auto, which is just a glorified AR10. I myself have purchased a 10mm auto for hunting or carrying in bear country over my trusted old 44 magnum. The distance that self defense type shots happen is very close and very fast, being able to accurately put several shots on target is highly beneficial. Even going back to the point of double rifles, which is for all intents and purposes the closest they could produce to semi auto for DG hunting. It is essentially a 2 shot semi!
Hi Wyatt, as others have added in the meantime reliability of a semi auto would be an issue, but if we are to assume 100% reliability for everything in this comparison, then my answer is still no, I still prefer all of the other attributes of the double being the feel, the balance, the looks, the pointability. Then add the romance on top of that pile and I am afraid for me the double walks it.
That is what I figured you would say. You are the romantic sort, not that it’s a flaw. I am the romantic sort as well. For me the romance lays with pre 64 M70 in 375. Just a different era I suppose.
OK Wyatt, I get your point and you’ve put a lot of thought into this - a well presented “hypothetical” comparison of a Double Rifle to a yet-to-be-invented SemiAuto. However, I’m just too simple minded and old to be that “open minded” - its why i’m Not an Artist or Inventor, Therefore I will cast my vote for the Double Rifle and with Full Disclosure that I’ve never faced a charging elephant (or anything else). You will get much better feedback & insight for others on this forum and the Under 50 crowd most likely to agree with you and the Semi Auto
Most of the writers you’re referring to get loaned a gun. They are sometimes given the option to buy it after they’re done with their testing at a reduced cost. Some of the celebrity hunters are given rifles for the season to hunt with and use but their contracts often ask/require them to give the item away before they get the following years sample. This is often done for marketing publicity for the manufacturer, but also a lot of times to raise money for charity. There are some writers who are given guns but normally it’s got a special reason. I’d be willing to bet the writer you knew wasn’t given every gun he tested or wrote about.
AND the client is the one who put it down! Saw another film where the client actually saved a famous PH's bacon...I'm talking to you, Ivan Carter!
Absolutely!
