Double rifle moral dilemma

[Roland Tembo]

Why not meet in the middle and go 375 flanged? A little big for Europe, legal for Africa.

Just a thought.

Three main reasons: can't find many second hand DR chambering .375 here, ammo is scarce and pricey yet delivers performance very similar to 9,3x74R, and so... even if legal for dangerous game, most PH won't consider this cartridge enough to bring me elephant hunting.

.470 NE : € 20 - 25.- per piece not € 15.-
If you get them at all.
9.3x74R without question, unless you collect.

M.S.said
big gun means worst shooting.

Some Hornady factory load prices here in my country for a quick fuel comparison:
- 375 H&H (belted) 300 gr >> 162€ x 20 rounds (usually rimmed version is x1.5 time the price, but I didn't find loads from Hornady)
- 9,3x74R 286 gr >> 186€ x 20 rounds
- 470 NE 500 gr >> 346€ x 20 rounds

 

[degoins]

For all of the talk about reduced loads in double rifles, it’s a road of trouble for many. You can re-regulate most doubles but the odds of having one shoot both regular and reduced loads satisfactorily isn’t as likely. It’s very advanced gun work in most cases.

I've owned a vintage and a few modern doubles and I've been able to get light bullet loads to regulate in all of them without much trouble. The vintage double was regulated to shoot both light and heavier bullets from the maker and from what I've read and from some load data that came with some vintage doubles that I've seen that practice was not uncommon.