Favorite Darling Small-Mid Bore Double?

[Huvius]

Stunning guns. For your 400/350, I know you should be able to use 9.3x74r brass, but did you ever source properly headstamped brass for taking it abroad? What bullets did it shoot well?

I had Bertram brass for the two 350s.
The Rigby was proofed for the 225gr bullet so the closest I had was 200gr and honestly, the right bore was so worn that it was never going to group both barrels with a single loading. The best plan for that rifle would have been to rebore and regulate to the 9.3X74R but I wasn’t the guy to do that.

 

[Longwalker]

I’ve never seen a double in 9.3 x 62 .. Nice looking outfit.

Whoops, typing error! - it's a 9.3x74R

 

[Surgeon1]

I think one must consider a 9.3x74, in their DR battery. Shot a 303 in an older DR several years ago and it has been on my list since.

 

[AZDAVE]

On small double I have owned a few
Hyem 7x65R Shot great and I enjoyed it but it was traded for another rifle.
Chapuis UGEX 8x57R and 9.3x74 both shot well but were also traded on a different double
Chapuis RGEX 9.3x74 It and the 8x57R were traded on my Krieghoff 500/416

Currently Small doubles
Chapuis RGEX 9.3x74 (My favorite rifle)
VC O/U 8x57R Nice little rifle that shoot good with factory PRIVI ammo and my hand loads.
Rigby 400/350 hammer gun (Just got some custom dies for it) will start load development after the first of the year.

At some point would love to track down a 22 Hornet or a 303 when I have the funds to buy one.

 

[ChooChoo404]

Love my Sarasqueta .303Brit 5-pin SLE. Very basic, not hardly dainty. Compared to a .470 or .577, sure, but mine is what a 9# rifle. I’ve serviced the guts myself, really nice, beefy. Tosses the empties wonderfully.

I’ve been struggling with the irons, let’s see how it goes after my cataracts are both done.
Went with a mid/far lens. Anyone have any experience with this, and irons?

 

[ChooChoo404]

Love my Sarasqueta .303Brit 5-pin SLE. Very basic, not hardly dainty. Compared to a .470 or .577, sure, but mine is what a 9# rifle. I’ve serviced the guts myself, really nice, beefy. Tosses the empties wonderfully.

I’ve been struggling with the irons, let’s see how it goes after my cataracts are both done.
Went with a mid/far lens. Anyone have any experience with this, and irons?

Howdy Dave!

 

[R eight]

Love my Sarasqueta .303Brit 5-pin SLE. Very basic, not hardly dainty. Compared to a .470 or .577, sure, but mine is what a 9# rifle. I’ve serviced the guts myself, really nice, beefy. Tosses the empties wonderfully.

I’ve been struggling with the irons, let’s see how it goes after my cataracts are both done.
Went with a mid/far lens. Anyone have any experience with this, and irons?

I had cataracts removed around 10 years ago. I went with a tri ( reading , computer screen and far distances…in very basic e) type lens in both eyes. Best thing I have ever done. I have no problem with using iron sights at all.

 

[ChooChoo404]

Good to know thank you!

 

[Lance Hopper]

Stop holding back Esoteric Junkie!!!

 

[PCC600]

Love my Sarasqueta .303Brit 5-pin SLE. Very basic, not hardly dainty. Compared to a .470 or .577, sure, but mine is what a 9# rifle. I’ve serviced the guts myself, really nice, beefy. Tosses the empties wonderfully.

I’ve been struggling with the irons, let’s see how it goes after my cataracts are both done.
Went with a mid/far lens. Anyone have any experience with this, and irons?

Yes cataract surgery when I was 45 - both eyes. Still able to shoot with irons 24 years later , but time is catching up .

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

Stop holding back Esoteric Junkie!

More twin pipe 303 rubbish........

 

[Lance Hopper]

That engraving on the H&H looks the same as one pictured in Donald Dallas’ book. Truly magnificent rifles.

 

[HWL]

Love my .405 Winchester double...

HWL

 

[7x65r]

Once upon a time I owned a merkel sxs in 7x65r, nice rifle bit it was definitely overly heavy for the caliber. I would like to try out a chapuis rgex in 7x65r or 9.3x74r, I've heard they r light and nice to walk with but being in Canada have never even had the opportunity to see one

 

[Sideshow]

Hunted with my good friends this Chapuis 8x57R in France took both boar and Red Stag. He sadly passed. Was a neat rifle to use.

 

[wvfred]

My favorite small bore double a Bernhard Merkel 8x57R.I also have a German double in 6.5x58 I will get pics of soon.

 

[dgr416]

On Gunsinternational there is a winchester model 21 28 ga with 375 win barrels .That and a 405 win double are my dream doubles .

 

[Returnspring]

My most accurate double is a 8x57R in .318 by Merkel. Made in 1931. Beautiful wood and engraving. It was retailed by Weisgerber, as was another of my DRs, a 9.3x72R made before standardization (so you must wrap tape around the cases before resizing for the first time so that the midsection gets squeezed a bit more than normal. A .358 bore in that one, so 35 Remington bullets are great.

My favorite small bore for hunting is a 360EX 2.25" black powder proofed little thing, built on a Webley screw grip action and finished up by Watson Bros, or at least retailed by them. I have an early G.E. Lewis from 1873 in 360EX. That's been a bit of a project and I don't think I've gotten the best out of it yet.

 

[Rem700stw]

My only mid bore double is a Chapuis 9.3x74. It also has 20 gauge barrels. I took it to Africa in 2024 and harvested a giraffe with 286 grain A-Frame handloads and sand grouse and francolin as well as a genet with shells containing #7 shot.

I am still looking for the right .303 British.

 

[Returnspring]

Here are a few more pics of the 360 2.25" Watson Bros