New double rifle maker in the USA

[crs]

It seems that Clark Custom Guns is making doubles in a variety of popular calibers at prices from $5,000 to $6,000. Here is a link to their web site and to a Gun Talk TV film clip showing them shooting a .405 WCF double with 300 and 400 grain loads - the latter at 2150 fps - enjoy :

Clark .405 Winchester Double Rifle

 

[Billy Stewart]

Thanks for the info and link just watched the vid man i want a double gun!
That is a improvement on price but still a lot of money for me. Any opinions on the 405 Winchester is it a good choice for dangerous game they are offering it in several calibers.

 

[enysse]

I looked at the website and would recommend the 450-400, 470 Nitro-Express or 375 Flanged. I think I would get the 450-400. Teddy liked the 405 Win. but I think the caliber is overrated.

 

[Calhoun]

>>>It's an improvement on price but I still think they are plenty high. Take away the engraving etc. & It surprises me that someone hasn't came in & offered an affordable product out for the working man. There seems to be a lot of people with a double on their wish list but the price prevents it from becoming reality.
,,, Myself my choice would be the 450 - 400!

 

[Mike70560]

Clark builds an excellent pistol. He seems genuinely excited about the rifle.

I am not sure what price you are looking for in a double. A true quality double (K-gun, Merkel, etc being on the low end of quality) cannot be built and sold for much less than 8000 or so in a DG caliber. Too much hand fitting, regulating etc.

There is the Remington for around $1000.00. It looks to be a good fun gun.

Shotgun actions, single triggers can help keep cost down, if that is what you want. Hopefully Mr. Clark's rifle helps get some people shooting doubles.

One easy upgrade would be to move the rear sight forward about 6 inches.

 

[crs]

Clark builds an excellent pistol. He seems genuinely excited about the rifle.

I am not sure what price you are looking for in a double. A true quality double (K-gun, Merkel, etc being on the low end of quality) cannot be built and sold for much less than 8000 or so in a DG caliber. Too much hand fitting, regulating etc.

There is the Remington for around $1000.00. It looks to be a good fun gun.

Shotgun actions, single triggers can help keep cost down, if that is what you want. Hopefully Mr. Clark's rifle helps get some people shooting doubles.

One easy upgrade would be to move the rear sight forward about 6 inches.

Mike - another would be to provide a pistol grip and while we are at it, cut the price inhalf.

 

[Big5er]

I looked at the website and would recommend the 450-400, 470 Nitro-Express or 375 Flanged. I think I would get the 450-400. Teddy liked the 405 Win. but I think the caliber is overrated.

didint TR carry the 450-400 for the big DG?

 

[enysse]

didint TR carry the 450-400 for the big DG?

Yes, TR did use the 450/400 for elephant in a double rifle. I thought he did use the 405 Win pretty extensively though. I haven't had time to read his whole book.

The one thing I do remember reading about Teddy and Kermits adventures, is that there was a lot of bad shooting and wounded animals. Probably due in part to the poor powder and bullets available back then. And I'm not suggesting they were bad hunters, just that things don't always go perfect.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

Yes, TR did use the 450/400 for elephant in a double rifle. I thought he did use the 405 Win pretty extensively though. I haven't had time to read his whole book.

The one thing I do remember reading about Teddy and Kermits adventures, is that there was a lot of bad shooting and wounded animals. Probably due in part to the poor powder and bullets available back then. And I'm not suggesting they were bad hunters, just that things don't always go perfect.

I'm actually in the midst of reading his book now and his double rifle was a 500-450 Holland.

 

[TexasLebenskunstler]

I shot the .577 Nitro and I'm just not man-enough to hunt with it regularly. Wow.

The book, Any Shot You Want, covers all the calibers on all trajectory, speed, etc. Nice book.

 

[DUGABOY1]

I think you'll find that Teddy used a 500/450 H8H double rifle given to him by a group of rich business men for his 1905 hunt in Africa. His other rifles were the model 1895 winchester chambered for 405 Winchester, and a springfield 30-06 bolt rifle. Kermit used a 450NE 3 1/4" double, and a springfield 30-06.

The Buffalo, elephant, rhino were all taken with the 500/450 H&H double, the 405 took a couple lions, and a leopard, and this was the rifle he called his lion medicine,untill he shot a couple of lions with it. He wounded more game than he took with the 405, and the 30-06. Still in the 9 months he and Kermit hunted they took a very large bag, of animals.

The 450/400NE doubles were the favorite of John (PONDORO) Taylor not TR, and he didn't wound very mush of what he shot at.

When Hornady came out with the 405 Win ammo a couple years ago, they made one big mistake! They pictured Teddy on the box standing over a large rhino, with the 1895 Win. This was a sceen that never happened, and gave customers the idea that the 405 Win is an African dangerous game cartridge, which it most certainly is not. It is fine for the cats, or Bears but is certainly not Buffalo rihno, or elephant medicine. The 450.400NE 3" is minimum in the running for things like Elephant and then only in very experienced hands. But is about perfect for buffalo hunting.

The Clark double rifles are converted shotguns, and not particualrly well done IMO. The only chamberings I would even consider is the 45-70, and the 405 Win. IOM $5K is about $3K too much for this double. :2c:

Sorry but that is not a very well done conversion, and certainly not well suited to anything larger than the 45-70, or 405 IMO. However if it floats your canoe, the cough up the bucks and set sail, you can have the one they were going to sell to me! :thumbdown:

 

[Billy Stewart]

Dugaboy that was a very informative post thank you! Buying a double is just one of those things a guy will just have to cough the money up and do it. Iam going buffalo hunting one day it will happen and i want to use a double but damn you can get a hunt for what one costs.

 

[Sabattiboy]

A Sabatti was my buy in for a poor man's DR. There were some sad days post purchase as I assumed anyone building a 500 NE DR would not under build for the cartridge even if the presentation part was lacking. But I have one and it took hunt money to get it. At least a PG hunt and airfare.
If I was buying on a limited DR budget today it would be a 45-70.
Keep your eyes open and keep saving you never know what might come along.

 

[Tanks]

I actually met a PH in Zimbabwe that carries a Sabatti double in .500 NE. He has used it for years and very happy with it. Though, he'd love to get a Heym, but can't afford it.

 

[Sabattiboy]

I actually met a PH in Zimbabwe that carries a Sabatti double in .500 NE. He has used it for years and very happy with it. Though, he'd love to get a Heym, but can't afford it.

I've heard of them being used by some PH's so can hardly discount them.
I just am not confident of mine handling a lot of shooting where the stock is concerned.

 

[flatwater bill]

CRS notes that Clark Custom is loading their 405's with 400 grain bullets at 2150fps. That does not sound far behind the 450/400 to me. Yet one is a DG load that everyone loves and the other is stated as inadequate in an above post. ? Both then, are listing 40 cal, 400 grainers at 2150 fps. With the right bullet, they seem pretty closely matched..................FWB

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I wish that a gunsmith by the name of Ken Owens ( a very nice man) would do a post on AH, he is not a member.

Ken purchased all of them remaining Sabattis and went through each one sorting out the various problems that the early Sabattis had. Ken is particularly skilled at regulation. He has told me on several occasions that the Sabattis were will made, but the Mfg. just did not understand double rifle regulation. Ken is not the gunsmith that took the dremmel tool to the muzzles!!

 

[Areaonereal]

11 year old thread.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Clark Custom is located not too far from where I live. They no longer make the DR or at least they aren't listed on their website. As I recall, they were built on a CZ shotgun action.

Both Jim Clark Sr and Jr were renown shooters and Jim Clark Sr's daughter Kay is the wife of Jerry Miculek.

Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol

Jim Clark of Clark Custom Guns passes away

Updated: Jim Clark of Clark Custom Guns passes away

www.shreveporttimes.com

 

[Sabattiboy]

@Areaonereal
Since joining AH forum I've read lots of old threads and gleaned a lot of good info that would be gone if deleted as an old thread. It is hard not to respond and if someone else does then it is easy to chip in anyway. We also get updated info because things have changed since the original thread started. Good examples are the 458 Winchester cartridge and Sabatti DR with ground muzzles. some of this will live in infamy though the 458 has been fixed with new powders and charges, not to mention new designed bullets. A number of members have mentioned their Sabatti DR's being quite satisfactory in accuracy and function. Some have bought guns that were reworked by Ken Owen, that kindly reworked mine for me.
Perhaps the forum manager(s) might consider moving threads past a certain age into a category labeled as such that indicate they are closed.
Just my 2 cents worth.