I have owned a double rifle. It was English (Joseph Lang), and it was beautiful! But, but, but. It was "just" a muzzleloader and about .635" or 18 bore. Made in about 1830 as best as I can tell. Right on the cusp of the dawn of the percussion era.
If I was going to buy another double to hunt with and it was going to use smokeless powder, I would probably buy a .375 or 9.3 unless elephants were on the menu. No reason to carry the weight or the recoil of a .45 in a modern cartridge for anything less.
I was surprised to see you recommended sidelocks, April, until you mention having spare locks - I can see the appeal of spare drop locks but they are so expensive, and so uncommon and used guns never come with spare locks that I have ever seen. Instead, i would get spare springs and the tools to change them if I was really concerned. That said, how many folks bring spare elephant rifles in case their primary bolt rifle fails? I think the boxlock doubles will suffice at a much lower price point.
I like Merkels - not as much as English, but they are pretty darn reliable, strong, and somewhat reasonably priced guns - at least the shotguns are. I have one of those.
I bought my double to hunt moose, but I sold it. The moose hunting (muzzleloader only) dried up and as a deer rifle - I really had no need for both barrels. I turned a hefty profit and used that to finance a much better moose hunt with a modern cartridge rifle (albeit a single shot).
Doubles are cool as heck and they tend to hold their value (though the market in double shotties is definitely softening), but you can do a lot of other things with that money too.
I love doubles as much as anyone, but I'd rather have a great singleshot or a lever rifle and more money in the next hunt. (I say this while spending stupid money to fix a double bird gun and find yet another to go with the others).
Brent makes several good points
the 375 works just fine in Africa, especially with the bullets that are made today, no reason to carry the extra weight or deal with the extra recoil.
there is absolutely nothing wrong with box locks. Several different versions are on the market, some stronger than others, but they work just fine and have for a very long time. We just liked the idea of having the extra set with us Brent, replacement in the field was easy and quick, but this could be, and has been argued for many many years--side or box or even drop. Bottom line. Brent is correct, they all work just fine.
Nothing wrong with a Merkel. There are several good double rifle manufacturers. Some of the debate now is more about the accuracy or regulation of the barrels than the quality of the manufactured rifle. Some of the cost on some rifles are --name --plus choice of wood and engraving.
Tn2shot07 ----I have never owned a Ruger single shot rifle but have a couple of friends that own them and they speak very highly of them. Guy, on this forum has one and I think it is what he used on his Alaska hunt
sd7mag, thank you. The 425 is still used and those who have them, like them. I started out with a 416 Rigby, went down to a 375 H & H, and back up to a 450/400. Like the 425, the 416 is still used by many. I find these two and others, like the 9.3 x 64B, the 416 Rigby, 425 W.R., 505 Gibbs, 9.3 x 74 are brought into hunting discussions in Europe and of course Africa, more than in America. At one time the 425 was used by many in the Govt in various countries throughout Africa and therefore many old 425's are still around. This is probably more than you wanted to know (-:
Thanks to all who posted. It is interesting to see what the younger generation's would use.
