AboutKeith Patton Expertise I can answer questions about whitetail deer hunting using modern and black powder firearms. I can address questions on still hunting and stalking. I am also knowledgeable on the hunting of ducks over decoys in the central flyway, and goose hunting over rag decoy sets on the Gulf Coast of Texas. I can answer quesitons regarding dog preparation for both these hunting areas
Experience Over 26 years of waterfowl and deer hunting in Virginia, Texas and Oklahoma. Over 34 years of range and target shooting of small and big bore long guns and shotguns.
Organizations National Rifle Association
Texas Rifle Association
Question Hi Keith.
Can we classify double rifles into shotguns? I'm talking about double rifles with big caliber such as .450 NE or .600 NE.
Answer Joe:
Classify them how?
I would not think you would want to. The one exception is if the shotgun is fitted with a rifled and sighted barrel. They make these for use with slugs or sabot rounds in order to give them spin and make them more accurate to longer ranges. Police use them. There is a dovetail reciever sight on the barrel. Something a shotgun does not have.
A double rifle was designed for dangerous game in order to give the shooter a quick second shot without having to work a bolt action.
Just a note, in South America, where gun ownership is severely restricted, civilians can own only sub-military calibers and cartridges (.22 long rifle) and shotguns. So I carried a 12 gauge with slugs and buckshot. I would have been at a disadvantage in a fire fight with anyone with a standard cartidge firing weapon, but for close in I would have been okay.
So I would say no, don't classify them together even thought they may look the same, they are entirely different animals.
The double rifles are in a class of their own in terms of stopping power and caliber size.
