page_title: Double rifle
section_title: Barrels
hierarchical_section_title: Double rifle / Design / Barrels
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Laufbündelung einer Doppelbüchse.
context_page_description: The double rifle, also known as the double-barrelled rifle, is a rifle with two barrels mounted parallel to each other. Synonymous with big game hunting in Africa and India, the double rifle is a purely sporting weapon with no military heritage.
context_section_description: Double rifles can come in two barrel configurations, over and under designs (usually abbreviated as O/U) where the two barrels are mounted vertically one on top of the other, or side by side (usually abbreviated as SxS) where the two barrels are mounted horizontally next to each other.
  For dangerous game hunting, side by side rifles are usually preferred.  This is for a number of reasons but predominantly because the barrels of an over and under gun must be pivoted much farther down to clear the lower barrel for reloading.
  During manufacture the barrels of double rifles require "regulation" to ensure the bullet paths from both barrels are aimed at a common point of aim.  This can be done to ensure either the bullets 1) parallel each other closely at all practical ranges, or 2) converge at a given range, beyond which they begin to diverge. Because of the need to regulate a rifle to a specific loading of its chambered cartridge, once regulated a double rifle cannot satisfactorily shoot bullets of different weights or velocities, as it usually affects the accuracy. The process of regulating a double rifle’s barrels is complex and can be time consuming, significantly adding to the cost of the rifle.
caption: Symbol for Double rifle
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