Westley Richards .375 H&H droplock with QD Lyman scope.

This Westley Richards .375 double is fitted with a QD Lyman scope. These were a perfect size optic for a double and it doesn't look too out of place. The new 1 inch or 30mm scopes we get today are so big for the rifles and stand off so high, not very attractive at all. This size vintage optic is getting harder and harder to find now, you used to be able to pick them up at the Las Vegas Antique arms but this year I couldn't find one!

3 Comments

Einar Fernholt on March 16, 2015 at 8:11 am

Dear Sir,

Regarding putting a scope on a big bore double rifle. If one were to do that, I would suggest trying the Leupold Intermediate Eye Relief 2.5 x 28. The scope has a ~22 cm eye relief. 15 years ago, I tested this out by having a single shot rifle made (in Norway) on an enlarged Hagn action supplied by Hartmann & Weiss. The rifle is chambered in .577" NE. With the scope mounted, the rifle can be shot accurately well beyond 100 m. Based on the test results, the plan has been to put such a scope low on a general purpose + .40 " calibre double rifle. So far, no gun has been ordered.

A scope on a big double rifle, is not what I would consider "right", but it would certainly be a help when the eyes are getting old and tired.

Thank you very much for The Explora blog, I enjoy it a lot.

Yours sincerely,

Einar Fernholt

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- Simon Clode on March 16, 2015 at 10:29 am
  
  Thank you for your experience. Certainly testing a scope on a .577 single shot requires a LOT of eye relief and a little courage on the first shot! We have also in the past fitted a type of pistol scope with very long eye relief.
  
  I agree that the scope is not exactly right on a double but certainly becomes essential when you need it to see the target as we do as our eyes go!
  
  Simon
  
  Reply
Gary Duffey on March 16, 2015 at 1:43 pm

As a collector of pre-war sporting rifles this is a scope that you will encounter alot and I have learned to appreciate them and have many. The lenses were made in that period by Bausch & Lomb and are of very high quality. I find that the adjustments track as well if not better than more current manufacture scopes.

To some a double rifle in .375 fills neither the medium, or heavy bore class well. I would not argue that point but only say that if a person chose to hunt large cats with a double this is the rifle and maintains the handling qualities not much different than without the scope. A double that would be right at home in a Leopard blind and work almost perfectly for crocodile or hippo in the water, or for that matter anything else. I did not have the measurements or what load this is built for but assuming crossing shots at 60-75 yards, on simple graph paper I can tell this rifle will work well to 150 yards without any issues. It is a very useful rifle that has very few limitations. I really like this configuration!!

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