Gentleman I'm thinking about purchasing a Chapuis 470 Nitro from Chaplin's firearms, I'm going to have to liquidate my collection of high-end military style rifles to do it but I think it'll be worth it! My question for you gentleman is do any of you have any experience with the Chapuis doubles? My second question is what is the recoil going to be like with the 470 Nitro? I have fired at 458 win mag and a 450/400 both Ruger number one's, plus I also used to own two Winchester model 70 Safari Express in 416 Remington and 375H&H in the past, how is the 470 Nitro going to be compared to those particular rifles?

If you are indeed a 460Wbyshooter, it will definitely be a step down from there :-)

But seriously, if you can handle a 458 in a Ruger #1, the 470 will be a pussycat in comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
If you are indeed a 460Wbyshooter, it will definitely be a step down from there :-)

But seriously, if you can handle a 458 in a Ruger #1, the 470 will be a pussycat in comparison.

I didn't include the 460 Weatherby as it had a muzzle brake on it and it was nothing more then a range toy so I never took the muzzle brake off it, sadly sold it a few years ago!

My Chapuis 470 was reliable and as well regulated as my London doubles--took two elephant bulls with no complaints. The double rifle market is funky but I made money on three London doubles and lost a couple of grand when I sold the Chapuis--something to consider.

Recoil depends on fit. Six shots from a bench was my limit or I would start to flinch. JJ Perodeau can install a mercury recoil reducer if needed--they work.

quote:

...
But seriously, if you can handle a 458 in a Ruger #1, the 470 will be a pussycat in comparison.

Yep. I don't know why anyone shoots big bores with a Ruger Number 1. Too light of a rifle and fit is not that great either.

I have had at least 4 Chapuis DRs; they are great rifles. The only thing I don't like about them is the automatic ejectors, which cost more to get extractors, for some strange reason, on an order than it does to get ejectors. I hate ejectors but tolerate them. They are no faster, throw your brass ten feet away, and if you learn how to catch your expensive brass at the range so it doesn't fall onto the concrete floor, you will do that in the field, a very bad habit. Anyway, not germane here.
As for a 470 recoil vs a bolt action, it's comparing apples to oranges. Double Rifles are nothing like shooting bolt actions; you never shoot them hunkered down on and from the bench, (they aren't regulated for that), and they are built differently. And feel totally different in your hands and in action. But if you can handle any recoil, you will be fine.

Chapuis seems to build rifles with a higher than normal cheek comb. I would never buy one in a Nitro caliber without shouldering the rifle first. Scoping would take care of most of the height issues but then it most likely would need to be regulated again.

That is very true, and why all mine are/were, scoped. However, putting scopes on big bores, they do not always need re regulating. I've done it several times with no change. It's a smaller percentage of the weight. Never know until you try one how they will react. Double rifles are not like bolt actions in any way. Ok, they both fling bullets; but that ends the similarity.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Chapuis seems to build rifles with a higher than normal cheek comb. I would never buy one in a Nitro caliber without shouldering the rifle first. Scoping would take care of most of the height issues but then it most likely would need to be regulated again.

I was thinking of adding a doctor Red Dot site or something similar.

quote:

I was thinking of adding a doctor Red Dot site or something similar

The most sensible solution.

Dave

My next question gentlemen is do all the Chapuis rifles come with a 16 plus inch length of pull? The reason why I ask is I have a local dealer who says he thinks he can get me the rifle I'm looking at and is interested in trading for the firearms I wish to sell.

They are on the long side unless you order one new and tell them the LOP you want. I guess they figure it is easier to cut them off than extend them. Looks better anyway. But the ones I had were fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
If you are indeed a 460Wbyshooter, it will definitely be a step down from there :-)

But seriously, if you can handle a 458 in a Ruger #1, the 470 will be a pussycat in comparison.

I can vouch for the above statement! I have a 470NE double rifle, and I have a 458 Ruger N01 and you will love the 470NE in a double rifle!
Everyone should own a 470NE double rifle, so they can take on any animal on the planet in relative comfort on the shoulder.
............................. MacD37

I have shot them. They tend to punch me in the face. The combs are too high for me.

I have one in 375 Flanged. It is well regulated and shoots any 300 gr bullet into 2 inches at 50 yards with 63 gr of R-15.

Well it looks like my local dealer can get me the Chapuis 470 I want so I guess it's time for me to start acquiring reloading equipment and components for the 470, unfortunately powder will be the hardest thing to get but I think I might have a little bit that will work. I am going to have to try to find some reloader 15 though. I know it's going to take a few months to get my Chapuis but I'm getting really excited to finally be a member of the double rifle shooter society

I got a 470 Chapuis from Champlin in the early 2000s. You won't regret it. Well made and well regulated. Have taken 3 eles and 4 or 5 cape buffalo. Plus some plains game just for fun.

What I would change:
The forend is kind of wide and I would like it better if it was more slender, in the English double style. Reason why is to hold extra shells in my hand that is also hanging onto the forend. Small thing, though...

Second item is I had the firing pins start not retracting when cocking. That could be exciting at the wrong time ! Turns out the pins were peening just a bit. I had fired it well over 500 times, so that wasn't something most people will encounter. I believe at that time the steel in the pins was a bit soft. A local VERY GOOD gunsmith reshaped the pins and it worked OK after that. I encountered Mr. Chapuis at the SCI show and talked about this with him. He said just order another set of pins and have them installed. I had JJ do that and have been happy ever since.

Recoil to me was very similar to an old model 70 458WM that I have. Had Champlin put in a couple of mercury reducers to begin with, but that may have been more than was needed.

Love the gun and will go after buffalo again in August. Reloading is a challenge since we don't have access to the same primers used in factory ammo. So I use factory ammo.

I also built a standing benchrest for testing the factory loads and for practice. Helps a ton, compared to shooting from a sitting position, all bent over.

Good luck!

One of my PHs in Zimbabwe had one. He loved it.

Well looks like the deal my buddy was going to get me is going to fall through as Beretta wants him to order four guns in order to be able to get the one gun! So I called George Chaplin at Chaplin firearms it looks like on Monday I'm going to be purchasing the Chapuis from him! George seems like a really good fellow and he spent over an hour talking to me about Africa and African rifles!

quote:

Originally posted by 460 wby shooter:
Well looks like the deal my buddy was going to get me is going to fall through as Beretta wants him to order four guns in order to be able to get the one gun! So I called George Chaplin at Chaplin firearms it looks like on Monday I'm going to be purchasing the Chapuis from him! George seems like a really good fellow and he spent over an hour talking to me about Africa and African rifles!

George Caswell is a great guy. He was very helpful to me when buying my first double rifle.

My .470 weighs 11 1/2 lbs so absorbs recoil pretty good. Large frame

Talk to George Champlin's arms today, my gun is in the country and should be arriving at his shop next week after that it's going to JJ for mounting a RMR. Can't wait to get it!