Have members used Heym double guns and if so what is their opinion about them?

I have a Heym 88B in 375 H&H. It is my favorite double. You couldn't ask for a better gun. Very acccurate with all the loads I've tried in it. This model has a selector switch in the forearm that turns the ejectors on or off. Nice trap grip cap that came with spare firing pins (marked left & right) and a spare front sight blade. Very light and responsive gun. Only thing I wish is that it were 9.3x74R. In my estimation Heym is top quality. I definitely prefer it to my Merkle 470.

I thought about buying a Heym. At the time, it would have cost me $12.5K for a Heym, compared to $7K for a Searcy. I couldn't really afford the difference. And Heyms are lighter so I was a little afraid of what the recoil would be. Now Searcys are $9.5K and Heyms are $14.5K.

IMO there isn't a better (new) gun available under the 15K mark than a Heym (vs. Chapuis, Searcy, Merkel, Krieghoff, etc... and i've owned 3-chapuis!

Clean lines, well balanced, fit and finish are great... BUT they are considerably more expensive than the others mentioned.

If you've got it to spend, and want to get rid of it all at once, you won't be disappointed with the Heym.

The 470 Hyem is great and one of the best guns I have ever owned. Money well spent and you will not regret paying the extra money for it.

I chose the Merkel because it was lower priced, and I am very happy with it.

I have seen and handled all the mentioned "affordable" recent manufacture doubles above, plus the Blaser.

The Heym was clearly the nicest IMHO, lightest and best handling, best craftsmanship.

But for me, there is nothing wrong with my slightly heavier and clubbier Merkel .470 NE for half the cost of a Heym.

Amen RIP! I can't say I've handled or shot many doubles.....but if they're any better than my Merkle...I'm not sure I could appreciate it. The charm of an old British piece? Absolutely, but a better "working gun"? Not for anywhere near the $$$.

Gary B.

Garby,
You got that right. Nothing at all wrong with a Merkel. Though some around here seem to be pushing Searcy pretty hard. I just don't see it. Give me a Heym or a Merkel, or I'll just go back to my bolt action trash.

Like most any double short of a H&H, etc., you should send it off to Champlin to get it fine tuned.

I had mine "fixed" to get the same pull weight on both triggers, better sights, etc. I have heard a lot of stories of failures with the less expensive doubles.

If you can afford $150,000, I'd recommend H&H and WR.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Like most any double short of a H&H, etc., you should send it off to Champlin to get it fine tuned.

I had mine "fixed" to get the same pull weight on both triggers, better sights, etc. I have heard a lot of stories of failures with the less expensive doubles.

If you can afford $150,000, I'd recommend H&H and WR.

Will - what type of sights does JJ do that you reccomend?

I have a Blaser S-2 in 9.3x74R, that was mis-ordered by my gunshop here in Spain. I ordered a Super Lux and got a Lux with a splinter forened. PISSED OFF!

Still haven't shot it but I have shot a 375 S-2 and it was sweet!

For the ultimate Heym double with barrel sets in 470ne and 375h&h, go to our site doublegunhq.com and look under the category "double rifles".

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Garby,
You got that right. Nothing at all wrong with a Merkel. Though some around here seem to be pushing Searcy pretty hard. I just don't see it. Give me a Heym or a Merkel, or I'll just go back to my bolt action trash.

You are right there is nothing wrong with a Merkel, but like the Chapuis, and Heym they are off the shelf doubles, and are made "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" where the B. Searcy is made to fit, at about the same money as the Merkel, in a better selection of chamberings, and the PH is far less than the Heym. I had an Heym 88, 470NE, and it was a very well made double, and fit me well. I also have a Merkel and it fits me well too, but this isn't the case with everyone.

Of the OTS doubles, the Heym is my choice as well, if price isn't an issue. I find most German, Austrian, and Belgeon doubles to be well made in all I have ever owned. The usually regulate, and shoot better than most of the Britts I've owned. There seems to be a little snootiness amoung double rifle people, that often makes them pass up very fine double rifles simply because they are not British. I'm happy about that fact, because it keeps the prices lower on some real nice doubles. I couldn't give a damn where a double is made, as long as it is srtong, and well made, and shoots where I point it!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
You are right there is nothing wrong with a Merkel, but like the Chapuis, and Heym they are off the shelf doubles, and are made "ONE SIZE FITS ALL" where the B. Searcy is made to fit,

Sorry, Mac - but that's not true. You've probably seen many guns in the racks that the dealers are ordering to "standard specs" but Chapuis will build to your dimensions at no additional charge. Heym, I'm almost certain will also, but i've never ordered one.

Merkel on the other hand is truly standardized for dimensions and last i checked they wanted about $1500 for custom dimensions.

quote:

I chose the Merkel because it was lower priced, and I am very happy with it.

quote:

Merkel on the other hand is truly standardized for dimensions and last i checked they wanted about $1500 for custom dimensions.

So this makes it very competitive. Cheaper in standard form. Or with an additional fee stock modified to one's dimensions. Similar in price to that other rifle people keep claiming is "custom" in standard form, but customising actually costs a whole lot of thousands more.

And if you want to deal directly with the Merkel factory, they offer a sidelock SxS in assorted NE calibers that is over $25,000 US for the basic model.

I might add that the Merkel 140 basic boxlock in 470 NE is less clubby than the Searcy's I have handled.

Luckily I am the same size as Elvis in his younger days, and both the Merkel 140 and the CZ 550 Lux Hogbacks fit us perfectly off the shelf. King size.