I have sold my user un-friendly H&H and have decided to purchase one of the new doubles from the alternative makers. I would like opinions on the Heym,Merkel,Chapius,Searcy and Douglass if possible. I have no experience with the contemporary makers and would like your suggestions and comments. I have grown tired of paying big dollars for an old English double and then investing even more for restoration and still not have what I really want. I appreciate your help.

Since you live in California why dont you visit John Rigby and se what they can make for you



http://www.johnrigbyandco.com/pages/Main-Guns.html



Best buy would be the PH from B. Searcy $ 9,500



http://www.searcyent.com/fieldgrade.htm



Cheers,



Andr�

Look at Searcy and Chapuis. Great rifles ... but just enough different that one may be better for your taste.

My slightly older Searcy in .470 NE shoots incredible groups with heavy Woodleigh loads and light cast bullet loads. Very sturdy and well built. A terrific field piece that you can actually use without irrationally worrying about it.

The scoped Chapuis in 9.3x74R is very accurate with Woodleighs, Noslers, and Speers (for plinking). Different feel ... great quality.

I just saw the "pre-bluing" regulation target for my Searcy .470 N.E. Six rounds were shot and all three rights touched as did the three lefts. The "clusters" were only 1" apart at 50 yards. If ruggedness and accuracy are paramount, go with the Searcy. Heck, since you live in California, why not go visit Butch and eat lunch at the Mexican place and toast a margarita to me. That way, you can be measured, etc. and have the gun "really" made just for you.

MERKEL and RIGBY: Both Merkel and Rigby doubles are made on a Markel 20 gauge shotgun action. There were early reports of the Merkels doubling and going off face, but that seems to have quieted down so they seem to have been fine for the past couple of years. The Rigby is a much more finely finished rifle although the action is the same.



Heym: Nice rifle, but a little pricey compared to Searcy adn Markel.



Krieghoff: I cannot tolerate the cocking piece thing in place of a safety because it is SLOW.



Sig S2: See Krieghoff comments, and it has a piece of rubber between the barrels. Yuck!



Searcy: It is a tradtiional double design, but much more stout than the Merkel. I have shot 3 elephant, a buffalo and a bison with mine and it has been a flawless performer.



Chapuis: They are ok, but do not seem to fit me well. Perhaps a Chapuis would be the right choice if your PH will be driving a Peugot to the hunting concession.



If you choose a Searcy, you will be at least the third person on this forum to ditch a fine old English double in favor of a Searcy.

Erik,

I am not quite sure why Chapuis feel awkward to me but they do. Probably it is stock design. As far as long term quality, I cannot offer any comment about Chapuis because all of the ones I have seen and shot have been used little.

For a hunting rifle, I chose the Searcy in the newer PH model and I simply love that gun, it is so accurate it is scary, in fact unbelievable...It can shoot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards with just about any load I have shot through it and all to the same POI...It also won the double rifle national shoot in 2004 hands down, no contest...

All of the folks that have these guns will tell you the same thing as far as I know...The folks on this board that have them really are high on them...AND they shoot monolithic bullets, something many doubles cannot do.

BTW, I just got a box of 500 gr. 470 High vel hollow points from GS Customs to try out, they are wicked looking bullets....

Thank you fellows for your replies! The Euro/ US guns are foreign to me so I appreciate your help. I have dealt in English guns for 25 years and have a fairly good knowledge of these guns. I must admit that the Searcy guns are incredible shooters and will shoot Monolithic solids, as Ray mentions in his post. I will keep you advised on my choice. Thank all of you!

Currently own Merkel 470 and Heym 375 and have nothing but good words for both. Accurate far beyond my capabilities and easy to load for as far as regulation. My Heym has selector switch on forearm to turn ejectors on/off which is handy when shooting paper. Had a Chapius 9.3x74R that I wish I had back. It was the quickest double I have ever had.
Of the 3 I like the Heym best,although wish It was for the flanged 375.

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