Has anyone had experience with these rifles? I was told at the Tulsa Show by Champlins that the English made Double Rifles were in their opinion the best. Now I know that H&H, Rigby, W. Richards etc make probably the best.

But would the Searcy be comparable to say the Krieghoff, Chapuis or Merkel?

I've got a hankering for a 500 NE double and $7,000 isn't bad for a standard grade double. Given today's technologies - CNC, computer aided machining and the like. Would an American double rifle manufacturer be competitive?

Thanks for the earlier post giving me Searcy's web site - searcyent.com

Thanks,

Troy

I don't own a Searcy, however I have had the oportunity to paw over a couple of them. I got to meet and visit with Butch at the last Dallas Safari Club show.
In my opine I think Butch makes the best American made double rifle manufactured today! The price looks very good, and as others have told me, Butch stand behind his products!

Hard to beat New In the Box and warranty stuff!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Forgive me Rusty, but I don't think you answered the question, which was "how does the Searcy compare with Merkel's, Krieghoff's etc. in terms of new guns, and older English (European)guns in terms of older guns". This is a question I am interested in as well. Presumably newer steels, manufacturing processes etc. should make for a better product (greater precision and strength) but, there is, I believe, some hand work also involved in double guns. This implies that an experienced workforce is also beneficial. Presumably Merkel, Krieghoff etc. have this. Does Searcy?
peter.
Peter.

500Grains recently had the opportunity to examine most of the major brands and a number of used doubles. I believe he has ordered a .500 from Searcey.

Well, Searcy has been making o/u and side-by-side double rifles now for at least 20 years or so. So, he should have enough experience at this juncture to be able to regulate a double rifle. And, I believe, this is the most difficult part of making a good one.

Certainly the price for a "field grade" is right ie. around $7000! Does anyone know if Searcy is planning on making one in 500/416, like Krieghoff does? How about 450/400? What is the wait time from time of order/deposit?
Peter.

I own a Searcy .470NE and have been to Butch's shop in Boron. In fact he is the main reason I got into gun building myself as he was having so much fun! His work is top notch and a good value at $7000. Best of all you won't have to wait forever or have concerns about getting the gun fixed if it ever breaks.-Rob

I own a Searcy field grade 470 NE and am completely satisfied with it and with the service Mr. Searcy has provided along with it. I can't speak regarding a comparison between the Searcys and other makers because I haven't owned any of the others. I believe he already makes a 500/416 in his upgraded models but not in the field grade. Had the 500/416 been available in the field grade I would have bought it rather than the 470. That way I would have a 416 Taylor for a "light" rifle and the 416 caliber double for closer work. Just my 2 cents worth.
Good Hunting,

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Andy Cooper

Butch has been building double rifles far longer than 20 years. He was building double rifles way back in the 60s when he lived in Farmington, NM. His rifles are as strong as any you will encounter, the CNC work is only to cut down on the cost of the enitial reduceing of a single piece of steel to a general shape of the finished product. This cut, in cost, is dirrectly forwarded to his customers, in lower prices for a custom product. The fitting, and regulation is exactly the same as the process was 100 yrs ago. Top this with the fact that a Searcy is fitted to YOU, and the Merkel , and Krieghoff are not, but are "one size fits all", of modern production average. Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Merkel, or Krieghoff, but with either, you are limited to what they make, not what you want them to make, and the Searcy is custom made for YOU!

You can get a prittier rifle, you can get a rifle chambered for more cartridges than with a Searcy, you can get a rifle that costs more than a Searcy, you can get a rifle that will apprecieate more as an investment than a Searcy, but you can't get a "BETTER" rifle than a B. SEARCY!

Just my opinion!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 04-03-2002).]

Searcy doubles are made with hard steel that will last, not the soft stuff the Europeans use (which is easy to machine). And they fit me great, and look great, and are priced great, so what are you waiting for?

In another thread, Mr. Atkinson stated he was conned into buying a rifle from Se�or Searcy. Having followed Mr. Atkinson's comments regarding rifles and having corresponded with Mr. Atkinson, I do not think he is easily conned into buying rifles; but knows quality and value went he sees it. You might want to ask him what he thinks about Searcy rifles.

Saludos...Frank

I have been into the doubles for a long time and I believe the Searcy is head and shoulders above Krieghoff, Chapuis and Merkel...Mostly they really shoot well and I have never seen one shot loose that I recall..they are certainly better than the old English guns and thats not to fault the English guns, heck I shoot an English gun and I adore it, but it certianly isn't better than a Searcy..Johann Calitz shoots a Searcy and it has had a LOT of rounds through it and it's still as tight as a tick...you get a $15,000. gun for $7 grand, how can you beat that. I can pick the other doubles mentioned above apart but I'm not going to do that,it would prove nothing..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I agonized months over what double to go with. I found Searcy, Merkel, and Kreighoff to be quality firearms. I decided on the Kreighoff because of the cocking system.

How does one contact Mr. Searcy?

Nimrod, You can go to his website. Someone alread listed it earlier in this thread. The other options are email or phone at mailto:searcy@ccis.com or call us at (760) 762-6131

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Happiness is a warm gun

Yeah, the web site adress was mentioned in the first post on this thread but I had to really look for it to see it. I guess I'm getting old. Anyway, to make it easier here's the web site address for Searcy:

http://www.searcyent.com/

-Bob F.

If you want a good reference on Butch's rifles talk to Johann Calitz, he owns several.