Finally had the opportunity to head out to the range for some more work with my UGEX and just wanted to share the results and see if I am headed in the right direction. Load for today was 63 gr IMR 4831, fed 215, and 286 Woodleigh soft point.
I am still shooting the factory iron sights which I find to be very fast but somewhat crude for pin point accuracy. Shooting distance was 50 yards and I was resting the forearm on a rest and free holding the rear. POI is slightly off by about an inch to the right but it is better then needed be for a chance at a moose next week.
I shot five different 2 shot groups. Each time I would fire the right barrel and record the results and then load and shoot the left barrel (no spotter today as my son was working). The right barrel is always hitting to the right and the left to the left. The vertical dispersion on all the 2 shot groups was usually around an inch and the time it was 2 inches I suspect was my fault.
The interesting observation was that at no time was there more than 1/2 inch of horizontal dispersion for any of 2 shot groups. I hope I can have someone fit the scope mount soon to see if the rifle is even more capabable with the 2x7 Leupold European on it.
The trigger for the left barrel has about a 3 pound heavier pull than the right. Is this normal?
Brass ejects easy. Should I continue to increase the powder charge? Any and all suggestion are appreciated.

Oh, I should of bought a double years ago! These things are a hoot to shoot.

Ooooo, you better change that part about resting the forearm on a rest before Mac gets up in the morning or you're going to get an ear full

quote:

Originally posted by NFMike:
Ooooo, you better change that part about resting the forearm on a rest before Mac gets up in the morning or you're going to get an ear full

Snowwolfe

So Far so good. On the Chapuis the rear trigger is usually heavier than the front trigger.

The front bead on the Chapuis is fairly large. When aiming try to use the top of the bead as your focal point.

Snowwolfe,
Sounds to me like you have a good load for your rifle. Good luck on your moose!

What is the caliber? I have seen many Chapuis doing better on a rest @ 50 meters, around half inch, impacts touching each other.

snowolf... my chapuis UGEX developed about a 20lb pull on the rear trigger, when it would fire at all.....2 other shooters experinced the same problem with my rifle...also the release lever was marking wood and receiver.... it went back to dale for repair... then went on to pat laib..he was checking/repairing.... triggers were to be set at 4 1/2 lbs....got an email from dale this morning... i think my chapuis is on its way back to me...

Hello Jimatcat,
What kind of turn around time/ repair time has been involved with the repairs on your double rifle?? I have been contemplating the purchase of one for sometime, but doing a fair amount of checking things out regarding service, quality, performance, etc., but the service issue is important to me. Thanks

I do not have a trigger pull scale but would estimate the weight of my rear trigger at 7-8 pounds.
Would this be in line for a "normal" rifle or is it to high?

Snowwolfe:

Hold the barrels in your forward hand and rest the back of the hand on the forward rest.

Those pulls sound pretty heavy, but let them wear in a little. As long as you don't let your finger slip off the front trigger and cause a double discharge, they need not be heavier than 3 - 4 pounds.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I just went back downstairs and put the rifle together and cycled it a few times using the snap caps. The rear trigger is probably at most only about one pound heavier. I think what happened at the range is I was anticipating the second shot a little to much and this caused me to think the rear trigger was excessively to heavy.
On to another observation, I know there are times I will use the scope once I have the mounts fitted but I would really like more precise iron sights for this rifle. It is so light and handles so easily it begs to be shot with iron sights. Any suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
On to another observation, I know there are times I will use the scope once I have the mounts fitted but I would really like more precise iron sights for this rifle. It is so light and handles so easily it begs to be shot with iron sights. Any suggestions?

I agree. If you look at it closely, it has a white front bead (at least those I've shot did) mounted on a square-topped post, with a square notch in the rear sight. They're not really express sights. The little 9.3 Chapuis is a lot of rifle for the money. Unfortunately, that doesn't extend to the sights, and they give me fits too.

When I was thinking about buying one of the Chapuis, I decided I'd have J. J. remove the post and mill the ramp from the front for a new stem with a real .080" platinum bead, and have him replace the rear sight with a true express wide V with platinum center wire with the face sloping forward. He can also fit a folding moon sight with a convex white porcelain bead, which I've also found very useful. These changes wouldn't be cheap, but good express sights aren't.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I have shot several deer, several wild pigs, sveral turkeys, seveal small varmints, like skunks, armidillos, racoons, etc., 2 black bears, and one elephant with the standard iron sights on my Chapuis 9,3.

The sights work better in the field than they do on the range.
The rear sight has the orange insert, and is some light conditions I have found it very useful.

While I like the iron sights on my 450 No2 the best, I am not planning to change the sights on the Chapuis.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
I just went back downstairs and put the rifle together and cycled it a few times using the snap caps. The rear trigger is probably at most only about one pound heavier. I think what happened at the range is I was anticipating the second shot a little to much and this caused me to think the rear trigger was excessively to heavy.
On to another observation, I know there are times I will use the scope once I have the mounts fitted but I would really like more precise iron sights for this rifle. It is so light and handles so easily it begs to be shot with iron sights. Any suggestions?

I have a similiar problem, my front trigger is 6.7 pounds and the rear is 8.1 pounds, I just tested them again.

On my last trip to the range I had to check twice to see if the safety was on since it felt like I was pulling too hard.

If it is the only gun I shoot I get used to it quick. Last trip to the range I shot my Sauer 202 a lot first which breaks at just under 3 1/2 pounds. When I switched to the Chapuis it felt very heavy.

The trigger problem is a universal one. I was told by Bernard at Chapuis that this is due to a requirement in French gun making law. He thought that the law stated a minimum of 8#. I had Pat Laib do a trigger job on 3 rifles. He set them at 3.5# on the front and 4# on the back. I am waiting for the reports on how the guys like them. I hope it works well for them.

Dale

i shot my chapuis today... the trigger repair that pat laib did is first rate... ...i also mounted an older redfield 2x7x20mm on the chapuis.... at 50 yds, i have a 2 shot group 1"...right is on the right..etc...scoping did not change regulation any at all... i'm shooting factory s&b 285 gr sp's...i'll handload eventually....dale did a fantastic job in getting my chapuis reapired....

jimacat
I have taken deer, wild pigs and a bobcat with the S&B 285gr SP. It worked fine. It is at least as strong, maybe slightly stronger than the 286 Norma Alaska.

400 nitro- you mentioned setting your hand under the rifle on top of the sand bag when sighting in your double. I've heard from several sources that this increases accuracy. Any suggestions for shooting on a lead sled?

I'd say to give it a miss (no pun).

In the end, your double needs to be shot standing like a man. Accuracy isn't the main consideration , more a correct two barrel group to POA when used as intended. (IMHO).

Plus, the sled may crack something.

I would not shoot a double on a lead sled.

I do not even shoot a double above 400 off the bench.

Shoot it offhand at 25, kneeling at 50 and kneeling and sitting at 100.

Once you get you load developed shoot it standing at 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100.
Shoot it with sticks at 50 and 100.

Cannot hit anything standing at 100, practice more, with and without the sticks.

i'll post a pic of my target this afternoon... all shots were off of sticks....2 quick, but aimed shots....i don't intend to shoot my chapuis off of the bench....kneeling is an option....

quote:

Any suggestions for shooting on a lead sled?

Yes - DONT!

There have been reports of broken stocks and barrel damage from people using a lead sled or similar devices. The torque created by a double rifle requires a fair amount of give.

quote:

Originally posted by maddenwh:
400 nitro- you mentioned setting your hand under the rifle on top of the sand bag when sighting in your double. I've heard from several sources that this increases accuracy. Any suggestions for shooting on a lead sled?

Don't.

As I write this, I'm looking at a photo of the recoil pad on a Heym .470 that was fired in a lead sled. The entire base plate of the pad has shifted downwards on the wood (the mounting screws have been driven sideways in their holes) and the base plate itself is broken. Given that much damage to the pad itself, it's a miracle that the stock didn't break.

Aside from considerable risk of serious damage, you can't expect a double to regulate properly from a sled anyway, and you certainly can't "sight in" with one, because they can't recoil in the way that they were regulated for. "Regulation" is slaved to the recoil movement of the piece while the bullet is still in the bore (barrel time) when the rifle is fired in the usual field position. They're ususally regulated from a standing rest, but don't have to be. Purdey uses a sitting rest, and there's nothing wrong with that if it's set up properly. For the best accuracy, they need to be fired in the same manner that was used to regulate it, or at least a close approximation.

The forward hand should grasp the barrels (never the fore-end alone) in the same manner as shooting off-hand and rest the back of the forward hand on the sand bag. For a sitting rest, elevate the bags higher than you normally would for a bolt rifle, so that you're sitting erect to the shot. I rest my elbows lightly on the bench top. Use no other rest and don't put a rest under the butt. The idea is to set it up so that the rifle and upper body can move under recoil in the same way as firing off-hand.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."