So I have 10K to spend, HELP!

16 April 2010, 03:12

JCS271

Looking for a good solid "working" rifle, not at all interested in engraving and such. I just want a rifle that I can enjoy shooting with an eye towards a buffalo someday. Caliber either 450/400 3" or .470NE (2nd choice). I have a budget that hits the wall at about 10k. It looks like my options for a new or like new rifle would be Merkel, Chapuis or Krieghoff, sadly I missed the cutoff to get a field grade searcy which might have been exactly what I want.

Could you all please comment if one of these, (or another brand that I missed) has any significant mechanical or craftsmanship issues, either good or bad that would make them stand out over the others. Ultimately I understand that I have to hold the rifle to determine fit, balance and the overall feel. I am just trying to narrow down a brand at this point. I have NEVER spent this much time reading/researching a gun purchase in my life. I am hoping to hit a home run with this purchase and grow old with this rifle
Thanks for your input.

16 April 2010, 03:13

505ED

Merkel K-gun and Chapuis are all good choices. I'd handle all of them, then find the one that fits your taste.

Ed

16 April 2010, 03:25

Jack D Bold

You might want to look at this

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=164689907

It's a bit over your budget, but -

1. Heyms are SWEET rifles
2. That's about 7k less than a new one
3. Most new rifles will depreciate. At this price, the value can only go up.

Here's a brother in arms, doing what it does best

Have fun shopping!

16 April 2010, 03:45

465H&H

Keep your eyes open and I'll bet you can find a nearly new Searcy 450/400. Check Cabela's Gun Library, AR classified and Gunbroker.

465H&H

16 April 2010, 04:12

Ed Scarboro

So far my only experience is with Merkel. I have a 470NE, a 500NE and a 9.3X74R and all are very accurate and fit me right out of the box with no adjustmetns needed. I would recommend handling what you think you are interested in and even shooting a couple if possible before buying.

16 April 2010, 04:33

N E 450 No2

That is a good looking Heym.

The New price on the Safari Heym is @22K.

The PH is @17K.

16 April 2010, 04:46

enfieldspares

quote:
Looking for a good solid "working" rifle, not at all interested in engraving and such. I just want a rifle that I can enjoy shooting with an eye towards a buffalo someday. Caliber either 450/400 3" or 470NE (2nd choice). I have a budget that hits the wall at about 10k.

You have two choices in fact. New. Secondhand.

My advice? Have a look at the British gun auction sites of Gavin Gardiner

 http://www.gavingardiner.com/

You will find double guns in all calibres and from hammer to non-ejector to "full monty" sidelock ejector.

16 April 2010, 04:51

enfieldspares

Or Holt's

 http://holtsauctioneers.co.uk/

16 April 2010, 04:54

enfieldspares

Or Bonhams

 http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin...nent=EUR&Screen=guns

16 April 2010, 05:16

Peter

enfield, plase educate me on how to navigate around both those sites as I seem to be unable to pull anything up.
Thanks, Peter.

16 April 2010, 05:28

enfieldspares

Gardiner is select by hovering over it CATALOGUE then from the drop down select by left click ARCHIVE. Then choose which one you want to view.

Holt's is select by hovering over it CATALOGUES then select by left click ARCHIVES then from the drop down use the arrow tab on the VIEW AND ARCHIVE "window" to choose a catalogue. And to see it select nothing other than the SEARCH by a left click leaving all the other boxes blank.

Bonhams is look to the left hand boxes and select by left ONLINE CATALOGUE from under the past sale date.

Hope this helps and you don't regret what you are too late to bid on!

16 April 2010, 06:33

bigfats

I shopped and researched for 6 months and vacillated between K gun, Chapius and Searcy and since I had decided early on the caliber 450/400 that left the Merkel out. Long story short, I got the K gun and I'm very pleased with it. I was dubious about the cocking procedure but that fast became a non issue and now I see it as a real plus.

If you are looking for a 450/400, the K gun will be heftier than say their 470 NE since they use the same stock barrels for both, ergo the smaller holes results in more weight. You'll come to like this I guarentee.

Good Luck on your search.

16 April 2010, 07:40

Use Enough Gun

I love my Merkel .470 NE. You could get a new one for that amount of money. I also love my Searcy 450-400. You will NOT get a new one or a used one, for that amount of money.

16 April 2010, 09:16

BigFiveJack

http://www.verney-carron.us/

This brand is available in Maryland at:

www.kebcollc.com and well worth a look!

16 April 2010, 18:18

eezridr

This is a hell of a deal on the Heym 88 if you can tolerate a 470 NE. Mine fits me like a glove .

EZ

quote:
Originally posted by Jack D Bold:
You might want to look at this

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=164689907

It's a bit over your budget, but -

1. Heyms are SWEET rifles
2. That's about 7k less than a new one
3. Most new rifles will depreciate. At this price, the value can only go up.

Here's a brother in arms, doing what it does best

Have fun shopping!

18 April 2010, 00:07

Shawn Massey

Here a Kreighoff 450/400 3" that I would sell for 9000.00

18 April 2010, 04:56

cal pappas

New rifles are fine working tools but for 10K you can find a good, vintage, English hammer double rifle, either top lever or under lever, nitro proofed, for the money you have. The rifle will be far better finished, have some history, and some real class. I sold one (450-400) for 10K last year and a friend just bought one for the same price. They are out there.
Cal

_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
www.CalPappas.com
www.CalPappas.blogspot.com
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1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation
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2007 Zimbabwe--vacation
2008 Zimbabwe
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2013 South Africa
2013 Zimbabwe
2013 Australia
2016 Zimbabwe
2017 Zimbabwe
2018 South Africa
2018 Zimbabwe--vacation
2019 South Africa
2019 Botswana
2019 Zimbabwe vacation
2021 South Africa
2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later)
______________________________

19 April 2010, 01:25

Dave Bush

quote:
Originally posted by JCS271:
Looking for a good solid "working" rifle, not at all interested in engraving and such. I just want a rifle that I can enjoy shooting with an eye towards a buffalo someday. Caliber either 450/400 3" or 470NE (2nd choice). I have a budget that hits the wall at about 10k. It looks like my options for a new or like new rifle would be Merkel, Chapuis or Krieghoff, sadly I missed the cutoff to get a field grade searcy which might have been exactly what I want.

Could you all please comment if one of these, (or another brand that I missed) has any significant mechanical or craftsmanship issues, either good or bad that would make them stand out over the others. Ultimately I understand that I have to hold the rifle to determine fit, balance and the overall feel. I am just trying to narrow down a brand at this point. I have NEVER spent this much time reading/researching a gun purchase in my life. I am hoping to hit a home run with this purchase and grow old with this rifle
Thanks for your input.

JCS271:

PM sent.

Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).

19 April 2010, 03:03

Biebs

Dave, "PM Sent" I see. C'mon...have the "Hutzpah" to extol the virtues of the Blaser S2 system to JSC out in the open forum!!! We won't deride you or or make snide comments...I promise (well, for myself anyway!!!!)

19 April 2010, 10:09

BigFiveJack

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
New rifles are fine working tools but for 10K you can find a good, vintage, English hammer double rifle, either top lever or under lever, nitro proofed, for the money you have. The rifle will be far better finished, have some history, and some real class. I sold one (450-400) for 10K last year and a friend just bought one for the same price. They are out there.
Cal

Very sound advise here.

19 April 2010, 17:23

Dave Bush

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Dave, "PM Sent" I see. C'mon...have the "Hutzpah" to extol the virtues of the Blaser S2 system to JSC out in the open forum!!! We won't deride you or or make snide comments...I promise (well, for myself anyway!!!!)

Biebs:

I was not going to tell him about the many fine qualities of the S2. I have a line on a "working gun" at a very good price and I was going to pass that on to him.

I thought it was a bit ironic though that Cal and Jack jumped on the band wagon for an "English hammer double rifle." Don't you have to "recock" those after you fire the first two rounds?

19 April 2010, 17:37

Biebs

Good point! Maybe they are the early ancestors to the S2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20 April 2010, 06:19

BigFiveJack

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Bush:
I thought it was a bit ironic though that Cal and Jack jumped on
the band wagon for an "English hammer double rifle." Don't you
have to "recock" those after you fire the first two rounds?

Dave,

YOU put the emphasis on hammer,

Cal and I would have put the emphasis on ENGLISH !!!!!
EVERONE ought to KNOW THAT !

20 April 2010, 07:25

N E 450 No2

Well at least with an S2 you can cock Both hammers at the same time..

20 April 2010, 07:53

Akshooter

Originaly posted by Biebs

quote:
Good point! Maybe they are the early ancestors to the S2

Thats actully not that far from the truth.
In Ferlach external hammer guns are built everyday. Mostly single shot kipplaufbuchsen and over/under doubles.