I am getting "long in the tooth..." and giving serious thought to buying double rifle of some sort as a last hurrah type gesture, but been following these postings for sometime and read good and bad of all mfg's of doubles. Just read earlier posting about supposedly quality double being "off face" and some mention of perhaps previous owner had over stressed w/ stout loads to cause the condition. Caliber I have in mind is the 9.3x74 and with normal or std. loads of this caliber would one expect the rifle to remain sound over a few years of shooting?
I have no plans to hunt dangerous game with the rifle and would also appreciate any thoughts as to an O/U double rifle. See that Heym has a new offering and it does appeal to me. Would prefer to purchase a new rifle and have a budget of say between 5-8 thousand. Any suggestions??

martin

The 9.3X74R is a good all around choice. In a lighter rifle it will slap you a bit if it does not fit you. If you have no intentions of anything big then you might consider a double in 8X57JRS or smaller.

Heym is always a great choice for a double rifle!

MFD, it's called a "bucket list" and mine includes a Jaguar XK8! Generally, used doubles like used firearms in general, are not used that much. My 9.3x74R is a Tikka (Valmet) 512SD. This is an O/U but can be bought for much less than a SxS. The 9.3 is a very useful caliber. The Heym is a fine rifle by all accounts. Go for it!
Peter.

Martin:

A good quality double that's properly maintained and fed correct ammo should stay on face indefinitely - thousands of rounds, not hundreds.
--------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Martin:

Check out www.kebcollc.com for double rifle options. Ken enjoys a very good reputation and is not that far from you. Might be worth a visit to his shop to learn more about doubles whether SxS or O/U.

RCG

quote:

Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
Martin:

A good quality double that's properly maintained and fed correct ammo should stay on face indefinitely - thousands of rounds, not hundreds.
--------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

What Mark said above! IMO,a full 99% of the double rifles you find that are off face, were made that way by poor care by imporper lubrication of the hook, and pin, and lump surfaces, not over pressure loads. Though that can happen it is not the major cause of the off face condition.

The 9.3X74R double rifle is one of the most usefull hunting rifles for North America you could pick. My preference is a side by side, but I own both types. I rarely shoot the O/U, but my Merkel 140E S/S double rifle chambered for 9.3X74R is the rifle I pick up most often of the 7 double rifles I own.

Good luck with what ever you get, and welcome to the DRSS! Double rifles are an addiction!

Geez Mac. I know you wanted to make a point, but repeating it 3 times??!!!
Peter.

Cabela's has a (used) Heym 9.3X74R in stock and I've handled the gun. It's a sweet little thing and in very good shape. I don't like the cocker/decocker "safety" that Heym uses or I'd have bought it Not that I need another gun

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...categoryId=SEARCH_gl

That is a SWEET looking double rifle. Any comments on the price? I have no idea what these Heyms go for.
Peter.

I have no idea how the three dups happened, but since you guys didn't want to read all three of them I had no other option other than to delete two of them, but I can delete the third one if it will help the thread!

........................

quote:

imporper lubrication of the hook, and pin, and lump surfaces,

Nope! Just tell us the proper way to lubricate the damn things!
Any comment on the Heym 26B? I Googled it and found some comments to the effect that it has an Aluminum receiver, is regulated for 232 grain bullets and is NOT designed for heavy bullets eg. 286 grain. That takes the bloom off the rose a bit for me. Plus it seems awfully light.
Peter.

MFD

I have around 3000 [three thousand] rounds through my Chapuis 9,3x74R.

The 9,3x74R is a great calibre.

286 gr bullets are my favorites.

Peter

You are correct about the 9,3x74R Heym 26B.

It is set up for the 232gr bullet.

I have shot one.
It is a very light short double.

I have a Heym 26B in 30/30 Winchester.

Hello NE 450 No 2,
With 3000 rnds and no problems it would certainly appear that the Chapuis is a serviceable firearm. Heym is advertising their O/U 26B Luxus Model for just over 5,000.00 List Price. Noted that they state the receiver is an alloy w/ steel inserts.
Is there a different procedure for regulating the O/U doubles vs the side by sides?
I would assume the barrels would deliver POI w/ some slight difference in height vs horizonatal spread for the SXS?? Friend of mine has a Chapuis in 9.3x74 and we easily hit a metal gong off hand at 200yds with the rifle, but he did have to send it back(somewhere??) for a trigger problem, but overall he is quite pleased with it. Thanks for the feedback and advise.

quote:

Originally posted by 510wells:
Cabela's has a (used) Heym 9.3X74R in stock and I've handled the gun. It's a sweet little thing and in very good shape. I don't like the cocker/decocker "safety" that Heym uses or I'd have bought it Not that I need another gun

Not everyone's cup of tea, but it is a nice little rifle (very light and short). It was designed specifically for the French market, and has done well there from what I know. But we have not pushed here in the states.

The frame is aluminum, with a steel breech block. The barrels are hand-regulated and fixed (not adjustable). They have gotten great reviews for accuracy in the European press, but it was never really intended for the American taste in double rifles.

Even the 236gr bullets from the 9.3x74 are a little punchy in the recoil department. An 8x57R would be an ideal caliber for this light little rifle IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:

quote:

imporper lubrication of the hook, and pin, and lump surfaces,

Nope! Just tell us the proper way to lubricate the damn things!
Any comment on the Heym 26B? .
Peter.

Yes I could have made a comment on the 26B Heym, but it would have been about the same as NEW-GUY's!

He brought one of them down to the DRSS hunt last year, and because it was regulated for the 232 gr bullets, and all anyone had was the 286 gr bullets the damn thing kicked like a Missouri jack mule, and de-cocked it's self every time it was fired from the heavy recoil. I don't know if it could be fixed with stronger springs, or if it would regulate with the 286 gr ammo, but if not I'll simply stick with what I have, and forego the 26B!

Recoil is a state of mind. My Chapuis 9.3 x 74R, when shot from field conditions does not kick hardly at all.

RAC I doubt whether your Chapuis weighs a little over 6 pounds either!
My Tikka handles the 286 gr. loads very well, but it is a heavier gun.
Peter.

How much do you want to spend? Davik Pedersoli imports a hammer double rifle that can be had starting about $4500? in 45-70,8x57R and 9.3x72R. Here is the site. http://davide-pedersoli.com/?i...egoriaId=280&lang=en

They make a 9.3X74R not the old 9.3X72R.
I've got one and it';s a good entry level rifle.

Fat Albert,
I mentioned a budget range of $5-$8,000.00
That range seems to cover the SXS offered by Chapuis in the non dangerous game calibers and entry level of other brands in cal.'s of say the 9.3x74 or lesser calibers. The Heym O/U 26B appealed to me primarily due to cost/price, but I don't believe I would be all that pleased with an O/U vs the SXS. I plan on taking this rifle with me to the "great beyond" and St. Peter may not think it very classy to bring an O/U. Type of firearm I show up with will most likely be one of my minor issues getting entry to the "Kingdom."

quote:

By Fat Albert

How much do you want to spend? Davik Pedersoli imports a hammer double rifle that can be had starting about $4500? in 45-70,8x57R and 9.3x72R. Here is the site. http://davide-pedersoli.com/?i...egoriaId=280&lang=en

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
They make a 9.3X74R not the old 9.3X72R.
I've got one and it';s a good entry level rifle.

Right it is the 9.3X74R !

I fired the 26b at DRSS and thought it was fine! I have a little more ass backing me up and not as "long in the tooth" as others so I would think that probably gives me a slight advantage taking recoil.

It was very light and handy, I think it would be a great horseback hunting gun!

The decocking issue to my knowledge has been remedied and according to newguy the gun at Cabelas is one that has been upgraded as well!

Don't lose sight of the fact that Heym does make an SxS with a receiver sized for calibers like the 9.3x74

http://www.heymusa.com/88_B.htm

No cocker/decocker, no aluminum and barrels side by side versus gangsta style...

All the same features of its big and bigger brothers in a lighter package

Hello,
I went to the Heym site and yes the rifle you suggested is what appears to be a good compromise in what I am after. I'll definitely check into this one and noted that it is "in between" in size of the lightest and the heaviest versions which is good. I'll contact the firm next week and go from there. Thanks,

martin

You make the point of NO dangerous game hunting and preferring NEW.

www.kebcollc.com and www.heymusa.com are just two of several guys

that can sell you a NEW O/U within your price range that you can count

on to back up what they sell you. I think O/U rifles in 9.3 and smaller

calibers are wonderfully elegant in appearance, especially with a claw

mount for the scope.

AS TO THE NON DANGEROUS GAME POINT I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT A CALIBER

THAT IS MASS PRODUCED BY MAJOR AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS; AND DON'T WORRY

THAT IT IS RIMLESS !!! The rim/flange issue is much more relevant when discussing the

imperativeness of failure proof extraction or ejection when facing dangerous game. When

deer hunting or the like there is NOT he threat that the cape buff hunter faces. So why not

use a 30-06, or for more juice a .338 Win Mag. To quote JPK from another thread, "PRESSURE

SHMESHER..." He shoots a .458 Win Mag double at ELEPHANTS every time he can get to Africa

and I think he's killed ten or more jumbos to date. It's a fairly easy and inexpensive fix

"they" say to put a rifle back on face any way. I would say even black bears ARE dangerous.

So go 8x75R or 9.3x74R if you might use the rifle on one of them. If you LOVE, just LOVE to

load your own ammo then it is true that the rimmed/flanged round is all the more traditional

for a double. But if you reload just to save money, I know I'd pick a .338 Win Mag or a 30-06.

Off the rack ammo that you can get in every little store around the world is a nice safety net.

I also recommend Kebcollc.com I don't know what part of WVA you are in but they are located near Gettysburg,PA so it might be driving range for you. I recently bought a 9.3X74R Mathelon triple barrel from him. I know he has a number of 9.3X74R in stock from at least three different makers including Chapuis, Merlke,and Saice. He is nice guy and very knowledgeable about double rifles. I just saw him at the Vintagers on Friday and my buddy bought a .470 from him on Saturday. When I bought my Mathelon I handled the many different 9.3X74R doubles he had. There is nothing like having all the different rifles side by side to help make your decision.

Hello,
So happens that my wife and I have been planning a trip to Gettysburg,PA before the snow flies, history buff, and now the trip will have to include and additional stop. Thanks,

martin

Norma Factory 232 Vulcan Soft [15.0 Gram].

Velocity Energy
Muzzle 2625fps 3543 ft/lbs
100 yards 2331 2794
200 yards 2056 2174
300 yards 1801 1668

Trajectory

100 yards + 1.04
150 yards Zero
200 yards -2.85
300 yards -15.02

MFD

You can't go wrong with the 9.3x74R. Out of twenty or so doubles, it is my "go to gun". Mine is a Heym 88B.

That being said, you can't go wrong with any purchase from Ken at KEBCO. He is first class all the way.

Don

9.3 X74R is the only rifle I have ever used that would drop a black bear without it at least running a few steps. And that includes some other powerful rounds.

I am spending way more time than I should reading the excellent full color catalog sent by Merkel&Co. In reviewing their price listings, a Model 961L Drilling caught my attention and would seem to be a very versatile firearm. Double rifle, '06 or '74 w/ bottom shotgun barrel being 20gauge. Retail @ just under 9K and that is some couple thousand more than I had budgeted, but guess we all know how that goes with firearms. (Most likely be selling some items in Classifed section soon)

Question is, knowing this model is not the classic SXS, if anyone has this model or similar and what they think about them?? I would opt for the '74/20ga thinking it would serve for an all purpose firearm in my area and any future hunts elsewhere as well. Weight of 6.8lbs seems a bit light and barrels are 21.65" long so should be easy to handle in thick stuff. All feedback appreciated.

martin

MFD

Now you are in a whole 'nother world, Combo Guns.

I use combo guns Drillings and double rifle drillings quite a bit when I hunt.
I really like them.

I have a Blaser D 99 Duo in 9,3x74Rx9,3x74Rx20ga and it is one of my favorite hunting guns.

If you hunt where fur and feathered game is in season at the same time they are a great hunting gun.
The 9,3x74/20ga double rifle drilling would serve you well.