Thinking very seriously now about getting my first double. Looking at a UGEX with upgraded wood (still not good looking wood from what I've seen) and Recknagel mounts for a Z6 1-6 scope. I would add a recoil pad as well.

Questions:

Is the Recknagel mount the best option?
Can I order it with a pad and such?
Is decent looking wood available?
Is there an advantage to requesting 100m regulation?
What is is the difference between the UGEX and the RGEX, aside from the cheek piece and the metal on the pistol grip?

Thanks.

Have a talk with either Dale Nygard at

http://www.heirloomarmes.com/index.htm

Or Ken at

http://www.kebcollc.com/cart/store.php?crn=226

Both of these gentlemen have stellar reputations for quality.

The upgraded timber on mine is very nice stuff!

My Chapuis came with the swing mount, but i took it to JJ a week or so ago, and he's switching it to a "claw" mount.

As far as i'm concerned, the claw mount it MUCH faster and easier to use, i really don't like the swing mounts!

DM

I guess I'm being pretty snobby about the stock, but I'm particular. I was planning on ordering from kebco but I like to first ask questions of people without a financial interest in my decisions.

I'd talk to them directly then decide which one you liked best. Both are straight shooters. Dale sold me one during a group buy and ordered everything up just as I wanted. I went with the swing mounts but ater seeing claws later on I wish I'd have gone that route. But swing works well too.

Where can I read up on the claw mounts? I know nothing about mounting a scope on a double, frankly.

Also, can they be ordered with splinter forends?

No splinter flrearms from what I know. The stock design is nice IMO. I've got splinters on others too.

http://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/
will show about the claw bases.

Research my previous osts on the 9,3x74R Chapuis.

I have been using one for several years.

It is a very good hunting rifle.

I have the Chapuis swing mount, with 2 different scoes in rings.

I do like claw mounts better, but the pivot mounts were in stock the day I bought my rifle.

They always go back to zero, claw mounts do to.

Reading everything you've ever written on the Chapuis is why I want one.

Claw mounts it is.

While there are several mistakes a fella can make in the "rifle" world, getting a 9,3x74R Chapuis Double rifle, with a good scope in Claw mounts "ain't" one of them.

In fact IMHO it is a pretty good choice.

One thing I've learned over the years is there is no guarantes on wood quality. What is eye candy to someone might be trash to another.
The only way to be totally satisifed is to buy a Chapuis off the rack or to send them the blank for the stock.

I have been happy with my Chapuis and enjoy shooting the rifle. I also bought mine from Dale as part of the group buy. Had some issues with the first rifle but Dale took care of the issue and the replacement gun has worked out great. I wanted Claw mounts when I placed the order but Chapuis would not install them. Dale had a source in Europe that would do the work however after seeing the swing mounts I decided to go with that option. The great thing about the Swing mount is that it allows the scope to be mounted very low on the rifle. That may be possible with the claw setup however you may be more limited on scope options. I don’t believe I have seen any of the Chapuis 9.3’s with Claws. Maybe someone can post some photos with that type of setup.

As for the Wood, I agree with Randy that it can be hit and miss. My first rifle had very nice wood. The replacement is what I would expect on the Basic rifle. Upgrades may be a good option here if you order a rifle. I don’t like the recoil pads that the factory installs. They are pretty expensive and are a simple thin pad. I am having a leather recoil pad installed on my rifle as we speak. Cost was less that the factory option for a rubber pad and I was able to make sure to get the correct LOP. I will post some photos of that next week.

Chris Sells has a very nice Heym ready to go if you are interested. His rifle is has incredible wood and is set up with a Swarovski scope in Claw mounts. Very accurate and a spectacular gun. Cost is quite a bit higher but the gun is of a much higher grade. Go to his web page and see the photos.

Good luck with your order…I expect you will be very happy with whatever options you choose.

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
Where can I read up on the claw mounts? I know nothing about mounting a scope on a double, frankly.

Also, can they be ordered with splinter forends?

I MUCH prefer splinter forearms... I've done a fair amount of shock work, and to me it didn't look like it a good choise to try and "splinter" my Chapuis' forearm. While i was at Champlins, i was talking to JJ about it, and he pointed out that the forearm latch/iron was too far foreward on the Chapuis to beable to shape the wood properly. So, i'm going to live with the fat forearm, and learn to like how it looks.

Here's what a claw mnnt looks like,







As you can see, the scope can be mounted very low, and there's no doubt in my mind it's the best system for mounting a quick detach scope, that "always" comes back to zero!

DM