Just received my new Chapuis UGEX 9.3X74R from Ken at Kebco today. I think it's a beautiful rifle. Can't wait to shoot it. I'll provide a range report this weekend!







Thanks again Ken.

Pretty wood. Would not be surprised if the Chapuis turns out to be your favorite double. They are very accurate and easy to load for.

Thanks. It turned out to be nicer than I expected from the pictures on Gun Broker. Ken was great to deal with. I'm sure he'll get more of my business!

Congratulations, Todd! That Ken is a deal maker!

Beautiful wood! Hope she shoots as sweet as she looks. Congrats.

WOW!!! What a little beauty!! Congrats!!

Todd, that's a stunner!

Very nice! Congratulations!

Beautiful little double.

Here's a couple more pics along with my 500NE Merkel. Plan is to put a scope on the Chapuis, get the mid sized Pelican case, and hunt with double doubles on my next Safaris! Should be a good combo unless I need some weapon specific animal that would be better served by a scoped bolt gun, like a Croc, etc.

quote:

Plan is to put a scope on the Chapuis, get the mid sized Pelican case, and hunt with double doubles on my next Safaris! Should be a good combo unless I need some weapon specific animal that would be better served by a scoped bolt gun, like a Croc, etc.

No need for a scoped bolt action. Just wade out in the river with that open sighted .500 double and blast yourself a Croc.

quote:

Originally posted by goshoot:

No need for a scoped bolt action. Just wade out in the river with that open sighted .500 double and blast yourself a Croc.

Thats what Ian Nyschens and his buddy used to do, eh? Buzz did it is his second DVD, Zambezie Extreme! Don't know if I was ever brave enough to go in the water with those dinosaurs, but I'm certainly not brave enough anymore! A scoped 340 WBY sounds like a better plan to me.

Beautiful rifle, mine has wood just like it.


Shoots like a dream, hopefully yours does as well.

AKS, I remember your rifle. I was just about to buy it when you beat me to it with Ken! I was bummed because I thought it was the last one. If I remember correctly, yours has a bit better wood than mine. Any chance you can post some pics of it again. I think you also have the Sabati, right?

Looks like you and I both have the idea of double double safaris!

I have a Merkel 470 NE and a Searcy 450-400 NE and I have the thoughts of doing the very same thing. The Searcy is scoped with a removable Leupold DG scope. Both have taken DG in Africa, but not on the same Safaris.

Todd,

That one is a real beauty!

Ken is the best.

Good luck with it and on all of your future safaris.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I have a Merkel 470 NE and a Searcy 450-400 NE and I have the thoughts of doing the very same thing. The Searcy is scoped with a removable Leupold DG scope. Both have taken DG in Africa, but not on the same Safaris.

UEG, that sounds like a good combo as well! I think I know the answer to this question, but how do you like the Searcy 450-400? I plan to meet with Butch at the DSC show to talk about building one for me. I already have a quote for it. Any chance you might post some pics of the Searcy?

Doc, yep. Ken is the man!

Todd - I own a Searcy 450/400 classic that has Talley bases machined into the quarter rib. With the scope mounted, 2 shots (1 from each barrel, 400 gr Woodleigh soft or solid with Butch's recommended load of IMR 4831) are touching at 50 yards. At 100 yards, the center to center spread for 2 shots is 1.78" (and the barrels do not cross). I consider my 450/400 to be a really fine double.
Mangwana

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:
Todd - I own a Searcy 450/400 classic that has Talley bases machined into the quarter rib. With the scope mounted, 2 shots (1 from each barrel, 400 gr Woodleigh soft or solid with Butch's recommended load of IMR 4831) are touching at 50 yards. At 100 yards, the center to center spread for 2 shots is 1.78" (and the barrels do not cross). I consider my 450/400 to be a really fine double.
Mangwana

Subsailer,

Thanks for the info. I have only heard great things about Butch and his rifles! Any chance you would post some pics of your gun?

By the way, I shot the 9.3X74R today for the first time. I really like it. The groups match the test target exactly. 50 yards, about 1" with the right barrel being about 1/4 inch higher than the left; this with open sights. Load is 286 gr. TSX ahead of 53 grs of IMR 4064. Chrono gave avg of 2217 fps while the Barnes #4 Manual shows 2237 fps.

Todd,
Beware of OSR in that rifle using Barnes bullets.
Do a search for "Over Stressed Rifleing".
I'll nEVER take the chance in any of my DR's. There too many other options for premimum bullets to take a small chance.

Todd,

Here are some pictures of my Searcy .450/400:

Sorry Mike B.,

We've beat that dead horse to the point that I actually thought it was going to get up and walk off. I've been shooting TSX in my doubles for years and had NO problems. Some don't like them, other's do. Some manufacturers actually recommend them. I agree that the original "X" bullet may have had some issues but not the TSX. Michael458's research actually shows the barrel stress of the TSX to be less than the Woodleigh but with the lighter bullet and he postulates that the full weight TSX would be at the same or only slightly higher stress level as the Woodleigh.

Oh no! I'm beating the horse again! Let's agree to disagree on that one Mike.

Hey Mike J.,

That's a great rifle. Is it the Classic? I've been talking to Butch about a Field Grade with upgraded wood, leather recoil pad, teardrops, and gold "Safe" and makers name.

Your's seems to have the right mix of "Bling" for my taste and function with that rear sight! I see it shoots pretty well also!!

http://i1185.photobucket.com/a...wana/Searcy500NE.jpg

This is a photo of my Field Grade Searcy with upgraded wood, leather pad, and makers name in gold. It is very similar to what you describe. This one is my .500NE.

Mangwana

It is the Classic. That is not the rear sight. It has a rib that Talley QR mounts attach to. That is the back of the rib that the rings rest against.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:
http://i1185.photobucket.com/a...wana/Searcy500NE.jpg

This is a photo of my Field Grade Searcy with upgraded wood, leather pad, and makers name in gold. It is very similar to what you describe. This one is my .500NE.

Mangwana

Awesome! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Really nice, congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
It is the Classic. That is not the rear sight. It has a rib that Talley QR mounts attach to. That is the back of the rib that the rings rest against.

Gotcha Mike, I couldn't see from the pics. I guess if I had looked closer at the last pic, I would have seen the rear sight. Don't I feel stupid!! Sorry about that. It does look like a Deep V though, eh? Butch makes a nice rifle. I hear he is a First Class guy as well. Sounds like someone I want to give my business to.

Todd - I actually sent my rifle(the .500NE in the photo) back to Butch this week for an annual clean and inspect. Butch will have this rifle at the upcoming DSC and SCI conventions as one of his display pieces. Feel free to fondle it when you stop by his booth!
Mangwana

I plan to be at both shows. I'll take you up on that offer!

Cheers,

Todd

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Let's agree to disagree on that one Mike.

No problem.. it's your decision. I just wanted you to be informed in case you weren't aware of this possibility. I chose not to chance it.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Let's agree to disagree on that one Mike.

No problem.. it's your decision. I just wanted you to be informed in case you weren't aware of this possibility. I chose not to chance it.

I appreciate it Mike. I really do!

Cheers,

Todd

Todd and AK, Did you guys leave the factory buttplate on your rifles or did you replace them? I replaced mine with an Old English pad, partly for length of pull but mostly because I knew I would ding the pretty factory plate up.

I've left the wood plate on mine because it was built to fit me. I'd hate to loose any of the beautiful French wood. If and when I skin it up I might change my mind. But for now it'll stay.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Here's a couple more pics along with my 500NE Merkel. Plan is to put a scope on the Chapuis.
[IMG]

Like you, I also planned on scoping my Chapuis and ordered the rings/mounts along with a 2x7 Leupold European (30mm) scope when I purchased the rifle. But then discovered how accurate it was with the iron sights and never installed the scope.
Mine also made a trip to Dale Nyguard (he imports and sells them) and his smith worked the triggers over and really improved them.
As far as mounting the scope good luck with loosening those screws that hold those spacer blocks on the barrel. Mike Brooks had to drill his out and I tried grinding down a screw driver to fit the screw slots and ended up breaking two blades attempting to loosen the screws. One of these days I'll get around to having a smith loosen those dang screws.

The only complaint I ever hear about the UGEX is sometimes the comb is to high, like mine is. 15-20 rounds and my cheek is nice and puffy. But if I ever added the scope it would be fine.

For the money, the Chapuis 9.3 has to be the best dollar value around for a quality double.

BB, I just got mine 3 days ago so it still has the original buttplate. Haven't decided on replacing or not. I'll keep you posted if I change it.

Snowwolfe, the comb on mine is too high as well and I just figured the scope would take care of that. Haven't tried to mount it yet as I wanted to check the regulation with irons and my load first. I agree that the triggers are a bit rough. Seems to me the Safety is a bit rough as well. Did you or Mike have that issue? I'll check out the situation with the spacer screws tomorrow. Sounds like I may be in for a battle on that one. Thanks for the heads up.

Todd,
No issues with my safety. My front trigger was a tad heavy, the rear was very heavy, like about 7-8 pounds. I waited about 18 months before sending it out for a trigger job because the "experts" kept on telling me the triggers would smooth out over time. Well, they didnt, lol. Dale's smith did a great job and the front is now about 4, the rear maybe 4.5 pounds. He only charged $100 but that was a couple of years ago. Turn around time was less than two weeks.

NECG sells QD European sling swivels for the studs.

Never changed my butt plate either. Rifle does have a little kick to it since it is so light but it is easy to handle.

Two big Alaskan moose and a bunch of hares and porkies wished I never would of bought the Chapuis

Todd, The safety spring is where your rough feeling is coming from. A leaf spring pushes down on the safety bar inside the receiver and the amount of pressure from the spring makes it a little hard to push. You can take the stock off and if you are careful you could probably put a little more bend in the spring so it will exert less pressure. My guess is though that after a few hundred pushes it will soften up just a little.

Todd, beautiful rifle, beautiful wood. I love mine. I have killed buffalo, pigs and whitetail with it and it came mounted with a Leupold 1.75 X 6 scope and a Griffon and Howe buttpad. Bought it here off the classifieds. You won't need anything else except for the heavy stuff. BTW, the 286 gr. Privi bullets work great on pigs and deer.

RAC, you have quite a range of animals there with your rifle! Nice!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I have a Merkel 470 NE and a Searcy 450-400 NE and I have the thoughts of doing the very same thing. The Searcy is scoped with a removable Leupold DG scope. Both have taken DG in Africa, but not on the same Safaris.

UEG, that sounds like a good combo as well! I think I know the answer to this question, but how do you like the Searcy 450-400? I plan to meet with Butch at the DSC show to talk about building one for me. I already have a quote for it. Any chance you might post some pics of the Searcy?

Doc, yep. Ken is the man!

I use to own this Searcy 450/400;


Searcy's great scope bases: