Hi Guys:

I looked at three used Double Rifles today, all 470 NE from a private dealer. One merkel 140 2.1 selling price $9300.

Searcy PH model, upgraded wood, ejectors, very nice shape $14,250 to much for this rifle used I think?

Kreighoff Big 5.... nice but don't know about that cocking lever? $11,400 used, I still think to hight in price.

Beautiful Merkel 160, heavily engraved, octogon barrels... $22K yikes out of my league.

What do you guys think of Chapuis...???? I have only heard good about them on this board before.

The engraving looks very good, the wood looks outstanding, but that's about all I know.

Give me some advice on them please. Cabelas has a bunch scattered throughout their stores. The one I am looking at has ejectors and three flip up sites. $11,900.00 ..???

Regards Jim P.

I have a 9.3X74 that I got cheap about $3500. It shoot real tight groups looks good and is pretty well made. If you can get one for under 10K in .470NE I'd jump on it.-Rob

Go to Cabelas and see if it fits you and you like the way it feels. They are nice sound rifles, but some dont like the beavertail type forearm, Me I have a William Douglass it has a simi- beavertail forarm (not quite as fat as the Cabelas Chapuis)and I like it.

Good Luck, It is a lot of gun for the money, by the way none of the doubles you talked about are overpiced if you liked them or they fit you well.

Ed

I think the Chapuis may be the "best buy" out there in a big bore double. They look good, are well built and shoot very, very well. Some do not like the beavertail forearm, I happen to prefer it to a splinter forearm. George Caswell (Champlins) who has seen many doubles views the Chapuis as one of two modern made doubles that he can endorse (the other being the Heym). The Chapuis is 2/3 the price of the Heym.

The ones I have personally handled were in 9.3 X 74 caliber, and they were indeed fine shooting rifles.

I do not know much about higher calibers. The frame, balance and weight for the 9.3 was very good.

With that said, I have seen two reports over the past two years of issues with new Chapuis' having regulation issues right out of the box. I did not follow those threads closely, but I believe that the rifles went back to Chapuis for a fix. Everything I have heard about Chapuis confirms that they do stand behind their rifles.

If you are buying a used rifle, it is a good idea to have a 3 or more day inspection period to allow you to put some rounds down range.

I'm one of the guys that had regulation issues with a new Chapuis. It was a 9.3 regulated with my scope at the factory for Norma 286 Oryx at 100m. The test targets looked ok but the gun crossed by 15 inches at 100yds with the regulation ammo.

I sent it to JJ who re-regulated under warranty. Now it shoots fine but I was not happy, especially after I heard of 2-3 others that did the same.

As far as the 470 Chapuis, my friend has one and it shoots good and is a decent gun. I don't love the beavertail forend or the way it balances but it's a decent gun for the money.

Butch is a nice guy but I've seen too many issues with his guns.The last thing you want when you shell out this kind of $ is to have problems.

The Merkels seem ok, I've heard of some doubling but they can be picked up much cheaper than the others.

Hands down if I'm in your position, I'd get a Heym. I have handled and shot them and in this price range they are in their own league.

Hi Guys:

Thanks for the information please keep it coming. Like you said if I am going to shell out that kind of money, I want it to be what I really like. This is just me and my own personal likes and dislikes.

I am a sucker for a really nice piece of walnut in a double rifle. A palin jane slighty figured piece isn't going to cut it.

Three years ago at the SCI convention in Reno I handeled most of the makers of doubles. I really liked Heym, and I thought they were one of the best. But it was also one of the most expensive. If I could get a Heym for around the $12K mark I would consider it.

So far the rifle that balanced well and fit me the best is the Kreighoff. But that funky cocking lever leaves me undecided if I like it or not.

Thanks again for all the help.

Regards... Jim P

Jim,

Call George Caswell and see if he'll deal a little on this one:
http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx?tabid=30&mid=3...StyleID=3&GunID=1208

PA hunter,

George also has a Douglass, its a nice gun and mine is very well regulated with Federal factory!

http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx?tabid=30&mid=3...&StyleID=3&GunID=805

Not to say a Chapuis is a bad rifle, but I have been impressed with the Demas here is one worth the money and seem like in your range

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=108122104

Ed

Hi Guys:

Thanks for the leads, I will give George a call on the Heym. The problem with buying a rifle out of state is not seeing it before you buy. I know there is usually a three day trial window but it is a pain and expenses to send it back then if you don't like it.

470Evans & MJ ....Champlins really raves about the quality of the Chapuis rifle, I was impressed by his statements. It seems that he knows double rifles very well.

505ED That Demas looks real nice also, heck never heard of them either. I usually hit Gunbroker, but when I typed in double rifles I got no hits.

Dumb question, does a 470 Nito express regulate at 50 yards, I would presume so correct?

Thanks agin for all the help.

Regards... Jim P.

PAHunter

One of the nice thing about Champlin's is if you see a rifle they mhave that you like you can go there and shoot it.

If you do not want to drive...They are located on the Woodring Regional Airport.

Hi NE450

That is nice but they are in OK and I am in PA. I don't think the plane fare would be worth it id I didn't like the rifle.

I sent George an email on the used Heym, but I am afraid it is going to be out of my price range.

REgards... Jim P.

Scrape up the extra bucks for a Heym. I'll sell you this one in 470 for $15K. I'll throw in a copy of my book!



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=107891415

And keep the double that is short one trigger? Nooooooooooo!

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Scrape up the extra bucks for a Heym. I'll sell you this one in 470 for $15K. I'll throw in a copy of my book!



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=107891415

Hi Will:

Nice rifle, but you are out of my price range. It will be a real strech to go even $12K, thanks for the offer though.

Regards... Jim P.

PAHunter

I have helped 3 different people develop reloads for Chapuis double rifles.

All were very easy to find loads that regulated, including loads with 350gr Hawk bullets.

I have shot a few other 470 Chapuis doubles, and they too shot very well.

It is one of the best choices in a new made double.

A 375 H&H that I shot was very accurate as well.

My 9,3x74R Chapuis has shot 3000 to 4000 rounds, and has always performed perfectly for me.

I just wish they would make a 450/400 3" in the 375 H&H frame.

quote:

I just wish they would make a 450/400 3" in the 375 H&H frame. Big Grin

Yeah.

PAHunter,

“So far the rifle that balanced well and fit me the best is the Kreighoff. But that funky cocking lever leaves me undecided if I like it or not.â€

I have had some experience with this system and it is the safest system out there. You have no spring tension when it is un cocked. I think it is easy to get use to pushing it on just like taking a safety off. You wouldn’t wait till the middle of a charge to take a safety off, the same principal applies to this cocking lever.
I think it might be beneficial to get together with 577NitroExpress and some of the other double shooters in that part of the country and try some different riffles.
On your question on regulation. A double rifle is “REGULATED†to shoot to the sights with a given load. The sights varrey by rifle but are ushealey 50, 100 150 yard. The barrels should shoot parallel to infinity.
Chapuis makes a good rifle for the money.
I know the NEED TO BY urge is high but you may be better served by ordering a rifle and having it made to your measurements. This will insure you can shoot it well and a proper fitting rifle will be easier to shoot well with less felt recoil.
Bill

PAHunter

On the Krieghoff.
I have shot a 500/416 and at least 3 different 470's.

All of them shot very well.

As to the Combi cocking system, it is just a matter of getting used to it. It is only little harder, with a little longer travel than a regular safety.

Once you cock it, it stays cocked until you uncock it.

It is very safe.

I use Blaser R 93's and their combination guns and single shot rifles, that use a similar system and find it not to be an issue.

PAHunter:

As mentioned, if you are interested in trying some DRs out, I live in Wash. DC, my dad and Retreever live in eastern PA, and Bigfivejack, RoJoVin and a few other guys that I know well live in NJ/NY and would probably be willing to do a shoot at a range in eastern PA with their DRs.

I can guarantee you the opportunity to try out a fair number of different DRs, if you are so interested. We would just need some lead time to coordinate the shoot to meet people's schedules.

Now, my $.02 on the Chapuis:

I personally don't like the look of the beaver foreend. Never have, and probably never will.

However, we have two DRs in my family: a .470 NE Francotte that was built in 1927 (and is as good as a gun as any British rifle built!), and a .577 NE built by B. Searcy & Co.

The next DR rifle I plan on buying is a 9.3X74R Chapuis with a scope.

I have shot this rifle at DRSS events and believe in it. Also, NE450No2 has taken A LOT of game with his and swears by it! (And note that he has two other vintage Brit rifles!)

Now, also note that George Caswell at Champlins speaks very highly of the Chapuis, as does his gunsmith, JJ Perodeau. This carries A LOT of weight, IMHO! George has moved more DRs than most anyone in history and knows his stuff, and JJ is the man that we all go to to have work done on our DRs.

Now, the question: What do you plan on hunting with this rifle? Are you looking for a NE rifle? Or something for more "all around" use?

I also do not like the beavertail fore end, but it is fairly easy for a good stockmaker to turn a beavertail into a splinter and it is not a very expensive job.

Hi 577NE:

Thank you very much for the generous offer. I know Retreever Mike P. personally, we run into each other at the SCI convention every year. I don't want to put anybody out with that much time and travel for a shoot. But I would definitely like to be invited to your next one. I know Mike invited me last time but I couldn't make it.

I just came back from New Zealand in March, and was trying to put together another African Safari either in 09 or 10. I want to bust an Ele or Hippo or both with a double. This will be my third trip back and I promised my wife she can come again. My last trip to Zim she did not see any Buffalo or Ele and really wants to see them in the wild.

I have a Chapuis 470 NE coming in to look at and I have a deal I am working on for a used one.

I also just got a call from a guy who has two brand new Merkels 500 NE ejectors and articulated front trigger, one engraved with Bufflo and Ele, one simple scroll engraving. I will compare them to the Chapuis that is coming in. They are both cheaper than the Chapuis Agex Brousse by at least a grand.

Thanks for all your help.

Regards Jim P.

Hey Lex:

How you doing? You and I are brothers with our 458 AHR Lotts...

Do you have a double and if so what kind?

Regards... Jim

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
I personally don't like the look of the beaver foreend. Never have, and probably never will.

The next DR rifle I plan on buying is a 9.3X74R Chapuis with a scope.

Paul, you can order Chapuis with a splinter as an option. Doesn't look like the old Brit splinters exactly, but it does look alot better IMO.

quote:

I just wish they would make a 450/400 3" in the 375 H&H frame.

I thought the Evolution Arms rifle was a 450/400 made by Chapuis on their 375 action and only finished by Evolution Arms?


Brazos Jack