I have admired Heym rifles for many years. Where to they "fit" in the custom or semi-custom rifle world in terms of quality and accuracy?

Sparta,
At least in the market for double rifles, Heyms are considered by many to be at or near the top of the "production" double rifles. By "production", I mean with standard off-the-shelf models, although Heym and a few other makers do have options available. Above Heym starts the world of the "bespoke" double, where they're built to the customers specs, with almost nothing being "standard".

The production gun market referred to would include Heym, Verney Carron, Krieghoff, Merkel, Blaser, Chapuis, Sabatti, and maybe a few other smaller companies.

The Heym is the only double in the "production rifle" market that I'm aware of that doesn't use monoblock construction in fitting the barrels; they are "shoe-lumped", more along the lines of a bespoke custom rifle. Heyms also come with intercepting sears, available ejectors, and other features that may not be available from others competitors in the production gun market.

That said, all these features and quality do come at a price.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

The production gun market referred to would include Heym, Verney Carron, Krieghoff, Merkel, Blaser, Chapuis, Sabatti, and maybe a few other smaller companies.

The Heym is the only double in the "production rifle" market that I'm aware of that doesn't use monoblock construction in fitting the barrels; they are "shoe-lumped", more along the lines of a bespoke custom rifle. Heyms also come with intercepting sears, available ejectors, and other features that may not be available from others competitors in the production gun market.

I believe Heym offer both shoe lump and mono block, and I would not be too quick to say that the other brands you mention don't offer chopper lump.

Searcy offers shoe-lump as an x-tra cost option, on his H&H side lock and Rigby-Bissel Rising bite actioned premium doubles....in other words, you have to spend a minimum $40K to be able to opt for the chopper/shoe lump option,..then add an additional $5k to the price for chopper/shoe lump option.

A handful of the premium Spanish double gun makers offer shoe/chopper lump barrels.

Paul Roberts of Rigby, used a Spanish double gun maker[Arrizabalaga] and marked the rifles with both names.

However, the barrels themselves were not made by the spanish company, they came manufactured from Austria.

In terms of bolt action, I think the SR20 was probably one of the top production rifles. I have a left handed one in 243 and it has a really nice built from solid walnut and steel look and feel to it. Wood to metal fit is very good, quality strait grained walnut, steel grip cap, solid bottom metal and needled bolt with a detent that prevents bolt jumping up when shot. Trigger is superb either set or unset. Accuracy - three rounds into less than an inch with RWS or Norma 100 gn at 100 yds no issue. Its mounted with a 6x42 scope - might do better with a powerful target scope and proper bench rest.

Have handled but not shot the SR21. Better safety - bolt shroud rather than trigger blocking, but magazine fed rather than load through the top - a backward step in my view.

Heyms are far above Sako in terms of quality. Sauers of similar build quality but feel very CNC made. Ditto Mauser m03. Can't speak for any of the American semi custom rifles as don't see them over here. Hand built Mauser actioned rifles by Dickson, William evans etc would be next step up. Probably not built any better or any more accurate, but should be built for you and your dimensions.

Have only owned 2 Heym's. One a straight pull carbine in 35 Whelen that was perfection in a small package but the most feircely kicking rifle I have ever had. The other was an 88B in 375H&H that was probably neck and neck for my favorite double I have owned. I have owned Merkel,Chapuis,Cogswell & Harrison and Geyger doubles and it was the equal of all of them in every respect except ornamentation and the Geyger had it beat hands down. I personally reccommend Heym with absolutely no qualifications.

Their new Martini rifle looks really nice.

I agree with Biebs, “Heyms are considered by many to be at or near the top of the "production" double rifles”. For the bolt gun enthusiast, I would also suggest that the new Heym Martini “Express” rifle will make a big dent in the “Dakota Safari/African” market. I own two Dakota’s (.416 Rigby and .375 H&H for my daughter) and while they are very fine rifles (my daughter and I have taken Africa plains and dangerous game with them), the new Heym Martini Express rifle simply has better balance, better wood, higher attention to detail and frankly shoots lights out. After shooting paper and hunting with the Heym, my daughter summed it up best when she said she would have selected the Heym over the Dakota had it been available when we purchased her Dakota. I second her opinion.