Magazine Rifles
Holland & Holland
.375 Best Quality magazine rifle
26"
CM 303
�21,000
Holland & Holland
.500 Jeffery Deluxe Magazine rifle
25"
CM 337
�24,000
And something you might need to know. If you are not happy with your Talley detachable mounts, then H&H Detachable mounts are $4100US
WOW
Mike
[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 10-30-2001).]
Now, if you want to talk side-by-side shotguns or double rifles, it's a different story - the great British makers produce the best guns in the world in those catagories.
AD
A drop box Holland with a little cast off stocked in true French walnut is just damn hard to beat..I don't see that as laughable. I don't see David Miller in the same class as Holland and Holland or a lot of other smiths..Guess thats what makes a horserace.
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Ray Atkinson
I must agree with you both. The english guns are works of art ( and as such demand good resale). As such they sometimes suffer a bit in the function department relatively speaking. The relativity being when compared to a best grade US maker.
Todd E
I don't know about the USA, but you would pass out if you saw some of the prices paid for H&H 375 rifles in Australia that originally came out from India. We are talking about rifles that are not in exactly good condition.
D'Arcy Echols would go down on his knees and ask God for mercy since he would feel he must have sinned at sometime in the past
Actually I like very much the H&H style of rifle and find the American style of straight stock not to my liking. But then I also like the Wby feel and I guess they are similar in distance beteen the bore and center of the butt to those H&H rifle.
As to resale I think Ray is right if you are out of America. For example in Australia most shooters would not have heard of a David Miller rifle or it would just be another name.
In Australia at least, big names like H&H and Winchester seem to command more value for a given level of rifle than do custom makers.
Mike
[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 10-31-2001).]
Just for the record I'll add the American Hoffman to this list, it is built in the true English design that I prefer....
I don't want to put ya'll in shock, but I detest the American classic design stock, it is too stright, has no cast off for the most part and can't be shot properly with iron sights and propaganda has surrounded it for years, forend is to long and too thick as is the cheek and cheekpiece, it has no drop at the heel, and has too much wood on it and was pimped by Jack O'connor, as gospel ad he packed a lot of clout, I even believed him for years, until I became a born again British gun child...I can shoot a low comb British rifle with a scope or iron sights, equally as well...Most of the folks that believe that malarky about the American classic do so because its excepted as fact, not tried....
If you hunt enough dangerous game with the big bores the light will soon dawn and you to will come into the fold....
Guess thats what makes a horse race
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Ray Atkinson
Is it true that the cheek piece was originally designed so as to have the nice natural handling characteristics of a stock with lots of drop and also softer recoil but at the same time put the face near the stock for scope use?
Mike
Just my humble opinion
[This message has been edited by Santa Claus (edited 10-31-2001).]
Most of us will not have the money to buy an H&H.
However in the overall scheme of things it needs to remembered that the bolt action is H&Hs cheap option.
It is like talking about the very small Mercedes.
I strongly suspect that most people who buy these H&Hs are very well off and they are a just something to accompany the double rifle and shotgun. Kind of like a Kimber or Sako rimfire.
In fact it has even been said that they reserve those cheap bolt guns for us colonials down here in Australia as they think the Royal double is not suitable for us, what with our penal colony background and all
Mike
[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 10-31-2001).]
When you see Miller Classic rifles, made in the 70's, that sold new for $3500 sell on the used market for $20,000 to $25,000 and his early Marksmen rifles which sold new in the early 90's for $7,000 sell on the used market for $12,000 then you have to acknowledge that the great European companies don't have a lock on the re-sale market.
Kirk Kelso
I grew up shooting low comb rifles with scopes on them,( M-70's) still like that set up, it works for me...its the best of two worlds, scope and irons...doesn't work the other way around
, can't get your head down on the irons if its a true American classic..
Kirk, your prejudice and with good reason..just kidding and your correct.
I am not knocking David Miller, he is an excellent gun builder, but I prefer Bill Hogue and a couple of others if I may be allowed, as their style is more to my taste, I like the British rifles for my use, they fit me...phyical build has something to do with choices also, some like the Weatherby style and it fits them...I would be tempted to say that design is laughable, had I not shot them, but its not and old Elmer liked them and he sure was a good shot and they do functional work, just not pretty to me....Elmer knew something about recoil too.
I sure don't agree with the terms laughable and that only one way or style is the way to go..there are definately two or three schools of thought on this subject, else it wouldn't have been brought up...
Guess that makes this a 3 way horse race...American classic, Monte Carlo to several degrees of variation, and British styling...take your pick.
If I went shopping today I'd buy a Reimer Johannsen Safari Rifle or one of Harold Wolfs guns....
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Ray Atkinson
The guns I hunt with are old friends and in pretty rough condition, on the outside...
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Ray Atkinson
I am not 100% but I think David Miller gets the M70 action before Winchester has finished it (or f***** it up, take your pick ).
As to accuracy, for the sort of money a David Miller rifle costs, it could never compete against a rifle that has had the same budget directed to barrels and scopes.
I guess it is like the big budget car racing teams. They might have 20 engines to pick from.
The again, perhaps Miller does in fact try several barrels to get one that is right
Mike
[This message has been edited by John S (edited 11-01-2001).]
I mean, if that's the only aspect of rifle quality and performance that means anything (or if that's all anyone needs to understand), then let's just forget about best-quality, hand-built custom rifles altogether (Holland's, Millers, or anybody else's). At those gawd-awful prices, they've just GOT to be a ripoff, right????????
Let's get smart for once! Let's all latch on to something like a Browning A-Hole or a Savage 110 in Oh-Six and call things good. After all, according to the clerk over at Wally's Shootin' Pit (he shot a Fork three years ago with his Browning), those guns shoot purty good right outa-the-box and off the bench. And that Browning comes with a genu-wine, engraved gold buck head on the triggerguard, don't it? Now THAT don't come cheap - no way! And shoot, Browning imports 'em clean over from Jay-pan don't they? And that Savage is made right here (and made real good, they claim) in the U.S. of A., and they shoot good, too..... Heck, I read a piece in the NRA magazine (the one that actor what played Moses talks in) a month or two back at The Doctor's Office what made 'em sound like you can't do no better, leastways, not with the kinda groups they were talkin' on. Only thing I can't figure........ How do that make a rifle that good that cheap, 'errrrrrrrr... inexpensive, anyways? Anyhow, my neighbor's Uncle Filo bought one back in '63, and he NEVER had no trouble with it a-tall. Not never! His boy Bobby-Ray's got 'er now from what I hear...
AD
[This message has been edited by allen day (edited 11-01-2001).]
What you say about there being more to it than just accuracy is spot on.
Unfortunately the majority of shooters have not experienced either top flite accuracy, especially consistent accuracy over a wide range of loads and barrel conditions or the benefits of a full custom gun.
However, I guess it is reasonable to say the point of diminishing returns does show up and each individual will determine just how far he wants to enter the area of diminishing returns.
As to accuracy, frequently at the range a shooter will tell me his 270, 300 or 375 etc. shoots and inch. I look at his target and say "what are all those shots" and then he will usually answer they were his fouling shots or they were some other load etc. etc.
Mike
If you really think a HH shotgun is on par with Beretta, you must be smoking something illegal. The value of anything is how much someone is willing to pay for it.
As far as the HH magazine rifle VS. the Miller Classic- they are both great guns. I wouldn't say one is better then other, as they both are made to function very well. What I don't like about the miller rifle is the mounts. I believe they are machined on- well you cant take them off. Theres a famous gun writer who has a Miller classic- he ordered the gun with iron sights, but has never been able to use them becuase he cant take the mount off. So basically what if you are deep in Alaska, your rifle falls and the scope is busted- you had better have a back up rifle or your hunt is over. With an HH you could take the mounts off and shoot with irons... Just a little tidbit. As to Millers resale value- that is to be expected when a few years ago he was selling his rifles for a bit less, and now that the prices are up, the current owners who want to sell their classics sell their guns at the current resale value, which is obviously more then what they paid for the gun new.
Sure HH charges a lot for things that are not standard on a gun, but that doesn't matter becuase you can get them after market for a lot cheaper.
As for their hunting purposes, i dont recall seing to many american customs with flip-up night sights.
I believe the bottom line in choosing one of these rifles it to pick what you like best as well as where and what you will be hunting. You wouldnt take a Miller Marksman on a Cape Buff hunt and you wouldnt take a HH with iron sites on a antelope hunt in new mexico. My prefered hunting style is to hunt and get as close as possible to where iron sites would be useful. So if I were going to buy a rifle of this caliber my choice would be an HH in 300HH....
buell
I'm not sure where you've received your information, but for the record, Miller's scope mounts are machined from solid bar-stock and are fully removable, if you choose to remove them.
Jim Carmichel, who you are alluding to, has not removed his because he has never had a reason to. He has told me, as well as written to the fact, that after some 20 years of owning his Miller rifle, and after numerous trips with it around the world, he has never had to adjust the zero.
Kirk Kelso
[This message has been edited by Kirk (edited 11-01-2001).]
I guess I was wrongly informed... I have heard that from a few places and have read that in several mags, but you never know do you? LOL... How are the mounts attached? Just the standard 3-4 screws?
Thanks,
Buell
[This message has been edited by Santa Claus (edited 11-01-2001).]
Re read one of my previous posts on this thread which I have pasted here.
John,
I am not 100% but I think David Miller gets the M70 action before Winchester has finished it (or f***** it up, take your pick ).
As to accuracy, for the sort of money a David Miller rifle costs, it could never compete against a rifle that has had the same budget directed to barrels and scopes.
I guess it is like the big budget car racing teams. They might have 20 engines to pick from.
Then again, perhaps Miller does in fact try several barrels to get one that is right
End previous post
HOWEVER your challenge at the range would be a losing deal with shooters like myself and I think David Miller will agree. David Miller would know if you test someone like myself at the range, then your Miller rifle will have trouble. By the way how many barrels will you be bringing. And we are talking 375 type rifles that weigh no more than 10 pounds with scope.
David Miller is supplying a very good product for people who are interested in accuracy and function but are not into the mechanics of the rifle themselves. Come to the range with shooters like myself and you will be left behind. But that is not to take away from the Miller rifle.
Perhaps the Miller rifle is the BMW and shooters like myself have the NASCAR and I think (No, I know, Miller will agree as will Echols) David Miller will agree.
If I had the money I would buy the H&H because I can't duplicate the H&H "thing". BUT having the money would mean I could take the 375 H&H bolt gun as an accessory to the Royal double and the cost of the bolt gun would not be an issue. It would just be a peice of shit.
For yourself, Allen and many others, David Miller gives you something that either yourselves or the fuckwits at the range can't duplicate and in addition you get a very well put together rifle that functions extremely well and nothing needs to be done to the rifle so as to meet your requirements.
Mike
[This message has been edited by Mike375 (edited 11-01-2001).]
miller $37K (I've heard)
H&H $23K
You guys are all just loyal to the American style, because of your nationality I imagine.
At least Ray accepts what's best regardless of its origin. (I'm one of the only guys on his side this time)
Classic in my dictionary says: "Of highest class; being a model of its kind; excellent; standard; authorative; esablished."
Thus I feel miller's gun is the victim of a sad misnomer.
I'm sure the quality is there in both rifles, but I'd buy the H&H soley because the Miller looks like shit!!
If you want an american piece, go for the Hoffman like Ray suggested.
Jagermeister (where the duce are you from, anyway?), as far as I'm concerned, your comments are an obvious case of the pot calling the kettle black.
AD
If you think the David Miller Classic rifle looks like shit, then you must have some awfully beautiful shit on your side of the pond!!!!! LOL
Kirk Kelso
Horseshit!
You're saying that DAVID MILLER himself would know that going up against a shooter "such as yourself" at the range would mean that somehow Dave's rifle would come up short, or at least any currrent rifleman who owns a Miller rifle would come up short.......
Well just how the hell would you know that?
The truth is, I doubt that Dave would know you from anywhere, and I doubt like hell that you know what Dave's rifles can do, nor what some of the owners of Miller rifles can do with them under high-pressure hunting situations. To be frank, you're indulging in guesswork (read wishful thinking), and you're merely spittin' out words to see how they splatter - nothing more, and nothing less.
I agree with Santa's comment: "Bullshit"!
AD
Your comment only proves that you lack some real knowledge and experience when it comes to accuracy.
Without going into all details, if you and I meet at the range the first thing my rifle will have is the Jewell trigger adjusted down to 2 or 3 ounces, all of which takes a few seconds with an allen key up through the trigger guard.
Next, your rifle will be bedded and will be up against a "glue in"
Next,your loads will not have been developed to the same extent since you will not have had the barrel and loads tested on a bench gun.
No, that rifle will not look as good as your Miller or function as nicely.
And no, the additional accuracy could never be utilised in the field and the Miller would be a better rifle in the field.
But try and recognise that the Miller rifle is a very good compromise across the board.
But it can't win a pure accuracy contest and it can't match the H&H for name.
Mike
I made no reference to the capabilities of the owner of a Miller rifle or what that owner could do under pressue in the field. All that is irelevant when the rifles are being compared.
When saying "shooters like myself" that wasnot to claim some type of ability but rather to point at that some shooters are extreme accurayc minded.
Next thing you or Santa will be claiming is that a Miller in 22 or 6mm is going to win a benchrest match. There is no doubt in my mind that Miller could make a match winning bench rifle, but that winning rifle will not be the same type of rifle that you and Santa own.
By the way, a bench gun in Sporter Class will weigh no more than 8.5 pounds including scope.
Mike
I don't think you guys ought to be using David Miller as an example, instead you should be comparing quality custom American made rifles to British rifles...
David Miller is but one of a great many fine rifle builders, but some keep bringing Miller up and I don't think he should be singled out, thats fair to Miller, you are doing him a great disservice as opposed to helping him or at least it seems that way to me...My pappy always said if your going to get in a s--t throwing contest then you can expect to some s--t on you, right or wrong....very true.
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Ray Atkinson
With how hard it is to convince you all of the finer points of the British rifle, it would be hilarious to begin schooling on the germanic style..not like Mausers (as they are british in style) but Austrian rifles, for example. No one can put down the unparalleled quality of such an austrian piece as a Fanzoj rifle.
That's another topic all together.
What does it mean to be a pot calling the kettle black? I've never head of that one.
I will see you all very soon.
Tot ziens
Mr. Holmes, if your "boyfriend" comment is the best sort of backlash you can come up with, you're in sad shape.....
Now, I doubt like hell that you have ever held a Miller rifle in your hand, and I'm absolutely certain that you don't have any idea as to what sort of business Mr. Miller has had with either Jim Carmichel or Craig Boddington. So really, you have no idea whatsoever about the quality or value that goes into these rifles. Now why the hell don't you have enough guts to admit it? You're speculating, guessing, relying on bluster and bullshit (then vulgar inuendo, like an ignorant, untutored teenage kid) to salvage your weak arguments, and to strike out against things that frustrate you -things that you don't really understand or care to face. But then water seeks its own level, right...........?
Now, you just think about this: The guys who buy Miller or similar-quality rifles haven't exactly been saving their wages from McDonalds to buy a rifle. Most of them have long-since made their pile and established their credentials in whatever industry or profession they might happen to be in, so they've worked hard, taken their risks, and they've run the gauntlet in order to buy whatever sort of gun they damn well please, come hell or high water. A real group of idiots......... Yeah!
AD
[This message has been edited by john holmes (edited 11-02-2001).]
Before you run off at the mouth about something you obviously know nothing about, you might want to make sure that people who do know wont be watching. Your thoughts on Miller, Carmichel and Boddington are hilarious!! You probably wouldnt recognize any of the three if you saw them, yet you know how they do business. LOL
I know all three quite well, and have had all in my hunting camps several times, so keep your uniformed remarks for people who dont know any better!
Kirk Kelso
Your inherant arrogance makes me sick. You might as well quit while you hold onto your last shred of diginity. Just about any well known smith in the US makes a good looking and functioning gun. Miller goes further then the rest of them. Thousands of companies give out free things to promote their products. There is nothing wrong with that, and from a purely business sense that technique works well.
My style of rifle goes more along the lines of the British and other European sytles. I do not like strait american sytled stocks. They are too high for me to use well with irons. Besides they look plain and ordinary. Shoulder a fine British rifle and you cannot tell me that the irons don't line up perfectly. If I were to have a rifle that was going to be used with a scope, I'd have a monte carlo shadow line cheekpeice- they feel very good with a scope. Rifles are meant for a purpose and its a cheap ass that trys to kill two birds with one stone.
[This message has been edited by Buell (edited 11-02-2001).]