Hi Pete,

My first point is why a second 9.3x74R? Especially if your current U/O double rifle is not a serious problem, then why not consider a .375 Flanged (Rimmed)? A .375 will allow you to for example hunt buffalo in far more countries than a 9.3 mm. The 9.3mm will have factory ammo available for it however.

If buying a 9.3 (or .375) and a 7mm (consider a 7x65R too, probably more choices available), I would look for a maker who can supply smaller sized actions so the DR is a nice well balanced light rifle suitable for those cartridges. Most makers have one or two action sizes, one usually for sub-.375 and a larger one for .375 and above. Sometimes a third size for extra large cartridges, eg .577 etc. So I would ask makers and sellers about their action sizes. I believe Heym makes six or seven action sizes from when I visited their premises.

Regarding English stocks, many gunmakers will make to order, and as mentioned Heym makes a very nice English style stock and rifle model 88 as well as the standard Germanic styled Model 88. I did not know Merkel does as well which is also good to know.

I do not like the Chapuis stock at all. It is clubby and the fore-end oversized. Many Chapuis owners like their rifles however so it is to individual choice. Most owners I know of own up to the 9.3x74R size. I do not know many owners using them in true big bore calibres.

Many DR 'experts' criticise the safety/decocker on the Krieghoff. I actually think it is a good concept once a person has trained in its use and become thoroughly familiar with it. The ability to carry an uncocked DR with rounds in the chambers much more safely is a great plus especially for a PH who carries a rifle a lot but shoots it little. I do not like carrying a DR broken open, and carrying one without being loaded is slow and possibly stupid. So the better the 'safeties' the better the rifle can be utilised.

I would not say no to a Krieghoff and have considered them in the past, however they DO have a particular Germanic styling which you either like or not. Many do not like their styling.

The Merkels I have seen have been usually .470's and good plain fairly ordinary DRs. Good useful tools of cheapish price. Merkel does make higher standard guns too of course. Their are some features I would want to see on a Merkel I considered which are not always standard - from my experience at least. I would want a Merkel in the smaller cartridges only if the rifle was lighter and handier than the ones I have seen and handled.

You mention four gunmakers. I would add Verney-Carron to the list as well.

I visited their factory a couple of years ago and was very impressed and would have no trouble in buying a rifle from them, and very seriously considered it. I looked very closely at one of their own proprietory cartridges the .375 Verney-Carron, which is quite a fast hot .375 for a DR. The action is made to be suitable for it. Or prehaps a .450/400 or a .577 ... it is always difficult to choose.

You would not go wrong if you considered buying a Verney-Carron DR.

I also visited the Chapuis factory for a private tour. Good workmanship rifles many owners are pleased with.

Last year I attended the Heym International Challenge and the year before that visited the factory for the first time. Last year I did preliminary order a rifle in .375 Flanged for them, getting the specs together. Picked out a wood blank. Unfortunately my personal financial circumstances change about that time, and that project is on the hold until those change. The rifle I was looking at ordering would have been a very nice walnut English styled stocked rifle, of slim and very well balanced design, with a number of features I would have to look up to see. Definitely one day it will happen.

I will one day visit Krieghoff and Merkel as well, but have not yet.

I do not own any of these brands, yet. But I have been in your position and looked at them carefully from a buyers point of view. Depending on what one is looking for I have my own preferences. At the moment I would look at Verney-Carron and Heym if choosing a new rifle. I do own a number of DRs - a Jeffery, a Westley Richards, a Cogswell & Harrison, as well as lesser brands.

You usually pay for quality. This goes within a gunmaker ie for additional features, types of sights, stock make and design, wood quality, lots of different features, not just cosmetic ones like engraving, and also definitely pay for quality between gunmaking brands.

Most modern DR owners consider Merkel, Krieghoff and Chapuis at one level and Heym and Verney-Carron at a level above.

There was a comment regarding why not two sets of barrels? Certainly a 9.3 and a 7mm would work OK on one action size. The advantage of two rifles is of course having two rifles setup and readily available at any time. A two barrel set DR would be quite good for travelling and of course cheaper. And best organised when first ordering. But remember the second barrel set may cost around two-thirds of a new rifle - from $7000 and up. But you would need to get quotations yourself.

My last comment is again I think anything a 7mm can do the 9.3mm can do, so I personally would say get a 7mm and a .450/400, considering you already have a 9.33 U/O.

Good luck and have fun in your searching.