My Christmas present (with a lot of help from my bank account) was a 9.3x74R Chapuis. It is fitted with 1.5-6x42 Schmidt+Bender scope and has a set of 3" 20 gauge barrels as well.

Have only taken a deer and a hog with the double rifle barrels and 5 pheasant, 4 chukkar and 20+ quail with the shotgun barrels.

Am an older guy and my eyes are not what they used to be. The scope allows reaching much further out than the iron sights as the rifle groups very well at 100 yards. So far ... I am very impressed and think I'd be OK with this one as the primary for most hunting in North America.

Is obviously too light a rifle for dangerous game, but will take it to RSA along with an M-70 in .338 win Mag on a plains game hunt.

When we return I'll be saving for a DG hunt in 2005 or 2006 and will take a CZ in .416 Rigby and a Searcy in .470 NE for that. I like the idea of having two guns that are pretty well fitted to the purpose.

mike