Forums.NitroExpress.com

For what it is worth this is my experience with Butch Searcy. I found one of his .470 doubles on GunsAmerica.com and contacted him about inspecting it as the owner lives close to his shop. The owner claimed that the gun was only one year old, like new and had never been hunted. He said he found his eye sight was not good enough for open sights so he was selling this gun. I contacted Butch and he confirmed the the rifle was less than a year old and he said he remembered the gun and knew the seller as the guy had shot on Butch's range several times. Butch said he had a standard fee to disassemble, clean, and inspect used guns and would act as an intermediatry for the sale. I came to terms with the seller and he delivered it to Butch. Butch told me the gun was perfect and I sent the money and after it was received Butch sent the gun to my FFL. The gun was packaged very well and the box showed no sign of abuse and I openned the package myself. The gun appeared like new as promised. The upgraded wood was stunningly beautiful but I found that the stock had a very small crack at the tang and the stock was loose. A shipping problem or a known or unknown defect- I'll never know for sure. The gunsmith at my FFL also showed me that the barrels were a little loose (I am no expert but I could feel the play myself.) I also thought the trigger guard was poorly attached. I called Butch and he admitted he never actually inspected, cleaned, or disassembled the gun as he thought he new it well already. He offered to fix the stock and claimed my gunsmith knew little about double rifle barrels and whether they were off the face or not. Needless to say the gun went back and I was nervous until I got my money back. I bought a new Chapuis at the SCI convention in Reno from Cabela. The barrels are tight as can be (almost too tight but I hear they will loosen after some shooting). The gun came with test targets from both machine rest and benchrest. The machine rest target shows a 1 inch group the bench rest shows one and one half inch group. I have been sick and the weather has been bad so I have only shot 20 rounds but have found the gun to be very acurate. This is not a custom made gun like the Searcy but I feel the fit and finish to be superior. The wood is very nice but not as nice as the Searcy. I love the engraving on the Chapuis and feel it is much nicer than on the Searcy. The counterman at my FFL who I know quite well also put me in touch with another of their customers who ordered a Searcy DR, sent it back twice, and finally sold it because it never was right. This guy was not happy with Butch and told me he would never buy another of his rifles.