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clancy
.224 member

Reged: 13/06/12
Posts: 1
Loc: MN

Which Entry Level Double?
#210850 - 14/06/12 10:37 AM

I am planning on purchasing a new double rifle in a caliber in the 450/400NE-470NE range and am willing to spend about $10,000-15,000. In this price range, I know there's Blaser, Krieghoff, Chapius, and Searcy. Are there any other brands I'm missing? Of these, which would you recomend? Is it worth the extra money to purchase one of these rather than a Sabatti?

Thanks.

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Bill_Cooley
.300 member

Reged: 14/12/06
Posts: 197
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: clancy]
#210852 - 14/06/12 11:38 AM

I think there are many good choices out there. I would replace the Blaser with Verney-Carron. You will get a lot of rifle for the money. Verney-Carron is France's oldest hunting gun maker and one of the oldest in the world with roots in the gun trade going back to 1650. Kebco who posts on hear is one of the best to do business with.
http://www.verney-carron.us/
http://www.kebcollc.com/
I like the K guns because they are probley one of the safest rifles you can carry. Besides being well made and well regulated.
Bill

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AkMike
.416 member

Reged: 19/11/05
Posts: 2576
Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Bill_Cooley]
#210857 - 14/06/12 01:42 PM

My vote is with Butch Searcy! Hands down one of the best shooting double rifles made and he backs up every one that he's ever made.

--------------------
"When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal not in goods, but in favors; you may know that your society is doomed." Ayn Rand

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mauserand9mm
.400 member

Reged: 03/09/09
Posts: 1040
Loc: Queensland, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: AkMike]
#210864 - 14/06/12 05:08 PM

Merkel?

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Mauser416
.300 member

Reged: 20/06/07
Posts: 162
Loc: Corpus Christi, Texas

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: clancy]
#210879 - 15/06/12 01:25 AM

I like the lines of Mr. Searcy's rifles and find them to be the most pleasing to the eye.

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There is nothing worse in this world than an enslaved man who naively believes himself free, except, perhaps, trying to explain to that same man his predicament.

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Mauser416]
#210880 - 15/06/12 01:58 AM

At the price range you have indicated.

Like someone said above, I'd also look at Merkel and VC
just so you have covered all bases. I have 2 Merkel's.

I have held a Searcy and liked it a lot plus have
seen all the positive comments on forums so I voted
Searcy - plus you are in the US.

Otherwise, I would have voted Chapuis out of those 4.

(BTW, I'm not normally a spelling policeman but Chapuis is "uis" not "ius").

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poprivit
.333 member

Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 398
Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: 500Nitro]
#210882 - 15/06/12 03:17 AM

Searcy - no doubt whatsoever.

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Bill_Cooley
.300 member

Reged: 14/12/06
Posts: 197
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: clancy]
#210996 - 17/06/12 09:06 AM

If you can wait till January, come to the Dallas safari club show in Dallas. There will be people representing most of the makers you might be interested in and several that handle primary used rifles. This way you can try several back to back and if you decide to by have your measurements taken on the spot. That is really the benefit of buying new, getting it your way.
Bill

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LGF
.275 member

Reged: 27/04/05
Posts: 76
Loc: Kenya/Berkeley, CA

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Bill_Cooley]
#211057 - 18/06/12 08:47 AM

Of your listed makers, only Butch Searcy is a phone call away if you have any issues,and he will make everything right as quickly as you can send him the rifle.

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bakposten
.300 member

Reged: 15/05/12
Posts: 108
Loc: Norway

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: LGF]
#211062 - 18/06/12 10:18 AM

I would go for the Blaser S2, it`s far from the most classic looking gun you look at. But they are extremely accurate, very safe because since you cock the mechanism when you take the safety off and the free floating barrels makes it easy to regulate it to the ammunition you want to use. I have not tried regulating the barrels of an S2, but I have done it on my d99 to get it to shoot god groups with slugs and the rifle barrel. They are also very durable against rust. And I think you can buy additional barrels for it.

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carpediem4570
.300 member

Reged: 28/06/08
Posts: 219
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: bakposten]
#211674 - 28/06/12 04:25 PM

Bailey Bradshaw. for that price yoiu can havbe a custom doubloe manufactured to your specs.

Regards,

carpediem

--------------------
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways-Chrdonnay in one hand-Chocolate in the other-body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!"

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Mike_Bailey
.400 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: LGF]
#211676 - 28/06/12 05:36 PM

Quote:

Of your listed makers, only Butch Searcy is a phone call away if you have any issues,and he will make everything right as quickly as you can send him the rifle.

Why would he have to if it is made correctly in the first place ?? best, Mike

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#211693 - 28/06/12 10:57 PM

FYI--there is a pretty good article on the Sabatti in this months Petersons hunting..give a straightforward no bs report..starts on page 56

Ripp

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39896
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#211694 - 28/06/12 11:02 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Of your listed makers, only Butch Searcy is a phone call away if you have any issues,and he will make everything right as quickly as you can send him the rifle.

Why would he have to if it is made correctly in the first place ?? best, Mike

True Mike, I keep hearing his repair and fix it up service is great, but a number of people have exactly what you say, why is it so important, and why do so many of his customers need to have almost new rifles "fixed up" that they know the after sales "fix it" service is "great"?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (28/06/12 11:30 PM)

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jorge
.275 member

Reged: 13/07/05
Posts: 88
Loc: Orange Park, Florida

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: NitroX]
#211769 - 30/06/12 11:35 AM

I voted for the Chapuis. I've handled all the rifles in question and the Chapuis seems the one closest in form, fit & function to the classis English DR. I'll also echo the inclusion of the Verney-Carron. Full disclosure, I own and love mine, but before purchase, I handled all the rifles in question including the Heym and I liked VC's best. jorge

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bwananelson
.400 member

Reged: 08/10/07
Posts: 1195
Loc: DELTONA FLORIDA

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: jorge]
#211773 - 30/06/12 03:04 PM

zoli but i guess you don't consider an OU a double what a pity my handles great and my new spanish sxs will be tested this week end victor built a very nice sxs, and my VC top notch in fit and function your list is much to small.the merkel is nice but much to stiff for a dangerous game gun thats why i got rid of mine ,to few stores have a good selection to choose from i would wait and go to dallas or sci then have a good selection to choose from

--------------------
THERE ARE NO DO OVERS IN LIFE DONT LET A CHANCE AT A DREAM SLIP AWAY.

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BwanaBob
.300 member

Reged: 03/07/03
Posts: 178
Loc: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: bwananelson]
#211788 - 30/06/12 09:44 PM

I have owned Merkel doubles (.500NE an 9.3) and Chapuis (.470NE and 9.3) and I think that they are both great choices.

Presently, I have a Sabatti .450NE but having only shot it a little, so far, it is hard to wave the Sabatti banner too high. However, I think that the gun has great potential and while my taste is for much more expensive doubles, the Sabatti is a gun that I can take bush and use without worrying about the cost.

I know that there are some negative reports out there, about the Sabatti doubles, but I also know of a couple of very positive reports.

I will be shooting mine quite a bit, over the next couple of weeks, so I will report back when I have a better feel for the rifle.

--------------------
"White men with their ridiculous civilization lie far from me. No longer need I be a slave to money" (W.D.M Bell)

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: BwanaBob]
#211789 - 30/06/12 10:02 PM

Bwana

Did you check yours before buying or was it luck of the draw (re regulation / muzzle grinding ?).

That's all I have against them, although it seems they have now rectified this and are supposed to be making them properly in the future.

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Pab
.224 member

Reged: 19/05/10
Posts: 3
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: 500Nitro]
#218050 - 16/10/12 01:03 PM

Sometime ago I have had a Verney Carron Azur Safari, and was very disapointed with it. Regulation was a problem, and searching my old photos I can see the same problem reported on this forum about the crown on Sabatti Rifles. I have sent then photos and etc but my complaints were never answered.
I am new to this Forum, but as soon as I learn how to do it I will post then here.

I currently own a merkel, and it shoots nice, but can only imgine that the engineer that designed the pad they are using never shot one of the 500's they do.

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Ben
.400 member

Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Pab]
#218061 - 16/10/12 07:51 PM

Hey, Pab! I have the same rifle. But I don't mind the recoil at all.

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Mike_Bailey
.400 member

Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Ben]
#218062 - 16/10/12 08:25 PM

Pab, my .500 has a steel skeleton plate but no issue, if the stock fits and you hold it tight it can only shove you, nothing more, by the way I weigh 150lbs, best, Mike (p.s I doubled it once, still no pain though it was "interesting")

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Sville
.400 member

Reged: 23/03/10
Posts: 1189
Loc: Sweden

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#218088 - 17/10/12 07:23 AM

I think Krieghoff are great rifles. Well built and good looking. Several alternatives in stocking. Shoots well I think. I tried krieghoff and Blaser and thought the Krieghoff was better to shoot with and better looking. A classic rifle.

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Pab
.224 member

Reged: 19/05/10
Posts: 3
Loc: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Sville]
#218095 - 17/10/12 10:50 AM

Hey Ben and Mike! The stok on my merkel is almost ok. A little longer, but not much. The plastic on my recoil pad is biting me, and after 10 shots in a day i can count on a blue spot on my shoulder, caused by the hard plastic.

I must admit I have always been worried with a doubling from my VC, but it never did it. Once hunting water buffalo with a CZ 575.2 in 375 it doubled. Never felt it. Just noted, when I tried to make the second shot on the running bull....

I have got a CZ 500 Jeffery, and despite the big push it doesnt bite me. Well maybe after 10 shots subsequently, sometimes, I get a headache....

I have never got chance to shoot a Krieghoff, but for the price I would consider it.

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mauserand9mm
.400 member

Reged: 03/09/09
Posts: 1040
Loc: Queensland, Australia

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Pab]
#218098 - 17/10/12 02:01 PM

Quote:

Hey Ben and Mike! The stok on my merkel is almost ok. A little longer, but not much. The plastic on my recoil pad is biting me, and after 10 shots in a day i can count on a blue spot on my shoulder, caused by the hard plastic.

(I've also got a Merkel in 500NE.)

I think you must hold the rifle butt lower in the shoulder than most others - I haven't heard of others being "bitten" by the plastic bit. That's unfortunate and maybe nothing you can easily change to rectify. I expect that you could change to an aftermarket recoil pad without the hard plastic top, but you'd likely have to have the action closed, when it's in the rack, to prevent pad wear/damage, and this probably won't be allowed at the range.

Even the very soft pads on my CZ550 bolt guns are showing wear on the top of the pad from placing in/removing from the gun rack, and I make sure they sit on carpet rather than the bare concrete.

Edited by mauserand9mm (17/10/12 02:04 PM)

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ZooKeypr
.224 member

Reged: 16/10/12
Posts: 1
Loc: Colorado, USA

Re: Which Entry Level Double? [Re: Pab]
#218100 - 17/10/12 03:05 PM

Of the brands you listed the K gun would be my choice of the four listed,but not my first choice.

I find the Merkel comes closer to the balance of one of London's Best for me at least.

Have not gotten any experience with the V-C yet. Bill has a some good advice on attending the Dallas Safari Club show. There you can get a idea of what fits you best, feels right and even be measured.

With that said, get what YOU like, make sure it is regulated for your choice of ammo, and go hammer something.

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