Frikkie007
.224 member
Reged: 11/07/14
Posts: 20
Loc: British Columbia,Canada
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Hi Guys!!
I'm sitting with a double dilemma!!
I know this question has been asked and answered multiple times
And I know fitting the two rifles and shooting them is the way to go...but I'm gonna pick your brains anyways
I have 2 Doubles in mind...specific rifles and I'm Struggling to choose!!
First Up - Second hand HEYM B88 PH - 500 NE - 26 "barrels - Like new - Low round count, 12,5 Lbs, regulated for Federal 570gr Swift A Frames - $14000 before tax
Secondly - Brand knew VC Azure Safari - 450 NE 24" barrels , 11 lb , regulated with 480gr Hornady's - $ 13000 before tax
Any advice will be appreciated
Will include photos later
Regards 
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Jaguarhunter
.300 member
Reged: 23/04/11
Posts: 246
Loc: Germany
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Take the Heym, it is better in all points.
:-)
And yes, please post fotos.
Best wishes.
F.
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Frikkie007
.224 member
Reged: 11/07/14
Posts: 20
Loc: British Columbia,Canada
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Post deleted by Frikkie007
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Frikkie007
.224 member
Reged: 11/07/14
Posts: 20
Loc: British Columbia,Canada
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Mmm....seems the posting of the photo's are a bit troublesome
450NE VC
500NE Heym
Edited by Frikkie007 (12/07/14 10:43 AM)
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Igorrock
.400 member
Reged: 01/03/07
Posts: 1684
Loc: Finland
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I like this VC much more, rounded action with nice carvings. Even woods seems to be nice and straight grained.
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http://promaakari.wordpress.com/
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40680
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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This recent thread may also help.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=249230&page=0&vc=1#Post249230
I would definitely handle both rifles. The pistol grip is quite different in each of those rifles. Both have a semi-beavertail forend. The V-C a bit less.
I can't see the engraving on the Heym much, but the V-C appears better engraved.
The two cartridges/chamberings are quite different. A major decision for the choice. The .500 NE is more powerful and a great elephant round. Maybe too much for a lot of North American hunting. A .450 may have a lot more projectiles to choose from. Still a hard hitter on elephant. Also you might use it in Canada too for bear or moose, plus whatever. I use my .450 on pigs for example. Of course a .500 could be used on any of these as well.
The Heym is 1 1/2 lbs heavier but that is probably good for a .500. 11 lbs is a good weight for a .450.
The Heym looks like it has been ordered with non-standard changes which improve it IMO over the standard 88B. But I would have to check it compared to some other photos.
The Verney-Carron is very nice.
Tough choice to make. 
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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If only the Heym had a basic scroll engraved edge like the H&H Dominion. Would cost them FA but would give the rifle a finished look.
SO, if this could be achieved on the hardened action I would look at the Heym.
BUT at 12lbs I would then look back at the VC.
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Rockdoc
.400 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia
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12.5 lbs is a lot to lug around for the 500! Nearly 2lbs more than needs.
The VC is a better weight and probably slimmer to hand. The Heym has a BIG forend!
Can you try both?
Good luck, Chris
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Frikkie007
.224 member
Reged: 11/07/14
Posts: 20
Loc: British Columbia,Canada
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Thanks for the great advice so far
I also prefer the look of the slimmer forend of the VC!!
But I love that Greener type crossbolt and the intercepting sears of the Heym.
My concerns is the Swift A frames the Heym is regulated with..
Choices choices!!!!
I wish I could handle both but time constraints and travel distance is holding me back a bit. One gun shop is near Toronto, the other near Montreal...and I'm living in Rural British Columbia
I'm originally from South Africa so I do alot of my hunting there still but I'm getting into the whole Canadian hunting scene!!! Doing my first Cape Buffalo hunt next year though...Elephant might be on the horizon in a few years time.
Please keep the advice comming!!
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Yochanan
.375 member
Reged: 26/01/03
Posts: 912
Loc: Volksdiktatur Schweden
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I would go for the VC, it looks better, weigh is right chambering offers a wider selection of bullets. 450NE is a classic cartridge for doubles. Two extra sets of barrels in 375 flanged and 300 flanged would be the icing on the cake.
I'm sure Heym quality is fine but I think its look suffers a lot. Looks factory finished with not much care or attention to details (I'm sure there are those who strongly disagree with my opinions and will try to pommel me for writing this) (I'm sure there are those who strongly disagree with my opinions and will try to pommel me for writing this)
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© "I have never been able to appreciate 'shock' as applied to killing big game. It seems to me that you cannot kill an elephant weighing six tons by ´shock´unless you advocate the use of a field gun." - W.D.M. Bell: Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter.
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Waidmannsheil
.416 member
Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2524
Loc: Melbourne Australia
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Have to agree with Yochanan, especially the 375 and 300 flanged. would make a ripper combination. The VC looks much nicer and looks better balanced. The 450 would also be more versatile world wide.
Waidmannsheil.
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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.
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Postman
.375 member
Reged: 25/09/13
Posts: 847
Loc: Canada
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To my mind, the choice id dead simple. I'd take the Heym every time. The big bore calibers are pretty much functionally equivalent to each other.... ~500 (or so) grain bullets at 2100 fps. I am not so big on form over functionality, scroll engraving doesn't tend to sway me. I'd rater have the better plain gun vs a lesser gun.
Indeed, I did vote with my wallet and bought a used 88B PH in .500 NE. I sold my Merkel .470 to get into the Heym. I really wanted it in .470 because I had dies, brass, and a whiole tool box drawer full of Woodleighs and Barnes, however the price was good, and the gun was in pristine shape, so I retooled and got .500 NE loading dies, brass, and a whole bunch of Barnes softs and solid monometals. It took me a llitte bit to find the correct recipe of seating depth and powder type to get it to regulate nicely, but that just meant more play time at the range.
I returned from the Caprivi 4 days ago and the .500 was quite effective on my 1st buffalo. All shots passed through, save for one Barnes 570 grain monometal solid that at 35 yards went into the brisket and was recovered under the skin directly in front of the right hip.
On the weight, I dragged that rifle aound through nasty thornbush islands, chest deep watery reed swamps, and a LOT of kilometers. I didnt find the weight terribly unpleasant or at least any worse than a 11 pound Merkel .470.
On resale, the Heym will ALWAYS fetch more dollars.
In any event, buy what you like and what suits your fancy. Variety is the spice of life.
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bigdog
.375 member
Reged: 05/02/06
Posts: 559
Loc: Southern Illinois
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I like the V.C.,but I like the Heym better. Plus I like the 500 caliber much better.
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Kyle, I love you buddy, Dad
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new_guy
Sponsor
Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas
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The HEYM looks to be in very nice shape, but it is an older model with the semi-beavertail forend, more squared receiver bottom, older stock shape and the smaller frame size. It is the "PH" grade with no engraving. 12.5 lbs tells me that some weight has been added too.
The current 500 is available on two different frame sizes:
- The smaller frame finishes up at 10.5 pounds.
- The larger frame finishes up at 11.75.
Smaller frame on the left.
Now on the right.
All of the additional weight is in the receiver and chamber end of the barrels, so it puts even more weight between the hands.
The price on the used HEYM is close enough to new cost that you might want to consider ordering one made to fit.
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www.heymUSA.com
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27723
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Yes - a difficult choice, but I would take the VC if it fit me well.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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eagle27
.400 member
Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1215
Loc: Rolleston, Christchurch, New Z...
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I like the VC, it just looks a whole lot better to my eyes but then I know squat about what constitutes a good double. Is the wood on a Heym always standing proud of the metalwork as it appears to be in the photos. I expect with wood standing proud like that you could surely expect the odd chip if the gun gets a bit of good carry in the Jesse?
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escard
.300 member
Reged: 24/01/07
Posts: 158
Loc: austria-europe
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Quote:
I like this VC much more, rounded action with nice carvings. Even woods seems to be nice and straight grained.
the .450 NE looks a lot more classic than the heym! If technical quality is as good as the look of it I would of course prefer it over the heym.
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Dutch44
.275 member
Reged: 23/02/06
Posts: 80
Loc: Missouri
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I love the .450 and also own a .500. I love shooting the .450 over the .500. I think it will come down to balance. Which one balances the best? I'm sure you have taken fit and finish, ergonomics, barrel length and esthetics of the engraving and overall look into consideration.
I have handled both and would choose the VC over the Heym based on the above criteria. I love 26 inch barrels, though, profiled for caliber,
That being said I really prefer a great old English gun (or new English rifle).
Dutch
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Rell
.375 member
Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA
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The Heym kind of looks like a 2x4, no?
Just kidding, i't a very well made and balanced double rifle that barly resemble a piece of spruce framing material. My hunting parter has a 470 very similar and it shoots and handles great, for a piece of lumbar anyways.
What can I say my Mom is a Brit and my Dad is French how could I love a German rifle?
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450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.
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DUGABOY1
.400 member
Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA
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In my opinion both are nice rifles, but my personal choice between them would be the Heym! 
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..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"
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tarbe
.224 member
Reged: 29/10/13
Posts: 16
Loc: Texas
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Quote:
What can I say my Mom is a Brit and my Dad is French how could I love a German rifle?
My thoughts exactly. My mother is German and my Father is Austrian. How could I not go with the Heym? 
Tim
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500Boswell
.400 member
Reged: 21/07/06
Posts: 1281
Loc: Queensland
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The VC looks nicer, svelte ,elegant, the Heym has better wood,rugged looking, and has 26 inch barrels which i like better than 24 inch ,and a 500 ,buy the VC for your wife and the Heym for yourself ! problem solved !!!
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Ash
.400 member
Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1654
Loc: Australia
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I'd take the .450 also, beautiful caliber, and that rifle looks nicer than the .500.
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CptCurl
.450 member
Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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I think I would prefer a VC to a Heym, though I never have owned either.
As for the VC, I wish they would evolve to a more classic design. To my eye the stock is poorly cut. The pistol grip is too close and has that insipid palm swell. Their forend has way too much wood. With a little tweaking it could be an elegant rifle.
I have never liked how the Heym action is shaped. It is so boxy and extends too far back on top. The top looks like flat metal with a lever attached. Not much grace or style. However, in recent years Heym seems to have improved their stock design, seeking lines more classic than before.
The humble Merkel has a lot going for it. Merkel has made double rifles for over a century. During the early to mid twentieth century Merkel and other German makers emulated English designs, with a Teutonic flair. Many of their double rifles of that era used Anson & Deeley actions and had classic lines to their stocks. Merkel reflects this concept today, though their action is not as nicely filed or embellished (modern manufacturing techniques). I do own a modern day Merkel .500NE.
I will emphatically say we are blessed these days to have such choices as Heym, VC, and Merkel. The market for newly manufactured double rifles is worlds ahead of what it was just 25 years ago.
I will also cast a vote for the .450NE. What a wonderful cartridge it is!
JMHO
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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Frikkie007
.224 member
Reged: 11/07/14
Posts: 20
Loc: British Columbia,Canada
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