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Jagermiester , The only advantage to the chopper lump over the mono-block is a double rifle can be made slightly narrower with the chopper lump! In terms of performance there is no difference!

The reason the chopper lump barrels cost more has nothing to do with whether they are better, but because it requires more work to make them, nothing more. There is a school of thought, that says the Mono-block is better, because of the fact that the lumps can be hardened better, because the whole block can be heat treated. With the chopper lump,(also called Dimi-blok, in the Germanic countries), the lumps must be surface hardened, so as to leave the barrels elastic. The mono-block is much like the reciever of a bolt rifle in that the barrels are threaded into the block, and the heat treating has absolutely no effect on the barrels at all.

The Merkel, and the Heym have Dimi-blok (chopper lump) barrels! Searcy has both! I don't know about the Krieghoff, and the Chapuis, but I doubt they are chopper lump. I say this because Krieghoff was one of the first to go to mono-block in their shotguns!

You will find that most who are interested in double rifles will flatly state chopper lumps are the best, but that has to do with the fact they cost more, and they believe you get what you pay for! We both know that is a lie in many respects, and in this case they are simply paying for the extra work involved, nothing more.

Do I think chopper lumps are worth the extra money to get them? NO! Unless you intend selling later, MAYBE!

Do they make the rifle worth more when you sell? Yes!

Is my rifle stronger because I have Chopper lumps? NO!, In fact, there is some evidence to the contrary!

Will my rifle shoot better because I have chopper lumps? NO!

Like all things relating to double rifles, if you ask ten different people, who own double rifles, you will get ten different answers. If you ask ten gunsmiths who do not specialize in double rifles the same question, you will still get ten different answers! This is one firearm you pick your gun smith very carefully, for! You'd be surprized at the number of well known gunsmiths who do not understand double rifles!

In the final annalysis, if the double you are looking to buy is well made, and it fits you, and shoots to regulation, the price is right, buy it, and don't worry if it has chopper lumps, or mono-block!

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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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