Chapuis or Merkel?

the seller of the B. Searcy 500/416 NE has accepted my offer! the rifle was made in 2006 and has what appears to have a nickel plated reciever (i didnt ask but thats what it looks like) with very light engraving (5-10%). included with the rifle are 3 boxes of superior brand ammunition (barnes TSX and banded solids), a leupold VX-III 1.5-5, talley QD rings, and a B. Searcy custom carry case. according to the seller the gun has been to africa once and shot very little.

will post pictures when i get the gun.

-matt
 
Congrats on the purchase!
 
congrats on the new rifle
 
just got off the phone with the seller (a really nice guy) and i wanted to correct some information i put up.

the gun was not made in 2006, it was purchased in 2006 from a pawn shop. the actual date of manufacture is not known (ill ask B. Searcy co.). the seller took the gun to Africa once and took two buffalo and a elephant with it. (im jealous, i hope to get a chance at an elephant some day)

its nice to hear the gun has already proven itself over seas and i like that the gun has a story. if the gun is an nice as the seller is claiming (hard to tell with pics) then it must have really been cared for by its previous owners. will be a couple weeks before i get a the rifle... i cant wait!

-matt
 
Congrats on your latest purchase, Matt.

The fellow who runs the neighboring hunting concession to mine acquired a Krieghoff 500/416 a couple of years back and has been using it as his primary back-up gun since then.
He reports stunning performance on buffalo under any circumstances.

His only beef is the incredible cost of factory ammo (he doesn't reload).

I very much like the Krieghoff in terms of build quality, balance and finish they are a fine firearm and don't let anyone tell you that the safety/cocking device is any sort of handicap, it simply isn't true.

Had Krieghoff made a .500 as standard when I was looking for a double I think I may have gone down that track, unfortunately they didn't and I ended up with a V.C for which I have absolutely no regrets.

This double may have indeed cost you significantly more than your Sabbatti and I am reasonably confident that after you have had it for a while you will see why.

The 500/416 is a powerful and versatile cartridge with many applications.

Good shooting !
 
thanks for the congrats guys.

thats good to hear paul, i wanted a 500/416 NE ever since i first read about the cartridge. on paper at least, it falls squarly between the 404 Jeffery and the 416 Rigby and ive yet to hear anyone say something bad about either of those cartridges. the recoil should be less then the other heavy hitters (470 NE and 500 NE) but it should be able to stop a charge from any animal on the planet. another thing i love about the cartridge is that every one makes a .416 bullet! i plan on experimenting with the 350gr speer hot-core and the 300gr TSX to create a suitable north american load for the gun. the higher velocity gives it a flatter trajectory for plains game and north american game such as deer ,black bear, elk, moose, and hopefully grizz some day.

thanks
-matt
 
enysse said:
Overall I think you are better off with the 450-400 3". Recoil is tolerable and you can always learn to adjust for distance.
Click to expand...

+1.
 
Velo Dog yer a bit late, I already bought the other gun. :p

the 450-400 NE 3" is a great caliber but I really wanted something with 4000+ ft/lb of muzzle energy. something in the same power range as the 450 NE 3 1/4" and the 470 NE. heck, I would have been stoked if I could have found a nice used 450 NE 3 1/4" that I could afford. if I can ever afford a second double it will most likely be in 450 NE 3 1/4".

-matt
 
matt good to see you managed to get the rifle in the cal that you wanted all along. got a couple of ph mates that use it and are very happy with it
 
matt85 said:
Velo Dog yer a bit late, I already bought the other gun. :p

the 450-400 NE 3" is a great caliber but I really wanted something with 4000+ ft/lb of muzzle energy. something in the same power range as the 450 NE 3 1/4" and the 470 NE. heck, I would have been stoked if I could have found a nice used 450 NE 3 1/4" that I could afford. if I can ever afford a second double it will most likely be in 450 NE 3 1/4".

-matt
Click to expand...

Matt85,

Oooopsie.
Well anyway, I am confident that you will thoroughly enjoy this new rifle.
I will look forward to reports and photos.
Congratulations old bean.

Best Regards,
Velo Dog.
 
Well hurry the shipping along faster so we can see this 'new ' rifle sooner! ;)

Based on the Searcy's I've seen it'll be a keeper. I know mine is!
 
congrats Matt

post some pictures as soon as you can please.

good luck with the purchase.
 
matt85 said:
so given the problems with my current Sabatti im kicking around the idea of trying to come up with $10k and buying something else. I can get doubles made by Merkel or Chapuis for around $10k which is the most affordable next to the Sabatti double.

which would you pick? why?

thanks
-matt
Click to expand...
Hi Matt, if your interested in a Merkel I have a 500 NE Model 140 I shot it once in Africa at a Cape Buffalo and looking to sell it for a very good price !!!!!! Robert
 
Last edited by a moderator:
SSI, i might have been interested a little while ago but im good now.

-matt
 
matt85 said:
SSI, i might have been interested a little while ago but im good now.

-matt
Click to expand...
You bet... Happy hunting be safe......
 
Matt now that you have purchased the B. Searcy 500/416 I assume this thread closed,may I ask for your opinions of the Merkel vs Heym vs Krieghoff please ?

I am interested in a Heym 450/400 and was hoping to get the same opinions and view points.

many thanks in advance and apologies Matt if I am hijacking your thread.
 
Matt, I have both and love them both after teething troubles with the Merkel.
 

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