Question For Our German & Austrian Members

[Pondoro]

First, there is a significant price difference between Heym and Krieghoff.. I have both vintage british doubles in .450/400 and .475 and a .470 Krieghoff..the latter for two reasons.. The cocking mech. is an added safety.. The traditional safety on double rifle is not to be trusted during african carry..numerous accidents.. If the Krieghoff is lost I take out the insurance and buy a new one.. I bought mine for $6000,- on the used market..in like new condition..that was a helluva lot of double rifle for the price..

If you look at a lot of the prewar british boxlock doubles such as Jeffery the engraved animals look like something out of a comic book..as some of the current Krieghoffs So what..?

The Krieghoff is also easy to scope, wich I did..it regulates well to 60m with Hornady, Federal (at least the lot I have) and current Norma factory.. Also easy to load for.. I get 2170fps with Hornady, thats 5200 foot pounds..

There must be more reasons that many african PH´s use these rifles and are content with it..

 

[AZDAVE]

Like others I am not German or Austrian, but have spent a few years living there.

I have owned a hyem 55B in 7x64 that shot extremely well!! I have handled 88 and 89 series.
The 88 to me feels blocky and clunky to me but the 89 feels more like a classic english double. The owners of the rifles I handled shot them well and they were in the 2in at 50 meters 4 shot groups with factory ammo and just under 2 with tailored handloads.

I currently own a Krieghoff 500/416. It shoots under 2 in at 60 meters with my handloads. The factory hornaday solid shoot very well but the softs have been used to acquire once fired brass. I like the cocker decoker safety. It is just another manual of arms for that specific rifle this double fits me to a T.
I put a RMR on the rifle for a hyena night time hunt and kept it there since it tighten up my groups significantly over irons so it has earned a place on my Krieghoff.

Both are very good doubles.

 

[steve white]

First, there is a significant price difference between Heym and Krieghoff.. I have both vintage british doubles in .450/400 and .475 and a .470 Krieghoff..the latter for two reasons.. The cocking mech. is an added safety.. The traditional safety on double rifle is not to be trusted during african carry..numerous accidents.. If the Krieghoff is lost I take out the insurance and buy a new one.. I bought mine for $6000,- on the used market..in like new condition..that was a helluva lot of double rifle for the price..

If you look at a lot of the prewar british boxlock doubles such as Jeffery the engraved animals look like something out of a comic book..as some of the current Krieghoffs So what..?

The Krieghoff is also easy to scope, wich I did..it regulates well to 60m with Hornady, Federal (at least the lot I have) and current Norma factory.. Also easy to load for.. I get 2170fps with Hornady, thats 5200 foot pounds..

There must be more reasons that many african PH´s use these rifles and are content with it..

You are correct--I have seen British shotguns beyond what I could afford display engraved "flying turnips" for birds, lol.

 

[rookhawk]

You are correct--I have seen British shotguns beyond what I could afford display engraved "flying turnips" for birds, lol.

The Spanish guns have a similar, special insult. "Flying Bowling Pins" was a common motif. If you squint and use wild imagination, I guess it could be a duck?

 

[Red Leg]

The Spanish guns have a similar, special insult. "Flying Bowling Pins" was a common motif. If you squint and use wild imagination, I guess it could be a duck?

One of my favorite guns in the gun room is an AYA Super 37 built in the seventies. It is a copy of the pre-war Merkel. However, the locks are decorated with running pheasants that more closely resemble a pack of velociraptors than any game bird.

 

[mdwest]

The Spanish guns have a similar, special insult. "Flying Bowling Pins" was a common motif. If you squint and use wild imagination, I guess it could be a duck?

My AyA No 3 is a wonderful gun... but... whatever the bird is that has been engraved on the sides resembles a seagull thats just received a botox treatment..

I think its supposed to maybe be some sort of eagle? but.. the only word I can use to describe it properly is "horrible" lol..

 

[rookhawk]

One of my favorite guns in the gun room is an AYA Super 37 built in the seventies. It is a copy of the pre-war Merkel. However, the locks are decorated with running pheasants that more closely resemble a pack of velociraptors than any game bird.

I've owned said AYA 37 with flying bowling pins, this one is better than 90% of them they made, but still a little "rough":

 

[Levubu]

I am German, but not a gunsmith. As a layman, I would say that there is no difference between these two companies when it comes to reputation and quality. I own a Krieghoff Classic Big Five and I love it. I am absolutely thrilled with their safety features. I wouldn't give up the Krieghoff for a Heym.