Chapuis or Merkel

H

Hornedfrogbbq

Gold supporter
AH fanatic
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Messages
766
Reaction score
1,150
Media
1
I have become a Heym guy and have exactly zero experience between a Chapuis and a Merkel. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

My question is out of curiosity -- if you have experience with both, which did you prefer? Fit and finish? Ruggedness? Handling and balance? Repairs needed? Accuracy/regulation?
 
Love my Chapuis Elan .470NE

No issues at all.

ETA; it was regulated for Woodleigh bullets. I found some Federal’s for sale here on the forums and bought all 200 rounds plus another 100 of Federal TBBC.

When I first started shooting it I Pushed 20 ends/barrel of Hornady DGX. To my surprise they shot very well. I shot 5 rounds/barrel of the woodleigh hydro’s and there was a noticeable difference, but truthfully, it wasn’t so much that I’d not shoot a buffalo with it.
 
Last edited:
Dparr said:
Heym
Click to expand...
I own a .500 and a .470 by Heym. As stated, I am a Heym guy but I am curious on that specific comparison. For many folks, a Heym might be a dream but a Chapuis and Merkel are much more available. They may be the available double ownership dream.

So to be clear, I personally believe Heym makes a higher quality gun. But if the dream is only available in those two brands, who likes what.
 
I trust the judgement of George Caswell. His top two doubles are Chapius and Heym. I don't have enough experience to second-guess that kind of knowledge. The only variable is fit.
 
Well I will put it this way I have owned 6 chapuis over the years and still have 2 that will get passed down for generations. Have shot several Merkels but they just feel cluby in my hands so have never owned one.
 
I have handled both Merkel and Chapuis and have made a trip to George’s shop. In the end Merkel was the choice for me. I wanted a .500 NE and found the right deal for a 140AE .470 NE. I’ve come to love the .470. Chapuis does not offer a .500 for some reason and the Beavertail forend looks out of place on a traditional double. Here are the specifications between House of Merkel and Heym

House of Merkel 140AE:
Anson & Deeley Box Lock Action
Greener Locking Cross Bolt
Double Bite Underlugs
Monoblock Barrel Joining
Manual Safety
Articulated Front Trigger
Made Completely In-House

Heym 88B & 89B:
Anson & Deeley Box Lock Action
Greener Locking Cross Bolt
Double Bite Underlugs
Shoe Lump Barrel Joining
Manual Safety
Articulated Front Trigger
Made Completely In-House

From an engineering perspective Monoblock is a stronger method of joint barrels than Shoe Lump.
 
I have a Chapuis Elan and a merkel 140, both in 450-400. My chapuis was regulated very well at the time of purchase and shoots great. I will be taking it to hunt Cape buffalo this coming August. The Merkel I used on elephant and hyena in Zimbabwe back in 2024. When I got the Merkel, it was used and didn’t shoot all that well, I have no idea what it was regulated with. I sent it off to JJ to have it regulated with hornady ammo as I wasn’t getting anywhere with reloads. It now shoots quite well.

My preference right now would be the Merkel but that’s only because it’s broken in more, I probably have shot about 200 rounds through it since I got it. I think they both handle very well. I like the bulkier and slightly longer forearm of the Chapuis over the very narrow and short one on the Merkel. Even though I don’t have huge hands, it just feels a bit more natural to me. Because of this, Once the Chapuis gets more rounds down the barrel I suspect it will become my favorite. Looks are the least concern for me.
 
I have a Chapuis 450/400 and couldn’t be shooter for the money. I’ve actually been very impressed with it. It’s regulated very well and easy to handload for. I’ve been able to work up loads with A-Frames and TSX with very little trouble. The A-Feames touch at 50’yards and the TSX are just slightly away from touching and vertically identical.

I’ve never owned a Markel but handled a couple. They seem well made and I have no criticisms. But I couldn’t imagine looking one better than my Chapuis.
 
I have a Merkel 140 in 450/400 3" (.400 Jeffery) and a Chapuis in 9.3x74R.

I like them both, to point of not having a 'favourite' per se. Naturally the task at hand will have me lean toward one over the other as required.

I don't see any meaningful variation in fit, finish, visible build quality between them.

I prefer the forend styling on the Merkel (more 'British'), but the Chapuis has nicer timber.

Neither have required any repairs, the Merkel has more time in the field, no issues. I have taken a few buffalo here with it. It is considerably heavier, of course, accomodating a larger cartridge, and accordingly on a bigger action, but handles well.

I've been able to get slightly better regulation out of the Chapuis, < 2" @ 50m. Have not been able to replicate the two shots / single hole of the factory test target, even using the factory ammunition they used.

But the Merkel regulation is certainly serviceable, ~3" @ 50m so far. I have to try one more powder (2217) with the Merkel, more effort may tighten regulation up a bit.
 
Last edited:
I handled both last week, the Merkel felt more rugged but the Chapuis had a finer finish
 
I posted a question a while back asking about reloading speed with a double firing two rounds reloading and firing two rounds. The Grand Master Riflemen here can execute that drill in 5 seconds! I’m closing in on 200 rounds through my 140 AE .470 and the action is as tight and locks up like a vault exactly like when it was brand new!! The design specifications of the Merkel make it a workhorse bar none.
 
Between Chapuis and Merkel, I personally prefer the Merkel even though I can’t fault the Chapuis.

Heym is obviously a far superior choice to either.
 
I recently purchased a Chapuis Iphisi in 450-400 and immediately returned it to the Beretta Gallery for what I categorize as quality control issues. I am working with Beretta on a way ahead. My initial impression is the rifle is not as its as impressive as I felt it should have been. The wood is absolutely great and carries the rifle. My issues are solder and bluing. In line with a few other comments the rifle is unnecessary stiff to the point of I feel it hampers function. The trigger is average for a production rifle. Knowing what I know now I would have purchased a Heym and never felt I was forced to settle.
 

Attachments

  • Rifle.jpg
    Rifle.jpg
    83.9 KB · Views: 92
Wow!

Im surprised that youre "working on a way ahead"... There is zero question that there is something incorrect with that rifle... if their immediate response wasnt "would you prefer a refund sir? or would you prefer that we send you another rifle as soon as one is available?:.. I would see that as a problem..

I understand that you dont pay the same sort of money for a Chapuis as you do for a Heym or a Rigby double.. but.. they are certainly not cheap... whats a 450-400 Iphisi going for these days? I think about $16K?

A brand new $16K rifle shouldnt have those sort of issues with the finish, whether they are aethetic or functional..
 
I think it is BS that the Beretta Gallery is washing their hands of this and do not want to provide any support. Nothing like standing behind products you sell and providing customer service!
 
SFRanger7GP said:
I think it is BS that the Beretta Gallery is washing their hands of this and do not want to provide any support. Nothing like standing behind products you sell and providing customer service!
Click to expand...

Concur!

I bought the wife’s iphisi from the Beretta Gallery, and I catch myself looking at their inventory from time to time…

Knowing this is how they respond when a customer has an issue, that iphisi will likely be the last thing I ever buy from them…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1055 more.
Total: 97,288 (members: 1,105, guests: 96,183)

Forum statistics

Threads
68,314
Messages
1,518,727
Members
152,432
Latest member
avery
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

cgdemakis
cgdemakis
I have not posted any items for sale on this forum and will not every put anything for sale. My account was hacked and I've worked with the admin to get things shut down.
•••
P
Paul K wrote on cgdemakis's profile.
Paul
•••
C
CJNJ wrote on UNTAMED KNIVES's profile.
Still possible to order one of these?
•••
G
ghay wrote on Floridanative's profile.
Hello,
I might be able to help you out depending on how many you need. I could probably spare 50-75 .285g A-Frames. They are factory pulls that look like new. Let me know if you are still looking,
Thanks,
Gary
•••
B
blackdog001blackdog001 wrote on Snowball's profile.
Hi. I can take 5 boxes at $200 shipped if interested. Thanks
•••

Share this page

 
Top