Review: My first double: LH Chapuis Brousse 470 NE; Evo-Shield recoil pad

rinehart0050

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I recently recieved my first ever double rifle, a Chapuis Brousse in 470 NE, and had the opportunity to take it out to the range over the holidays. The buying experience was very positive and she shoots great. I'm extremely happy with the double rifle and recommend it to anyone without reservations.

Also, I picked up an Evo-Shield recoil pad and shirt. I highly recommend this product, as it felt like it reduces the pretty hefty recoil by over 50% (no science to support that, just my assessment. More to follow below...

Make: Chapuis Armes
Model: Brousse (left handed)
Caliber: 470 Nitro Express
Extras: case hardened, initials engraved on trigger guard
Importer: Ken Buch @kebco of KEBCOLLC at info@kebcollc.com, (301)460-9563
Cost: $12085
Stock Fitting: Glenn Baker @Glenn of Woodcock Hill Inc, owner of Thomas Bland & Sons Gunmakers Ltd., at bland@epix.net

Some pictures:
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I ordered the double through Chapuis' American Importer, Ken Buch, KEBCOLLC. He estimated about 6 months. Final delivery time was just shy of 7 months.

A key recommendation that Ken made was to have myself measured so that the rifle could be fitted to me. I also highly recommend this as it helps with recoil and makes mounting the rifle far more natural and comfortable. Ken recommended Glenn Baker of Woodcock Hill.

Glenn is a great American and did an exceptional job. He also took me under his wing, teaching me all about shooting a double rifle and let me shoot a 470 he had in stock to get some familiarity with the caliber. Glenn uses the Try-Gun system to measure you, which allows you to shoot a gun that is fitted for you after the appropriate adjustments. It is 100% worth the time and money to take a trip out to Glenn's place in Pennsylvania for a fitting and some shooting instruction. I can't recommend it enough!

My fitting:
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After the fitting, I ordered the rifle. I was also able to choose my wood from three blanks. I chose the middle one:
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After the obligatory wait, the rifle arrived in a Negrini hard case:
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Here are some close-up photos. I particularly appreciate that this is a true left handed rifle. There are all kinds of little details, like a lip on the left side of the trigger guard, my initials engraved, etc.

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Here's the front sight. Notice that it has a flip-up that has a bigger bead for aiming in lower light conditions:

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More to follow in my next post about shooting this rifle.
 
A couple of weeks after getting the double rifle, I was able to take it out to the range.

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Now, 470 is a punishing caliber. I'd fired a 470 with Glenn while getting measured and fitted. After 10 rounds, I was in a good amount of pain and bruising lasted over a week. Learning to handle the recoil is important because you don't want to be flinching, especially in DG situations.

Managing the recoil is done through proper gun mount and stance and by having a rifle that fits you. I practiced my gun mount with a side by side shotgun during the months that I waited for the double, maybe 10-20 minutes a day, just at my house.

I also did some research online and read about the Evo-Shield recoil pad. Evo-Shield makes shielding/padding products for athletes- baseball, football, etc. Rather than inserting a soft gel pad into a shirt, Evo-Shield pads actually harden- to the point of being rock hard. The idea is that the hard shield is formed to your body and dissipates the impact across a greater surface area.

The Evo-Shield pad is initially soft and hardens when exposed to air. You mount your gun repeatedly for about 20 minutes as the pad forms and hardens.

Bottom line. This system works. I felt a significant reduction in recoil, no desire to flinch, and the ability to shoot many more large caliber rounds in a day. Another benefit is that the shield seems to make my gun mount a bit more consistent because the formed and hardened shield kind of has a shelf to rest the butt stock in.

Here is my Evo-Shield:
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Now, how did the double actually shoot? Great! Here are some results at 25 yards... 1 to 1.5 inch groups.
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I'm hoping to get back out to the range soon and do more testing at longer range.

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And here's some video:

 
Congratulations and happy for you!
 
Congrats on your purchase. Chapuis is on my short list, looks to be a great purchase.
 
The rifle and Evo shield both look like great investments! Beautiful rifle!
 
Beautiful double! I envy you just to be able to shoot that bruiser!
Now hurry up and use it on something big!:ROFLMAO: (As if you’re not anxious yourself to use it on something!)
Congratulations!
 
Very nice rifle sir! Congrats
 
Beautiful rifle!
What do you plan to hunt with her?

Elephant. That's the plan for our next safari. After that, everything! Even the squirrels that mock me during deer season better watch out.
 
Congratulations on this beautiful weapon,with a wonderful wood in this wonderful historical caliber.
The elephant bulls are already trembling.
But I couldn't handle the way you're holding that gun.
 
Last edited:
Congrats, beautiful rifle!
 
Very nice, congrats !
 
What a beauty!! Congrats on the addition!
 
Congratulations! Beautiful rifle.
I have a Chapuis double in 375 H&H which I purchased second hand. I've posted on AH before about it, but it is a very sweet shooting rifle and I've already used it in Africa on Cape Buffalo and Nyala. My PH liked it so much he is looking for one.
I recommend Chapuis without reservation. For the money, (thousands less than Heym or Kreighoff) you get a beautifully crafted rifle made by a small French company that was family-owned, but recently acquired by Beretta. The Beretta gallery in Dallas told me that they will be handling Chapuis rifles in their store, so the dealer network should grow in the U.S.
William Larkin Moore in Phoenix carries Chapuis and usually has a few in inventory. Champlin Arms in Enid, Oklahoma also carries Chapuis and they recommend them very highly.
 
Nice!

As another lefty that's awesome to see!
 

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