Buying A Used Heym Double Rifle - Any Advice?

[ingwe500nitroexpress]

Just food for thought. First excited for you getting into DRs…you will love the experience! Second it seems you are looking for a quality starting DR to see how you like it before you buy your own custom fit DR? If it was me given I have owned 7 DRs and have stuck with my forever Rigby in 470 NE I recommend looking at Champlin in Enid, OK for a new Chapuis 450-400 or 470 to start. Great gun and they will cut stick to your specific LOP. $12,000-$14,000 brand new. THEN move to a higher price Heym if you desire. Just myself after owning them all I have not found any quality difference between Chapuis and Heym but $6 to $8k in price due to name brand. Both great rifles that will not disappoint. If you buy a new Heym you will pay top dollar with a 2-3 year wait

 

[ingwe500nitroexpress]

Respectfully, Chapuis and the Heym 89b have some pretty significant differences in quality in regards to fit and finish. Had numerous issues with friends Chapuis doubles. Enough that that gun was done for the safari. I own several London bests and have owned Merkels and Chapuis doubles, and they 89b is just flat out in a different class than the aforementioned except the London bests. 6-8k price difference is also more like a 16k difference. My 89b was 30. My chapuis from JJ was 12.5.

 

[franzfmdavis]

I would advise hiring Rookhawk as a consultant.

There are unknown unknowns;
there are known unknowns; and
there are known knowns;
…and then there is what @rookhawk knows!

Immensely much more value than the small fee he earns!!

 

[Pondoro]

I am impressed that a double in a high pressure caliber as .458Win. can be shot as much as Mark´s..and stay together..

Frankly I did not think that would be possible with any double...a statement to Heyms build quality..!

 

[MacJenkins]

I own an 88b in 375 flanged and 470 Nitro. Good guns, like the cocking indicators which I miss on the 450 Nitro 89 I own. Balance seams to be a little better in the 89b but not enough to worry about.

All the Heyms I owned except for the 375 Flanged I ordered.

Had 88b 450/400, with a claw mounted scope. Was wonderfully accurate but had long barrels and was a bit heavier than I liked. Came accorss a goergeous prewar Westly Richards that fit me perfectly so moved that one.

Had a 577 Jumbo sidelock, great gun. Just a bit heavy and seamed to move a little to slow as the barrels where quite thick at the muzzle. Maybe could use a slightly bigger action?

Had a 577 89b ordered and right before it was finished had a nice Marcel Thys 577 come up for sale and bought that. Was a perfect fit as well so never took delivery of it an Chris was able to sell it at the SCI show.

He ordered me a 89b 450 Nitro in its place and have been shooting that alot lately. One of the best shooting doubles I have ownded and will be taking it on a Buff hunt this summer. It shoots an honest 1.5" group at 50 and im getting right at 3.5" at a 100 with for shots.

I like light doubles so for me I think their 450 to 500's are the perfect weight and balance for the frames size those come on.

 

[Muskox]

I don't know how if there is any service capability at HEYM USA. They are not actually Heym, they are an agent. I told him that I had imported a Heym from Germany when I was stationed here last time and asked about getting something done to it and he gave me the stink eye.

You can always send it to Oklahoma to Champlins if it needs love.

 

[rookhawk]

I don't know how if there is any service capability at HEYM USA. They are not actually Heym, they are an agent. I told him that I had imported a Heym from Germany when I was stationed here last time and asked about getting something done to it and he gave me the stink eye.

You can always send it to Oklahoma to Champlins if it needs love.

100% of competent double rifle smiths I've met will work on Heyms and do so competently: NECG, JJ, Ken Owen, etc, etc.