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..!