Double Rifle suggestions for a first double rifle?

[Rare Breed]

Also remember Rizzini isn't a thing. It's MANY companies. I think there are SIX Rizzinis. FLLI Rizzini Makes $250,000 guns. The Rizzini that makes those 416 Rigby double rifles is not the same guys that make high dollar guns.

Agree, however, while I think they make great shot guns, the 470 DR Rhino model I bought should be avoided given I will bet my farm it would be sold within 4 weeks after use.

 

[rookhawk]

Agree, however, while I think they make great shot guns, the 470 DR Rhino model I bought should be avoided given I will bet my farm it would be sold within 4 weeks after use.

The great Rizzini shotguns aren't made by the same company that makes the Rhino double rifle. There are many people in Italy named Rizzini, most had the same great-great grandfather. The various Rizzinis vary from the most expensive guns in the world to junk for the discount rack. They cannot trademark a last name so its very confusing for consumers.

No FLLI Rizzini is junk, but most Rizzinis are not FLLI Rizzinis.

 

[Rare Breed]

The 470 NE Rhino is almost always under $10,000 and can be very tempting to the first time DR buyer who may not understand the need for LOP and weight for caliber. Do not make the same mistake I did many years ago with this being my first DR purchase due to my ignorance.

 

[dhughes66]

The weight was always my primary concern when it came to the Rizzini. I don't know much about double rifles but I do know that 9lbs is too light for a 470NE. If they made it in 450/400 that would be different.

 

[Rare Breed]

Your LOP and proper weight for caliber goes a long way in a DR. I have owned Rizzini, Chapuis, Merkle and Rigby in different calibers for a total of 8. All but the Rizzini were a pleasure to own and shoot

 

[steve white]

Have it built with the rear sight moved forward, almost like a Battue sight arrangement. Your aging eyes will thank you, and you will be able to focus with iron sights YEARS longer.

I don't know why more people don't do this.

 

[Mountaineer]

Consider a used O/U. You can get a better quality rifle at a more affordable price.

 

[Beck]

I'd spend the extra money and get a heym

 

[mdwest]

I'll lead with I HAVE NEVER OWNED A DOUBLE, NOR DO I INTEND ON OWNING ONE... I thought about it very seriously at one time.. and even did a little shopping.. and then determined I'd be personally better served with a couple of really nice magazine rifles rather than a double....

That said, Ive handled quite a few, and have a substantial number of friends that own and shoot them regularly..

Based on the feedback Ive gotten from them, and from what Ive seen here on AH, of the choices you lay out, I think Chapuis would be where I start.. While not common, I have heard complaints about Merkel from time to time.. and I just dont know enough about the Rizzini options to even know where to start (although they make some absolutely wonderful double shotguns)...

We have a member here that is an invaluable source of information on Chapuis (@Tom Leoni )... and there are a good number of members here that own and/or have owned Chapuis, and I cant recall any of them ever saying they regretted making the purchase..

Were I shopping for a NEW double DG rifle, a Chapuis in 470 is likely where I'd focus my search..

Were I shopping for a double rifle in general (to include used), my aperture would be opened much more widely.. For example, I've seen some beautiful turn of the 20th century Army-Navy doubles go for only marginally more than a Chapuis or Merkel..

For example there is an Army-Navy 450/400 3 1/4 NE currently on Guns International for $16,495.... that seems a lot more attractive to me than a new Capuis or Merkel.. although since I acknowledge that I know little to nothing about doubles, before I went and dropped 5 figures on a rifle that would likely only get hunted 3-4 times in the rest of my lifetime, I'd be hitting up members like @rookhawk , @Red Leg , @ActionBob , and @Houston Bill for as much information and advice as possible.. I know they all have much better insight and knowledge when it comes to doubles than I ever will..

Army & Navy 450-400 3 1/4 NE Box Lock for sale

Army & Navy 450-400 3 1/4 NE Box Lock for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Also understand that FOR ME, I dont really look at firearms as investment purchases.. I do trade, swap, etc.. quite a bit.. but I go into each purchase at least thinking/planning to keep the firearm for the rest of my life.. so I focus far more on what I think I can afford, what I think I really want, and whether or not Im really going to use it.. and focus far less than many others on whether or not I will get my money back out of the rifle or make money on the rifle in the long run..

So… 72 hours later… my wife has made a liar out of me

There will be a Chapuis Iphisi 375 in the safe in a couple of days…

It’s a very long story… but the short version is… it is a “thank you” gift that a client bought for her… I set her up with a buddy that owned a fairly good sized firm that needed some external accounting assistance to help him get some things straightened out and help him get through the process of selling his business…

18 months later… my buddy is a millionaire, my wife owns a double… and I’ve got to pick up the tab on a 2026 buffalo hunt now…

Somehow I think I got screwed in all of this!

FWIW, the beretta gallery is selling the iphisi for $9999… and if you’re a first time buyer from the gallery they’ll give you a 10% off discount code, bringing the rifle down to $8999… they happened to have one on the shelf… it will be ready for pick up at my FFL on Wednesday…

 

[Rare Breed]

Too funny!!! You can’t make that up!!! Your wife should be a CEO!!!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

I would advise her to get a 450-400 versus 375…better caliber in a DR and much higher resale value. I am not a fan of a 375 in a DR, just me

 

[Canadaboy]

The best advice that I can give you is to haunt auction websites and go from there. I have previously provided a list at: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/is-a-rigby-worth-it.68478/page-5#post-901104

The reality to us impoverished Britons and Europeans, labouring under the socialist yoke, is that these rifles are expensive and difficult to shoot. For example, despite owning a .470NE myself, I am not permitted to shoot it in the UK. The result is that a lot of these rifles are in very good second-hand condition. They are cheaper to buy in Europe than in America and - although I have exported from the US to the UK and not the other way round - I am convinced that one can still buy such rifles cheaper in Europe and export them to the land of the free cheaper than buying them in the US.

Other help is available from the great Rookhawk and his thread Good gun deals this week. Under no circumstances commission a custom rifle, which is the most expensive way of going about business.

I’m in Canada so I can’t comment on the ease or cost of importing to the USA. But I’ve had great luck buying rifles (and shotguns) at auction in the UK and importing them to Canada. It is very easy for me to privately import a rifle or shotgun. Shipping isn’t cheap, but for high value firearms like double rifles the cost savings can make it worthwhile.

I’m currently importing a double rifle from Spain, it my first time importing from there and it has taken a long wait to get the Spanish export permit approved, but it has been a simple process.

I know that historically plenty of Americans have bought rifles at UK auctions. I’m curious to see whether the new US import tarrifs reduce the number of Americans buying firearms at European auctions. If so there may be even more bargains headed by way.

 

[LeonSam]

About 15 years ago, a friend of mine showed me his OU double rifle. It was a FAIR Safari 500 in 6.5x55mm.

It was a beautiful gun and my buddy bagged several deer with it.

FAIR Safari double rifles are affordable and they are a true bargain.

I actually ordered a FAIR Safari FXW double rifle today in 8x57JRS and it is my first double rifle.

So in answer to your question, the perfect double rifle for a first time owner might be the FAIR Safari double rifle.