Hierarchy Of Double Rifles - Where does the Verney-Carron Fit In?

[Aussie_Hunter]

You have a very nice rifle with your Merkel!!! Don’t let anyone tell you differently! I have owned one and its accuracy was second to none!!!

The Merkel I had for a couple of years was exceptionally accurate

 

[Northern Shooter]

The Merkel I had for a couple of years was exceptionally accurate

What ammo did it like?

 

[Altitude sickness]

My Merkel was very accurate also. I should have kept it and had JJ sort out the rear trigger.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

What ammo did it like?

Handloads
Load for the Chapuis 470 I owned
Norma brass, Federal primers, Woodleigh 500 grain RNSN, 96 grains of AR2209 and a open cell foam filler. This load gave me a duplicate reading from both barrels of 2174fps and 0.7" at 50 metres

Load for the Merkel I had
Bertram brass, Federal primers, Woodleigh 500 grain RNSN, 95.5 grains of RL17 and a open cell foam filler. This load was right on 2150fps and provided the same accuracy as the above, 0.7" at 50 metres.

Hoping my new Verney likes the load I used in the Chapuis as I still have about 50 rounds loaded sitting in the ammo box.

 

[rookhawk]

Where would the likes of Rigby / Westley Richards / Purdey / etc sit in this Hierarchy?

They'd sit atop the list of vintage options, but judged one gun at a time. The metallurgy in a well serviced one is completely suitable for period-correct, wholly satisfactory original loads at 2075FPS out of a 24" barrel. They are not suited for being crammed full of 100+ grains of 4831, some monometal solid invented in the 21st century, etc.

If you intend to do vile, horrible things to a gun with odd powders and high tech bullets, the Heym sits on top of the durability pyramid. If you're going to follow traditional loading standards a vintage British double is far superior to the other options. This is based on original quality, fit and finish, balance, stock geometry, and how well they point.

 

[ingwe500nitroexpress]

Where would the likes of Rigby / Westley Richards / Purdey / etc sit in this Hierarchy?

They wouldn’t. The Hollands/Rigbys/Westleys/Purdeys/Jefferys are the pinnacle of gunmaking and leaps and bounds priced ahead of the makers listed here. Certainly so with wood and engraving which is reflected in cost, as well as prestige. I own a Holland, Purdey, and Jeffery, all doubles, as well as a Heym 89b. The Heym is leagues ahead of the other rifles mentioned here, but not even entering the same realm as my British doubles. And I’m certainly not taking anything away from a Heym or even a Kgun but they’re just in a different league from the English makers.

 

[kpoynter]

I’ll be honest…
I’ve never fully understood the differences of opinion on these….
It’s what you like.
I have a VC Azul and it’s absolutely beautiful and love it (.450/.400). Hunted it for the first time last year on Elephant, Buff, Hippo. It was awesome.
This is sort of like a Bino/optics discussion where one brand is double the price and the “glass” etc might b .1% better and the average person could tell one bit nor would it matter in the field.
Throw Sabatti out of the conversation…
The Safeties are different and not normal on a couple of these but what feels right to you when you feel one. Several of these are all comparable in quality, etc.
most of this stuff is hypothesizing about the .1% IMO. They are all quality…they are all well made by quality gunmakers.
I honestly have always thought some of this stuff is kind of cultish dialogue around rifles and we talk ourselves into whatever….

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Sabatti, deep at the bottom of the list. So deep in fact shouldn't even be on the list. I speak from experience.

 

[rookhawk]

I’ll be honest…
I’ve never fully understood the differences of opinion on these….
It’s what you like.
I have a VC Azul and it’s absolutely beautiful and love it (.450/.400). Hunted it for the first time last year on Elephant, Buff, Hippo. It was awesome.
This is sort of like a Bino/optics discussion where one brand is double the price and the “glass” etc might b .1% better and the average person could tell one bit nor would it matter in the field.
Throw Sabatti out of the conversation…
The Safeties are different and not normal on a couple of these but what feels right to you when you feel one. Several of these are all comparable in quality, etc.
most of this stuff is hypothesizing about the .1% IMO. They are all quality…they are all well made by quality gunmakers.
I honestly have always thought some of this stuff is kind of cultish dialogue around rifles and we talk ourselves into whatever….

I think you missed the point. With bolt guns, the more you spend the fancier they get. With double rifles, the more you spend the more reliable they get with the most original quality control.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Aren’t the Merkel doubles known as being some of the most durable and reliable? They cost a fraction of these British makes.