Opinions on VC doubles

[AZDAVE]

The VC of late have not been the same double as5-10 years ago. I have a 8x57JRS and 450/400 O/U VC that both shoot 2in composite 4 shot groups at a 100 when I do my part. But based on what I have read lately would be hard pressed buying one that I didn't get to shoot before I handed over $$$

I would look at Heym, Krieghoff, Chapuis, and Merkel and see what you can get the best fitting rifle for you.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I wonder if Heym or VC can give an eta now, .. all things considered?

 

[RTG]

I wonder if Heym or VC can give an eta now, .. all things considered?

Heym quoted 18 months in May, for a 89B

 

[degoins]

I wonder if Heym or VC can give an eta now, .. all things considered?

I don't know if you've seen it or not, but Ken has a .577 on guns international right now.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Heym quoted 18 months in May, for a 89B

Holy shit, I did not realize the lead time was that long. I tried out a buddies K-gun shooting sporting clays today. Obviously not the same but I was mostly after the LOP to see if the one that @ay2626 has for sale would fit me. My buddy is a couple inches taller at about 6'2" and has slightly longer arms. His shotgun was a 15" or 15.25" lop. I am trying to narrow it down and maybe be able to find a used gun that fits me but I need to learn what fits me, unless I happen to come across someone who has one for sale and is close enough for me to drive to where they are at and try it out.

 

[RTG]

Holy shit, I did not realize the lead time was that long. I tried out a buddies K-gun shooting sporting clays today. Obviously not the same but I was mostly after the LOP to see if the one that @ay2626 has for sale would fit me. My buddy is a couple inches taller at about 6'2" and has slightly longer arms. His shotgun was a 15" or 15.25" lop. I am trying to narrow it down and maybe be able to find a used gun that fits me but I need to learn what fits me, unless I happen to come across someone who has one for sale and is close enough for me to drive to where they are at and try it out.

This won't be your last traveling hunt. For a double; do it right, do it once.

I also keep looking at used guns so I can have the NOW experience. Nothing will beat a rifle that fits you perfectly, and is built exactly to your liking. Fly out to test fire in Texas and if they can't measure you, they will know a local dealer who can.

Now, if I can only follow my own advice. Half my life has been wasted looking at guns. Other half has been buying guns.

 

[Backyardsniper]

This won't be your last traveling hunt. For a double; do it right, do it once.

I also keep looking at used guns so I can have the NOW experience. Nothing will beat a rifle that fits you perfectly, and is built exactly to your liking. Fly out to test fire in Texas and if they can't measure you, they will know a local dealer who can.

Now, if I can only follow my own advice. Half my life has been wasted looking at guns. Other half has been buying guns.

Man you are so correct. If I had back all the money I have wasted buying "almost what I want" and then not being happy with it and trading it later instead of just waiting and buying what I actually wanted to begin with I would have saved myself a ton of money.
How does it work buying a new double? Do you pay a deposit and them.pay the rest when it is complete? If that's the case I may just need to get the ball rolling now.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I'm sure there's more than enough Hunters

I don't know if you've seen it or not, but Ken has a .577 on guns international right now.

Thank You!!!

 

[degoins]

I'm sure there's more than enough Hunters

Thank You!!!

You're most welcome.

 

[degoins]

Man you are so correct. If I had back all the money I have wasted buying "almost what I want" and then not being happy with it and trading it later instead of just waiting and buying what I actually wanted to begin with I would have saved myself a ton of money.
How does it work buying a new double? Do you pay a deposit and them.pay the rest when it is complete? If that's the case I may just need to get the ball rolling now.

Oh man I could have bought an English double with all the money I've thrown away doing that same thing.

I know with Heym and VC you pay a deposit and then pay the rest when the rifle is completed. And they both would send you updates with pictures at one time. They probably still do.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Oh man I could have bought an English double with all the money I've thrown away doing that same thing.

I know with Heym and VC you pay a deposit and then pay the rest when the rifle is completed. And they both would send you updates with pictures at one time. They probably still do.

Probably time for me to start actually talking to some dealers then. I need to get the ball rolling I think.

 

[RTG]

Man you are so correct. If I had back all the money I have wasted buying "almost what I want" and then not being happy with it and trading it later instead of just waiting and buying what I actually wanted to begin with I would have saved myself a ton of money.
How does it work buying a new double? Do you pay a deposit and them.pay the rest when it is complete? If that's the case I may just need to get the ball rolling now.

Heym quoted me 50% deposit. Guessing Krieghoff would be about the same.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Heym quoted me 50% deposit. Guessing Krieghoff would be about the same.

That is steep for an 18month lead time. I am playing way out of my financial league here but I'm gonna do my best to look at it as a long term investment.

 

[mark-hunter]

Guys, by reading previous posts, my question is following:

What is best buy factory double rifle on the market today?

 

[Backyardsniper]

Guys, by reading previous posts, my question is following:

What is best buy factory double rifle on the market today?

I would be most interested to hear the answer to this myself.

 

[Inline6]

Guys, by reading previous posts, my question is following:

What is best buy factory double rifle on the market today?

Best you are going to get a lot of answers, a lot of guys are invested in their rifles and blinded by that to a degree. Some might say best and you look up the price and realize it is more than a nice house( 6 digit figures).

Most reliable might be a better place to start, or best value for your money.

 

[ay2626]

I would be most interested to hear the answer to this myself.

My relatively uneducated opinion on this topic:

1) Heym - excellent quality. Yet to hear anyone say they had an issue with one. Does this count as a factory gun? A lot of options, weight built to caliber, its fitted to you and current lead time is up to 18 months so I guess it depends on how you define “factory”. Looking at close to $20k at entry level.

2) Krieghoff - don’t hear many issues with these but opinions will be strong around the decocker as people either love it or hate it. Although I think make some highly customized rifles these seem to be more standard options that can still be fitted, however, you can find stock guns on some dealers shelves starting around $15k

3) Chapius - these seem to be very high quality rifles and places like Champlin say very positive things. Not very customizable. I think they only come in one of two grades and very limited caliber choices. Carried by some big box retailers. Can probably get in here and under $13k.

I have experience with all 3 of these. Merkel also comes to mind as a good factory gun but I don’t know that much about them.

 

[Rare Breed]

I am still somewhat in the market for a double, but mostly still in the learning phase. I saw on another thread that I believe @IvW is a fan of these rifles, I could be mistaken though. Anyway what is everyone's general opinion on these doubles and also the pricing of this one with the brass and dies. I had almost settled on saving up for a new Heym but I am interested to know you all's thoughts on this.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/940115548

It depends on your budget. I owned a wonderful beautiful Chapuis 450-400 DR for about $13,000 in todays new pricing. A Heym will be about $2,000 more and a Merkle somewhere in between. All are excellent guns. My fear on VC is a very well respected member on our forum saying he had a head space problem with his new VC and they would not fix it. That finished me for considering a VC

 

[Philip Glass]

I have come to love doubles and may have to have a other one someday. I am very happy with my Kreighoff .470. I am getting .450/.400 barrels for it someday when they come from Germany.
I do like the idea that VC makes each one custom. Their staff are always nice at the shows.
I have a long length of pull and although Alamo Arms fitted mine quite nicely, having it built from the ground up to fit me would be neat.
From my research and limited hunting experience with a double I do like that the Kgun has a unique safety that disables the triggers and has an anti-doubling feature. Ive not found others that have these features.
Ill be in Zim with mine very soon for buff and ele!
Philip

 

[Opposite Pole]

I have a custom K gun with 470 and 9.3x74R barrels. Love the gun. Being an R8 user I was used to and wanted the decocking “safety”. This was the main reason for deciding between Krieghoff and Heym. More and more European guns are built that way, there is a reason for that. Heym does make a nice double though.

If I may offer one piece of advice it is whatever make you go with, get a standard, practical, “every day” barrel set as well as the big boomer. You'll use your rifle much more which will give you joy as well as confidence in using it.