Purchased a Sabatti Double, anyone actually like them?

[Aiden204]

I ended up purchasing a sabatti at auction for quite cheap. There were a few Merkels & another sabatti, all in 470/500 NE. I think mine got sort of left in the dust during bidding because its in 450/400 NE. Needless to say I got it for a borderline steal (well under 50% of original MSRP) Its my first double, ive wanted one for quite a while so I’m over the moon.

Despite this I know the reputation is tarnished due to the Cabelas era of the rifles. Mine is a 2019 production. Does anyone have any experience with the new production rifles? Curious to see what everyone thinks. I know its no Heym/Merkel, but I’m hoping to hear at least some positive reports haha.

 

[wildwilderness]

That would be a very good price. 450/400 would be a perfect caliber for a double as well.

If you have any concerns with the rifle Ken Owen’s is sort of the Sabatti whisperer who can fix it. Also may need to check the LOP. I have one in 470 he regulated and added a recoil reducer and cut to my LOP. I would have loved to have gotten one in 450/400 but those aren’t easy to come by

 

[Aiden204]

That would be a very good price. 450/400 would be a perfect caliber for a double as well.

If you have any concerns with the rifle Ken Owen’s is sort of the Sabatti whisperer who can fix it. Also may need to check the LOP. I have one in 470 he regulated and added a recoil reducer and cut to my LOP. I would have loved to have gotten one in 450/400 but those aren’t easy to come by

Im in Canada so id have to export & import it. It has a target where theyre about an inch and a half apart. If I can replicate that ill be fairly happy.

Yes Im happy to get one in 450/400! It was actually my preferred calibre due to already having a custom 458 WM & 500 A-Square haha. Ive talked to a guy local to me who makes custom rifles about shortening length of pull & then maybe even making an entirely new stock as the cheekrest is of no use to me (Lefty)

 

[Bejane]

I ended up purchasing a sabatti at auction for quite cheap. There were a few Merkels & another sabatti, all in 470/500 NE. I think mine got sort of left in the dust during bidding because its in 450/400 NE. Needless to say I got it for a borderline steal (well under 50% of original MSRP) Its my first double, ive wanted one for quite a while so I’m over the moon.

Despite this I know the reputation is tarnished due to the Cabelas era of the rifles. Mine is a 2019 production. Does anyone have any experience with the new production rifles? Curious to see what everyone thinks. I know its no Heym/Merkel, but I’m hoping to hear at least some positive reports haha.

great, which auction was that?

 

[Aiden204]

great, which auction was that?

It was in Canada @ our largest firearms auctioneers

 

[Tintin]

Well done. Great cartridge.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

The Cabelas era is old history now and I have not heard any horror stories since, despite sticking close to double rifle news. Not even a mildly negative report.
450/400 is a fantastic calibre for a double especially, so I would say that you have landed well. Since you are on the right side of the cost equation I agree, spend a bit extra on a nice stock.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Shoot it and go from there. If no regulation target and load info came with it. Ask a qualified re-loader for help developing a load it likes.

 

[rookhawk]

Send it to Ken to get a regulation load built and an RMR mounted on it. Not my cup of tea as a rifle, but it sounds like you bought it right. They have many quality control defects in them because they are cheap, but Ken would detect and solve every one of them for a pittance.

 

[Aiden204]

The Cabelas era is old history now and I have not heard any horror stories since, despite sticking close to double rifle news. Not even a mildly negative report.
450/400 is a fantastic calibre for a double especially, so I would say that you have landed well. Since you are on the right side of the cost equation I agree, spend a bit extra on a nice stock.

Well I’m glad to hear it! A DR has been a dream of mine, but I don’t really want to spend 10k+ as I’m fairly young and have a baby on the way now.

It currently has almost a 16 inch length of pull, seeing as how I’m 5 foot 6 at the very least she’ll be headed to get cut down a bit.

Id like to get a custom stock made! I talked to a maker near me who does excellent work, It wasnt as pricey as I thought it would be, even with a nice piece of wood I’m still around the price of a used Sabatti on the secondary market all in. I could also get a left handed cheekrest made, which would be of more use to me than the right handed rest currently on it.

 

[ActionBob]

To answer your headline question, no.

 

[Aiden204]

To answer your headline question, no.

Haha well I guess ill see if I can make it work. If I dont find it satisfactory I could most likely sell for a decent profit and put that towards a German double. A New Old-Stock Merkel 140AE sold for about USD 6000 from a dealer local to me. I would have bought it if it wasnt purchased about a week before I went in.

 

[rookhawk]

I would not invest in a custom stock for the Sabatti. It’s going to get very expensive.

What I would do is pay $1000 to have the cheek piece removed, the stock refinished, and the stock cast for a left handed operator. I’d then spend $500 to have the iron sights replaced because they will not regulate correctly when you cut the stock down that much.

That would be the shortest distance between two places. Be advised, you’re “ruining” the gun by making it fit you. It would be a shame if you spent a fortune customizing it, it turns out you don’t like it, and you’ll never be able to sell it for more than pennies on the dollar.

You also need a gunsmith to sweep the triggers left handed, rework the trigger guard and refinish it to lefty manner as well. ($350-$500)

 

[Aiden204]

Send it to Ken to get a regulation load built and an RMR mounted on it. Not my cup of tea as a rifle, but it sounds like you bought it right. They have many quality control defects in them because they are cheap, but Ken would detect and solve every one of them for a pittance.

Ive heard much talk of Ken, It seems he likes them once theyre sorted out. If I cant get a load working Im sure ill be in contact

I would not invest in a custom stock for the Sabatti. It’s going to get very expensive.

What I would do is pay $1000 to have the cheek piece removed, the stock refinished, and the stock cast for a left handed operator. I’d then spend $500 to have the iron sights replaced because they will not regulate correctly when you cut the stock down that much.

That would be the shortest distance between two places. Be advised, you’re “ruining” the gun by making it fit you. It would be a shame if you spent a fortune customizing it, it turns out you don’t like it, and you’ll never be able to sell it for more than pennies on the dollar.

You also need a gunsmith to sweep the triggers left handed, rework the trigger guard and refinish it to lefty manner as well. ($350-$500)

I was roughly quoted 2000 USD Labour for a stock, but I did wonder if it would shift POI.

I’m going to do a lot of load development first before spending too much money. If I like it and decide to keep it I may go ahead with having the length of pull shortened (theres quite a large pad & spacer on currently)

I didnt know the triggers were biased towards right handed, thats something ill need to look into for sure.

Given supply in Canada is fairly limited, + the price I paid at auction, I dont foresee me losing much as theres a case to be made that I already got it for pennies on the dollar

 

[rookhawk]

Ive heard much talk of Ken, It seems he likes them once theyre sorted out. People say he re-regulates rifles for them, Im curious as to what that means, does he simply develop loads for them or does he actually

I was roughly quoted 2000 USD Labour for a stock, but I did wonder if it would shift POI.

I’m going to do a lot of load development first before spending too much money. If I like it and decide to keep it I may go ahead with having the length of pull shortened (theres quite a large pad & spacer on currently)

I didnt know the triggers were biased towards right handed, thats something ill need to look into for sure.

Given supply in Canada is fairly limited, + the price I paid at auction, I dont foresee me losing much as theres a case to be made that I already got it for pennies on the dollar

$2000 is way too low for a new stock. You’ll also find that stockers promise things in 1-2 years when in fact you may get it done in 5-never years. It will absolutely move your POI when you cut down the stock because your eye will be further up the comb. Changing a stock can alter the recoil impulse and weight of the gun enough that it does not hit the broadside of the barn.

Ken will regulate ammo (make hand loads) or he will regulate barrels (tear them apart, change the wedge, and reblue them)

 

[thriller]

I ended up purchasing a sabatti at auction for quite cheap. There were a few Merkels & another sabatti, all in 470/500 NE. I think mine got sort of left in the dust during bidding because its in 450/400 NE. Needless to say I got it for a borderline steal (well under 50% of original MSRP) Its my first double, ive wanted one for quite a while so I’m over the moon.

Despite this I know the reputation is tarnished due to the Cabelas era of the rifles. Mine is a 2019 production. Does anyone have any experience with the new production rifles? Curious to see what everyone thinks. I know its no Heym/Merkel, but I’m hoping to hear at least some positive reports haha.

I have one that shoots same hole at 50 yards. I call it the stoeger of double rifles. Heavy, but works. I shoot stuff with mine all the time works great but many look down on it. The way I see it I saved enough for another hunt

 

[MacJenkins]

I'd be worried about a $2K stock. If a good stock maker was that cheap his backlog would be over a decade. I would put a couple hundred rounds through the gun over the next couple months before I would put a penny into it.

 

[Aiden204]

$2000 is way too low for a new stock. You’ll also find that stockers promise things in 1-2 years when in fact you may get it done in 5-never years. It will absolutely move your POI when you cut down the stock because your eye will be further up the comb. Changing a stock can alter the recoil impulse and weight of the gun enough that it does not hit the broadside of the barn.

Ken will regulate ammo (make hand loads) or he will regulate barrels (tear them apart, change the wedge, and reblue them)

Thats the beauty of a declining currency I suppose. The old boy’s well respected for making quality rifles up here. He builds ground up mausers and other rifles for DG hunting, but starting price is around 15-20k so for now its out of my price range. We did talk about simply getting the stock’s cheekrest removed and the stock changed for a lefty, not sure what to do, better wait until I see how it shoots eh?

 

[Aiden204]

I'd be worried about a $2K stock. If a good stock maker was that cheap his backlog would be over a decade. I would put a couple hundred rounds through the gun over the next couple months before I would put a penny into it. handled

I'd be worried about a $2K stock. If a good stock maker was that cheap his backlog would be over a decade. I would put a couple hundred rounds through the gun over the next couple months before I would put a penny into it.

I think its probably a supply vs demand thing. Assuming you live in the US, Canada has 10% of the population & our economy has been in the gutter for a decade, not many really prospering up here since the LPC.

Ive handled a 416 Rigby Chris had made (Stock & all) & it was a beautiful gun. I think the purchaser said it was about 18k CAD all said and done with the stock being around 4k

 

[Aiden204]

I have one that shoots same hole at 50 yards. I call it the stoeger of double rifles. Heavy, but works. I shoot stuff with mine all the time works great but many look down on it. The way I see it I saved enough for another hunt

Seeing as how I work for a living & am 25, I havent let the stock portfolio grow enough to Justify 20k on a rifle I only hope to use haha in Africa

Eventually I’d like to get a german double, but if she shoots ill probably keep the Sabatti & get another german made gun in a larger calibre.

Glad to hear yours shoots though! Thats reassuring