Purchased a Sabatti Double, anyone actually like them?

[rookhawk]

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?

No, not really. It’s going to shoot terribly more than likely assuming it shot perfectly when unmodified.

You’re removing weight, and length, and you’re casting the stock, and you’re going to install different sights to get it to have correct POI. Assume after all the torture you do on the rifle, it may need re-regulation of the wedge or at least a different custom load.

Step 1 - Fit the gun
Step 2 - Build the load

 

[Aiden204]

No, not really. It’s going to shoot terribly more than likely assuming it shot perfectly when unmodified.

You’re removing weight, and length, and you’re casting the stock, and you’re going to install different sights to get it to have correct POI. Assume after all the torture you do on the rifle, it may need re-regulation of the wedge or at least a different custom load.

Step 1 - Fit the gun
Step 2 - Build the load

Duely noted, thanks brother

 

[deewayne2003]

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

@Aiden204 - The Picture in my screen name/avatar is a L&R group from my Sabatti .470ne that was regulated by Ken Owen.

I've seen several factory regulated Sabattis that would shoot amazing groups and I'd be willing to bet your rifle was regulated with Hornady factory ammo; give it a try and see how it shoots before changing anything.

 

[MacJenkins]

I agree. I have been buying double's for over 20 years. And not once when I come across a "Good Deal" on a double that does not fit me has it ever made financial sense to restock it. But I'm not a lefty so that really makes it more complicated buying used.

I need at least 15" LOP, 15-1/4" is perfect so that rules out the majority of used doubles. I'll change a pad if up to a 1" pad will do the trick but much more than that I pass.

 

[Aiden204]

@Aiden204 - The Picture in my screen name/avatar is a L&R group from my Sabatti .470ne that was regulated by Ken Owen.

I've seen several factory regulated Sabattis that would shoot amazing groups and I'd be willing to bet your rifle was regulated with Hornady factory ammo; give it a try and see how it shoots before changing anything.

Can I ask what Ken charged you to have her shoot that good? Id be interested in having it sent it regardless if he could guarantee groups like that (Which I’d imagine he almost certainly cant, but its a nice thought)

 

[Aiden204]

I agree. I have been buying double's for over 20 years. And not once when I come across a "Good Deal" on a double that does not fit me has it ever made financial sense to restock it. But I'm not a lefty so that really makes it more complicated buying used.

I need at least 15" LOP, 15-1/4" is perfect so that rules out the majority of used doubles. I'll change a pad if up to a 1" pad will do the trick but much more than that I pass.

Yes I’ll shoot it first and see if I find the possible re-regulation that will accompany a new stock is worth the hassle.

I do sometimes wish I wasnt left handed. It makes my favourite hobby I bit more of a hassle to find rifles that work well. On the flip side, finding rifles that DO work for me can be quite the fun endeavor. Pictured is my Deer Rifle. A Heym SR20 that came factory almost exactly how I’d want my rifle custom fit. A true unicorn.

300 WM, Left Handed Action, Set triggers, beautiful (although not so beautiful to fear using) wood and a QD proprietary mount to match. I found it on a used gun rack for about the price of the scope new. Still an amazing deal in my eyes & a rifle I’ll be passing onto my children

 

[deewayne2003]

Can I ask what Ken charged you to have her shoot that good? Id be interested in having it sent it regardless if he could guarantee groups like that (Which I’d imagine he almost certainly cant, but its a nice thought)

I believe he charges $800 to regulate one, I couldn't tell you for sure as the previous owner had it regulated, load development, trigger job & recoil reducer before I bought it.

I did send it back to him to have the sights installed after having the stock fit to me and spoke with him at length several times.... His opinion is that most rifles don't need regulating, they need load development.

 

[Aiden204]

I believe he charges $800 to regulate one, I couldn't tell you for sure as the previous owner had it regulated, load development, trigger job & recoil reducer before I bought it.

I did send it back to him to have the sights installed after having the stock fit to me and spoke with him at length several times.... His opinion is that most rifles don't need regulating, they need load development.

Given the scarcity of ammo I think i’ll be developing loads regardless. Ive seen theres a few books that were written to aid working up a load for doubles today. I may purchase them if I have much trouble finding something satisfactory. I appreciate it man. Accuracy aside, Do you like your rifle? Is the quality/design to your liking now?

 

[deewayne2003]

Given the scarcity of ammo I think i’ll be developing loads regardless. Ive seen theres a few books that were written to aid working up a load for doubles today. I may purchase them if I have much trouble finding something satisfactory. I appreciate it man. Accuracy aside, Do you like your rifle? Is the quality/design to your liking now?

Quality - It’s no Heym, but it was 1/6th of the price of the Heym I was considering buying when I stumbled across it and figured I would never have a chance to try out a .470 double for such a low price point.

So I bought it with a 10day shootable return period and was amazed at the accuracy and kept it; had it fitted to me and milled for an RMR sight; put 300rnds through it and took it to Zimbabwe for my first Safari…..

Again, not a Heym but certainly effective!

 

[LimbNoMo]

Sell it and buy one that is for a lefty. You’re going to piss away money changing it.

 

[Muskox]

Just shoot the thing first, if it doesn't work for you fix it up or move it down the road.

Don't listen to these idiots.

Don't make decisions until you have shot it.

You may not even like double rifles, and it isn't worth committing to something like that.

 

[rookhawk]

Given the scarcity of ammo I think i’ll be developing loads regardless. Ive seen theres a few books that were written to aid working up a load for doubles today. I may purchase them if I have much trouble finding something satisfactory. I appreciate it man. Accuracy aside, Do you like your rifle? Is the quality/design to your liking now?

I think you're misguided. What Ken can do for $800 you cannot do yourself for $2500. He knows exactly where to start load development and how to react to it. He can usually regulate a gun in 10-20 shots, it might take you 100 or more. Even handloading, you spent a fortune on bullets doing that and of course your shoulder isn't going to hold up to the abuse unless you string it along over months of work.

Ken is your least expensive distance between two points. Once you have his load, you can copy it yourself to your heart's content.

 

[Ericedwinbates]

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.

Worst double made by far! Great round though (450-400). I read a few post and one chap even mentioned never hearing anything bad after Cabelas, I laughed. I have posted on the forum multiple times Sabatti warnings. I have owned 2, 9.3x74 and currently a 500 NE. Spent several thousand dollars extra on them to get them to regulate,(Ken and JJ).
In the end with extra cost and frustration, been same cost to buy German. Sabatti customer service is horrible and they could not back a new rifle that would not regulate, verified by 3 different gun smiths.
I hope yours shoots great, some guys get a lucky one.

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Do anyone know how to sight a red dot or a scope on an express rifle?

 

[ActionBob]

Worst double made by far! Great round though (450-400). I read a few post and one chap even mentioned never hearing anything bad after Cabelas, I laughed. I have posted on the forum multiple times Sabatti warnings. I have owned 2, 9.3x74 and currently a 500 NE. Spent several thousand dollars extra on them to get them to regulate,(Ken and JJ).
In the end with extra cost and frustration, been same cost to buy German. Sabatti customer service is horrible and they could not back a new rifle that would not regulate, verified by 3 different gun smiths.
I hope yours shoots great, some guys get a lucky one.

This plus the very poor build quality. Just look at how the barrels and wedge are welded together vs. any quality double. Now imagine the inner workings being the same poor quality.

 

[Aiden204]

I think you're misguided. What Ken can do for $800 you cannot do yourself for $2500. He knows exactly where to start load development and how to react to it. He can usually regulate a gun in 10-20 shots, it might take you 100 or more. Even handloading, you spent a fortune on bullets doing that and of course your shoulder isn't going to hold up to the abuse unless you string it along over months of work.

Ken is your least expensive distance between two points. Once you have his load, you can copy it yourself to your heart's content.

given that getting it to Ken will cost me about $800 as well as a decent headache & a 3-4 month wait while customs twirls their thumbs unsure of whether my rifle is actually a bomb or machine gun in disguise, I’d like to avoid sending it off if possible. I also bought about 100 Hornady unprimed cases for 120 dollars at the same auction so I definitely have the supplies to tinker. Your replies are overly negative, It may end up shooting fine, who knows.

 

[rookhawk]

given that getting it to Ken will cost me about $800 as well as a decent headache & a 3-4 month wait while customs twirls their thumbs unsure of whether my rifle is actually a bomb or machine gun in disguise, I’d like to avoid sending it off if possible. I also bought about 100 Hornady unprimed cases for 120 dollars at the same auction so I definitely have the supplies to tinker. Your replies are overly negative, It may end up shooting fine, who knows.

Between the changes to stock length, sights, handedness, load development, etc, I now tend to lean with the others that suggested you sell this gun and get something that suits you better. A lefty double rifle is very difficult to sell, so is a very short stocked double rifle. If I were you I'd go find a lefty, short stocked double rifle and save yourself tons of heartache and expense. You could probably find a British double in your dimensions and with lefty configuration (or a German gun) for slightly more than you paid for the Sabatti. I can't emphasize enough how long it will take you to get this rifle sorted out and how much money you're going to throw into it all while making it unsaleable to the next guy.

 

[Aiden204]

Just shoot the thing first, if it doesn't work for you fix it up or move it down the road.

Don't listen to these idiots.

Don't make decisions until you have shot it.

You may not even like double rifles, and it isn't worth committing to something like that.

Thats the conclusion ive come to. I got it for under 4000 USD, Its unlikely I’ll lose money on it. If I feel the need I’ll probably try and source a left handed german made rifle, but who knows. My entire life has been living in a right handed world so I’m not sure how much it will bug me. Its odd the double rifle world seems to be gate kept so heavily by a bunch of old fellas, but I guess theyre the ones buying them

 

[Aiden204]

Between the changes to stock length, sights, handedness, load development, etc, I now tend to lean with the others that suggested you sell this gun and get something that suits you better. A lefty double rifle is very difficult to sell, so is a very short stocked double rifle. If I were you I'd go find a lefty, short stocked double rifle and save yourself tons of heartache and expense. You could probably find a British double in your dimensions and with lefty configuration (or a German gun) for slightly more than you paid for the Sabatti. I can't emphasize enough how long it will take you to get this rifle sorted out and how much money you're going to throw into it all while making it unsaleable to the next guy.

Where do you suggest I look for something likw that? Ive checked some European Auctions and noticed they regularly sell doubles for a bit cheaper

 

[Beck]

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.

Which Auction site if you don't mind me asking? Also seems like a good deal to me