bassasdaindia
AH elite
I dislike Krieghoff, reason is the cocking system !
I'm with Matt here... WHAT issues on each of these choices makes your mouth water?
Is it the degree of chequering/ inlays/ the ejectors/ locking mechanism/ wood finish... overall finish & look... how about the shooting accuracy ( zeroing)... how deep must your pockets be? etc etc. I'm in the market to buy a double, but fall short of all the above answers!!!!
if only Merkel would make guns with longer barrels. a 24" barrel is too short for my liking and would greatly prefer 26-28 leaning more towards 28".
-matt
Well I think the best double in the world is the Holland and Holland Royal double but who the hell can afford one. The craftsmanship is unbelievable and H&H has certainly earned a well deserved rep for superior quality over the last century and a half in Africa and India hunting the stuff that bites back.
i dunno, most of the antique doubles ive seen had 27-30 inch barrels. short barreled doubles are more of a recent concept as far as ive seen.
And that's why I have the Merkel in .470 NE
Perhaps Napoleon Dynamite is doing their engraving?
You don't think that the reason for this is because there are better powders on the market, menaing cleaner burns with better efficiency?
granted these longer barrels were likely used to try and eek out every last bit of power possible from black powder and cordite cartridges.
Matt, short-barrelled doubles existed early too, my .475 NE is made somewhere between 1908 and 1925, it has 23" barrels...a very handy rifle and perfectly balanced.
....I see no point in barrel lenght over 24" in a heavy DB rifle....a short handy rifle is very useful in dense bush IMHO..
...in mint condition, still in box.
soon to be used extensively with a very good PH mate of mine
yep, that's what I meant by:
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I have also seen a couple short antique rifles but I haven't seen many and they seem more of an exception rather than a rule.
depending on the ammunition you may find your self with issues using certain cartridges from short barrels. the 577 NE and 600 NE come to mind, these cartridges operate at the lowest possible pressures and absolute lowest speeds. if you slow down either more then traditional loads fired from long barrels then you run the risk of poor penetration due to large bullet diameter. both cartridges have a nasty past reputation of failing to penetrate elephant skulls when run slow.
now this may not apply as much to cartridges under .585" but I still like to err on the safe side and not restrict my cartridge any more then required. plus as mentioned, if you are using iron sights then the longer sight radius does improve accuracy.
-matt
now , this is where I differ , I am not referring to the Arab Princes , but to us "normal " folk I have a problem with these $250 000 rifles or doubles , I see the beauty but I would hate to take one of them on an African trip .
the rifles take such a beating from the elements , I don't mind my CZ's or Mod 70's getting scratched in the bush .
hence why I suggest the Merkel - IMHO the best value for money with regards to craftsmanship, strength etc .
And that's why I have the Merkel in .470 NE
Larry I had the chance as you know to shoulder a Merkel while in SA and recently I looked at one at the Kansas City Cabela's. They are fine rifles for sure. Pieter's Blaser S2 500 NE was a nice rifle too.
Well this past Thursday I was at the Bass Pro store in Springfield ,MO and shouldered a Krieghoff 500 NE. It was a very nice rifle! Although at $27,000 it was a bit more than I would want to put into a rifle. The manager there and I discussed the many fine rifles in his gun room for a few minutes and then I shared a picture of my elephant with him. He asked what did you take hime with? When I told him it was a $1300 Ruger his jaw dropped!
Like you, I think the Merkel has a lot of value for the money and unless I win a lottery there will never be a Purdey or H and H in my gun safe. But I can dream of having one!
You're a lucky guy. Look after him. The good ones are scarce......