doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com HELP!: Chapuis UGEX vs Merkel 140 double rifle?

As far as SxS rifles go, does anyone have experience with both of these rifles in the $4-$5K range?

I've decided to stick with looking sxs and not o/u express rifles. I'm probably getting the 30-06 (the 9.3x74R is still a close second!)..

Never had a Chapuis. I have the new Merkel 141 in 30-06 and LOVE it. For my gun I had to use handloads to duplicate their regulation load. I couldn't find the Norma round that the factory used. My gun groups 4 shots in about 1 1/2" at 50 yds.
Did great job on this years Texas whitetail. If you do decide to get a Merkel try Tom Ondus in Erie PA.
Bob Jurewicz

Anyone else feel the Merkel is worth the difference in money over the Chapuis? Someone posted on another forum that Chapuis has more problems. True?

If you want a 30/06 or other rimless cartridge, I don't think that Chapuis offers them execpt for the 300 Winchester and 375 H & H Magnums in their heavier, and more expensive African line of side by side rifles.

The normal Chapuis side by side rifles are offered in 9.3x74R, 8x57JRs, 7x65R, and 30 Blazer, sort of a rimmed variation on the 30/06. Google Chapuis Armes to get to the Chapuis Arms web site for details. It is in French, but can be useful even without being able to read French.

Thanks. Do you have any experience with Merkel 141 (small frame)?

I have not yet owned either a Merkel or Chapuis double rifle, but hope to purchase a Chapuis 8x57JRS some time in the future, either side by side or over/under.

Me either and me too! I have held Merkel shotguns and love the feel.

Seems like the Chapuis is a bit larger framed. I'm surprised more people have not had more input on the differences or opinions on these!

I've got a Chapuis 9.3X74 and I love it. No Problems and it shoots good.

FWIW, the Cabela's in Hamburg, PA, has a Merkel .30-06 DR in the Gun Library, or it did on Friday when I was there. I believe it's used and the asking price was $5995.00, but I only noted it in passing and didn't actually ask to see it. Looking through the glass, it appeared to be in excellent condition.

There are a number of pictures of the Merkel 30/06 on the Cabelas Gun Library site. Click on Hamburg and scroll down through the guns alphabetically.

For 6K you can get a Chapuis NEW with several steps of up graded wood, scope mounts and a Leupold 1.5X5

That Merkel 30-06 at Cabelas is a 140, not a 141






Cheers
Tinker

I'm not much of a Merkel student and didn't recognize that there was a difference. Sorry for the confusion. It does look like a nice enough rifle, if you like the hog-back style stock, which I do not.

AkMike1

Have you weighed your 9.3x74R Chapuis and how do you find its recoil? What would you compare the recoil to that some of us might have more exerience with? Can you give us the source for the Chapuis rifles with mounted scopes?

Thanks, Leonard

The Chapuis is a light rifle. Mine has a 1.5X5 Leupold on swing mounts. No actual weight that I recall but it's about 7 1/2 I think.. Compare the 286 grn going 2400 fps to a 250 grn 375 H&H doing the same.. It's just a skoosh under the 375 in power.
I got mine from Dale Nygaard (DLN)in a group buy at AR.

Sounds like a great rifle/scope combination at an excellent price. Unfortunately, I am sure that the recoil would be too much for me at that weight. If I ever purchased one, it would have to be in 8x57JRS.

I got it for general hunting here where we need to realize that there are some of the big brown fuzzy critters that can get nasty. For stateside use an 8mm or `06 wuld be my choice.
The 9.3X74 is a great caliber though if you're going after anything in N.America including brownies. It is a bit much for deer but I'd guess it'd be great on elk.

If I were hunting where you are, I would learn to live with the recoil and choose the 9.3x74R too.