Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Chapuis (SP?) double

Sorry about the spelling but was looking at a trim double rifle in 9.3X74 and wondering if anyone has any info or experience with this brand of double.

Thanks,

Lefty

Knew both the Painter bros in Austin that were the Importers back in the late 70’s early 80’s. One is still around. We sold a few back then. They were very nice guns in those days. All we sold where shotguns.

Have never fired one, but held a very nice sleek 450-400 at Champlins, JJ loves them and will stand rock solid behind them, I nearly bought that rifle not even needing it on that alone.

I have two of them, one is a set with 20ga barrels. I like the Chapuis rifles. For me they handle and point very well and mine are well regulated. They also have scope mounts which I consider a huge plus. The fit and finish on Chapuis firearms is generally very good and they hold their value. They still make them and you see them for sale periodically. In Europe they are well regarded.

The Chapuis are very well made doubles.

You have a PM

Lefty

They are good rifles. There is the base UGEX, and the upgraded RGEX. A UGEX in good condition sells for $4,500-$5,500.

I have owned three Chapuis doubles over the years. My current is a single trigger ejector RGEX in 9.3x74r. I have owned a few other doubles in 9.3x74r and other smaller calibers. All my Chapuis doubles have shot well with all of the factory 286 grain factory loads that I have tried. I cannot say the same for two of the other doubles I have owned. My current gun shoots better than I can off sticks. I have had four shot groups under 1 3/4 inches at 100 yards. It is the first double I've owned that shoots to the same poi off sand bags, free hand and sticks

Fit and finish are great for their price range. They have been the most nicely finished guns I've owned. As doubles go, they are affordable, but the fit and finish won't match a $35,000 rifle.

With my first one, when I started shooting doubles, I tried to shoot them like a bolt gun and had what I thought were terrible regulation issues. Turned out I had operator error problems. After I learned good technique, my regulation problem disappeared. I have shot whitetails with mine. It's effective but a bit more than needed.

NEGATIVES
I have heard of some regulation problems with Chapuis doubles where the gun needed to be reregulated, but have no personal experience with that.
The only negatives for me are that the comb is a bit low for scope use and you can get a nasty cheek bruise if you shoot a couple boxes of ammo in an afternoon. I've added a soft rubber cheekpiece pad. They are light and handy, so an afternoon of shooting can be lively. I now stop at 40 rounds. If you practice multiple repeat shots, I try to do three sets (6 shots) in rapid succession, the barrels get pretty hot to the hand.
I enjoy mine.
Bfly

I just reread my post. The 1 3/4 groups were 50 yards, not 100. I'm not that steady any more. Was shooting a number of rifles today, could barely get 1 1/2 groups off sand bags at one hundred yards with my 22 250 and 257
It sucks to get old.

Bfly

I owned a Rigby double that would shoot slightly better than that for 6 shots (3 from each barrel) at 50 yards.
That is the proof right there, so you really are just wasting ammo firing off more rounds. A double is generally speaking, a sub 100 yards rifle and 50 yards is a good stalking range for them. Once an accuracy point is established you are ok to just sit there with it in your lap and sneak admiring glances in between watching for game.

One can never convey in words how a double balances. They are art and craftsmanship in one and even a cheap one takes considerable thought and engineering.
John