doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Darne sxs

Any one out there own one? What are your likes and dislikes about them. I have a chance to buy a 16 ga R11.

Can you shoot it, first? Be aware, when a Darne fits you, and is in good repair, it compares to shooting a barn hinge gun like night compares to day, skiing to walking, gliding to flying, and sailing to motorboating. It is up to you to know if you are the lover/skier/ glider/sailor type.
If it's broken, or, more likely, doesn't fit, it just sucks. Hence, it is important to know what you are getting in to.
It may seem obvious, but, the people who enjoy them the most WANT to enjoy them the most. An open mind, and adaptability are required, and rewarded with a Darne.
Try, hard, to shoot the gun or one similar before you pony up. Let us know how you come out. The one hard fact in Darne fit is you need 1cm longer LOP in a Darne stock than in your barn hinge gun's correctly fitted stock.

Best,
Ted

I've owned and shot them since the mid 1970's in 12, 20 and then 16 gauge. The standard Stoeger era Darne fits me well and they are very fast on upland flushes. Ted(former importer) had Bruchet make me a Bespoke R11 in 16 gauge, as nice a double as one could ever have. It's all i have now as my others are gone in downsizing but they are not forgotton. If you can find a nice 12 that fits, 65cm, IC/MOD and shoot light loads, that is the best overall at about 6# 4oz. The 16 R11 came in at slightly over 6# and the 16 and 12 are on the same plane. Mine has a unique double trigger where the front trigger will fire both barrels sequentially. there is nothing I don't like about them.-Dick

I have an older (probably pre-1900) 10 gauge with 27-1/2 inch barrels that weighs 7 pounds 3 ounces. It fits me like a glove, has a nice piece of wood on it, and happily digests all of the RST 1-1/8 ounce loads I feed it. I had the Darne fever for a long time and ended up with this one more by happenstance than good planning. At the time I acquired it, I had no idea how rare the 10s are (very, apparently - Ted knew of four in the U.S. and I think he said the Bruchets had never seen one), but that was icing on an otherwise pretty nice cake.

Three in the US, one in England, none in France. Closest I've come is wistfully looking at photos, including that black oxide finished gun John Amber wrote about with the swans engraved on it, John Hill's magnificent R16 magnum 10, and Bodio's R10 in 10 gauge.
Happenstance is a pretty common story on a Darne and it's owner, that sometimes works out for the better. Many are the folks who just can't "get it".
I'm all right with that, by the way.


Best,
Ted

How come all the guys who like or love Darnes only have two stars? Hmmmm. Conspiracy maybe??

Dustin

I have been wondering, what do the stars mean?
Mike

They measure how cool you are or how well you're liked on this board. Just dont give Geno any flack and you'll be a four star all-star for sures.

Back to Darnes.....I've owned a few and I liked and enjoyed all of them, some more than others. I had a V-19 20 that I really really wanted to like, but it was too short and had way too much cast.....sucks cause the little gun was a stunner. I had a very nice Bruchet R-15 that was one of the prettiest guns I've ever owned, it was gorgeous and built for a lefty, but for some reason I just couldnt shoot it that well. I also owned a nice R-15 12 bore that was certain death for any birds or clays when it was pointed in their general direction. It was my favorite. Sadly, I'm out of the Darne business for now, but I have a feeling I'll be back into them soon enough.

Dustin

I would give two cents for a Darne....I guess that why I have one star.

Go brush your tooth....



Best,
Ted