Manurhin MR73 Now Imported by Beretta

[VictorLouis]

Look at some of the new production MR73 reviews before buying. They are not made to the old durability standards that made it famous...or so it seems.

Could you perhaps post up a link, or two (3) that detail this for us?
YouBoob search return might show hundreds....Thanks!

 

[Breakaway500]

Made in France. Pass.

 

[CLASSIC12]

I bought a new one made by Chappuis Armes back in 2009 (and made in 2007). Price was 2000 Swiss francs, which was the same in US dollars. Today’s price in Switzerland in $ 3000.

They are beautiful guns with an amazing blueing. Trigger is great, accuracy is excellent. A true collector and shooter.

 

[Rio Laxas]

Look at some of the new production MR73 reviews before buying. They are not made to the old durability standards that made it famous...or so it seems.

I have heard that echoed on the various forums, but I have not seen anything concrete, other than perhaps this: MR73 The unbreakable revolver BROKEN : Revolvers

I asked someone who is a bit of of an expert on MR73s, and he said that to his knowledge Chapuis uses the same ordnance tool steel as the original Mulhouse version.

This seems to be confirmed here: Wheelgun Wednesday: Manurhin MR73 Review -The Firearm Blog

And here: Gun Review: Manurhin MR73 Sport .357 Revolver - The Truth About Guns

I have seen others say that it is not the same steel and that it is regular carbon steel. It's hard to know which one is true, because there is scant information available about the differences. I suspect that the available information for the Mulhouse variant is often repeated as being true for the Chapuis variant. As far as I know, the internal design is the same as well.

I will say that the 5-1/4" Chapuis produced version that I currently have has a much nicer trigger than the 4" Mulhouse police variant that I used to have (probably just an adjustment issue). I don't have enough rounds through my Chapuis version to say whether it lives up to the MR73s reputed durability, but it is definitely the nicest 357 that I own.

 

[VictorLouis]

Wow, that first vid linked in the above post,
.
MR73 The unbreakable revolver BROKEN : Revolvers

...was terrible to watch. The load with the flash did not seem to show any more recoil, as though it were overpressure. I've never seen a forcing cone look like that, either. Cracked, yes, but not that 360 degree 'grenade' blast look.

 

[lamarw]

I have heard that echoed on the various forums, but I have not seen anything concrete, other than perhaps this: MR73 The unbreakable revolver BROKEN : Revolvers

I asked someone who is a bit of of an expert on MR73s, and he said that to his knowledge Chapuis uses the same ordnance tool steel as the original Mulhouse version.

This seems to be confirmed here: Wheelgun Wednesday: Manurhin MR73 Review -The Firearm Blog

And here: Gun Review: Manurhin MR73 Sport .357 Revolver - The Truth About Guns

I have seen others say that it is not the same steel and that it is regular carbon steel. It's hard to know which one is true, because there is scant information available about the differences. I suspect that the available information for the Mulhouse variant is often repeated as being true for the Chapuis variant. As far as I know, the internal design is the same as well.

I will say that the 5-1/4" Chapuis produced version that I currently have has a much nicer trigger than the 4" Mulhouse police variant that I used to have (probably just an adjustment issue). I don't have enough rounds through my Chapuis version to say whether it lives up to the MR73s reputed durability, but it is definitely the nicest 357 that I own.

Just to add to the above; Champus took it over from Mulhouse 20 years ago. It is not like this is a new handgun on the market. If the quality of work, materials, or tooling had changed it would of become obvious especially with the amount of training the GIGN performs with the Manurhin revolvers.

I have read just about everything I could find on the internet for a number of years now. I have not read of any significant drop in quality. The admiration of this firearm seems to be as solid as ever.

I would appreciate those with evidence otherwise to post it with specifics as to the observer and the shortcomings. In other words the who, where, when and what.

 

[Mark8]

If the quality of work, materials, or tooling had changed it would of become obvious especially with the amount of training the GIGN performs with the Manurhin revolvers.

Do they still do the extreme training with the MR73? I thought they kept some of the long barrel "sniper" revolvers for certain tasks but stopped using the MR73 as a standard sidearm.

 

[Andyd]

...

I would appreciate those with evidence otherwise to post it with specifics as to the observer and the shortcomings. In other words the who, where, when and what.

I have seen similar forcing cone erosion in Europe where two based powders were used. Maybe the answer to the problems of the broken "unbreakable" gun were the faulty reloads*** he purchased from somebody else. I have first hand experience with Chapuis Armes revolvers and directly compared one to a Mulhouse gun without finding any obvious quality differences, nor differences in accuracy.

One account that is sensationally discrediting an expensive firearm like Chapuis Armes - and they are French on top - is happily parroted by everybody who cannot come up with $3,300 for a revolver. No further proof needed than some unknown and unreliable source, someone who does not even reload his own ammo, to declare it junk.

***
"I shot approx 3,500 rounds of Geco 158 gr J.H.P. and about 500 rounds of 38 spl re-loads purchased from my club."

 

[Donn]

Nice looking piece, but like Korth, way above my pay grade.

 

[bc1023]

I too was curious, until I reached the last paragraph in the article.

My curiosity quickly left after reading the price!

Well high quality isn’t cheap. I’ve got a couple from the 70’s.

 

[NY-1]

Beretta just put out a video - that bluing looks positively magnificent!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3KmMUpJP9Q[/ame]

 

[teletech]

Do they still do the extreme training with the MR73? I thought they kept some of the long barrel "sniper" revolvers for certain tasks but stopped using the MR73 as a standard sidearm.

From what I've been able to find it seems they are still part of the dress uniform and have never been officially retired but everybody has moved on to newer weapons as of about 2000. Or almost everybody, being macho, French, and elite forces they pretty much get to carry what they want so if there are any old-timers still on the force then they might opt to keep carrying the MR73. It would be cool to know if there are any out there so inclined.

 

[Toyman]

A Manurhin for the masses, model 88.

 

[CLASSIC12]

A few pics of the sniper version

The normal version

 

[CLASSIC12]

After reading and posting in this thread I had to take mine to the range

 

[OLDSTER]

A Manurhin for the masses, model 88.

Did Manurin copy Bill Rugers' cylinder release design, or visa-versa ?

 

[lamarw]

Did Manurin copy Bill Rugers' cylinder release design, or visa-versa ?

The attachment may help with your question;

Manurhin Special Police revolver, Manurhin MR-88 revolver (France) - Modern Firearms

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm impressed that the French police use a revolver for anything, never mind dangerous SWAT-type work. I don't need a Manurhin for any purpose but it's nice to see Beretta branching out into such things.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Just watched a YouTube video about this revolver by TFB TV. They are the issue sidearm for the French GIGN anti-terrorist unit. They require them to withstand 40,000 rds of full power .357 mag per year and they reportedly have one revolver with over 1,000,000 rds through it without a major component failure.

 

[NY-1]

Just watched a YouTube video about this revolver by TFB TV. They are the issue sidearm for the French GIGN anti-terrorist unit. They require them to withstand 40,000 rds of full power .357 mag per year and they reportedly have one revolver with over 1,000,000 rds through it without a major component failure.

Here's the video in question. Hopefully the dealer pricing will be a bit lower, but it honestly seems to be worth the money. (Just wish they'd also include a set of wood grips at that price!)

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcQmReWckNk[/ame]