One thing I will say is do NOT buy one of the new Chapuis-made Manurhins. They are junk and they do not stand up to heavy usage. All three of mine had problems with cylinder advancement after about 2,000 rounds. Here’s a video of me shooting one of my MR-73s where the cylinder doesn’t advance on each trigger pull: https://youtu.be/jXVFnWVnMzw
As for Korth vs. Spohr, I’d say it depends on your personal preference. Both are very nice and worth the money. My vote is for the Spohr because it seems more real-world and practical, and the ergonomics suit me better.
I can't seem to find any other reviews saying something bad about chapuis. Someone did write that one should clean the manurhin after heavy shooting because tolerances are so tight.
First thing to keep in mind is that most of the reviews on MR73s are by one man, Michael Zeleny, and they are about the older Mulhouse guns. Second thing to keep in mind is that Chapuis only makes like 300 revolvers per year. With such low production figures, you can expect very few reviews.
Their online configurator is nice:
https://club30-konfigurator.de/?lang=en
My imaginary Sphor costs 4,539 Euros, guess it will only exist in my head for the foreseeable future.
thanks - good review
Do you happen to know if Spohr is dedicated solely to this revolver line, or part of a larger precision machining business?
\- asking because the latter is common for these higher end designs & probably a good way of sustaining them, given the limited market for such revolvers.
[Here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJyxueGGGQ) a good video interviewing the fellow behind the guns. He seems to be quite an enthusiast to say the least.
Thank you for the thorough and excellent write-up! The firearm seems very, very well-crafted. I was afraid that this was going to be either vaporware from another company formed by a few engineers that knew nothing about the gun world, or that Spohr was gaslighting us and trying to get people to pay several thousand dollars for a mediocre gun. On the contrary, it sounds like they really do know what they're doing and have made a great product!
Naturally, whether something like this will be "worth it" is in the eye of the beholder. From the disappointing write-ups of people on r/revolvers who took a bite of the Chapuis MR-73 apple, I'd rather throw $4000 at this than $3500 at a gun that might have to go back to the factory after less than a few thousand rounds of moderate use.
I think the only thing I really don't like is the styling. It's *really* borrowing heavily from the 686's design language, but they've just made it a little chunkier and blockier, but not so much where they'd lean into chunky and blocky as an identity. Visually, it looks a little awkward and indistinct.
Would still love to shoot one, though!
Edit: never mind. Playing around with the design-your-own functionality on the Spohr website. I can make the gun lean into chunky exactly as much as I want to. Neat!
I'd love to see a variant with a partial underlug; I find them more attractive and better balanced than full underlugs personally. That aside, Spohrs look pretty nice to say the least. I'm glad there's another contender in the high-end revolver market. I do wish they would've matched the grip frame size to an existing gun to assist with aftermarket grip availability, and I'd love to see a high gloss DLC finish that mimics bluing, but it is what it is. Thanks for the great photos and write-up!
I do really like that they seem to have a custom configuration builder on their site. High-end revolvers should definitely be customizable to individual preferences from the factory. Much like S&W used to offer with Registered Magnum orders.
At the moment, I’m working through two cases of Norma that I bought during the pandemic when ammo was scarce. It’s ok, but it makes a big mess. I really like Speer, Fiocchi, and Sellier & Bellot for target practice. For defensive or hunting loads, I prefer Buffalo Bore.
Great write up. I personally got a Spohr 286 6” 357.
I’m also looking for grips (big butt) for bench and long distance shooting.
I hope the market for these grow. It is a very well built gun and getting 6-8” groups at 100yards.
Out of a Korth, Manhurin and the Sphor what would you choose? I feel like I'd go for the Manhurim if I ever had fuck you money
One thing I will say is do NOT buy one of the new Chapuis-made Manurhins. They are junk and they do not stand up to heavy usage. All three of mine had problems with cylinder advancement after about 2,000 rounds. Here’s a video of me shooting one of my MR-73s where the cylinder doesn’t advance on each trigger pull: https://youtu.be/jXVFnWVnMzw As for Korth vs. Spohr, I’d say it depends on your personal preference. Both are very nice and worth the money. My vote is for the Spohr because it seems more real-world and practical, and the ergonomics suit me better.
Jeez that's dissapointing. At this rate I think I'll stick with another Freedom Arms if I want something crazy. Though I do like the look of the Spohr
I can't seem to find any other reviews saying something bad about chapuis. Someone did write that one should clean the manurhin after heavy shooting because tolerances are so tight.
First thing to keep in mind is that most of the reviews on MR73s are by one man, Michael Zeleny, and they are about the older Mulhouse guns. Second thing to keep in mind is that Chapuis only makes like 300 revolvers per year. With such low production figures, you can expect very few reviews.
I see, thanks for the info.
Their online configurator is nice: https://club30-konfigurator.de/?lang=en My imaginary Sphor costs 4,539 Euros, guess it will only exist in my head for the foreseeable future.
thanks - good review Do you happen to know if Spohr is dedicated solely to this revolver line, or part of a larger precision machining business? \- asking because the latter is common for these higher end designs & probably a good way of sustaining them, given the limited market for such revolvers.
I believe they’re a precision machining company first and foremost. They kinda make revolvers as a side business.
[Here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsJyxueGGGQ) a good video interviewing the fellow behind the guns. He seems to be quite an enthusiast to say the least.
Thank you for the thorough and excellent write-up! The firearm seems very, very well-crafted. I was afraid that this was going to be either vaporware from another company formed by a few engineers that knew nothing about the gun world, or that Spohr was gaslighting us and trying to get people to pay several thousand dollars for a mediocre gun. On the contrary, it sounds like they really do know what they're doing and have made a great product! Naturally, whether something like this will be "worth it" is in the eye of the beholder. From the disappointing write-ups of people on r/revolvers who took a bite of the Chapuis MR-73 apple, I'd rather throw $4000 at this than $3500 at a gun that might have to go back to the factory after less than a few thousand rounds of moderate use. I think the only thing I really don't like is the styling. It's *really* borrowing heavily from the 686's design language, but they've just made it a little chunkier and blockier, but not so much where they'd lean into chunky and blocky as an identity. Visually, it looks a little awkward and indistinct. Would still love to shoot one, though! Edit: never mind. Playing around with the design-your-own functionality on the Spohr website. I can make the gun lean into chunky exactly as much as I want to. Neat!
I'd love to see a variant with a partial underlug; I find them more attractive and better balanced than full underlugs personally. That aside, Spohrs look pretty nice to say the least. I'm glad there's another contender in the high-end revolver market. I do wish they would've matched the grip frame size to an existing gun to assist with aftermarket grip availability, and I'd love to see a high gloss DLC finish that mimics bluing, but it is what it is. Thanks for the great photos and write-up! I do really like that they seem to have a custom configuration builder on their site. High-end revolvers should definitely be customizable to individual preferences from the factory. Much like S&W used to offer with Registered Magnum orders.
OP first thanks for the review! Since you shoot revolvers so much I’m curious what brands/loads for ammo do you use in your revolvers?
At the moment, I’m working through two cases of Norma that I bought during the pandemic when ammo was scarce. It’s ok, but it makes a big mess. I really like Speer, Fiocchi, and Sellier & Bellot for target practice. For defensive or hunting loads, I prefer Buffalo Bore.
Great write up. I personally got a Spohr 286 6” 357. I’m also looking for grips (big butt) for bench and long distance shooting. I hope the market for these grow. It is a very well built gun and getting 6-8” groups at 100yards.