Gentlemen,

I have a mate (non PC user) who knows of a H&H 500/465 Royal Sidelock ejector for sale. I have not seen the rifle.

The rifling is worn, and the timber has seen better days hence the asking price of $4,000.
My mate's plan is to buy it (of course), restock, and take a view on the barrels. Boddington writes that the 500/465 is a good cartridge. If it shoots as a 500/465 fine, if not get it bored out in 470 NE.

Does anyone know if this can be done? ie is it possible to change 500/465 chambers into 470 Nitro Express?

Thanks for the advice.

DD

Call Cliff LabOUNTY AT 360-599-2047 he is the expert that even the English big boys use for reboring of double rifle barrels. He is doing three for me know.

Deerdogs,
It's hard to appraise a rifle over the internet, but if the gun can be restored (not replaced) then $4000.00 is cheap,cheap!!Figure another $5000. in restoration and you still gotta deal, if it returned to like new.
Probably $25,000.00 or a whole lot more.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Deerdogs,

You might check with JJ Parodeau at Champlin Firearms in Enid Oklahoma. He or George Caswell can give you some insight on the rifle.
here is a link
http://champlinarms.com/

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Rusty

We band of brothers!

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 06-21-2001).]

Thanks for the advice Guys.

It now turns out the rifle is not a Royal but is a Dominion back action, I should have photo of it soon. I'll email it to you chaps.

DD

Well a Dominio Back action should be cheaper than a Royal. But why on earth do you/he plan to conwert it to a .470 NE?

The 500/465 NE is the original H&H caliber and a very good one to!

Best Regards

Mads

A word of warning, You might just be better off buying a used double in good condition..price wise...these projects usually get out of hand on costs.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Atkinson:
Ray is right at the Safari Club Convention you can see a lot of nice used doubles in the 7500- 10,000 dollar range. These doubles are in very good shape and no risk. The 500/465 is a very good caliber also. 470 Mbogo

Thank you gentleman for your advice.

Mads: Like I say, I do not know much about doubles or reboring. I think the reason why he is looking at reboring to 470NE is that to rebore worn rifling do you not have to recut the new rifling to a larger bore size?

I agree that there is nothing wrong with 500/450 from what I read in Taylor/ Boddington.

I'll have better idea on Thursday when I will be seeing the rifle and hopefully have a picture to email you guys.

Regards

DD

Chaps,

I just got back from the auction. My pal was successful and paid $5000 for the rifle. We had it checked out by Ron Wharton who used to be the top man at Rigby. Apparently it is a bargain. It needs new wood and a bit of a sort out but even if another $4000 gets thrown at it it will keep its money and then some. We were bidding against a PH from RSA who took us to the wire.

Also sold was a superb 333 Jeffery bolt rifle, Mauser action, nice wood and Leupold scope,"like new" as the saying goes. It sold at $1500!

A very clean and pretty Westley Richards 318 on a Mauser action sold at $1100.

Sorry no photo at the moment.

DD

When you get into restorations you are making a mistake most of the time...that said I do it from time to time when I get a real "deal".....

Kinda like grandads Axe, you put a new head and a new handle on it and you have restored grandads axe?????? Whats wrong with this scenario......

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com