I had the oppertunity to handls several ultra large bore double rifles yesterday.
A 700 Nitro, two 600 Nitro's and a 577 Nitro.
These were all fullcharge full weight rifles.
The 700 was just to heavy, period.
One 600 handled and fit OK. It was a little butt heavy and with 24" bbls felt stubby to me.
The other 600 was Mark Sullivans rifle. Of all the 600's I have ever handled this rifle has the best feel. It is a little light for a 600 but handles very well. It is a nice rifle. The 577 handled and felt good but I did not like the rear sight, but that is easily changed.
After 2 buff and 3 elephant with my 450 No2 I question my NEED for an ultra large bore double....... but they keep calling me.

where did you get to handle these fine guns...

i am a huge fan of ultra large bore firearms and use them all the time if your serioulsy looking for a large gun i can make you one heck of a deal on a 700 nitro by thw way my 17 nitro is 17 pounds only 1 pound more than most 600's.

I cannot carry a rifle weighing more than 13 pounds and effectively follow a track. My hat is off to those who can.

ahhh dans just being modest hes really a beast 6'6 330 pounds of soild mucle he actully uses a double barrel 2 bore gun that weights 25 pounds

he would go for mr.olympia but it would be far to easy to knock the current champ ronnie colman off his throne.

Here are the weights of MS's doubles from _Death and Double Rifles_:

.700 NE Watson Bros. Royal Grade Sidelock ... 16.5 lbs
.600 NE Marcel Thys&Sons Sidelock... 13.5 lbs
.577 NE Charles Osborne&Co. Boxlock ... 11.5 lbs
.500 NE William Evans Boxlock ... 11 lbs
.450 No.2 NE Joseph Lang&Sons Boxlock ... 9.75 lbs
.450/.400 NE Army&Navy C.S.L. Boxlock ... 9 lbs.

My 450 No2 weighs 11 3/4 lbs. I did not have a problem carrying it in Zimbabwe in some pretty rough steep country. Marks Tys 600 was perfectly ballanced and I do not think carrying it would be a problem. I would not want to carry the 700 Nitro with a wheel barrow.

Recoil has not been considered, I am in agreement with Ray, if a rifle is not comfortable to shoot from positions that may be required while hunting, it is not worth having.

I just can't imagine the need for a cartridge like the 700. There is no game on earth that requires that much power.

On the other hand, some people just love big bores. I guess that is the only reason I can see the need for a 700 nitro. I wouldn't mind shooting one for fun though. I think I could probably handle it.

Maybe I could and maybe I couldn't but I see no reason to try. Have fun, y'all, .450 is big enough for me.

Oldsarge, You might be right. I was very happy with my 450 No2.