Butch sent me some pictures of his new single shot rifle, it looked very, very impressive!!

Does some of you know the estimated price for these gorgeous actions?
And what caliber range would they work for? (up to .600 maybe?)

thanks

Morten,

I visited with gunsmith friend Bob Lowenthal in the B. Searcy booth at SCI Reno, and the Farquarson action was one subject. Bob has worked for Butch for several years now. The list cost for it is US$4,500.

jim dodd

I looked at it real carefully at SCI. Nice action with double extractors. I think it would work pretty well for a rimmed cartridge or rimless cartridge with a full sized case head. Doesn't look good for a rebatted rim cartridge . I talked to Butch and Bob about enlarging the dimensions for .50 BMG and it looks like it would work and they would be willing to try it. Price was $4500.-Rob

The Searcy action is nice. So is the Hagn. The magnum sized Hagn (375 to 700NE) can be had for $2900, the medium (30-06 rim to 375) for $2500, the new miniature (22Hornet - 30-06) for $2400. See the latest issues of Hatari Times and The Accurate Rifle for pictures, reviews.

Gentlemen

Wasn't there and Australian company that made nice Farquharson actions?

Are they still in operation

4500$ is too much, I rather buy an old used farquharson action for less money

Hagn actions do not compare to farqs and are much, much easier to machine...

If enough of us wanted to put an order together we could get them from Butch for about $1000 to $1200 each, and that is the deal of a lifetime, but it would have to be enough to for him to make a production run....I'm in for one or two, I know Brockman would take one or two, who else????

I'd make mine a 404 Jefferys, others might choose to sell them at a big profit....Lets hear it!! who's in, who's out.

Can someone post a few pics of the Searcy? If it is what I expect it to be, and if we can group order for 1,000-1,200 per action, I'd be in favor of one.

Nope, its not gonna work, I thought Butch said $1000 each, but I just re-read the email to me and it said he would subtract $1000 off a production run, so that is $3500 per action....Sooooorrrrryyyyy....

Nice try don't you think, but even at $1000 I bet we couldn't have put together a production run as I believe that is a lot of actions...set up costs being what they are todayl...

What does a complete rifle cost?

I passed on an Aussie Farqy late last year. It was a cased, take-down two barrel set in .577 and .577-.450. I now wish I had bought it

Collectors Firearms in Houston has one of a pair of .600s. They want ~$14K

Does Searcy make the action himself or someone else (Vektor?) ?

I make it from solid billet steel. There is no castings and no out sourceing, made in house.

i talked to butch last night he sells the farqusons complete starting at 11,000 wich i think is a excellent price.

I am for warning anyone who purchases ANYTHING from Searcy. He does NOT stand behind his inferior machining and heat treating. A very good friend of mine purchased a bolt action from Butch. After shooting about 10-15 standard Palma loads 45gr of Varget behind a 155gr Sierra (308 win case) the lugs set back over .020". Butch would not stand behind the piece of crap. We took it to the range and shot holes in the action at 600 yards. It is now hanging on my friends wall as a reminder to NEVER purchase anything from Butch Searcy.

Corbin Shell

.... someone wanna field this one!!!

corbin shell

Interesting fact you are telling us. Would you please specify them at bit more.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Corbin,

When I purchased a rifle from Mr. Searcy, he described it as "our rifle", stating essentially that we had a lifetime partnership in the rifle and that I should contact him with any questions, problems, sight adjustment, reloading, etc. regarding the rifle. It was quite refreshing compared to the attitude of the larger gun makers and even some custom 'smiths. I have always found Mr. Searcy to be extremely knowledgable, accomodating, helpful, and concerned with my questions and requests.

corbin what crawled up your ass.

Gentlemen

I spoke to a very well respected European gun smith a while ago.

He claimed that Searchy doubles are not of a quality that will make them last for a longer period. He said that some have been to his shop for repair. The doubles were just 3-4 years old and has some serious repairs done.

I have no knowledge about this soo I'm just refering to what I have heard.

/ JOHAN

Corbin,
Since it happened to your "friend", you probably have not a clue of the circumstances, nor the intelligence to figure out what really happened...

I have done business with Butch Searcy since 1980 and he has stood behind every thing he sold me, He has fixed and repaired every time...

Your friend apparantly, no obviously, shot an overload and now wants the Searcy Company to pay for his stupidity, and your whining about it...Your friend blew it up, not Butch, and it's apparant to me Butch figured that out..

Just the fact that he shot the gun up at 600 yards, in a childish temper fit, tells me what a couple of jerks that both you and he are...

This place isn't a damn gossip colum for bimbos to spew crap on, BTW.......

Johann,
I would like to know the nature of the repairs to the doubles you refer to...

I send my English gun in to a gunsmith ever year or two as it is a double rifle and even the best of doubles shoot off the face in about 300 to 500 rounds.. Many shooters don't realise it until 600 or 700 rounds. A double needs repair more than other rifles, most good gunsmiths know and accept this as a fact of life...Taken care of, they are hard to beat, but you can shoot any double off the face with one bad load...

Ray couldn't have stated finer rebuttal. But I'm writing to let everyone know that I have never received a call from a customer telling me that a bolt set back. I will also state that I didn't install the barrel or make the ammo. The receiver was made of 17-4 (RC30) the bolt 4140 (RC35). It would take alot of presure to set one back .020". There is about 400 of those actions out there in use. I did have some problems with them at the start of production ie. (Firing pin holes to large, and weak springs). Anything built in this shop will be taken care of if there is a problem with workmanship or materials used.
As to Johan's remarks, It's not worth a reply other than to tell him that there will never be an American Double Maker that won't be critizied by the Euorpean's.

Oh man, these dudes got ol' Ray and Butch fired up now. I'm takin cover,... Johan and Corbin... may god have mearcy on your souls.

Atkinson

I have no idea what repairs this gun smith refered to. I'm well aware of that a double needs service much more than a boltaction. Double's are very sensitive tools regardless of make. I have a double at home that will go to Africa on Monday. It have been adjusted and tuned to work flawless untill next time. Next time can be very soon...

I simply stated what this gun smith said and has no opinions about it or Searchy's double rifles quality. Who knows what made this gunsmith to make such statment

corbin shell, In your first post you say palma loads, aren't these often loaded to a very high pressures? I know that palma rifles have special bore diameter and camber dimentions. Perhaps this load were much more suited for palma rifles than normal rifles

/ JOHAN

[ 02-08-2003, 17:28: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Johan,

I have talked extensively to a gentleman who has put in excess of 7000 rounds (reloads) though a Searcy double in 470 NE and it did not shoot off face, wear out or break. I would be interested in learning if the European double maker in question has ever subjected one of his doubles to this type of stress.

500grains

7000 rounds of reloads are quite a lot of shooting
How worn are the barrels? 7000 loads is very much shooting with a double. Atkinson and other double gun owners have to send their guns to a smith for adjustment and fitting every other year. You old trusted friends gun will be attractive when it's out for sale, no maintainance, adjustment or repairs. Wonderfull, just shoot. 500 grains, It would be nice to see some pictures of this fantastic gun.

500 grains, Don't missunderstand me. I'm not defending this gunsmith, I just brought his comment up about searchy double's. I have no idea what test he has performed on his gun and I don't really care either.

/ JOHAN

[ 02-08-2003, 19:40: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Johan,

It's true that European doubles need repair after 300 to 500 rounds. I understand that most of them are hand made and the steel is soft to allow for easy working by hand.

Contrast that with the very hard steels that Searcy is using and his close tolerance CNC milling.

The rifle in question is in California, and although I have spoken to the gentleman extensively, he is not an 'old trusted friend' as you suggested.

But he clearly and explicitly stated that he had fired more than 7000 rounds through his Searcy 470 NE double, and based on the details he gave me I have no reason at all to doubt that it is true.

However, since the European gun maker who is criticizing Searcy doubles has not been identified and absolutely no details have been given about the alleged defects in the rifles, I suspect this is just another case of a European gunmaker bashing an American gun maker because the European shops are having difficulty competing.

[ 02-08-2003, 19:49: Message edited by: 500grains ]

500grains

Most European makers I'm aware of are using CNC machines too, and does the final fit by hand. Very few are making parts from solid billets of steel and strictly hand tools.

500 grains, sorry about my overestimation, I thought you knew this fellow with the 7000 round double very well.

My stand point in the bashings across the atlantic is neutral, which I have stated before. I have never seen a searcy double or a double built by this famous european gunsmith in real life.

The price Searchy charges and that someone you knew in California has putted 7000 rounds thru it would make it a real bargain. I guess that would explain what you refer to as "the European envy"

/ JOHAN

[ 02-08-2003, 20:14: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Johann,
I took no offense to your post, and it was a legitimate post of question based on your gunsmiths statment, I do doubt the authinticity of the gunsmith, but we must remember that we all have gun prejudicses, and that OK, he has that right to opinnion...

I know you for the gentleman you are and by no means am I in an arguement with you personally, only stating an opinnion as we all do on this board..I say this as your continuing friendship is important to me, as we have eamailed each other on many ocassions and I fee that we are good friends....

My complaint was strictly with the total attack of Corbin Shell, whom I have never heard of, and who spoke about something he obviously knows nothing about, His friend did not challange the blowup in court and used the rifle for target practice which ruined any chance for court action and I just doubt this guy is even legitamate, just a BSer, another troll has surfaced..apparantly this event never actually took place...

Atkinson

No problem mate. I'm not having any personal matter in this question, just wrote what I have been told by a gun smith. I don't know any of the smiths so I have no strings connected to anyone. I'm not trying to take a stand on any side.

I asked corbin shell too , since palma loads in a custom rifle can be less healthy. I agree with you it smells fish long way

Cheers
/ JOHAN

To Ray Atkinson and Butch Searcy.

Ray and Butch in responce to your postings.

Ray I am an accomplished 1000 yard prone shooter who has seen both good and bad machining and heat treating. FYI I was in the Wimbeldon shootoff at Camp Perry in 2002! Where were you? Best you not run your mouth until you know the facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rifle reciever was received by John Geiges of Geiges Rifles. 843-889-9131 in Charleston SC. The Palma rifle was built for Mark Barnes of Charleston SC. Mark is a highmaster prone shooter. His number is 843-762-1051. Feel free to contact either Mark or John concering the action in question.

John Geiges barreled up the action and WE went to the range to break in the barrel. The standard PALMA load is 45.0 gr of Varget behind a 155gr Sierra Matching. The barrel broke in as usual in about 10 rounds or so. A little extra shooting at 600yards took place. Upon getting the rifle home a headspace check was made. Things did not measure up and the barrel was pulled. The lugs had set back some .020". A call was made to Butch Searcy. He made excuses about over pressure loads and would not warranty his inferior heat treating. John Geiges also made several calls to Butch and he gave the same story.

Getting no where with Butch we all decided to terminate the action and move on to better equipment like Nisika Bay and BAT actions. The action was placed at the 600 yard line an we proceeded to punch holes through it.

I would love to speak with you directly concering this matter. My phone number is 919-554-2805 est. PLEASE call me and I can tell you other horror stories about friends who have delt with Butch Searcy.

Like I said before it is not good to RUN YOUR MOUTH before hearing all the facts.

I will talk to ANYONE about this matter. My phone number again is 919-554-2805 est.

Top 10 in Longrange at Camp Perry in 2000 and 2002. Wimbledon shootoff competitor in 2002 and Palma 20 in 2000!!!

Corbin Shell
corbinshell@mindspring.com
919-554-2805 est in NC

Ray, Butch and Steve,

I tried emailing each of you directly and the email keeps bouncing back as undeliveable.

Ray,
While reading a posting of yours you indicated that double rifles shoot off the fact at 300-500 rounds. I have actions that have thousands and thousands of rounds through them with no set back. These are single shot actions from Remington, Nesika Bay, Mauser and BAT. It sounds like you have an inferior product that were incorrectly heat treated. It just boggles my mind that you think this is acceptable.

To add to my other post the standard PALMA load is 45gr of Varget behind a 155gr Sierra Matchking. It has been pressure tested MANY times and is well within the safety limits. Velocity in a 29-30" barrel range from 2900-2950fps. There are hundreds of people at Camp Perry who shoot this load and it is safe beyond any doubt.

Like I said in my last post DO NOT RUN YOUR MOUTH UNTIL YOU KONW THE FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corbin Shell
corbinshell@mindspring.com
919-554-2805

i find it kinda weird that yohan calitz owens 6 or 7 butch searcy rifles and is ordering more he is one of the best elephant hunters in africa he loves them

there are hundreds of searcys world wide and you and that other fellow are the only complaints i have ever heard.

i think there is more to this than meets the eye i think your buddy messed with something he should not have and is trying to cover his ass my putting the blame on the maker.

its always easyer to blame the other guy.

i have personaly talked to about 30-40+ people who owen searcys befor i desided to purchase his product and i am convinced he makes the best double in the usa

and ross seyfried one of the best gun gurus in the usa today has nothing but praise for searcy rifles.

Corbin Shell,
your just another troll, running his mouth IMHO and if you emailed me then I would have received it and BTW while you were punching paper I was shooting Cape Buffalo to answer your question...

I have no desire to talk to you, email or phone if you had a case then you would have taken Butch to court as oppossed to shooting up his gun like some spoiled brat would do....

You have no authenticity and it appears to me this affair, if it every took place, is none of YOUR business and your just a little busy body..

I have nothing further to say to you...I ignore trolls who are so childish as to take their grievences to boards such as this as opposed to the proper channals...

Ray,

Anyone moron with rifle can kill animals. Not everyone can punch the X ring at 1000 yards!!!

Everything I posted is true and I challenge all naysayers to contact Mark Barnes at 843-762-1051 or John Geiges at 843-889-9131 to discuss the details. Both are personal friend of mine and accomplised long range shooters.

Yes we did shoot holes in the action after all efforts were exhausted with Buch Searcy.

Corbin Shell

Corbin,

1. Did you mail the action back to Mr. Searcy so that he could take a look at it rather than relying on a description over the telephone?

2. If the headspace was off by 0.020, can you be sure that it was not set incorrectly at the start? I did not witness the barrel installation, but it sounds like you did not witness it either. Although lug setback can cause an increase in headspace, setting headspace incorrectly in the first place will yield the same result.

3. Were the lugs of the action lapped or machined after your friend received the action from Mr. Searcy? For example, if the headspace of the barrel was set and then the lugs were lapped, that would change the headspace.

1. John Geiges and Mark Barnes both called Butch concerning the action and Butch would not accept the action back.

2. The action was correctly headspaced to start with. Checked and double checked. Yes I was there when the chambering took place.

3. The lugs were not lapped or tampered with in anyway.

John Geiges does builds lots of 1000 yard rifles and is very meticuious about exact headspace dimensions being right on.

Corbin