I finally got to the range with my Chapuis 470. Since my Buffalo hunt is about a month away I need to get buisy. I shot Federal factory loads with Woodleigh 500 grain soft point, Federal factory loads with 500 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and hand loads with Federal brass, 500 grain Woodleigh soft points and 88 grains of Rloader 15 and a 5 grain wad of polyester. The hand loads and Federal/Woodleigh bullets were almost identical in velocity and bullet placement at 50 yards as the factory Federal/Woodleigh ammo. The handloads chronographed 2197.4 FPS average of 6 shots with an ES of 45.3. The Federal/Woodleigh factory load chronographed 2194.9 FPS/6 shot and an ES of 59.2. The Federal/TBBC factory loads were somewhat slower at 2073.6 FPS/6 shot and an ES of 40.2 and printed lower on the target. I have several boxes of Federal/TBBC Solids but with all the talk of monolithic solids causing barrels in doubles to loosen I decided not to shoot these. I will go with Woodleigh solids instead. I have some Bell brass and Norma brass but have not loaded any to see if there is a difference between them and the Federal brass.

Jim Miller

Sounds like somebody better call Africa and warn the Buffalo.
Looks like you have got a JIM DANDY.
When you get back you will have to develop some deer and pig loads. That Chapuis is too fine a hunting rifle to use only in Africa.

N E 450 No2
What a great idea

How come that you don't have a 470 to match your 9,3X74R. Next on the shopping list? I guess you wife would understand, trade in that silly rifle and become a mature hunter

/ JOHAN

JOHAN
How goes the thesis?
I have a 450/400 3 1/4" and a 450 No2 double, both British. If my eyes ever get to the point that I cannot use iron sights I will seriously consider a Chapuis 470 because they are so easy to scope. Or maybe have J.J. at Champlins make me a new set of bbls in 450/400 for the 400, or in 450 No2 or 470 for the 450 No2. I think it would be a travesty of the most high to alter an original British double.

As to the Blaser.... I have yet to find ANY fault with it.

I have a pair of Chapuis - a 9.3x74R and a .470 and both shoot exceedingly well.

My .470 is exceptional and I can regularly obtain 1.5 to 2" groups at 50 yards (from the sitting position) with a load of 112 grains of Reloader 22 behind the Woodleigh 500 grain projectils (Norma cases and Federal 215 primers). One of the features of this particular rifle is that it shoots tight groups regardless of the powder charge used and my original load-development loads simply printed lower on the target and as I increased the powder charge the bullet impacts marched up the paper to the aimpoint - very satisfying to watch. This is in contrast to most doubles where the group sizes also change as you approach or depart from the regulated load.

Have you experienced anything similar with your Chapuis .470? What sort of accuracy do you get?

JOHAN
Good luck. Keep us posted.

BwanaBob
Have you tried any bullets in your 470 around 350grains or so?

BwanaBob,
The groups were 2 to 2.5 inch range. After about 12 rounds I settled down and got the yanks and jerks out of my system and shot one group at 2 inches. 24 rounds all togeather. My shoulder and cheek bone are feeling it. I have not loaded anything lighter than 500 grains. I have a Krieghoff in 9.3X74R comming which will make a better deer/elk/pig gun than the 470. Should be a tad easier on the shoulder too.

Jim

BwanaBob,
What velocity are you getting with 112 grains of Reloader 22? Does it fill the case or are you using dacron filler?

Jim

HI 470FAN,
Good to hear that your having fun with that 470. Unless things have changed I think you'll find that the Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solids are not a monolithic solid. They have a heavy navel bronze jacket with a lead core. Take a look at the base and you can see the exposed lead. This is as I've mentioned that things haven't changed.
Take care and have fun with your rifle,
Dave

470 Mbogo,
I really didn't think the Trophy Bonded Sledghammer bullets were monolithic like the Barnes and A-Square. The ammo I have is factory loaded so I can't look at the end of the bullet. I was suprised the factory TBBC softs were about 100 fps slower than the Woodleigh factory loads. As soon as my cheek bone recovers I will chronograph the TBBC solids just to see.

Jim