Well it has been one heck of a journey, but I finally have my first double. I picked up the Heym PH in 450/400 3" last Saturday. It has 26" barrels, no cheekpiece, and splinter forend. This is the only pic I have - Chris sent it as soon as it arrived from Germany.



Went to the range on Wednesday evening to check the zero on one of my 9.3s - I leave for a moose hunt next Thursday. Took the Heym along to just get the feel of it. Set the target at 50yds; I really didn't settle into it the first two shots and was "slapping" the trigger - probably too excited. I was standing, shooting over the seat of a chair placed on top of the bench, right hand resting on bags (I shoot left handed).

The next four shots I took my time.



I think I should be pleased since I really have very little experience with iron sights and even less with doubles. Some of the very generous guys here have provided me with all of my real experience!

That said, I'd like some disection of the results. First (this is for Mark) I wasn't shooting over a chronograph. I hope to do that tomorrow or Sunday if I can get it to stop raining sideways. Those raindrops play fits with the Chrono.

Second, these were Hornady factory 400gr RNSP. Third, the regulation target that came with the rifle shows the right barrel shooting above the left barrel (consistent with all three of my pairs) by a little less than 1.5" and the right barrel hitting about a 3/4" right of the left.

On all of my shots the right was higher, but all of the rights were left, if barely. Crossing slightly. I know this is a very small sample, but thought I'd ask for input. I promise I'll shoot more during my next session.

Beautiful piece of lumber on your brand spankin' new DR.

Congrats on contracting your new addiction!

congrats on a nice rifle!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a beauty. Congratulations.

Wow, That's a beauty! Can't wait to see her in person!

Congrats: It took a long time getting to you. I
am sure it is worth it, nice looking wood.. Bob Studen

Congratulations, beautiful piece of wood. Lighter than on a lot of the Heyms, I like it.

That really is a beautiful stock.

Before you can a make a real assesment of the rife's accuracy (and the ammo's), I think you need to do more shooting with it.

There are days when I'm shooting very well and days when I'm not. Probably the same for everyone, so keep that in mind.

Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

That is a fine looking rifle! Get going and burn up more powder!

Thanks for the compliments y'all!

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:

Before you can a make a real assesment of the rife's accuracy (and the ammo's), I think you need to do more shooting with it.

There are days when I'm shooting very well and days when I'm not. Probably the same for everyone, so keep that in mind.

Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

JPK, fair enough, I just hoped we could decipher some things from the target. Both of your points are very valid.

Thanks for the suggestion; I'll give it a try.

Now that looks like a beauty worth waiting for,sure hope mine is as pretty,can't wait to see how it presents with the case colors.

Very Nice.

Tim:

I've got a flash for you. I'm well aware of what happened with your rifle. Chris, NE450No 2, Monty, and I constantly showed a .450/.400 at SCI, not knowing that it was accidentally stocked with your first blank. As finished on that rifle, that blank was....OK, but not even in the same ZIP Code with this one. I know you were aggravated, and Chris was frustrated and embarressed, but thank happenstance for honest mistakes. This one is GORGEOUS. I love it. Congrats, man.
------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

quote:

Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
Tim:

I've got a flash for you. I'm well aware of what happened with your rifle. Chris, NE450No 2, Monty, and I constantly showed a .450/.400 at SCI, not knowing that it was accidentally stocked with your first blank. As finished on that rifle, that blank was....OK, but not even in the same ZIP Code with this one. I know you were aggravated, and Chris was frustrated and embarressed, but thank happenstance for honest mistakes. This one is GORGEOUS. I love it. Congrats, man.
------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Thanks Mark. Yes, Chris and I agree that the circumstances allowed me time to afford a more expensive blank and I also was able to get the Doctor/Trijicon modification and mount. So, overall I see it as a blessing in disguise.

Tim, Rifle Porn....nothing else.

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
Tim, Rifle Porn....nothing else.

True...true.

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

+1
Antlers, JPK's target example is the same one I use for the reasons he mentioned, also get you some of the spray on black for the front bead and draw that bead against the bottom (six o'clock position) of the black circle I'll bet you get some ragged hole groups, those 450-400's in the Heym are known to be quite accurate. Oh, by the way great looking rifle.

Antlers,

Looks like she might even be as good at business as she is good lookin'! What a deal.

Congrats on the Porn Queen!

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

+1
Antlers, JPK's target example is the same one I use for the reasons he mentioned, also get you some of the spray on black for the front bead and draw that bead against the bottom (six o'clock position) of the black circle I'll bet you get some ragged hole groups, those 450-400's in the Heym are known to be quite accurate. Oh, by the way great looking rifle.

Thanks Dirk. I'm not following something in your description. You suggest a black 6" round bull and a 6 o'clock hold. What's the spray on black about?

That is the exact rifle I would love to have as I am left handed as well.
How would you compare the recoil to your 9,3?

Very nice. Do you ever shoot at Birchwood?

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

+1
Antlers, JPK's target example is the same one I use for the reasons he mentioned, also get you some of the spray on black for the front bead and draw that bead against the bottom (six o'clock position) of the black circle I'll bet you get some ragged hole groups, those 450-400's in the Heym are known to be quite accurate. Oh, by the way great looking rifle.

Thanks Dirk. I'm not following something in your description. You suggest a black 6" round bull and a 6 o'clock hold. What's the spray on black about?

You can buy a can of site black (Midway, Brownells, Graf & Son's, etc.), this is just like a fine black powder that wipes off with your hand, it covers up a white, silver or gold bead to give you a very clear site picture of the top of the bead against the bottom of a black circle or the tip of your red diamond thus you can shoot very tight groups.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
That is the exact rifle I would love to have as I am left handed as well.
How would you compare the recoil to your 9,3?

Very nice. Do you ever shoot at Birchwood?

I have two 9.3s; the one I was shooting the other day is very light and was popping me pretty good off the bench. I'm not sure, but it may be a rifle I built off a LH Stainless Mod 70 I bought from you quite a few years ago.

The recoil seemed less with the 400. Of course I was standing with the 400. Overall IMO the recoil of a 400 is a piece of cake. To me, perceived recoil is noticebly less than a 375H&H or a 12ga 3" magnum load.

I have only shot at Birchwood a couple of times when checking zero before leaving on a trip from ANC - I live in SE.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Nest trip to the range, try a six inch bull and use a six o'clock hold. I find this method gives me the best groups for gauging my loads and in particular helps eliminate vertical stringing, which can be an issue with open sights. Or, for the targets you used in your photo, try holding at the bottom point of the diamond.

JPK

+1
Antlers, JPK's target example is the same one I use for the reasons he mentioned, also get you some of the spray on black for the front bead and draw that bead against the bottom (six o'clock position) of the black circle I'll bet you get some ragged hole groups, those 450-400's in the Heym are known to be quite accurate. Oh, by the way great looking rifle.

Thanks Dirk. I'm not following something in your description. You suggest a black 6" round bull and a 6 o'clock hold. What's the spray on black about?

You can buy a can of site black (Midway, Brownells, Graf & Son's, etc.), this is just like a fine black powder that wipes off with your hand, it covers up a white, silver or gold bead to give you a very clear site picture of the top of the bead against the bottom of a black circle or the tip of your red diamond thus you can shoot very tight groups.

Ok, I get it now. Thanks Dirk.

Congratulations! Very nice! That wood is stunning!!!