Got the chance to visit Champlin Arms in Enid this weekend. . .

For a guy who wants a double, and has held maybe 3. . . it was pretty freakin' cool!

So here's my question. . . While drooling over the vintage H&H doubles, I was intrigued by an old H&H in 500/450. Pop up peep sight. Good wood. Pretty dang spotless. Front sight was bent a little. It had apparently been used by Robert Redford in the movie "Out of AFrica"

It didn't have a price tag, so I asked George what he wanted for it, out of curiousity. . .

He said maybe $60,000 for the rifle, plus $10,000 for the Redford story

Agree or disagree?

Hello bakerb,

I have purchased 2 double rifles from George. I've been very satisfied with both. In addition, he stands behind his sales.

Personally, I love guns with stories, and pay extra for that reason.

Here's a thought. Maybe you could purchase just the story.

That's not too bad for that rifle. The pop up peep sight is pretty cool.

I had a nice H&H double that had been sold in the '90s's by Champlins. I found their old ad and the description was accurate.

George and I have bought and sold 8 doubles between us. Always a pleasant experience and profitable on both sides. I like to make up my own stories so 10K is pretty steep. For 5K I'll make up one for you and it will beat George's by a mile!

Never a fan of the pop-up sight myself. Couldn't acquire the sight picture fast enough. But that's me.

Buy the rifle that fits, meets your particular hunting needs (caliber/ammo availability), and that you fall in love with. Just my 2 cents.

Just to clarify . . .

I ain't buying a rifle, especially a $70,000 rifle. Goerge knew that too. I was up front about just wanting to drool and hold some doubles, which I've never really gotten to do

Secondly, I wasn't criticizing George at all. He was fun to talk to, and I GREATLY appreciate him coming in to open the store on closed hours, especially since I told him that I absolutely was NOT buying. Just dreaming.

I just thought it was interesting about the Redford rifle.

It wasn't even my favorite rifle. There was another H&H in 500/450 that was my favorite. If it had been in 450 No 2, or 475 No. 2, I would have seen if George needed a kidney, and if we could have worked out a trade

Bake

You'll never regret .475 No. 2, Bakerb. A great caliber and now my favorite. I'm in good company, though. John Hunter enjoyed his as well.

A visit and tour through George's gun vault is always a well spent afternoon! I lust for a 475 No.2 Jeffery! .488 caliber 500 grains! An often overlooked cartridge!
My best friend owns one and it's an elephant/buffalo/lion killing SOB!

I really lusted to hold a Watson 475 No. 2 that I kept drooling on in the on-line gun vault.

George was prepping for a gun show, so had a lot of the rifles in soft cases. I had to dig a while, but I did find the Watson 475. . .

He thought a deal could be made with the owner. I'll tell you, if I had an extra $20k laying around, I would have made an offer on that rifle.

Someday maybe. . . .

I love that Watson as well. With the extra stock it is a real bargain.

As part of my twelve step recovery program, trips to see George are off limits.

quote:

You'll never regret .475 No. 2, Bakerb. A great caliber and now my favorite. I'm in good company, though. John Hunter enjoyed his as well.

Dutch, do you have the Jeffery or Eley version..?

Why do you praise this round...compared to the similar..?

A friend just bought a DR in .475No2 Eley...we have not shot it yet..

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:

quote:

You'll never regret .475 No. 2, Bakerb. A great caliber and now my favorite. I'm in good company, though. John Hunter enjoyed his as well.

Dutch, do you have the Jeffery or Eley version..?

Why do you praise this round...compared to the similar..?

A friend just bought a DR in .475No2 Eley...we have not shot it yet..

+1 My favorite as well - mine belonged to the late Owain Lewis, PH for Chifuti Safaris. It is a Jeffery in .475 No. 2 Jeffery NE.

This might help
From a chart titled
Ballistics of Classic Rifle Cartidges
www.lone-star-armory.com

.475 Nitro Express
480gr bullet .476 dia SD .303 2175fps 5042ft#

.476 Westly Richards NE
520gr bullet .765 dia SD.328 2100fps 5091ft#

.475 No. 2 Nitro EXpress
480gr bullet .483 dia SD .294 2200fps 5158ft#

.475 No 2 Jeffery
500gr bullet .488 dia SD .300 2120fps 4989ft#

quote:

.475 Nitro Express
480gr bullet .476 dia SD .303 2175fps 5042ft#

.476 is wrong on this one, its .483..

Pondoro:
The .475 No.2 (Eley) with the .483 diameter. I love this cartridge because the recoil of the 450 class, of which I place the .475 into, is surprisingly pleasant. I took two Ele's with a frontal brain shot apiece and my 5th buffalo as well. When I step up to my .500 then it is another story. Recoil is a little stiffer. In fact, I'm going to sell my .500 NE Westley Richards underlever hammer to finance another .475.

The best deal I ever got on a double rifle is a Bernardelli Express V.B side by side in .475 No. 2 (Eley). Rifle has a Greener cross bolt, side clips, articulating front trigger and ejectors. It is very accurate. Cabelas was selling the rifle. It balanced very poorly . . . was extremely barrel heavy . . . and overall it was too light for caliber. I paid $7000 for the rifle, had a Silver's style recoil pad installed and a mercury reducer put in the butt stock. The added weight now has the rifle very well balanced. The stock is nothing special, but it is very trim in a Holland style. I will never find that kind of deal again.

typo on the diameter of the .476.
Cal

my time spent with George has always been time well spent