Here it is fellas. The VC 577NE has arrived. Thanks again to Ken Buch of Kebco LLC for making a great deal on a great rifle. I had the LOP adjusted to fit me at 15.5" with the addition of a spacer and leather recoil pad. It's thick but it fits me and looks rather nice in person. I think Ken said it is covered in Impala hide!

I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet but I am loaded up and ready to do so. Hopefully, I'll make it to the range this weekend. Planned feeding for this monster is a steady diet of CEB BBW#13 Solids and Non-Cons.

Here are a few pictures I took this afternoon for your enjoyment.

With that gun, cartridge,and bullet the elephants will just collapse at the sight of it ! Full report please.

Why don't you clean that filthy, odd looking, coppered up bore ( is that dremel marks I see in the rifling?) And there's no COCKING KNOB. Ohhhh, how horrible can it be. You're really gonna take that gun out in public????? Ohhhh, the shame.......

You know I'm just funnin ya! Nice looking rifle. Congrats...

Can you send a picture of a side view of the lumps?

Eric

Todd, very nice. By the way, 15 1/2" length of pull? Some scientists have been looking for you...something about the Missing Link?

Todd:

Great looking gun. Can I ask, how much does it weigh?

EL, here you go:



Dave, Exactly 14 lbs! Don't know if it has a recoil reducer installed but at that weight, I'm betting it does.

Biebs, Yeah, some of us are longer than others!

Pago: Everyone knows you don't clean BIG BORES!

Thanks Todd. I've never seen the innards of a V-C before. Is this standard on all of their doubles?

Eric

quote:

Originally posted by ELeeton:
Thanks Todd. I've never seen the innards of a V-C before. Is this standard on all of their doubles?

Eric

I think it is. This is my first VC but all that I have looked at previously have the same configuration.

That's a real beauty!

You're gonna love shooting that double

Very nice Todd. Hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

Thanks Doc and Mike.

You leave tomorrow Mike? Have a good one and good luck on Shumba!!

She is a beauty,congratulations!!

You don't clean doubles/big bores??? Awwwwww crap. Nobody told me. Guess I screwed the pooch already.
Really is a nice looking double. Don't think I am man enough to step up to that recoil level.
And you aren't the only missing link.....Butch told me that my LOP on my double was gonna be about 15 1/4 or 15 1/2. They just haven't found us yet.

Thanks. Yes, I leave tomorrow for Dubai, will be in Harare on Sunday and then off to camp. I am sure tonight will be a restless night.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Thanks. Yes, I leave tomorrow for Dubai, will be in Harare on Sunday and then off to camp. I am sure tonight will be a restless night.

I envy you! Will be very interested to hear how the Dubai route works.

Sounds like you guys need to strap roller skates to your knuckles.

I think I have a skate key for you somewhere around here ...

Did you find the shell holder you were looking for?

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
Did you find the shell holder you were looking for?

Not yet. I've got a canvas culling belt that covers the tips, originally designed for the 416 Rigby. The 577's fit in that one pretty well. I'm going to look into modifying that one by cutting out the tip covers and see how it works.

I may order this to try out. 25 loops is more than I need but who says I have to fill it up.

Triple K 20 gauge belt

I saw that one as well Doc. Has possibilities.

OK, so this new rifle is 14 lbs. Seems heavy as I was expecting about a pound less. What does your 600NE weigh? I know you also have a 577NE. What does it weigh.

I may take the recoil pad off tomorrow to see if it has the recoil reducer installed.

Gorgeous rifle, Todd. All of these pictures of doubles are really making me look forward to my next day off so I can get to the range and shoot my .470!

Beautiful rifle. That Ken loves to make a deal!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams

OK, so this new rifle is 14 lbs. Seems heavy as I was expecting about a pound less. What does your 600NE weigh? I know you also have a 577NE. What does it weigh.

I may take the recoil pad off tomorrow to see if it has the recoil reducer installed.

Todd, I have taken the reducers out of my V-C .577. It now weighs 13# 3.4 oz.. You will probably find 2 holes in the butt. 7/8" hole which houses a 15.8 oz. reducer and 3/4" hole which houses a 8.2 oz. reducer. Both mercury. My .577 is now good to go along with my V-C .500 (due back tomorrow fromm JJ with D.O.) for my February safari with Nixon.

BTW, my .577 #A 1154 was completed 10/1/10. Yours has a lower number. I remember that the airline declined shipping from Europe with the "mercury" installed. I believe they swithed to steel weight after that problem. Chime in Ken...

577NE; my dream double rifle

Todd nice gun! Yes it most likely has recoil reducer in butt to weigh 14 lbs. My new 577 weighs 13 lbs and I wish it was 11 lbs. They just don't get it! These guns are for hunting not target shooting.

I bought several cartridge slides for 577 from Jeff's Outfitters and they are pretty nice for the price. $39 for 10 round slide and belt. The 577 slide actually worked great for my 500NE and I took two on my trip to Australia a couple of weeks ago. Only two loops were too loose for the 500. For the 577 they are a little tight to start with.

Sam

quote:

Originally posted by srose:
My new 577 weighs 13 lbs and I wish it was 11 lbs. They just don't get it! These guns are for hunting not target shooting.

Sam

Sam, you should have ordered a bespoke Sabatti .577. I'm certain they would have gotten it. 11# = no problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
I saw that one as well Doc. Has possibilities.

OK, so this new rifle is 14 lbs. Seems heavy as I was expecting about a pound less. What does your 600NE weigh? I know you also have a 577NE. What does it weigh.

I may take the recoil pad off tomorrow to see if it has the recoil reducer installed.

My 577 weighs 13.84 pounds as delivered. Never pulled the pad off but I'm betting if I did and I removed the weights certainly there it would weigh 12 lbs or less. As Sam and Don will tell you, it carries, feels and swings better with the weight out.

My 600 was 13 lbs sans lead weights.

I would first shoot it as it is then take the weight out and try it again. Sam and Don were 100% on their advice and I didn't notice a difference in recoil.

very nice!!!! thanks for sharing!!

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:

My 577 weighs 13.84 pounds as delivered. Never pulled the pad off but I'm betting if I did and I removed the weights certainly there it would weigh 12 lbs or less. As Sam and Don will tell you, it carries, feels and swings better with the weight out.

My 600 was 13 lbs sans lead weights.

I would first shoot it as it is then take the weight out and try it again. Sam and Don were 100% on their advice and I didn't notice a difference in recoil.

Thanks Doc. Good plan to shoot it first then adjust. For some reason, I was expecting 13 with the weights and maybe 12 without. Don't know where I got those numbers but I did from somewhere.

A couple of things I notice just from handling it so far. It makes the 500NE Merkel at 10.5 lbs seem down right "svelte" by comparison especially swinging it, operating the action, and placing it into firing position from the carry position. It really has to be "manhandled" a bit as everything is just bigger. The grip is thicker as well as the fore-end. Not really a beavertail and not a splinter. Something in between and it's quite thick. I think a splinter would be a tremendous improvement considering the large profile of the barrels. As it was for Aaron, the comb is a bit too high for me to really get on the sights but that may or may not be an issue. I'll know more once I've had the chance to shoot it. This could be easily corrected with taller sights.

On the other side of the coin, as much as I loved that 500 Merkel of mine, this VC is a significant step up in quality, fit and finish. The wood to metal fit is "TIGHT" and only slightly proud on the underside near the forward section of the trigger guard. Elsewhere, it is smooth. Checkering is perfectly straight. Screws and bushings are indexed exactly and all metal surfaces are finished in one form or another. Even the screw in the underlugs is indexed and engraved. Much of this is cosmetic but the gun has a "tight" feel to it that the Merkel didn't. Closing the action feels different. The Merkel was absolutely tight for sure, but when closing the action, it made a type of progressing sound like "cckklloommpp". This gun closes with a "click". There are also no engraved cartoon animals!!

Sorry if it sounds like I'm demeaning the Merkel. Not so at all. I still love that gun and told Ken yesterday that if he doesn't get it sold prior to my funds bouncing back after this purchase, I'll buy it back from him. It's a great gun, looks good, fits me perfectly, and shoots awesome. Just trying to make some comparisons between the two rifles. I still think the 500NE is the best of all worlds when it comes to Nitro Express cartridges and double rifles. JMHO and YMMV!

My 17 year old son came into the trophy room last night, saw the rifle, picked it up and declared: "Dad, this is ridiculous. Is this really necessary?". Clearly, the boy has been listening to his mother too much lately!

For the last few years only steel has been used to balance guns, mercury even in a sealed tube became to much of a problem.

Todd with your sore hand I would shoot it as is, after you heal up do what you want

Whats the drinking age in your neck of the woods? Your son needs an "intervention" and I'm heading down to help fix this problem. We need to nip this in the bud. Where's the nearest Hooters?

quote:

Originally posted by Kebco:
For the last few years only steel has been used to balance guns, mercury even in a sealed tube became to much of a problem.

Todd with your sore hand I would shoot it as is, after you heal up do what you want

Yep, good advice Ken. Just almost can't stand not taking it to the range today. But discretion being the better part of valor, it may be best to wait another week or two as the fingers are still really sore. I don't want to have a setback this close to departure time. Maybe I'll fire some TrailBoss loads this weekend. I know I won't be able to just look at it all weekend!

Thanks again Ken on making the deal. It really is a sweet rifle and you are a first rate fellow to do business with.

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
Whats the drinking age in your neck of the woods? Your son needs an "intervention" and I'm heading down to help fix this problem. We need to nip this in the bud. Where's the nearest Hooters?

Oh and if you do pull the pad off (don't forget to lube the screwdriver else you'll tear the pad) you'll find the screw heads though hidden are also engraved.

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
Oh and if you do pull the pad off (don't forget to lube the screwdriver else you'll tear the pad) you'll find the screw heads though hidden are also engraved.

I'd love to see the inside working parts but that's above my skill level on doubles. I'll bet they are all polished as well.

Todd, shoot it first before making any modifications. Mine was so comfortable I preferred shooting it to various other doubles in 500 and 470.

Todd:

C'mon big guy. Don't keep us in suspense. How does it shoot????

Todd

I loved the kid's comment! Best laugh I have all day. Thanks for sharing.

Many Thanks

HBH

Todd,

Congratulations on your new acquisition. That’s a nice looking DR.
Here’s hoping you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine.
Mine has 2 steel weights in the back. I took the large one out and found it to be muzzle heavy without it. I may slowly trim weight off of the large one to fine tune things...or maybe not.
Of course I may not be the one to ask as I’ve carried a 9.5 to 10 lb. .375 for many years in the bush.
I agree with you that the quality, fit and finish is very good and you would need to spend a lot more $ to get a better product.

Look forward to hearing how the shooting goes.

NN