Going this week to look at a 500 I had shipped to Cabelas. Was wondering for those that had them, what do they think of the weight and how many have added merc reducers for that purpose? I don't need lectured on what you think of the Sabatti as I already own one and am quite proud of it's performance and quality. I just want to hear about the weight concerns with the 500.

I don't remember the weight off hand but was on the lighter side for caliber.

I wouldn't do anything with it before trying it. For me, fit rather than weight was and is the key. I've had similarly weighted doubles in the same caliber kick like hell in one while the other was surprisingly tame.

The Sabattis as a whole really fit me well...that was one of the deciding factors in buying what I already have. Just didn't want recoil to kick the snot out of me if too light a weight for the double/caliber combination.

Mine kicked the hell out of me so I replaced the hard rubber pad with a limbsaver pad and it made all of the difference in the world. I just bought another one in .470 NE and it weighs 9.6 lb on a postal scale...got a Limbsaver ordered for it, too.

Karl

The problem is , as I understand it, it that the exact same materials are used for the 500 NE as the 470 NE. Obviously, the 500 has more metal removed making the barrels lighter than the 470.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
The problem is , as I understand it, it that the exact same materials are used for the 500 NE as the 470 NE. Obviously, the 500 has more metal removed making the barrels lighter than the 470.

Larry if the same barrel profile used in a 470NE that is 9.3 pounds, which is already too light for a 470NE, is used bored out for the .500NE it will be a bear!

When these rifles first came out I visited the Cabela booth where they had a 450NE a 470NE and a 500NE. I picked up the 450NE first and it seemed light but lively and fit me pretty well. As I already had a 470NE double I then went to the 500NE Sabatti, and quickly discovered that it was way too light for a 500NE double. With that in mind I looked at the 470NE and the barrels were the same outside diameter as the little 450NE which seemed light to me, and the 470NE barrels were the same. This was before anyone knew of the problems Sabatti had with regulation, and I was looking to buy a 500NE double, and the price was a factor in that decision. I didn't buy because of the weight, and later was happy that I hadn't.

I would say he will need something for the 500NE he is looking to buy, unless the weight has been increased. I don't like mercury recoil reducers, or lead in the stock because in most cases with double as light as the Sabattis they destroy the balance.

The Limb Saver recoil pads have a bad habit of melting. I would look hard at the Pachmeyr Decelerator, or the Kick-Ese instead.

In any event, I hope he has good luck with his purchase if he buys!

I have both a 450 and a 500 Sab; the barrels are exactly the same, making the weight of the 500 a bit light although the 450 is perfect. It is very nice to carry; less so to shoot. The Sab stocks are proportioned perfectly as far as drop at comb and heel, so face slap is not bad, but that .500 does come back a bit. Standing is best to shoot them. Just weighed the .500; 9.4 pounds. I like shooting 500 grainers in it instead of 570s; makes a world of difference and I am not shooting African game with it anyway.

Did you have trouble re-regulating with the 500 gr instead of 570s?

I have the Decelerator pad on my 450/400 and know that will be the first thing replaced on the 500 if I end up with it.

quote:

Originally posted by hunteratheart:
Did you have trouble re-regulating with the 500 gr instead of 570s?

I hear a Dremmel tool works wonders for this!

Sorry, couldn't resist! Low hanging fruit and all!

Ok, that was uncalled for. You had to reach for that one. That wasn't I who did the Dremel regulation.
I did not re-regulate it, although I could if I need to, by the correct method of un-soldering the muzzle wedge and moving the barrels in my regulation fixture.
It shoots within 4 inches at 50 yards with the 500s.

The 500NE Sabatti is too light for caliber from the factory. It needs a new quality recoil pad and I had two Mercury recoil reducers installed by JJ; to increase the weight as well as tame recoil. It was a pleasure to shoot afterwards, but it had other problems and was returned to Cabella's at a $1000 loss for the improvements.

My Merkel 500NE is fine as it came to me.

The 3 that I have had a chance to handle were light for caliber as other people have stated they use the same barrel couture for all the rifles. I had a chance to shoot one of the 500s and turned it down. Age does bring some wisdom.
Bill

I have a Sab 450 and am very happy with it. My buddy who also has a 450 bought another in 500. We shot it with Hornady factory and I was pleasantly surprised. It was still wearing that crappy red pad but it did NOT kick as harshly as I thought it would. I have never fired a 500 so did not know what to expect. Now that Cabelas is closing them out for $3800 I am thinking REAL hard about getting one. That is a lot of bang for the buck!

Exactly what I was thinking Jay!
I was told by La Vista's gun library to make an offer if I liked it once I saw it. That's incentive to take a gander at it. Was hoping to be there today but looks like Tuesday or Wednesday I'll check it out.

You can't really trust the guys in the gun library to tell you whether the barrels have been ground. I transferred 3 and had one that was acceptable. All three had assurances that the barrels were not ground. I looked at both of the 500 NE at cabelas in Buda and both muzzles are round with rifling to the crown. Just FYI

Tx,
Hence the reason you don't buy over the phone. I did have the guy in Minnesota tell me over the phone that the muzzles were ground on one I was inquiring about there. Obviously that one didn't get shipped to Hamburg.

I did end up picking up the 500 NE for a decent price (made offer as it had some handling marks from being on the center gun rack at La Vista - yes gun was new and not a return). Muzzles and everything looks good. Cabelas had no 500 ammo in Hamburg, so I'm looking to order. Off to Ohio for a week of chasing deer with stick and string but I hope to have the Sabatti shot shortly after I get back. Will be able to tell then if a keeper or not. Cabelas is doing the 30 day trial on these closeouts so no risk other than being out time and money for ammo if she doesn't shoot well. Hope to provide feedback towards Thanksgiving.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

I hear a Dremmel tool works wonders for this!

Sorry, couldn't resist! Low hanging fruit and all!

....................

Well, the Sabatti is going back.
Right barrel will not print within 8" of the left at 25 yards, and this is using the Hornady 570 gr ammo it was regulated with. Called Hamburg gun library and talked with Mike telling him I was returning it and looking at shipping one out of Boise to see how that shot. He spoke to the manager at Hamburg and I was told this one can come back but if the one from Boise did not shoot well, I would have a tough time returning it. Told him with the issues they've had, I'll be returning this one and they can keep the one in Boise. Guess I was meant just to have my 450/400 which shoots well.
BTW, I'll be putting 15 rounds of Hornady 570 gr DGX in classifieds soon.

Hunter, I'm sorry you didn't get one that shoots like your 450/400, but as others have found buying a Sabatti double rifle is a crap-shoot at best!

I really wish they had been decent double rifles! Because of the very low price, they would have allowed a lot of American hunters to become double rifle shooters.

What I would do if I were you is look around for a good used Merkel, K-gun or Chapuis double rifle in a larger chambered double to go along with your 450/400, or a 9.3X74R on the lower end for the pair. I will cost you a little more but you will have a better double rifle that will out last you grand children.

.................................................................Good luck!
....................

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Hunter, I'm sorry you didn't get one that shoots like your 450/400, but as others have found buying a Sabatti double rifle is a crap-shoot at best!

I really wish they had been decent double rifles! Because of the very low price, they would have allowed a lot of American hunters to become double rifle shooters.

What I would do if I were you is look around for a good used Merkel, K-gun or Chapuis double rifle in a larger chambered double to go along with your 450/400, or a 9.3X74R on the lower end for the pair. I will cost you a little more but you will have a better double rifle that will out last you grand children.

.................................................................Good luck!
....................

Yep!

Hey Todd,
Does that mean you'd be willing to sell that sweet little Chapuis in 9.3?

quote:

Originally posted by hunteratheart:
Hey Todd,
Does that mean you'd be willing to sell that sweet little Chapuis in 9.3?