Yeah Lane, get that 500N. That's what I am working on now. We can be in pain together

quote:

Originally posted by NFMike:
Yeah Lane, get that 500N. That's what I am working on now. We can be in pain together

Hey Mike! Long time no hear!!!

I shot a buff in Uganda with the .458 WM load you helped me with and of course some NF bullets. Excellent performance to say the least.

What about a .500 NE??? Bad to shoot? You are one the guys I KNOW to believe what you say!!!!

If you can, test drive before you commit to buying a rifle. Deciding which rifle is right for you is very,very subjective. You owe it to yourself to try as many rifles as you can to avoid getting a rifle that is ill-fitting or doesn't feel good in your hands.

Even if the rifle feels good in your hands, you need to shoot it to see how you manage the recoil and if you are able to hit with it.

To answer your question, look at a Chapuis or Krieghoff in 470NE. Both will serve you well, good resale value if/when you sell it. Some folks are put off by the Krieghoff cocking device, others love it. YMMV

Luckily the thing weighs ~ 16 pounds. Still, I have to shoot setting at the bench or the bullets won't go into the stop tank. Just starting to gather data and it will be a while as I can't stand too many in a row setting down. I don't think I could stand a 10-11# hunting rifle. I've hit my limit.

A gunsmith knowledgeable about DRs can make it weigh whatever you want.

Lane, sent you a PM.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
A gunsmith knowledgeable about DRs can make it weigh whatever you want.

C'mon Biebs, yeah, say we add 10 # to the ass end. Where does that get you?

It must be balanced on or slightly forward of the hinge pin.

Don

If you need to add 10 lbs...it's probably not worth the effort, huh?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I'm thinking the quest here is for a rifle to hunt with, at a reasonable (low) price, and to provide a power level equal to or greater than the 458 WM in the bolt rifle. I would think that would dictate a search among available used DRs such as Krieghoff, Merkel, Chapuis, Verney Carron, and, OK Dave Bush, maybe Blaser!!!!

Shame on you Biebs! You forgot to mention the beautiful Searcys in 450 NE.

I sold the nicest one ever made....to YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But the 577 has happily replaced it. The 450 is kind of a girly caliber, don't you think, Mike?????

LOLOLOLOLOL

Actually, the 450 is all ANYONE ever needs. Bigger calibers are closely associated with the dreaded SPS* condition.

*Small Pecker Syndrome....guilty as charged!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
*Small Pecker Syndrome....guilty as charged!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Too much personal info!!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
But the 577 has happily replaced it. The 450 is kind of a girly caliber, don't you think, Mike?????

LOL, I had 577's before the 450's!


(But they were those little Snider single shots. )

Speaking of 577's I just spent two days with George at Champlins and he just received an Army & Navy 577 NE weighing about 16 pounds or so, a little heavy but well balanced and in grand shape with really great bores. He has it priced right for a 577 NE. Would love to own it but I'm partial to my 450-400 3 1/4's.


Dutch

ledvm,

Lots of good doubles out there. The V C guns are very good, fit and finish is well above the 12K asking price and Ken is very good to deal with.

Cabelas had a nice 470 merkel in buda, that they would deal on-- around 8K.

Mike Jines had a Ritterbush 450 3 1/4 at champlains for awhile. That would be a hell of a gun. One of my good buddies has a ritterbush in a 458 and it is one well made rifle.

There was a very nice Searcy on Gunbroker for around 8K.

Just some thoughts!

Ed

Ritterbush
http://www.champlinarms.com/De...StyleID=3&GunID=1650
Sorry 10K Searcy
http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=176637339

Ken's VC 450's

http://www.kebcollc.com/cart/s...8&action=show_detail

I even looked at the Cabelas 450 in AZ it looked good. It was at 5,500

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...sp?hierarchyId=10473

Merkel

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas...categoryId=SEARCH_gl

Just a few

Lane, like you I just wanted a good quality double. I could sell a lot of other guns and buy something really expensive but truthfully that was not what I wanted. I like fine guns as much as the next guy but I don't get all wrapped up in the "romance" of a fine british rifle. I wanted a "shooter" in a good DG caliber. Well I went over to Cabelas and looked at the Sabatti rifles. I have heard lots on the internet but wanted to see the fit, finish and feel for myself.

I liked the rifle from the moment I held it, balance was great, fit/finish was spot on. So knowing that the 450NE was a powerful but not abusive cartridge, I BOUGHT IT!

I love this rifle, and after using some cabelas card points and even having a $50 off coupon, I was out the door for $4800. Many have speculated that these Sabattis are "undervalued". I often wonder if many of the others are actually quite "overvalued".

Good Luck

Well I am in the process of aquiring a .500 NE Merkel that I thought was to good to pass up. Hope I am up to the task of shooting it. If not...maybe wanting to trade for a .470 or .450.

Lane, Nothing that a little well-placed lead can't cure.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Well I am in the process of aquiring a .500 NE Merkel that I thought was to good to pass up. Hope I am up to the task of shooting it. If not...maybe wanting to trade for a .470 or .450.

I'm betting you will be surprised how well it handles.

Is it a Merkel with which I am familiar?

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Well I am in the process of aquiring a .500 NE Merkel that I thought was to good to pass up. Hope I am up to the task of shooting it. If not...maybe wanting to trade for a .470 or .450.

I'm betting you will be surprised how well it handles.

Is it a Merkel with which I am familiar?

+1

Lane,

As Doc says you will be surprised at how manageable it is once you shoot it. You have no worries, friend!

Way to go Lane. At least I have more motivation now. I'll go to Sams and get a big bottle of aspirin and get this show on the road

It is hard to debate your selection of caliber with the intended use in your post. A classic double rifle cartridge with available ammo. Have fun!

EZ

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Well I am in the process of aquiring a .500 NE Merkel that I thought was to good to pass up. Hope I am up to the task of shooting it. If not...maybe wanting to trade for a .470 or .450.

quote:

Originally posted by NFMike:
Way to go Lane. At least I have more motivation now. I'll go to Sams and get a big bottle of aspirin and get this show on the road

Yes Mike...as I am counting on you to have enough data that I don't have to start from scratch with load for some NFFNS bullets. Keep shootin!!!

quote:

Is it a Merkel with which I am familiar?

No sir...I ended up going with the one on GA website.

Way to go, Lane. That one was $500 under dealer cost. Cost do better than that!!!

quote:

Originally posted by srose:
Never Say Never!! I used to say the same thing and now I'm double poor. Got more than I can shoot. Start out with a double you can shoot a lot and have fun with it. I highly suggest a Siace 45-70. The Sabbatti 45-70 may be a good start also. THe 45-70 is the perfect American double caliber and cast bullets shoot great.

Sam

I can vouch for Sam! I went all the way from New Zealand to North Carolina and saw and shot some of Sam's collection of DRs along with another friend's rifles as well! What an experience it was - like a 7 year old having a week of Christmases!!

The idea of a 9.3 or a 45-70 as a practice gun is a great one. These calibers can be shot often and well. No problem shooting 20 or 30 rounds in a day. The big 450s & 470 kick a lot more. Sam's Chapui 470 did not fit me well and my cheek took a hammering with just a few rounds. The other friend's 600 Jeffery was easier to handle than the 470!

If & when I can afford DRs, I will get a smaller caliber for frequent practice and a real DG rifle for the fun of it and may be hunt buffalo one day.......sigh....dreams are free....

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Way to go, Lane. That one was $500 under dealer cost. Cost do better than that!!!

I should get it in hand by Friday!!!!!!!

Lane, you know David Guitar over in Brownwood? He has a Merkel 500 NE that he might part with. It probably has had 8 rounds through it. And it's been taking a nap in his gun safe ever since.
I think the serial number is #XXXX-1

Hey Rusty,
Sure I know him. Knew he had a double. Spoke with him the other day and he said it might come out of retirement!

Besides...mine will be here Monday!!!

Mr Ledvm-

Please do let us know how the bonding process goes with your new baby.

My guess is that you will thoroughly enjoy the .500 NE Merkel.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
What about the cocking mechanism on the Krieghoff that I hear so much about??? Why do some people hate it?

Rifles are a very personal thing and opinions always run deep but I for one have a deep dislike of any rifle that doesn't have a traditional safety catch......

I'd suggest that if you are going to buy a used double you should have an expert look it over carefully. There's a lot of good, used doubles out there but also a lot of crap that have been meddled with by people who don't know what they're doing.

You also need to decide what style of double you like the most as the various nations (IMO) each have a distinctive style to them. That isn't to say one is necessarily better than another just that they're different.

If you want an American style double then I reckon the Searcy range are good value and if you want a (new) British double, I'd suggest you look carefully at the new John Rigby & Co of London at www.johnrigbylondon.com..... but you might have to wait a bit for that.

If you want truly the best English double I'd suggest the Westley Richards doubles or if Scottish elegance is to your taste, then the round action Mckay Brown is the dog's doo dahs.

All that said, the most beautiful double I've ever not seen in the flesh is Nganga's Armeria De Madrid .500 here: http://forums.accuratereloadin...804/m/5401073231/p/1

All that said, my opinon isn't really worth shit on this. I make no secret of the fact that as much as I enjoy good double rifles and have played with and admired a good many over the years, I've never been able to justify owning one to myself.

I guess I just grew up too poor!

quote:

Originally posted by Hawkeye Mountaineer:
Mr Ledvm-

Please do let us know how the bonding process goes with your new baby.

My guess is that you will thoroughly enjoy the .500 NE Merkel.

I definitely will sir!!!

Well...I have NOT touched her off yet...but...I do have my Merkel .500 NE in hand. So far...it is love at first sight!

OK guys...shot my .500 NE 140-2 Merkel this weekend! I don't see what is NOT to like about these rifles!!!

Shot some 570 Swift A-frames going 2150 and recoild stiff but definitely tolerable. I shot 3 rounds through each barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
OK guys...shot my .500 NE 140-2 Merkel this weekend! I don't see what is NOT to like about these rifles!!!

Shot some 570 Swift A-frames going 2150 and recoild stiff but definitely tolerable. I shot 3 rounds through each barrel.

Never a doubt in my mind!

A rifle in 470 would be a great place to start. The caliber will work well on anything and is the easiest caliber to resell if you find something you want to upgrade to.
Bill

Lane,

I have the 140-2.1 in 500 NE. Mine regulates well with 38 grains of 5744 and a 525 grain cast bullet. Chronys between 1200-1300 fps. You can have some real fun plinking with them.

We have great fun shooting jackrabbits, etc with them during the winter.

Jerry