jorge,

Welcome to the unofficial Sabatti owners club.

Here are some suggestions for modifications to these rifles, which I had JJ Perodeau do to my 500 NE. These seem to be pretty common for the Sabatti.

1. Replace the POS recoil pad
2. Trigger job, if needed - not too light on DRs
3. Mercury recoil reducer, if needed for weight
4. File or replace front sight

You might also consider the EOTech XPS20 if you want/need optics on it. Very light weight, small holographic circle-dot reticle, both eyes open. used extensively by the military/LE.

Thanks, Mike. So far recoil has been quite acceptable even off the bench. On the front sight is that because it's too big? The triggers could use a little bit of work, the right one has a little creep but the left seems ok. jorge

I also filed my rear sight into the classic shallow "V" express type. The front does not need anything; the ones on the 45-70s do. And a Sabattti in 450-400 should not need a mercury brake.

Mine's a 450NE

Jorge,

If you have the front sight filed at a 45 degree angle towards the receiver, something you can do yourself with a little patience and care, it will reflect more light across the surface and make viewing it much easier and faster to pick-up. I think it was JPK who explained this one to me.

Yes, I did think the weight would be appropriate for a 450NE; it's the 470 & 500 NE that need weight added to them. 9.5# is simply too light for the heavy calibers, by at least 2#. Unless your name is Will, of course.

Triggers, well everyone has their own opinions, but you don't want an accidental double discharge, hence DR triggers are frequently set heavier than a bolt gun. Heavier on the rear trigger than the front, as well, by about 1#.

Mike: That is precisely how my triggers are set. Had them measured today. The front is just under 5lb and the rear just a tad over three. Thanks for the idea on the rear sight. I have a decent smith here that can do that.

Well

All I can say too this, I received my 500 NE Sabatti a month ago in Mozambique,

AND I AM AS HAPPY AS A HOOKER INA CARROT GARDEN

Will, I agree, it is not too light, the 500 kicks but by golly , it is a 500 NE

Did not get ammo , thumbsucked some relaods, and voila , at 25 meters, prints an 1# from one another with softs and solids, and 1 # high

Fortunately, had not had a chance too use it, we hunted hippo at full moon, client shot great, hunted lion, client did his part, but I did feel a lot better with that 500 in my hands,

After carrying it for a month, I love it, yes the pad is pos, I am replacing it, doing a oil job on the stock, grip cap for looks, and thats about it

VIVA SABATTI , at last I can barely afford a double

Can you guys elaborate as to why the pad is a POS? is it too thin, what? If I put on a thicker one the LOP will be too long for me. Right now I've shot abolut 20 rounds of the bench and recoil while heavy is very tolerable. I can see where puting on a few more coats on the wood is certainly a good idea though.

Walter, it does my heart good to see a PH uding one in the field and and I'm sure all of us Sabbati owners would love to hear how the gun is holding up and performing for you as time goes by. jorge

jorge,

The OE pad is too hard - really not designed to spread recoil. I'd suggest a quality pad - Pachmayer or Limbsaver (I use both) I know Pachmayer makes a pad that is similar in thickness - there are 3 thicknesses available - to the OE pad, so your LOP would not change.

Kwan,

Glad to hear you finally received your Sabatti 500 NE. Hope for some update reports. You will get substantial field use long before those of us in the USA. Ammo performance would also be helpful. The Hornady that it is regulated with seems to be performing well, from reports, but I don't know what the availability is in RSA.

Everyone,

I neglected to recommend treating the stock with additional oil. Kwan caught it. The wood really needs additional oil to harden the wood and seal the pores. I will be using Watco Teak Oil cut 50-50 with Mineral Spirits to get good penetration into the wood and to bring out the highlights in the wood.

Jorge,
Congratulations! Nice looking double and it looks like it is a shooter!

Welcome to the DRSS!

It was all in the hold and I also applied some gold leaf to the vertical groove on the rear sight. Gives me good sight alingment. Weather was cool this morning, 49 degrees. MV right at 2100. I think I'm satisfied. The top group of four shots (two softs and solids) at 25 yards then the more open one at fifty. Success! jorge

quote:

The front is just under 5lb and the rear just a tad over three.

Isn' it suppose to be the other way around?

Yep, sorry got them backwards but the front trigger does have some creep to it which I'm fine with.

I have been thinking about a purchase and wondered how accurate they are. I always wanted a 470 but I think the 450 might be the way to go? What loads are you using?

Factory Hornady stuff. I have components on order to start reloading however but it's nice to know there is (relatively) reasonable factory ammo out there that works and works well. I know there have been posts on here regarding the efficacy of the DGX/S on game but I haven't found it yet.

Thanks for the reply. Hornady makes good stuff. Accuracy should be slightly improved with hand loads. Very Nice!!!