You got a preview of it awhile back. But I finally got it in my hands this afternoon. Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but I hope to get to that later in the week.

Thanks again Ken for making a sweet deal for me on this bespoke VC. Thanks to Jerome for building exactly what I requested. I'm very happy with it. VC Round Body in 500NE with all the little goodies I specified, and it tips the scales right at 10.25 lbs.

Enjoy:

Todd:

That's a beauty and just the right weight. The color case hardening is really nice. Congrats!

Very nice indeed.

You'll have some fun with that.

Truly magnificent Todd and they did a real good job on the CCH too! Congratulations, let us know how she shoots for you. jorge

I hope it serves you well for decade after decade!
How about some OPEN action shots, and even dis-
assembled shots? (just so we can enjoy those de-
tails too!)

Todd

Quick question.

What made you go for CCH over a silver finish ?

Also, what is the barrel length you went with ?


.

Nigel,

24" barrels. I went back and forth on the coin vs CCH finish. But what really made my mind up was Admiral Dave (Subsailor). He has this design that he's used several times now: CCH with maker's name and "SAFE" in gold inlay and leather recoil pad. I saw several of his guns designed that way and it just struck my fancy. The other goodies, in addition to the CCH, gold, and leather pad were, shadow line cheek piece, gold oval with initials, front trigger articulated, enhanced engraving, and splinter fore-end. This is VC's version of the splinter. I left off items that I've never found much use for such as additional leaves on the rear sight and flip up night sight.

DR, I'll try to get some additional pics later in the week when I get a chance to shoot it. I'm facing a 7 hour drive tonight to get to work so I'm done playing with it for the next few days.

Looking forward to blooding it proper in December with Buzz on a big Zambezi Bull Elephant!!

Truely a stunning rifle Todd -well done!

Sweet Dude!!

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:
Truely a stunning rifle Todd -well done!

Thanks to your design Admiral!

That looks nice! Now go and throw some lead down range and lets see how it works!

quote:

Originally posted by 505G:
Todd

Quick question.

What made you go for CCH over a silver finish ?



.

Because it looks awesome!
Good for you Todd.

quote:

Originally posted by Double BC:
Because it looks awesome!
Good for you Todd.

Goes without saying.


Todd,
Thanks, I think you got it right. Also agree in that calibre additional leaves are not required.

Enjoy !

Beautiful!
And functional - I like what you left off as well as those details you had incorporated.
Nice Todd, very nice!

Todd,
I really like what you have done with that riffle, the lay out is superb its classic. Its classic yet very original among most VC’s that I’ve seen. If I could pick any rifle it would be laid out just like that one, functional, simple and elegant. It’s pretty in all the right places, love those 24” tubes. Congratulations.

Kelly.

Todd:
VC never ceases to impress me.
Cal

Beautiful rifle Todd. I think VC has an issue if that's a splinter foreend. Love that rifle, hate that fore-end. Congrats on a beauty.

Congratulations Todd!

Beautiful double in one of the best chamberings for hunting of dangerous game any place in the world!

Sheeeeeeit!! Todd that's purrrrrtty!!!

Enjoy that rifle...

Congrats Todd! Looks awesome.

Forgive my ignorance of how round-actions should look, but to me it's kinda funny-looking to have the whole receiver/bar left as the angle reinforce? I guess it saves machining and puts more weight between the hands.

sambarman

What do you mean exactly ?

It's not clear - to me anyway.

This bit,
"the whole receiver/bar left as the angle reinforce?"

quote:

Originally posted by 505G:
sambarman

What do you mean exactly ?

It's not clear - to me anyway.

This bit,
"the whole receiver/bar left as the angle reinforce?"

I understand what he is asking Nigel.

This was asked back when I posted the very first pictures of a Round Body PH by VC from the 2012 SCI show. That rifle was purchased by Larry Shores. Ken was asked how the bar was reinforced since there is no moustache or visible reinforcement along side of the bar, along the water tables. Ken's answer was exactly as Sambarman described, in that the entire action is as wide as the typical reinforcement and is therefore stronger overall.

Some like the look, some don't. Sambarman doesn't. I do!! But as I mentioned back then, the picture doesn't do it justice as what really sold me on the round body action is the way it feels in the hand. With the roundness of the action in the hand, it certainly feels different from the standard type of action. If you get a chance at one of the shows, make sure to pick one up and you'll instantly know what I'm talking about. Anyone else out there with a round body action that can add to this?

Hey Todd,
firstly congrats on the double, looks awesome !

I also have the Roundbody ejector, (also in .500), and agree with your comments above.

Originally I wasn't real keen on the look either but as you say, the "feel" and "carry" is very impressive.

To some people they may lack the traditional bolstered-action look.

Mine is slightly heavier than yours at 10.6 lbs but is a pleasure to shoot.
For some inexplicable reason it feels lighter than it weighs up on a scale, explain that to me !

Just now getting through regulating it and am enjoying shooting it and getting to know it.

I'm looking forward to taking this one to the feild this year !

Congrats again on a fine aquisition, I hope your shoots as well as mine does.

Paul.

These photos might show the thickness of the action compared to one in 470 with reinforced ribs;

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

Todd's seems to have more steel below the Shoe lumps and around the breach?

Todd

Thanks.

It does look a bit different but IMHO
it is quite pleasing.

Todd,
Congrats on your new double. Very nicely done! I had the pleasure of handling the rOund body at REno and it does feel good "in the hand" I'm sure it will get it done in ZIm later this year!

Cheers

Nick

quote:

Originally posted by Paul Truccolo:

Mine is slightly heavier than yours at 10.6 lbs but is a pleasure to shoot.
For some inexplicable reason it feels lighter than it weighs up on a scale, explain that to me !

Paul.

It means someone knows how to build a well balanced double rifle.

I have had a 500NE that felt a lot lighter
than it weighed and another one that felt
like you wee carrying a railway track even
though it weighed the same.

Todd; congratulations again on a very fine and nice rifle, I like the wood a lot especially the color, it contrasts very beautifully against the case coloring and the bluing on the rest of the gun.

I have to admit though that I am not accustomed to the looks of the round receiver, but I think that it should feel and handle very nicely in the field.

May you have great many years of enjoyment out of it.



Best regard

Malek
Good shooting/hunting and God's best

Great looking gun Todd. Great caliber too!

Sam

Unlike your 577 now at Ken's, this one doesn't need to come with a wheel kit :-)

Nice looking toy you ended up with. Purty!

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Nice looking toy you ended up with. Purty!

Come on now Rick, surely you own me a couple of knocks for all the Blaser comments?

You're going to have some fun with that!!! Nice rifle!

Thanks for all the comments fellas. I really think VC did a great job on the rifle.

On the splinter comment, I have to agree somewhat. It really is more of a semi splinter IMO. Make no mistake however, it is significantly better than the beavertail that was on my 577, but yeah, it could still be smaller. I think it could be about 1/3 shorter and about 1/2 thinner, with it tapering from the action to the tip inorder to be a true splinter. Looking at several VC rifles, they have a bit of a theme I'm sure they don't want to move away from. Specifically, the lines of the action are maintained parallel all the way to the tip of the fore-end with no taper. It is a pleasing look, but not traditional in the "English" manner. Here is a picture of my VC 577 that demonstrates this better than I can describe it:



I was trying to think of a way to describe what I was referring to as the "feel" of the round body compared to a standard action. This is a bit crude speaking of fine rifles so forgive me for the reference to construction items, but when the rifle is carried by placing the action in the hand, it is similar to the difference between carrying a 2x4 (standard action) and a 2" dowel (round action). Probably not the best description but the best I can come up with for now.

No doubt, I'm a very satisfied customer.

No sir Mr Williams sir. I would not desperage someone else's play purty. (by posting )
something mean and ugly. I'm a nicer person than you are.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
I guess it saves machining and puts more weight between the hands.

Precisely. I would guess that the round body might be a smidge heavier than the bolstered design which, to my mind anyway, is a great way to start approaching the balance of the old brit rifles. What I find odd is that VC seems quite capable of a tapered splinter in their shotgun range but have yet to really try it with their bigger rifles. That said, even in the below rifle, I think the splinter could be shorter. I also want this wrist checkering!!!!




Now, all that said, I think this rifle of Todd's is just sweet looking. One word... WANT!

Simply elegant.

Todd:

Unrelated PM sent.

quote:

Originally posted by tendrams:

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
I guess it saves machining and puts more weight between the hands.

Precisely. I would guess that the round body might be a smidge heavier than the bolstered design which, to my mind anyway, is a great way to start approaching the balance of the old brit rifles. What I find odd is that VC seems quite capable of a tapered splinter in their shotgun range but have yet to really try it with their bigger rifles. That said, even in the below rifle, I think the splinter could be shorter. I also want this wrist checkering!!!!




Now, all that said, I think this rifle of Todd's is just sweet looking. One word... WANT!

John, the camera angle on my pictures distorts it a bit with shadows, but the "splinter" on my rifle is identical to this shotgun's. The second picture down is pretty close to the angle of my pics and appears very similar, but the VC pics have no shadows. When I get back home, I'll try to photograph it at a better angle where the underside isn't shown at all, or with better light.