First impressions of my Sabatti 450/400 Deluxe with ejectors:

Excellent fit and finish with gorgeous wood. Engraving is very attractive, more so than in the catalog pictures. Stiff opening with tight lockup. Ejectors throw brass about 6 feet without any blocking.

Front trigger has a little creep and is a bit too heavy, probably 6 lbs. Back trigger has a glass rod break at about 5 lbs.

Stock fits nicely for my average stature and feels good in the shoulder. Recoil is strait back with minimal muzzle rise and is very managable. Appears to be regulated for a 6 o'clock hold with the bead at the bottom of the V notch.

I could not find any factory ammo, so I am still working up loads with Hornady brass and the DGX bullet loaded with H 4831 SC.

I compared it to a new Merkel double on the rack. The Sabatti had nicer fit and finish.

I'm very happy with the rifle. I plan to install on a kickeeze buttpad and perhaps have the front trigger worked on. I may end up cutting the rear sight a little deeper depending on where the loads end up.

Rusty has volunteered to post some pictures.

These rifles are a great value and alot of fun!

I have to admit, the rifle looked great. I got a chance to shoot it and was pleased with the way it handled. Cliff and I both thought that the trigger were too heavy, but that can be remedied!
Here are a few picks.

Nice looking rifle. Glad to hear it's working out so well.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Nice looking rifle. Glad to hear it's working out so well.

We need to do an exorcism. Apparently, an alien or some other spirit has taken possession of Bill Stewart's body. This is the third laid back post I have seen from Bill today. Where is the old Bill? Someone please have his wife lower the level of his medications.

[Nice rifle by the way. I had my Sabatti .450 NE out yesterday and the thing shoots darn well.]

Beautiful rifle! Good on you mate!

All these Sabbatti posts have piqued my interest..

Can you get them case colored, or do they all come in the nickle "French" finish?

What is the price range?

Kind of nice looking.. if they are dependable and affordable, I may have to pick one up!

Oh yea, do they come in lefty???

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
All these Sabbatti posts have piqued my interest..

Can you get them case colored, or do they all come in the nickle "French" finish?

What is the price range?

Kind of nice looking.. if they are dependable and affordable, I may have to pick one up!

Oh yea, do they come in lefty???

These rifles are a Cabelas specfic model. The 9.3x74 or 45-70 are case colored and a lighter frame rifle (~8 lbs). They are $2990.

Larger calibers are all the ~10 lb deluxe model and look like this one. They are $5000 with extractors or $5500 with ejectors.

quote:

I have to admit, the rifle looked great.

Is this Rusty's begrudged approval of a non-British double?

From my extensive drooling from looking at those on the Cabelas' web site, I believe 'ammoloader' got one of the better pieces of wood. Most are much more plain than his.

One thing I did notice is that the grain seems to be perpendicular to the receiver in all (most?) of the pics, so Sabatti seems to be doing some things very well.

I'm waiting for someone to get scared shitless with their 9.5 lb. 500 and sell it to me cheap!

Will,
I think you have me mistaken for another member of the forum. I still like my Vintage British Double Rifle.
The Golden Age of British Doubles produced some extraordinary example of the gun maker's art. As for fit and feel, there aren't too many today that surpass what they did back at the turn of the last century. Having said that, I am not opposed to other makes. Now modern metallurgy and manufacturing techniques make the modern double rifle an excellent choice for someone who can't afford a Vintage British Double rifle. The three best things about a new, modern double rifle are
1. NIB
2. Warranty
3. Broader selection of powders to duplicate modern factory ammo that the rifle was regulated with.

I own a Chapuis 9.3X74R, and a Bernardelli Express 2000 in 8X57 RJS.
I think the current crop of double rifles are worth looking at.
Butch Searcy makes an outstanding product, and his service is second to none. Heym has always made a quality product. With Sabatti offering several entry level doubles, the opportunity for more folks to own a double rifle is excellent!

Bottom line for me is, "The more double rifle shooters, the better!"

Warranty. That is something I have wondered about but have failed to ask Cabelas. Is there a warranty and is it of any value?

I like NIB warranty. Granted it's not a double rifle, but the Mauser M03 Arabesque I just bought comes with a 10 year warranty.

Sabatti's have a 60-day warranty on the stock and a 1-year warranty on the balance of the rifle. The warranty is through U.S. Sporting Goods in Florida which I presume is the importer for Cabelas.

I don't understand this love of old british doubles, but then again I not as old as Rusty or Will an don't remenber when they first rolled out.

JD

quote:

Originally posted by J D:
I don't understand this love of old british doubles, but then again I not as old as Rusty or Will an don't remenber when they first rolled out.

JD

Ouch!

Rusty is way and hell older than I.

Shot my new Sabatti 450/400 deluxe extractor today for the first time with factory stuff. I agree with all above. Handles nice, nice to shoot, dead on regulation, wood as Will described, not as pretty as the pics here. Couldn't be happier.

Rick
DRSS

Thanks for the info, Cliff..

Lefty models?

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Thanks for the info, Cliff..

Lefty models?

I don't think so. However it would not hurt to ask. Call the Cabelas Sydney Nebraska gun library....

My .450NE is now about 2 months old. Everything I could ask for in a very affordable package. Can't wait to get it bloody next year!

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
My .450NE is now about 2 months old. Everything I could ask for in a very affordable package. Can't wait to get it bloody next year!

Have you had a chance to measure its weight accurately?

Five grand for a half way decent double should worry some folks! Maybe this will shake the market up a bit.
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Five grand for a half way decent double should worry some folks! Maybe this will shake the market up a bit.
Peter.

No doubt about it Peter. A bigbore DRSS that so far has a history of being accurate, built fairly well for 5,000.
For basically 13,500 a guy could have a 9.3, 450/400 and a 500 and call it good and go hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Five grand for a half way decent double should worry some folks! Maybe this will shake the market up a bit.

No doubt about that. I'll state what a lot of people are probably thinking....one can buy a .500, a 450/400 and a 9,3 for the price of a Searcy.



Now, with that said, some of the rifles on the cabelas site show some sloppy wood to metal fit but if a guy were patient and chose wisely, it looks like a damn decent rifle for the money.

Have you had a chance to measure its weight accurately?[/QUOTE]

Yes, it was 9lbs 14oz empty on a postal scale.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Five grand for a half way decent double should worry some folks! Maybe this will shake the market up a bit.
Peter.


No doubt about it Peter. A bigbore DRSS that so far has a history of being accurate, built fairly well for 5,000.
For basically 13,500 a guy could have a 9.3, 450/400 and a 500 and call it good and go hunting.

All of us that have bought these rifles recently are very happy with our purchases. They are at a price point where a motivated "regular guy" can afford a new double in a variety of great calibers. I would be very interested to here the comments of a COMPETENT and EXPERIENCED gunsmith who has opened up a variety of doubles. I would like to know their thoughts regarding design and craftsmanship of the internals on these rifles. Especially comparing them to merkels, kriegs etc. as well as against "best guns". Would be an interesting conversation if they prove to be as well built inside as they appear to be on the outside.

At this point it appears that Cabelas and Sabatti have hit a homerun.

Any suggestions on someone to do the trigger work on these guns. My 450 also has a heavy set of triggers, the front is also the worst of the two.

Waiting for brass and bullest so thanks for the relaoding info.

Anyone else want to offer any comments?

I would liked to have had this same gun with ejectors and a cased reciever over the matte chrome.

quote:

Originally posted by RDB:
Any suggestions on someone to do the trigger work on these guns. My 450 also has a heavy set of triggers, the front is also the worst of the two.

Send it to JJ at Champlin's. After he's had it apart, ask him what his opinion is of the quality of these rifles then report back here.

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:

quote:

Originally posted by RDB:
Any suggestions on someone to do the trigger work on these guns. My 450 also has a heavy set of triggers, the front is also the worst of the two.

Send it to JJ at Champlin's. After he's had it apart, ask him what his opinion is of the quality of these rifles then report back here.

Don't expect any financial support though.

What, no one done this yet?!

They are only $5K rifles. You'd have though someone would have spent their lunch money by now and had the triggers worked over

I don't mind rubbing pennies till they beg forgiveness but a terrible trigger I can't abide.

quote:

Originally posted by RDB:
What, no one done this yet?!

They are only $5K rifles. You'd have though someone would have spent their lunch money by now and had the triggers worked over

I don't mind rubbing pennies till they beg forgiveness but a terrible trigger I can't abide.

I'm on the verge. But JJ isn't going to do it.

Well, yeah.

But for the price of about fourteen of these, you can have a bespoke Holland & Holland round action. Price does not include two trips across the pond.

Just sayin'...

These things are just killing me. I wish I hadn't opened the thread. Question would be .450 NE or .450-400 ...

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
These things are just killing me. I wish I hadn't opened the thread. Question would be .450 NE or .450-400 ...

. . . .450 NE.

I am so friggin tired of reading this word and not quite knowing what it meant ...

Countless years of school and this place is the first I had ever read or heard the word bespoke.

You couldn't just say "custom made"?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
. . . .450 NE.

I don't know .450 NE or .450-400 ?

Gotta remember these are the same weight guns. 450 brass is more expensive, bullets are cheaper and lots of choices. The recoil is a good bit harder with a 500 gr bullet or the 480s over the 450/400. Perfect gun weight for caliber if you are required to do a lot of walking and want a big stick at the end of the walk.

450-400 has a little less recoil with a 400 gr bullet, brass is cheaper. Bullets are more expensive and less of a choice on bullet weights. Bullet penetration is just shy of incredible. Gun weight and caliber is a better balance even according to the hunters from the turn of the last century.

No flies on either caliber in the Sabatti.

450NE if for no other reason than the great selection of quality bullets!

quote:

Originally posted by JCS271:
450NE if for no other reason than the great selection of quality bullets!

That was the easy answer But I'd be the 450/400s get shot a lot more...then and now.

.450 NE = Any animal, any time

.400/.450 = Most animals, most of the time