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Gentlemen, I would like some information from those of you that have owned and shot 577 Nitro Double Rifles, and those of you that have hunted with 577 Nitro Double Rifles. Information such as the type of loads you shot, the weight of the Double and the game you have taken. Thanks, 450 No2 DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | ||
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The used .577's I have seen have all been in excellent condition, indicating that few of them have been to Africa.  | |||
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Tony: I wish I had some information to give you, but our .577 isn't going to be ready for at least a few more months. I, like you, have a fetish for this particular round and always wanted one. Are you thinking about adding one to your gun cabinet? 577NitroExpress Double Rifle Shooters Society Francotte .470 Nitro Express  If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming... | |||
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If, when I shoot one, I can handle it as good as my 450 No2, I probably will. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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It is a caliber of such history and character! Jack OH GOD! {Seriously, we need the help.} | |||
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I had one and found it just too big, heavy and hard to control for me. It was a Westley Richards with 24" barrels, weighed a bit over 13 pounds and was true 750gr bullet, cordite proofed model. Recoil wasn't pleasant but getting 750grs moving at 2000+fps isn't going to be! I went from that to a 500-3" that weighed just a bit over 10 pounds and found that one to be perfect. | |||
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I own and have shot my .577 and I can tell you that it is much different than a .470 or .500. They just plain have more recoil. If you push the load to its 2050fps published velocity most people can't handle the recoil. Most of original loads shot around 1950fps as the brag load was with 32" barrels and tended to be a bit overstated. Most .577's came with 24" barrel so that lost some velocity. My gun is for sale now because of fit and my interest in another, but I think the cartridge is the ultimate stopper Maineguide | |||
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Tony, I know you are used to hauling almost a hundred pounds of gear around, but are you sure you want to march 25 miles on an elephant track while toting a 13-14 pound rifle? That would kick my butt and then some. | |||
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Gentlemen thanks for the replies. I was perfectly satisfied with the performance of my 450 No2 on my first trip to Zim. I do not think I need anything bigger, but to me Elephant and 577 Nitro just sound good together. Probably the beat thing to happen is for the 577 to kick the daylights out of me and satisfy my curosity. I know it will save me a lit of money for sure. After I shoot one I WILL KNOW, becasuse if it is not easily controlable by me then I have no use for it. Then I will come to my senses and book another trip with my 450 No2.  The 577 just keeps calling me.....  DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Tony Shooting one of Butch's 577's about 10 years ago was responsible for my addiction to the 577. So much so, that it has now been ordered, and I'm waiting patiently. Already have the stockblank, dies, brass, bullets etc. Once you shoot one, ( that fits you properly, and is a suitable weight ) you are !*%$#ed........... you just have to have one! Brad Brad Rolston African Hunting P.O. Box 506 Stella 8650 Kalahari South Africa Tel : + 27 82 574 9928 Fax : + 27 86 672 6854 E-Mail : rolston585ae@iafrica.com | |||
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I think one that is fit is not that bad to shoot. I think we get to calivlier in trying to get 2050fps out of 24" to 26" barrels, 1950 is more like it! I like the old 577 2 3/4 650grn load. Lighter gun and all the hammer you need. 505ED DRSS Member | |||
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I owned a detachable lock Westley Richards about forty years ago, cased, all the goodies, shot it twice, that was enough, I sold it to no other than Elmer Keith. He wrote me that as far as recoil was concerned, it was a pussycat. A difference of opinion ! Some blockhead had used the case lid as a backstop for an air gun and it was stuck full of pellets, so if you see it you will recognize it, unless it's been repaired in all the years since. | |||
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Maineguide: Ballistics of the old Kynoch ammunition for the nitro expresses wasn't overstated. It was usually spot on, but Cordite was relatively sensitive to barrel length. The ballistics for the .577 NE were standardized in 28" barrels, not 32". Ross Seyfried says he gets a touch over 2000 fps in the 26" barrels of his Rigby with late run Cordite Kynoch. ----------------------------------------------- "Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder." | |||
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400 Nitro Express, Good to know, I thought I had read that 32" barrels were used in Graham Wrights book but since it's on loan probably never to return I can't check. Maineguide | |||
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Through the years I've owned numerous double rifles up to and including 600NE. IMHO anythiong above 500NE is impractical for the average man unless he is willing to let the tracker carry the rifle for him. To me the sleekest most user friendly double I ever owned was a 450 3 1/4 Westley Richards weighing about 10 pounds. I don't think a double weighing more than 10.5 to 11 pounds is practical for use. Great fun to own and shoot but no fun to carry. | |||
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For two weeks i know what you mean... My Heym in .450 N.E. 3 1/4 weighs nearly 10 pounds, not more and is very slim... The same arguements here: http://www.african-hunter.com/450_nitro_express.htm | |||
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There are two people in the country I know that have extensive 577 experience: David Powell who advertises Kynoch ammo on Guns America in the Double Rifle section, has loaded shot and hunted Africa extensively with many different 577's; Bob Pearson, and Atlanta oral surgeon, shoots several every weekend and has shot Cape Buff with his and is off to hunt Elephant this year. Don't have direct contact info but try directory assistance for Bob. 470EDDY | |||
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What is the ideal ''shooting'' weight for a double 577[that makes recoil bearable] ? if you can afford a 577 iam sure you can afford a gunbearer !! What is the waiting time to have one built by Butch Searcy ? thankya | |||
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Mark Sullivan is probably the most experienced 577 user we have in the USA. My 577 weighed almost 14 pounds and after shooting several others that weighed less I would want it 13 pounds minimum. | |||
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boucanier, Butch has mine coming in at 14 lbs. I ordered it last April and as of yesterday when I talked to Butch, it might be 6 to 8 more weeks depending on how far along the engraver is. Doc52 B. Searcy & Co .577 NE Double Rifle Shooters Society "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote!" Benjamin Franklin 1759 | |||
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Thanks Doc 52 Evidently ,[unfortunately the ]''PH'' version of the 577 is no longer available from B.Searcy ,if it was ,i would be getting one !i have a Ruger No 1 that will becoming one ! could afford a 577[at the new price] if i set my mind to it , but would rather spend my money on hunts and have the Ruger | |||
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Tony, When I was younger I thought I could handle the .577 just a well. However in retropect I doubt that I was a fast with it as I was with the .450 x3.25 WR or the H&H Royal.450#2 rifles that I was using at the same time on trips. Sometimes one wants something to be that just isn't, but we overlook it. The Westley drop lock weighed a hair over 14# which I consider right. I also had the last H&H .577, made in '62, before they decided to make extra money by building the "LAST ONE" after the success they had in doing that with the .600. It was much to light, aroun 11.75#, kicked way too much. Current one at a shade under 13 and 24" barrels is a little light for my liking, but not that bad to carry, but it still ain't no 10.5# .450 when it comes to carry on a hike. I think a .577 needs to be 14-14.25#. Regardless of weight I don't feel I can now handle a .577 as well as a .450, .470 or a .500 at my age and condition. It's a big step up in my opinion. On body shots I think the .577 tells a little quicker due to frontal area. On a brain shot dead is dead, so no difference. Near miss on brain should stun them a little longer or the same for a little bigger"near miss". The .577 has a lot of history and nostalgia with it, but in my opinion either use the 100 cordite/750 bullet or forget, after all why give up something by going to 90/650 load to say you are using a .577. A great cartridge, but not for everyone. | |||
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Something that does not seem to be discussed as much now as it was many (perhaps 30 or so) years ago is the incredible penetration achieved by the 577. I recall two published reports that noted full length body penetration of elephants by 577s. Now the emphasis seems to be the incredible stopping power of this round, which seems to be second to none. Obviously it was a favorite "Ultra Large" bore of Joh Taylor. Best of all he loved the Fall.... E. Hemingway | |||
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African Hunter Thanks for your reply. I know you have been there and done that. I appreciate your insite. I did handle five 577 Nitro's the other day. One a P Orr really fit me good. If it was for sale..... But it is not. I must say that my 450 No2 has been a stellar performer on elephant as well as on buff and plains game that I stumbled upon while tracking buff and elephant. AH Thanks again for your insite. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Hi,can you tell me more about your rifle...Maker and specs as I may be interested in adding another to my battery!Thanks! 912 484 4700 "That's not a knife..THIS is a KNIFE" ! | |||
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Mainguide sold his not too long ago, and has a new order in with Butch for another .577 in the new "Classic" style. 577NitroExpress Double Rifle Shooters Society Francotte .470 Nitro Express If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming... | |||
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Hey african Hunter! well spoken!  I have also thought of getting a .577 Nitro....but I have done my considerations aswell..especially with recoil I can shoot a .416 Rigby all day long, and I know I could shoot a .577 but could I hit anything with it? I have never shot a .577 yet but coming from .416 to the .577 most be like from a .243 to a .300 Weatherby???  I have shot the .500 jeffery which wasn`t all that bad, but in recognition to recoil and enjoyment of shooting I have settled my opcoming doublerifle to the .450-500 area DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
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Shot a searcy 577 NE a bunch. The loads Butch ahs now are partly from having to use bertram brass, when bell was no longer available. Intital loads were 1850-1900fps with 750, but the rifle was both too light and too short for me, so it kicked the snot out of me. butch made it longer and richard added 1.25#lbs... at 13.75#, it was fine at 1750 with 800gr casts. with 750s at 1900, recoil is stout at 2055, fierce is the word I would use. richard used thihs rifle ph'ing in tanz, and only recovered bullets from hippo/elephant this rifle also has shot about 70 hogs, of course no recovery, hard or soft casts, even jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I would hate being in both ends of that rifle  DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
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In GunDigest 1983 there is an artical by Jeff Cooper called "CRUMPLER!!". The artical goes of like this: "Long ago and far away- in the great days of hunting before the rot set in- there excisted an association of gentleman known as the FIVE SEVEN SEVEN CLUB!."  Anyway, this artical is a very good artical by JC, shooting Jim Wilkinson of Prescott AZ .577 double rifle. The reason the artical is called "crumpler" is stated by JC as the .577 litteratly crumples an elephant Please read it....I enjoy it everytime  DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
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Heres a little food for thought.. the 577 Ne is so amazing because it's got a BIG bullet .585 That weights 750 gr SD .313 it's moving at a SMASHING 2050 with said bullet for 7000lb-ft and it goes in a double rifle that starts at 15k, more or less.. and then there's the humble 550express the bullet is a little smaller .550 vs .585 the weight is a little lighter 700 vs 750 .. but the SD is higher (.331 vs .313) it goes 2130+ (MORe than 7000lb-ft) and fits into a VZ-24 or ruger action... and you really can't spend (reasonably) 4.5k on one. jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Jeffe! I just don't understand you small bore (550 Exprees) lovers. Can't you hadle a mans rifle?  465H&H | |||
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s m a l l bore?did he say small bore? heh... come pull the trigger!!! jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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