Today at the Cabelas store just south of Denver were two Sabatti's on sale. One was in 45-70 and the other was a 9,3x74R. Both were priced at $2,399. Not a misprint or a rumor as I held both in my hands.

Same price (2,399) in the Billings MT. store.

Good news. They have figured out what they are really worth, on the high side.

Now, if they stuck one of the larger calibers, 450,470 or 500 for sale for that price, I might be tempted

Snow

Were they ground or the new guns with serial numbers with an X ?

Did not pay attention to the serial numbers but neither had ground muzzles. The sales person actually knew about the history of these rifles and pulled them out of the case to show me the muzzles.

the 9,3x74R would be a good one at that price, if it will regulate. I really enjoyed the Chapuis I had in that chambering.

A guy I met at the Boise range had rechambered one in 45-70 to 45-90, and had it printing L/R, L/R inside of three inches at 100 yds.

500gr Hornadys' at nearly 1900fps. He just said "lots" of 3031.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:

A guy I met at the Boise range had rechambered one in 45-70 to 45-90, and had it printing L/R, L/R inside of three inches at 100 yds.

500gr Hornadys' at nearly 1900fps. He just said "lots" of 3031.

Rich

That's a great idea. Next time I am at Cabelas I'll have to take a closer look at the 45-70 and see how it fits a lefty.
Even if I have to have the stock reshaped, rechambered, and maybe even reregulated still think I could be at $4k or under.

Snowwolfe,
I have two Sabatti's, a 45/70 and 450/400 and am very happy with both of them. I shouldered both of them left handed and they seemed to fit fine.
I don't think you would need to re-regulate after converting it to a 45/90 if you used heavier bullets. My 45/70 shot 500 gr bullets 5" apart at 50 yds, I don't remember exactly what the velocity was but I'm sure it was in the 1200-1300 fps range. With a larger case it would be easy get the velocity high enough to bring the groups together.
Although, if you're willing to spend $4K why not get a .450 nitro instead.

I just pulled the trigger on a .470 NE Sabatti. It is a brand new ejector model and originally the price tag was $5900 but it was marked down to $4500. Originally they thought the only .470 NE they had was the floor model which had some dings on it but looking around they found a new one in the back.

Muzzles are round, no indication of dremeling and the regulation target is one ragged hole at 50 meters a couple inches high.

Funny thing is I walked into the store to return some fishing equipment. A double wasn't even on my mind at all.

I wasn't returning fishing equipment when I bought the 45/70 but I sure wasn't looking for a new rifle either. I hope your new .470 works well for you, do you have a hunting trip planned for it?

I stopped by the Cabela's near Dallas today. They had five Sabatti's reduced a thousand bucks or so. The sign next to the rack said closeout sale. I asked the guy in the library they meant by closeout. He said that the Sabatti's were tying up money that they could use to offer several lesser priced rifles so they were getting rid of them. He didn't come right out and say it but it sounded like Cabela's is discontinuing them.

I know a few dealers back home who have tried to get them without having to go through Cabela's but haven't been able to since Cabela's was the sole importer.

quote:

He said that the Sabatti's were tying up money that they could use to offer several lesser priced rifles so they were getting rid of them.

Interesting.

A combination of not turning them over fast enough and the hassle of returns / credits / refunds.

If Cabelas hadn't been so forceful on getting the guns so quickly, they would probably still be flying out the door or at least turning them over faster.

quote:

Originally posted by Idahoshooter:
I wasn't returning fishing equipment when I bought the 45/70 but I sure wasn't looking for a new rifle either. I hope your new .470 works well for you, do you have a hunting trip planned for it?

Frankly I'm not sure yet where I am going in Africa next. I just got back from a trip to South Africa/Zimbabwe three weeks ago. That was my third trip in 4 years so I'm not sure if I am going back next year or 2015.

The manager of the gun library in told me that they like to get 6 turns on their rifle inventory a year and that the Sabattis aren't turning like they had hoped. He said that they are marking them down to get rid of them and they are selling them at $200 below cost. What the truth is I don't know but that is what I was told.

quote:

Originally posted by Idahoshooter:

Although, if you're willing to spend $4K why not get a .450 nitro instead.

That's a good point as I already have a 450 NE. I think you just saved me some money and potential aggravation

If I remember correctly, Will did something had a set of chambers lengthened on a Sabatti. I don't remember whether he needed to get it reregulated or any other details. Might be interesting to know for anyone who might be looking at such a project.
Bfly

rxg

Sounds like Cabelas are getting out of them.

quote:

Originally posted by Black Fly:
If I remember correctly, Will did something had a set of chambers lengthened on a Sabatti. I don't remember whether he needed to get it reregulated or any other details. Might be interesting to know for anyone who might be looking at such a project.
Bfly

I talked with him about his conversion, he took the Sabatti 45-70 and had it reamed out to 450NE. He wanted a very light "walking around" rifle. He said that it regulated "good enough for elephants" when it came back from being rechambered. It was for sale a while back, I don't remeber what he was asking but it was pretty affordable.
P.S. The Cabelas gun library mgrs in both Billings and Post Falls Id. told me they are out of the Sabatti business when these are gone.