Order and check went out yesterday for:
Left hand Field Grade Searcy
450 NE 3 1/4
Sling studs
Talley scope mount
26 inch barrels

Should of done this a couple of years ago as waiting just cost me more money. I think the final push was knowing Butch & Company are discontuing the Field Grade models at the end of this year so it was now or never.

Would like to thank everyone who added worthwhile opinion's to all my questions. Buying a rifle of this quality and expense is no easy decision for someone who is self employed. You don't have to be rich to afford a double if you save your pennies for a couple of years and get rid of a few guns you no longer use. I'll take good natured shit from some of my hunting buddies for years over what I spent on this but thats life

Snowwolfe

There are no mistakes in your decision.

A 450 Nitro is plenty powerful enough for all the big stuff in Africa.

I would use 480 Woodleigh Softs for big bears, moose etc.

For lessor big game including pigs the 350 Hornady is a good bullet.

And with Nitro for Black loads you have a gun that kicks not much, and is fun to shoot.

lus there are a bunch of .458 bullets to play with.

Also since you can scope your 450 it can do stuff taht you might not be able to do with just iron sights.

I would also get Talley to make a base for a DOCTOR OPTIC. You want the one with a 4 minute dot.

PS I have shot armidillos, skunks, squirrels, and coyotes with my 450 No2, as well as deer, igs and a fair amount of African plains game.

I would have Butch regulate it with 480 Woodleigh Softs and Solids at 2125fps, with RL 15.

Which should be around 84 to 85 grains.

NO NEED to try and make it a 458 LOTT or a 460 WBY.

I like Woodleighs as well and use them in my 9,3 but at the present am leaning towards having it regulated with the 480 gr Hornady DGX soft point. Should be plently tough enough for all the Alaskan critters.

Great outfit. You will be pleased.

Congratulations!!!

Will be a banner day when the "baby" arrives

Good job Snowwolfe

I've been thinking about a big bore double myself. My .338 double will do anything I need in AK but once you get the double rifle bug you just have to get a big bore. Anyway I think I've got at least one more Africa trip left in me.

I'm not sure what Butch's delivery time is but it's conciveable that this time next year you can be test driveing it on a big moose.

He told me 6-8 months for a build time. Wonder if a 450 will actually cause a moose to flinch

Tell him to hurry up! I want to break some rocks with yours next time!

Snowwolfe,
Congratulations !!!!!
I,m sure you will enjoy you new rifle. I think I sold you a bunch of my 9.3 stuff. Wish I had it and the gun back,but such is life.

Please update us on your new guns progess.

Larry

SWEET!! You ordered a very fine double. I have his Classic in 450 3.25" and really like it.
The waiting will take its toll however.....

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Congratulations!!
great choice

Cheers
H

I talked with Butch a couple of weeks ago and I think he said they were going to discontinue the Deluxe since it required about the same amount of work to build it as the Side Lock. Guess that leaves him with the Classic and Side Lock models. Maybe if I could pick up a few thousand tons of aluminum cans, I could order one.

Snowwolfe,
Congratulations. That soundes like a great classic rifle. The waight may be long but it will make unpacking it all the sweeter.
Bill

I have shot AK Shooters 338 Win Mag double.

It is one nice looking, handling,shooting double.

I would probably have JJ scope it...

With it and a 450/400, or a 450 bore double, I would not hesitate to hunt the planet.

Including Jurassic Park.

Snowwolfe

In my experience a 450 bore double causes every animal you hit with it to flinch...

From squirrels to bull elephants.

And everything in between...

Because with my 450 No2, I HAVE been there and done THAT.

I cannot comment on the new DG Hornady bullets, as I have not shot anything with them, yet.

But...

I can say that the 480 Woodleigh Soft and the 500gr Swift A Frame have performed PERFECTLY on cape buff and plains game as well. ALL the bullets I have recovered have mushroomed and penetrated to PERFECTION.

The 480 Woodleigh Solids, and the 450 North Fork FN Solids and CUP Point Solids recovered have performed PERFECTLY as well.

I was also told Butch was not going to make the field grade after this year. I am hoping it is just a rumor as they are the best us working guys can afford. But just in case it wasn’t I just bought an 05 PH in 500 NE myself. You’ll love it. I just couldn’t handle the wait myself and I am glad I didn’t as they are fantastic. No more wasting time on one hole 6mm ppc groups for me. The good news is he told me last week the wait was only 4-5 months so hopefully you can get yours soon.

I want a report on the 450 and a moose when the time comes.

I did a little test on a kudu with my .458 to compare it to the knock down power of my .375.

My .375 on like sized game even smaller stuff like a big caribou would do well but not knock them off there feet. The .458 dropped it in its tracks. It did the same on a zebra.

Tony you must be haveing a senior momment. The .338 has a scope.

I hope you are very well served by this rifle for many years.

AK OOPS I forgot.

Your 338 is one of the best handling shooting doubles I have shot. I forgot about the scope.

Your O/U 8x57 is Primo as well.

I cannot remember that little Native Alaskians name from Nome either....

But I know I can find her when I go back.

In truth, the people of Nome were very nice and FUN to be around.

Snowwolfe,
You have made a great choice on a Searcy. Butch's service is unmatched. My 2006 Left Hand PH model 470 is shooting 3" groups at 100yds now with the iron sights and Woodleigh 500 softs.
Butch also uses very pretty wood. You will never regret your investment.
Best to you, ND

A little of Butch's left handed eye candy ...

quote:

Originally posted by 500NEstr:
I was also told Butch was not going to make the field grade after this year. I am hoping it is just a rumor as they are the best us working guys can afford. But just in case it wasn’t I just bought an 05 PH in 500 NE myself. You’ll love it. I just couldn’t handle the wait myself and I am glad I didn’t as they are fantastic. No more wasting time on one hole 6mm ppc groups for me. The good news is he told me last week the wait was only 4-5 months so hopefully you can get yours soon.

Butch told me the same thing, no more Field Grade after the end of 2009. It is one of the things that pushed me over the edge to finally order it. Plan is a few years down the line to restock it with something really nice and add some first class engraving.

Good news is the stock work on Butch's guns are one of his strong points. Once you see it you'll probably want to leave it.

The other good news is that we have one of the best engravers in the country right here in S.C.AK.

Did you order ejector on this baby??

N.E. 450 No. 2 summed it up correctly. Hope you have great success with this rifle. I love the cartridge.


Dutch

Congrats on your new rifle. I just used my 450 Searcy in Tanzania and was so pleased with it that I used it with great success on plains game as well as buffalo. You will very happy with your rifle. Best of luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:
Did you order ejector on this baby??

No, I may have if the price was about $500 or less but at $2k I passed.

Congratulations on the order. I am sure you will love the gun. I can only reflect what others have all ready said, Butch is fantastic to deal with!

Congrats!!! Barring some major diaster, you can bank on your rifle arriving when Butch said it will, if not sooner, and it will be well worth the wait.

quote:

The other good news is that we have one of the best engravers in the country right here in S.C.AK.

Who would that be? I've got some stuff that needs a touch up.

Snowwolfe

My 9,3 and my 400 have ejectors, my 450 No2 is extractor only.

I switch between them when hunting sometimes using both on the same day, no problems.

In fact I probably spend more time trying to capture the brass from the ejector guns, than plucking the brass form the extractor gun.

Originally posted by omnivorous_Bob

quote:

Who would that be? I've got some stuff that needs a touch up

Jim White he's in Wasilla (907) 357-3220

Congratulations

Was just at Butch's yesterday and paid off my 500 NE. Can't wait to try it out. Final touches being done to rifle and should be ready for test firing next week.

Starting to compile loading components. Read about light loads, any suggestions for 500 NE and 375 Flanged loads. Finally got some 375 Flanged Jamison brass and am ready to load some up for the 375 and the 500NE.

Thanks for the info AK.

Snowwolfe, I'd love to see it when she comes in. We'll need to get together for a double shoot at Birchwood some time. I'm in Eagle River too.

Bob

Snowwolfe, great choice of calibers glad to see you took the bigger caliber, it will serve you well.

quote:

Originally posted by 470drshooter:
Read about light loads, any suggestions for 500 NE

450 grain Woodie softs w/82grains R-15 + full wad play around with this load you want a velocity of 1925-75 to have same POI with full loads.

quote:

Originally posted by Omnivorous_Bob:
We'll need to get together for a double shoot at Birchwood some time. I'm in Eagle River too.

Bob

I think he headed up to the Koyukuk for a while to play with the moose and boo. When the new rifle gets in lets get an Alaskan 'hoot and shoot' going.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by 470drshooter:
Read about light loads, any suggestions for 500 NE

450 grain Woodie softs w/82grains R-15 + full wad play around with this load you want a velocity of 1925-75 to have same POI with full loads.

Thanks, should be loading some as soon as components can be collected.

Snowwolfe, congrats on pulling the trigger; I look forward to the pics. I like the caliber choice as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Omnivorous_Bob:
Thanks for the info AK.

Snowwolfe, I'd love to see it when she comes in. We'll need to get together for a double shoot at Birchwood some time. I'm in Eagle River too.

Bob

Hey, y'all keep me posted on any upcoming shoots, I travel to ANC regularly and my brother is in the Eagle River area.