I was at Cabelas yestarday, I was looking at a Sabatti double in .500 NE. (which I will own by this time next year, God willing) I do not own a double, and have limited knowledge of them...hence the question.

When I closed the the rifle to the fire position the latch used to break the rifle open did not go back to center, it was a little to the right ( if you were shoulering the gun) The salesman said it was not a big deal, that it would work itself to center with use and that it was normal for a double to do this.

He said if it went passed center to the left that (that) would be a problem. With my face being 3 inches from the breech I like to know the locking mechanism is fully engauged, call me crazy.

The rifle looked good for what it is, it weighed in at 9.5 pounds and had a poor looking recoil pad (considering the caliber) but it was alot of gun for the money. It will take the place of the Searcy I dream of until the day I can make that happen.

Doubledown:
That's pretty normal for any double, rifle or shotgun.
I am envious that you got to handle one. I just have to get to the Cabelas in Reno soon!

Thanks Bill, I did'nt want to go on the salesmans word. I was very surprised myself, I was'nt expecting much from Cabelas as all they have had in stock for Sabatties over the last year or so was 45-70. When I saw the 500NE on the tag I thought oh great this is gonna be trouble. Had the wife with me too!

I have a Sabatti .500 Nitro beside me know. It came from Cabela's (serial #57)last summer and spent the month of Sept. in Zimbabwe on a buffalo hunt.
The release on this gun is to the right of center perhaps a quarter of an inch. I have put a couple of hundred rounds through it but have not noticed whether or not it is inching towards center. With that being said, I have had no trouble with the gun and it shoots and groups extremely well. The only complaint I have is that I wished it was a pound or two heavier. The recoil gets your attention. I have had to replace two molars and fix a detached retina since I got it.

Doubledown, the top lever is always set that way when new, and is that way to offset wear. The rifle is closed as long as you can't push the lever any further to the left. Even if you can move it slightly it doesn't mean it is not closed and locked into the bites. It may move slightly to the left as it wears in, but it isn't anything to worry about!

Personally if I were you I'd get the rifle chambered for 450NE rather than the 500NE because of the weight of the rifle being so light. I think these rifles are a real bargain at under $6K for an entery level double rifle.

You don't say if you handload or not, but owning double rifles almost requires handloading to get the best from your double rifle, however the loading process is quite different from loading for a single barrel rifle. Before you buy the rifle IMO, you should get a set of dies and a supply of brass for it, then before you start loading for the rifle post here on AR for help from a lot of folks here who are in the know in regard to the process!

Welcome to the wacky world of double rifles!

I agree with MacD on two counts. Definetly reload for the best performance from any firearm. Not to mention it allows you to shoot a lot more for a lot less money.
I would not opt for the .500 again. It's extra punch is not worth the additional recoil that comes with this particular rifle. I would opt for the .470 next time around.

quote:

it weighed in at 9.5 pounds

I am not an expert but I think that 9.5 pounds is way too light for a 500NE. If you are set on it, perhaps you can get a Kick eze or some other way of increasing the weight or reducing the recoil.
Having said that, I DO like the 500NE. It is easy to reload, and, in the right gun, nice to shoot. If I had to choose, I would keep the 500NE over the 450x 3 1/4.
FWIW, Peter.

Heck, I am getting wooried, all I am forever reading about is the gun is too light,and kick too much

IT IS A 500 NE , NOT A 22

It is supposed too put an elephant on it's arse, with a frontal shot, what do you expect, a gentle shove with the Ballet dancer ???

If you do not like hard kicking guns, go buy a 9.3x74 or something



Oh and with that I am out of here, got a Bushpig on bait that will hopefully get Rage'd tonight , with a Bowtech AirRais @85# ,eat your heart out Karl

quote:

Originally posted by Kwan:
Heck, I am getting wooried, all I am forever reading about is the gun is too light,and kick too much

IT IS A 500 NE , NOT A 22

It is supposed too put an elephant on it's arse, with a frontal shot, what do you expect, a gentle shove with the Ballet dancer ???

If you do not like hard kicking guns, go buy a 9.3x74 or something



Oh and with that I am out of here, got a Bushpig on bait that will hopefully get Rage'd tonight , with a Bowtech AirRais @85# ,eat your heart out Karl

It is supposed too put an elephant on it's arse,


Yes, the elephant, not you !!! LOL


Light guns are all well and good but at some point they are too light
and these seem to be below that point even if you don't tend to feel
the recoil when shooting game.

.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Doubledown, the top lever is always set that way when new, and is that way to offset wear. isn't anything to worry about!

Personally if I were you I'd get the rifle chambered for 450NE rather than the 500NE because of the weight of the rifle being so light. I think these rifles are a real bargain at under $6K for an entery level double rifle.
Welcome to the wacky world of double rifles!

quote:

Originally posted by 500N:

quote:

Originally posted by Kwan:
Heck, I am getting wooried, all I am forever reading about is the gun is too light,and kick too much

IT IS A 500 NE , NOT A 22

It is supposed too put an elephant on it's arse, with a frontal shot, what do you expect, a gentle shove with the Ballet dancer ???

If you do not like hard kicking guns, go buy a 9.3x74 or something



Oh and with that I am out of here, got a Bushpig on bait that will hopefully get Rage'd tonight , with a Bowtech AirRais @85# ,eat your heart out Karl

It is supposed too put an elephant on it's arse,


Yes, the elephant, not you !!! LOL


Light guns are all well and good but at some point they are too light
and these seem to be below that point even if you don't tend to feel
the recoil when shooting game.

.

Kwan the rifle being too light for the 500NE is not only detrimental to the shooter, but to the rifle as well. The connection between the rifle's action and the butt stock is the weakest part of the rifle, and takes a real beating from recoil that is too heavy for the weight of the rifle! Nobody cares much about the recoil to the shoulder when in the field, but if that rifle's stock comes apart when you fire it it severly hinders your ability to shoot the rifle again till you get it restocked. However I'm sure the wounded ele will hang around till you get it fixed.

.......................

My next DR will probably be a Sabatti in 450-400.

Usually a compromise is the worst of both worlds. This cartridge would appear (based on its' record in Africa) to be the best!

Rich

Best for what? Rich please define what you mean by best and what African records you refer to?

I, like Kwan and many others, believe the 500 NE to be a step up for its' effect on Ele. I know you have yet to hunt Ele, but like Will says, once you've been amongst them there's no such thing as too much gun. I personally found that to be true in 1998.

And Like Mac, I know 9.5# is too light (for me); I added 2 MRRs and brought mine up to over 11#.

The 450/400NE 3" is a fine all around double rifle for the world. It is fine for hunting anything in the world. By that I mean it isn't too big for anything in North America, and "WILL DO" in a pinch for even elephant in Africa, and for cape buffalo it is about as good as anything, and perfect for the cats and bears. Also it is one of the best choices for the SABATTI double rifles being they are so light.

Now as Lion hunter says, if you will be shooting more than one elephant, my choice would be a 500NE hands down, but it would be in a rifle that was heavier to start with than the SABATTI, even the "TOO LIGHT" Merkel 500NE double would be a much better choice.

I have to say here, that I'm very loyal to my favorites in double rifles, and my all time favorites are the 9.3X74R, 450/400NE 3”, and the 500NE, and I could live with those three quite nicely! I may buy a SABATTI double, and if I do it will likely be a 450/400NE 3” Then sell my 470NE, and buy a nice 500NE but it wont be a SABATTI in that chambering. We will see, down the road, if the SABATTI will stand up to the 500NE, and they certainly may do well, but IMO the SABATTI is just too lightly built, over all, for a cartridge that develops that much recoil, and not just in regard to recoil to the shooter, but to cause trouble with long term condition of the rifle it’s self. Adding weight in the stock doesn’t accomplish everything.

I’m truly hoping that I’m found wrong here over time! We will see!
........................

I have a ten bore paradox rifle under construction as I type. And I already have a Searcy 470NE. I sold Judge Jerry's wife my Chapuis 9,3x74R, so this will be the new "small rifle" that can do anything, but will not be the only DR in the vault.

Rich

For my two cents, I think there is nothing wrong with a .500, mine weighs 10 lbs 5 ounces. I wouldnt want it to be any lighter. Someone mentioned a kick killer for the Sabati and that would be a good idea if you buy it. The recoil seems to get lighter the more you shoot it.