Due to certain cirumstances made me decide to visit Verney Carron factory in Saint Etienne in France. Double rifle is ordered, deposit paid and in about 10-12 months the rifle will be finished.

Going to the factory was a " mistake " It is like putting a small kid in a toy store... You understand the rest Jerome showed me around, we did some test shooting, we measured and discussed. The issues about splinter or semi beaver, long or short barrel, engraving and not kept going on before, under and after lunch.

Here are a few photo details from the visit:



I endend up with an upgrade in wood. The raw plank gives you some indication, but I am excited to see the rifle finished with it.

Next there was a discussion about splinter or beaver. I must say that I agree with Jerome that from a hunting standpoint I felt much better holding a rifle with beaver than splinter. I know there is a lot of discussion and meanings about this. Then Jerome showed me a shorter and slimmer version of the beaver. That I think gave the right proporsion to the rifle - a combined splinter-beaver - good to hold and English looks !



The short slim beaver foreend combined with a 61 cm barrel ( 24 inch ) I found attractive. Next photo show 3 different barrel lenghts - to the left a 66 cm barrel ( 26inch ) with a standard lenght beaver, in the middle a 60 cm barrel ( 23,5 inch ) with a standard lenght beaver and to the right a 61 cm barrel ( 24 inch ) with a short beaver. I ordered the 24 inch with the short beaver as said. I think that this combination gives somewhat of the English looks that I was looking for. Time will show...




Other main specifications are round body, color hardening case in caliber 450 NE and slim pistol grip without too much palmswell due to small hands. ( advice from Mike Jines - Jerome agreed )

Waiting time can be hard...

Morten

Morten, is the 450 available on a smaller frame than the 500?

As far as I recall Jerome mentioned something about it, but he preferred to use the standard frame for 450, 470 and 500.

I can check again if you want ?

Morten: Congratulations on your future rifle. I too ordered my VC in 450NE with CCH finish. I did nowever opt for longer barrels (I wanted 26" but Ken and Jerome wanted 24" so we compromised at 25"). About the only thing I wished I had done differently is a wood upgrade and some gold inletting on the engraving. Other than that, I cold not be more pleased with mine and I am sure you will be pleased with yours. jorge

Thanks Jorge. Just remember it is your " fault " that I chose 450 NE. I started a thread in the very beginning of my life here at AR last summer about recoil etc and you recommended 450. Your argument was the mix of recoil and power + penetration. I will hunt and the PH will do the stopping ! However, if I put the bullets correctly that will stop too !

I shot 450, 470 and 500 with Jerome. I did not like the 470 and I am not able to obtain license for 500 - then it is 450. I also enjoyed shooting that caliber more than the others, but 500 is not bad either.

In addition the 450 has a long tradition and looks very traditional like the 500. I am looking forward to this with great pleasure

Morten

You made a good choice in both rifle and caliber.

Much obliged sir !

Forgot to say that it will be mounted a Doctor Optic red dot sight in German Recknagel detachable mounts on the rifle and the rifle will be regulated with this from the factory.

M

When I ordered mine, I pored over the writings of Taylor, Boddington, Wright, even asked Ivan Carter. Without exception, they all recommended the 450NE. I think you made the right choice too!

Morten, I'll echo the others about your choice! The 450 is my favorite round. I have a Searcy not a VC though.

Great rifle in a clasic caliber. Well done. Can't wait to see it when done.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:
Great rifle in a clasic caliber. Well done. Can't wait to see it when done.

100% Agreement !

Congratulations! The VC guys are great to deal with, you will enjoy it !! Welcome to the family!!

Cheers

Nick

Congrats Morten. They'll build you a fine rifle.

Thanks a lot Todd. You have helped me and been very patient with all my questions. I really appreciate that.

You also take it as man all the beating with the fat ladies and scooter shooting Blaser Makes me laugh loudly when the guys tease .. Mike J and Biebs and the others. Fun stuff

quote:

Originally posted by nickh:
Congratulations! The VC guys are great to deal with, you will enjoy it !! Welcome to the family!!

Cheers

Nick

Thanks Nick. One thing, I forgot to discuss colour on recoil pad with Jerome. Have you decided for yours ?

Morten

Morton,
I wanted the red pachmayer as per my 500 , but they don't make it in the width required for the 600 stock, it comes in black or brown, so brown it was.
I do prefer the red though. Todd's leather pad looks pretty good also, I hope to see an example at the VC stand in Vegas in a few weeks time.

Cheers

Nick

quote:

Originally posted by The Norwegian:
Thanks a lot Todd. You have helped me and been very patient with all my questions. I really appreciate that.

You also take it as man all the beating with the fat ladies and scooter shooting Blaser Makes me laugh loudly when the guys tease .. Mike J and Biebs and the others. Fun stuff

No problem Morten. I hope I was able to help you some.

Yep, those boys are as much fun as a barrel full of monkeys! Come to think of it, that's exactly what they are! Jines, Justin Bieber, and the other TURDS!

Very good choice in make!

I was looking at the first picture in this thread and I have a question! Am I looking at two unfinished double rifles with octagon barrels! If so, that is something new with VC doubles!
.........................................................................

Yes Mac - you are looking at two unfinished double rifles with octagon barrels !

quote:

Originally posted by nickh:
Morton,
I wanted the red pachmayer as per my 500 , but they don't make it in the width required for the 600 stock, it comes in black or brown, so brown it was.
I do prefer the red though. Todd's leather pad looks pretty good also, I hope to see an example at the VC stand in Vegas in a few weeks time.

Cheers

Nick

You probably will see some leather pad in Vegas. I also like the red Pachmayer Old English, but have to see the finished color of my wood before deciding.

Morten

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by The Norwegian:
Thanks a lot Todd. You have helped me and been very patient with all my questions. I really appreciate that.

You also take it as man all the beating with the fat ladies and scooter shooting Blaser Makes me laugh loudly when the guys tease .. Mike J and Biebs and the others. Fun stuff

No problem Morten. I hope I was able to help you some.

Yep, those boys are as much fun as a barrel full of monkeys! Come to think of it, that's exactly what they are! Jines, Justin Bieber, and the other TURDS!

Great Morten, now you need an elephant for your double...

quote:

Originally posted by P-A Åhlén:
Great Morten, now you need an elephant for your double...

Hi P-A, Yes I do. Do you have any one cheap elehunt in Sweden ?? Short distance and could be done in a weekend

Well - Jerome said 12 months so I still have some time ..

Sorry Morten, we killed out the mamouths 10 000 years ago. I think you as the rest of us is left with the only choice of Africa...

Nice to see that you were at the factory to spec out your double and got to do some shooting. Looking forward to see how the wood turns out.

First photo of my 450NE project from Verney Carron factory. Not the clearest photo, but gives you an impression. Have asked for the right side photo as well, but the stock is in the oiling process. Excited to see the other side

Round body with a slightly more open grip without palmswell. Color case hardening will take place later this year in London !

Morton

Looking great so far! The more open/slim pistol grip looks interesting , like to see it checkered.

Cheers

Nick

Ser veldig bra ut!

Congratulations!

Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts and photos. If I ever visit the V-C factory, I will have to leave my check book and credit cards back in the States - I know my limitations! My V-C 450 should be arrving soon as well - once the export paperwork completes, Jerome will be shipping it to Ken.

Nickh: The checkering is going to be similar to the VC Todd showed from the Dallas show. Look at his report from the VC boot. I have asked for a lighter color tough, not so dark-red-brown as showed in the picture Todd presented. I will put up pictures as soon as I get any from Jerome, but it might take some time.

Norsk: takk skal du ha ( thanks a lot ) - blir spennende å se forstsettelse ( I am excited about seeing the rest )

Rusty: thanks a lot !

Subsailor74: Congratulations - I hope you share some pictures here on AR when it is ready