I am putting together a savings account to purchase a shooter-grade Black Powder Express Double Rifle, hopefully in about a year. I would like to find an English gun of at least .450-caliber, and ideally .500 (like a .500-577 BPE). The gun will be a shooter and will be used with black powder, so I am not as concerned with the finish as I am with mechanical soundness and decent bores. I am guessing that I will need about $6,000 to $8,000. Does that seem like a reasonable figure.

Yes, see them in that range. Grame Wright's book will be a "must" for loading it when you get it.

You're in the right ball park money wise. Check auctions as well, especially some of the lesser known auction houses.
Dutch

Also promote your interest here and at other sites where double rifle is spoken.

It will be much better for you to get into a known-good shooter, which will/does shoot to proper regulation.

I think that your target cost is in line with what you will need to spend to get a decent rifle.
I also agree that you will want to buy one which is a proven shooter although, unless regulation has been altered, the 450 and bigger BPE rifles are pretty forgiving.
I can tell you, once you get a decent BPE double, you will be hooked!

I see them in that range but many times they are tired.

I like this one at Champlin's:

http://www.champlinarms.com/De...StyleID=3&GunID=2635

It's a bit outside your range but I'd love to have it, love the trade label also, very rare.

Don't be in a hurry, the right one will come along. Good luck in your search, finding the right one is half the fun!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 470Evans:
I see them in that range but many times they are tired.

Many are, that is true.
There are nice examples in that range too.
This Alex Henry, for instance, looks to me to be quite a nice rifle eventhough it is not highly finished as many Henrys are.
Regardless, even a plain grade Alex Henry is a rifle of very high quality where it counts.
Looks like it has rebounding hammers too.
If I were looking, this would be high on my list.

http://www.doublegunhq.com/itemDetails.aspx?id=4691

Another from the same seller. I like this one too!
http://www.doublegunhq.com/itemDetails.aspx?id=3699

I like the Henry although that seller seems to go out of his way to always have poor quality pictures, might be a nice gun but hard to tell.

The Grant has that tired look I was referring to. I'm guessing his "shortened" comment refers to the stock and not the barrels? Originally, it was a very nice rifle but re-barreled with non rebounding locks with the stock alteration would make me pass.

Like 470Evans states it appears that this shop always produces poor quality photos. A little time spent on good camera work could produce better sales.

Dutch

Thanks guys.It looks like I am on the right track. Now to build the savings account.