The Accurate Reloading Forums
J.P.'s J.P. Sauer 450-400 Conversion
19 June 2015, 07:45
Aaron LittleJ.P.'s J.P. Sauer 450-400 Conversion
Some of you may remember this thread from a while back:
http://forums.accuratereloadin...711084802#1711084802The barrels arrived yesterday. Big props to Pac-Nor and Jay for delivering on time and the good customer service.
Starting on the barrels I cut off the unsafe shotgun tubes leaving me with a monoblock. Now I must bore it out to accept the rifle barrels. On this particular gun the holes in the monoblock are not parallel but rather slightly facing in toward the muzzle. To bore this out correctly I must off-set the head of the mill to account for this.
Barrels being turned to fit in the monoblock.
With 26" barrels this gun will finish out 8.75-9lbs. pictured here the barrels are 27 1/2", ribs long and unmachined.
I will have the reamer soon. After reaming the chamber I will attach the barrels permanently into the monoblock, lay ribs, regulate, install a metal trigger guard, etc...
19 June 2015, 07:59
Rick O'ShayAwesooome! I'm literally white knuckling it with anticipation.
19 June 2015, 09:39
Aaron LittleI either solder or shrink fit/weld. I've found solder to be more than adequate. In testing a monoblock only an inch long didn't fail with pressures far exceeding a stout proof load.
19 June 2015, 10:40
Idaho SharpshooterI missed it. Are you going with the three or three and a quarter case?
Roger Green is nearly done with fitting the barrel on my Steve Earle Wesson #1 Long Range Action. I went with the 3 1/4".
19 June 2015, 15:57
9.3 X 75RThe only thing wrong with this is that it is giving ME dangerous food for thought!!!! In the other thread Aaron linked to someone mentioned a 303 Brit on a shotgun frame. I never thought of one on a converted shotgun frame but have definitely considered the cartridge. I believe I also saw the 9.3 X 74R mentioned. It could be built on the correct 16 bore frame?
DRSS: E. M. Reilley 500 BPE
E. Goldmann in Erfurt, 11.15 X 60R
Those who fail to study history are condemned to repeat it
19 June 2015, 16:54
Aaron Little450-400 3"
This frame size is well suited for 9.3, .375, and up to 450-400.
19 June 2015, 18:23
farbedoI am gathering the parts for a similar build on a Simson/Merkel 12ga action.
What is the muzzle diameter on the barrels? Are they straight tapered from the monoblock to the muzzle?
Looks like it will be a sweet rifle when you are done. Thanks for letting us follow along.
Jeremy
19 June 2015, 21:15
Aaron LittleThe muzzle dia is .605" and stays that way until mid barrel. From that point it gradually tapers up to the monoblock. Without the ribs the gun balances just in front of the hinge pin.
20 June 2015, 05:00
farbedoMuch appreciated. That helps since I have no double rifles to measure in my neck of the woods.
Jeremy
23 June 2015, 05:48
Aaron LittleNext up I must smoke the barrels onto the monoblock. Since the barrels aren't perfectly perpendicular with the monoblock face I have to file the monoblock face so that the barrels meet up flush. In thie pic you can see the left barrel is already fit, the right still needs done:
Both fit:
Barrels soldered in and stoned:
Milling the extractor pocket:
Teaser:
Tomorrow I will machine and smoke in the new extractor then fit the ribs.
24 June 2015, 05:16
Rick O'ShayThis is starting to look really good...
24 June 2015, 20:27
MacD37Great work Aaron!

Now that I'm over my surgery I'll give you a call and bring the double over for you to regulate soon.
.....................................................................

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982
Hands of Old Elmer Keith
07 November 2015, 22:32
Aaron LittleAll finished up. Gun weighs 8lb 11oz and balances an inch in front of the hinge with 26" tubes.
07 November 2015, 22:47
Colin MastersLooks great. I'd love to see a shooting report.
08 November 2015, 00:42
Aaron LittleI'll try and find the target.
08 November 2015, 01:03
brandoninazBeautiful! Is this one for sale, or a rifle you were hired to complete?
Brandon
08 November 2015, 01:23
Aaron LittleThis rifle was commissioned by a customer. I have other donors available.
08 November 2015, 01:37
brandoninazCool. I'm not in the market right now, but I look forward to seeing what comes of the CZ ZP donor you have.
Brandon
08 November 2015, 02:53
dpcdNice.
Did you bush the firing pins on this JP Sauer?
08 November 2015, 03:18
Aaron LittleNo. This one has small firing pins and they fit the hole very well. I did mill gas vents into the breach face.
08 November 2015, 05:23
Dutch44Beautiful results.
08 November 2015, 08:21
MacD37quote:
Originally posted by Dutch44:
Beautiful results.
I totally agree! Aaron does some fine work!
..................................................................

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982
Hands of Old Elmer Keith
09 November 2015, 01:19
RockdocWhat a great job.
And a very nice weight for a 450/400.
DRSS
09 November 2015, 06:11
ColoradoMattWas this rifle regulated with the Hornady ammo?
Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
09 November 2015, 07:14
Rick O'ShayYes it was. I don't reload (as of yet anyway). So rather than have Aaron work up a load that would be difficult to duplicate I took the easy way out.
09 November 2015, 08:52
ColoradoMattquote:
Originally posted by Rick O'Shay:
Yes it was. I don't reload (as of yet anyway). So rather than have Aaron work up a load that would be difficult to duplicate I took the easy way out.
It was also the best way out, as components to duplicate their load are relatively plentiful and easily reproduced.
Matt
FISH!!
Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:
"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
10 November 2015, 04:30
Aaron Little
10 November 2015, 04:37
RustyNice Aaron, real nice!
Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member
"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
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"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
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Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
12 November 2015, 06:14
TransvaalAaron;
That kind of accuracy is hardly ever seen from London. Very very good work.
I also like you 90 degree clamp that you have hanging from the side of your mill table. Ideal for what you are doing on those barrels as well as a number of other double gun and rifle milling.
12 November 2015, 07:43
Aaron LittleYeah, that setup isn't ideal but it gets the job done. It's just two 90° brackets with a draw(all-thread with bolt and thumb screw) to sandwich the lumps. Then the brackets are bolted to the table and made parallel with the bores. I'd rather have a legit small vice to permanently hang off the side or a right angle head attachment. One day...
12 November 2015, 15:49
9.3 X 75RWell dones, sir!!!
DRSS: E. M. Reilley 500 BPE
E. Goldmann in Erfurt, 11.15 X 60R
Those who fail to study history are condemned to repeat it
12 November 2015, 23:03
Big Wonderful WyomingNice job! Who says you have to spend 4 years in Ferlach to build a double rifle.
13 November 2015, 02:24
TransvaalAaron;
On my milling table I use a overly large 6 inch wide jaw milling vise for such work as you are doing there to cut away the barrel face for the extractors. I slide and bolt down the big 70 lb vice to the left and rear of the table as far as I can (where it's jaw area is hanging off the rear of the table, then I open its jaws all the way(about 7 inches) and lay another vise sideways and lengthwise (screwless die makers vise --all surfaces hardened and ground square and parallel) into inside the jaws of the 6 inch milling vise. If you can picture this in your mind the small screwless vise is laying where it's jaws face the left (instead of up) and are hanging off the left rear of the table, after I square everything up and clamp down the jaws of the 6 inch milling vise. Into these jaws of the screwless vise I hand barrels by the lumps as you have done on the front of your mill. When I bought my Millrite vertical mill the 6 inch milling vice came with it; and I did not think I would ever use it as it is so huge, but it turned out to be a great asset because it is so huge, rock steady and accurate.
Good luck on your career.
13 November 2015, 06:18
Aaron Little[/Quote]Nice job! Who says you have to spend 4 years in Ferlach to build a double rifle.[QUOTE]
Just wait till I start posting making double rifles from scratch!
19 November 2015, 09:20
Rick O'ShayWell I have it in my hot little hands now and I'll say that I'm blown away with the quality of work Aaron does. To me it is absolutely perfect! This is a gun that should cost far more than what I paid for it. I have a feeling we'll see a lot more of Aarons name in years to come and I doubt his work will get cheaper. Now is the time... give this guy your work while you can afford him.
19 November 2015, 15:59
StormsGSPquote:
Originally posted by Rick O'Shay:
Well I have it in my hot little hands now and I'll say that I'm blown away with the quality of work Aaron does. To me it is absolutely perfect! This is a gun that should cost far more than what I paid for it. I have a feeling we'll see a lot more of Aarons name in years to come and I doubt his work will get cheaper. Now is the time... give this guy your work while you can afford him.
Damnit man keep it quiet! Plus, we don't need him getting a bigger head. Aaron- you suck!
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"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. -Henry David Thoreau, Walden
19 November 2015, 20:27
TransvaalMr. O'Shay;
A check in the amount of $500.00 to Aaron as a Christmas gift would be a nice touch on your part in appreciation of the gem of accuracy that you now possess. I am certain that Aaron could find a beautiful little trinket for his spouse for that amount and in the process both of you will feel much better.
19 November 2015, 23:32
Aaron Littlequote:
Originally posted by Transvaal:
Mr. O'Shay;
A check in the amount of $500.00 to Aaron as a Christmas gift would be a nice touch on your part in appreciation of the gem of accuracy that you now possess. I am certain that Aaron could find a beautiful little trinket for his spouse for that amount and in the process both of you will feel much better.
Just don't tell her you're sending it! She just got an engagement and wedding ring...Aaron wants a new 1911.