Got news from Butch Searcy yesterday that he has my .470 restocked, re-regulated, cleaned, tuned up and raring to go. I should have it back by the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. Excited doesn't describe it. He just sent me a "teaser" pic of the wood and only one more pic in the meantime of his nephew with a blowtorch and my barrels during re-regulation. If you think that won't get your attention.....I wanted him to add a cocking knob but he wouldn't.
I bet I can get used to it without it.

Congrats Pago. Can't wait to see the pictures. I think that you are going to find that the Searcy handles quite a bit better than our S2s.

Yes sir, it does. A bit lighter than the S2 but it should fit me much better with the new stock and that will help as well. I got a chance to put about 50 rounds through it in January before I sent it to him for the new wood. Can't wait to get it back. Already have a bunch of CEBs loaded to play with when my shoulder gets back to "used to recoil".

I am having some difficulty handling the heavier guns anymore. The last two doubles that I bought were both Chapuis, a 9,3X74R and a .375 flanged. They are both pretty light and handy, especially the 9,3, and neither generates a lot of recoil. Doubles are just too much fun!

One of these days, I would like to try one of the 500 and up caliber but don't know if I'm man enough. 470 ne and the 458 lott let me know I've already shot something.

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
One of these days, I would like to try one of the 500 and up caliber but don't know if I'm man enough. 470 ne and the 458 lott let me know I've already shot something.

The nice thing about the 500 is that it really doesn't kick any more than the 470. If you can handle the 470, the 500 will be no big deal.

Todd is tough. I have a 470 as well as a 500 Jeffery but I thought that every 500 NE I ever shot just kicked the hell out of me. I think the larger frame Heym to make the 500 come in at 11.5 pounds is a really good idea.

This is the age old conundrum. If you build a heavy rifle light, it is a joy to carry but a bitch to shoot. If you build it heavy, it is much easier to shoot but a bitch to carry. My 470 weighs in at 11.6 pounds. I love shooting it but can't imagine carrying it all day in the hot sun. My 500/416 comes in at 10.5 pounds and that's about right. If you not hunting elephant, I would say that a 450/400 or a flanged .375 would be just the ticket. Easy on the shoulder and much easier to carry.

The old adage that you carry it a lot more than you shoot it is probably not true. You may carry it a few days on a hunt but you shoot it all year round. That's how you get proficient with your rifle.

No Dave. It isn't about being tuff as much as I think it's about rifle fit and mental state.

An 11 lb 470NE produces 69.3 lb/ft of recoil energy with a 12 lb 500NE producing 74.5 lb/ft of recoil energy. Most rifles today are built about a pound lighter than these examples but the relationship remains on a percentage basis. A 7.25 lb rifle in 243 Win. produces 11 lb/ft of recoil energy so the actual difference between the 470NE and the 500NE is something less than 1/2 of the recoil of a 243 Win.!!! That's why I've always stated that the 500 is the best of both worlds since the weight and recoil of the rifle is about the same as the 470 while at the same time, you get a significant increase in energy and frontal diameter.

Dave, you also state that you handle the 500 Jeffery but not the 500NE. However the 500 Jeffery with it's 535gr bullet produces 88 lb/ft of recoil in the same 11 lb gun weight. That's a recoil energy increase over the 11 lb 470NE of 18.7 lb/ft, or about the same as an 8 lb 30/06 shooting a 165gr bullet at 2910fps (20.1 lb/ft recoil energy).

Of course, recoil tolerance is a matter of perception. But I think you may have yourself psyched out on the 500NE a bit.

Todd, maybe your right but the worst kicking 500 I ever shot was a Heym and it might have been the heaviest. My 500 Jeffery has a couple of recoil reducers in it so it's not to bad to shoot.

I think Jeff and Michael are right about this whole light and handy thing. For deer, I no longer shoot a 7mag. I now shoot a little .257 Roberts. My .338 Win Mag is long gone in favor of a nice little .338 Ruger Compact Magnum with a 20 inch barrel. I don't see any elephants in my future but if I did, I am sure that my 500/416 would get the job done with the right bullets. It would work as well for buffalo and hippo too but if there are no elephants on the menu, a client hunter might just as well use a 9,3 or .375? They are lighter and easier to carry and will get the job done if bullet placement is good. I believe those 280 grain BBW#13s that you are shooting in your 9,3 are capable of taking any buffalo. He might not drop to the shot but if you do your job and place the bullet right, he won't go far.

Does this mean I am off the big bore kick? NOT A CHANCE! I love owning them and shooting them and by golly, I am going to find a way to come down and shoot your .577. However, I just don't want to carry them anymore. All that being said, if I had and extra 20 grand lying around, Doc's .577 would be in my gun safe.

Dave,

I've heard several guys mention that the Heym had a strong perceived recoil. I think Mike Jines had some issues with his first Heym. I've not shot one so can only relay what I've heard. Maybe something about the stock design? According to Chris, they did make some recent changes to the stock shape.

Any other Heym shooters have some perspective?

When my shoulder gets used to recoil again, I might just find the chance to shoot one. But, my thing has always been, I need to be able to shoot it off the bench for accuracy. If it doesn't kick that much more than a .470, Maybe I can man up and try it. OK, here are the pics of the new stock

I'm not very good at photos but that will show what Butch put on my .470

Very nice rifle!

Tom

Nice looking piece of wood!!

My pictures don't do it justice. It turned out nice. A 15 1/4" length of pull so it will fit other knuckle draggers too!
Thanks guys.

It's a beauty! Congrats.

it's a beauty Rick - no excuses now!

congrats! Looks great!

Pretty wood doesn't take any of my excuses away! That's not in the rules........