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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifle Photos & Archive
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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Holland & Holland .500 BPE
      #187010 - 01/08/11 05:31 AM

I have recently got this old H&H double express rifle from 1883.It is a C grade gun. Has been with an english officer in India, and also on safari in Afrika. It is recently BP reproofed in London.
I have tried some 340 grains bullets with lube, but it doesnt like them. Then I have made a m ould for paper patch bullets, and can make them in any weight from 200 grain up to 550 grain. It regulates fine with 400 grains PP bullets. Charge 70 grain Rhino 11 (Norma 201). CCI magnum primer COL 87,5 mm









Edited by CptCurl (01/08/11 08:29 PM)

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 668
Loc: Texas
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187020 - 01/08/11 09:00 AM

2duer,

I have the twin to your H&H , I shoot a "Nitro for Black" load I got out of Grame Wright's book for Woodleigh 440 grain bullets . You may not want a lite nitro load , but they shoot well in my H&H. Good luck !!!! I love mine for plains game.
Robert

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1971
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #187038 - 01/08/11 05:33 PM


Look Great 2Duer. Take it to Africa!.

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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5275
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #187046 - 01/08/11 08:31 PM

Very nice rifle and a great caliber.

We would love to have more photos.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #187047 - 01/08/11 08:32 PM

Quote:

2duer,

I have the twin to your H&H , I shoot a "Nitro for Black" load I got out of Grame Wright's book for Woodleigh 440 grain bullets . You may not want a lite nitro load , but they shoot well in my H&H. Good luck !!!! I love mine for plains game.
Robert


Hey Robert.
Exciting with a twin so far away.
Are your Woodleigh 440 grain bullets jacketed? I have also read Graeme Wright`s book, and also got a lot of information from Rigbymauser.
What are the figures of your charge?
Best wishes Leo

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #187048 - 01/08/11 08:34 PM

Quote:


Look Great 2Duer. Take it to Africa!.


I will Rigbymauser. And thank for your fantastic support
Leo

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 668
Loc: Texas
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187058 - 01/08/11 11:49 PM

Leo,
Yes I shoot the 440 grain jacketed Woodleigh made for the BPE .500 . 53 grains of IMR 4198 with 9 grains of polyester pillow stuffing , Fed 215 primers.
Caution : They are safe in my gun , load at your own risk !!!!!!!
Have fun and good luck,
Robert

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herrdoktor
.275 member


Reged: 03/08/07
Posts: 84
Loc: Spain
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #187061 - 02/08/11 12:40 AM

Hello, 2duer:

I like very much your "variable weight" mould, I understand you install more or less washers for that? Nice idea. Have you designed it?

Herrdoktor

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GroovyMike
.300 member


Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 229
Loc: NY
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: herrdoktor]
      #187071 - 02/08/11 04:29 AM

Lyman makes a 325 grain mold that works well in my rifle. I am jealous though. I have internal hammers and would liek your external hammers better!

--------------------
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26605
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: GroovyMike]
      #187076 - 02/08/11 04:39 AM

Interesting mould. Good thinking. No taper?

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: herrdoktor]
      #187077 - 02/08/11 04:58 AM

Quote:

Hello, 2duer:

I like very much your "variable weight" mould, I understand you install more or less washers for that? Nice idea. Have you designed it?


Herrdoktor



Yes Herrdoktor designed and constructed from scrap metal :-)

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: DarylS]
      #187078 - 02/08/11 05:00 AM

Quote:

Interesting mould. Good thinking. No taper?


No taper at all. Precisely ½ inch hole

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187079 - 02/08/11 05:08 AM

More photos







Edited by CptCurl (02/08/11 11:43 AM)

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26605
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187084 - 02/08/11 07:05 AM

For original-type loads for the BPE's or Sharps.

2duer, if you ever thought of using real black powder, perhaps this will be of interest.

I made a similar type of PP mould by boring a set of 4 cavity Lyman blocks, 2 cavities casting 440gr. and 2 casting 580gr.- smoothsided slugs -.440" for bore sized bullets (.451") after patching & used only with black powder loads.

Smokeless loads will not slug up the bullet quickly enough to seal and shoot accurately. With BP, the undersized bullets are actually more accurate than groove sized slugs - in the 2 rifles we made them for.

The most endearing factor of the undersized slugs with black powder loads, is the ability to continue shooting without any wiping needed & with loss in accuracy, either. The grease wad beneath the bullet softened the fouling, each shot - no buildup and it wiped out with a single dry patch, just as Paul M. said it should.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1971
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: DarylS]
      #187115 - 02/08/11 06:33 PM


Hey 2Duer.

I believe we should do an artical on your gun for the magazine. It will be of interest for many I believe.

See u.

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kamilaroi
.400 member


Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 1803
Loc: sydney, new south wales, Austr...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #187124 - 02/08/11 09:23 PM

Very nice, appears of minimal use and fit for purpose.

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Orvar
.300 member


Reged: 31/12/08
Posts: 164
Loc: London, UK
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: kamilaroi]
      #187142 - 03/08/11 03:20 AM

100% agree with Rigbymauser!

She is beautiful

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #187150 - 03/08/11 05:04 AM

Quote:


Hey 2Duer.

I believe we should do an artical on your gun for the magazine. It will be of interest for many I believe.

See u.


Hey Rigbymauser
Deal

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187152 - 03/08/11 05:22 AM

@Daryl S
I certainly will shoot with black powder. Maybe very soon. I am prepairing bullets for BP.


Edited by CptCurl (03/08/11 09:21 PM)

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26605
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #187168 - 03/08/11 09:10 AM

Please don't use anything but real black powder.

A good friend of mine with a made for India (gold script with Maharahja's name) DR in .500(Blissett I think but not sure), used the 450gr. Lyman bullet well. I think he had a machinist enlarge the grooves in the mould by a few thousanths due to the mould casting undersized for his rifle. Most of the those moulds, cast .515". Both mine cast this size - 1 Lyman and 1 Lee.

Each barrel would shoot into 1 1/2" at 100 yards, but 2" between group edges IIRC (30 years ago), which made for a rather wide but short 5" group.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1971
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: DarylS]
      #187881 - 13/08/11 03:05 AM

I went shooting this rifle here yesterday. Its a real slick petit expressrifle with lots of useful power to handle everthing here in Europe + 80% game in Africa. It shoots accurate, and the homemade paperpatching bullets work par exellence. WE used Swiss No4( 1,5F). Oneday I must have a .500express.
Leo, the owner of the H&H also shot my 10bore with a 980grain bullet with 10 drams Swiss, which was recorded on DG camera. We`ll see if we can upload the sequence here on the forums:LOL.

Edited by rigbymauser (13/08/11 03:06 AM)

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2duer
.224 member


Reged: 28/05/11
Posts: 17
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #191383 - 06/10/11 08:16 AM

My first shot at game with this gun A 1½ year old Stag.
Today I took a hunting trip to my small forrest approx. 125 acres. Was walking almost the whole way around a saw some footprints of stag. There were 10 minutes to sunset. I looked for a place to sit down. Fortunately I looked back over my shoulder and there he stood broadside looking at me. I turned around and in the same time lifted the gun who had cocked hammers. Aimed quickly and shot left barrel at him. I saw the bullet hit. He stumbled but was able to turn and was out of sight at once. After some minutes I walked to the spot where he were standing , counting 75 meters. Found him dead 30 meters away.
Bullet 440 grains Woodleigh
Very glad and happy



Edited by CptCurl (06/10/11 11:25 AM)

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Huvius
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3535
Loc: Colorado
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: 2duer]
      #191386 - 06/10/11 09:32 AM

Very nice.
Nice little Opel GT too!

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.

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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1971
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: Huvius]
      #191426 - 07/10/11 05:16 AM


Wunderbar!!.

Its always a joy when someone uses a classic for their hunting.

Thanks for sharing!.

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26605
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Holland & Holland .500 BPE [Re: rigbymauser]
      #191463 - 08/10/11 03:56 AM

Wonderful - Swiss is the 'best' black powder for duplicating original BP loads to match regulation and sights according to those who've used it. Unfortuanately, it's way over $40.00 per pound here, double GOEX so I haven't used it.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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