doubleriflejack,

Not wanting to state the obvious too loudly. Ellis' light for calibre, muzzle heavy .450 NE can be, at least to some extent, rectified by adding weight to the buttstock and thereby moving the balance point back to the hinge pin.

I think that'd increase it's weight (minorly) and improve it's handling (majorly).

Steven Dodd Hughs does some good writing on achieving "dynamic handling" in his books.

Felix, If you've gotten 11 1/2lbs with 26" barrells you're in the ballpark.If this weight includes ribs, sights, forend and sling swivels and balanced at the hinge pin I'd be happy.

I believe that Ellis' book deals with firing pin diameters and protrusion.

Get yourself a copy of "Building Double Rifles on Shotgun Actions" by Ellis Brown and read it thoroughly and it will answer alot of your questions. You can consider this as an unabashed, shameless, advertisement for his book if you wish.

Buy yourself a set of Headspace guages or measure rim thicknesses of different brands of cases and chamber so that the gun will only just close, without force, on the thickest rimmed brand cases.

Perhaps more chambering advice, on hinged action guns, can be contributed here by a gunsmith.

I charge nothing for this advice.......but just remember "free advice is usually worth everything you've given for it".