500grains, please substantiate the hearsay if you can. I have been closely following the V-C guns for 3 years now and have not heard of a single "serious repair" needed. Perhaps you are confusing the V-C with all of the Searcy repairs.

As for the Heym's being light, you will hear no argument from me. That is exactly why I sold one .470 and two .500's. They were too damn light for calibre. My V-C .577 weighs 14# 2oz. and I have ordered my V-C .500 to weigh in between 11.5 and 12#. To each his own.

I don't think you will hear of any major problems from Heym or Verney Carron. It's just personal preferance.