Hopp:

I own both a .500 NE Merkel and a .577 NE Searcy.

A Searcy has the BEST warrant in the business. Period. Anything happens to it, Butch fixes it. As JPK mentioned, Butch has some guns in .470 that are at last year's prices.

I love my Merkel, but I really love my Searcy.

Look hard at the Searcy. Give Butch a call. I doubt you will find any other company where you can call and speak to both the owner of the company and the person who will make your gun.