To AKMike,

To AKMike, As to the FIRST EVER 700NE, a double rifle built

by Holland and Holland, the caliber selected was the SECOND,

yes, SECOND choice of the buyer. This buyer FIRST told H&H

he wanted to order a 600NE. H&H HAD to say NO, as they had

signed a contract earlier in which H&H agreed to stop

making 600NE rifles after they had built another guy's,

sometime before the Califorian wanted one. Then the

Californian in part financed the R&D of the 700NE by H&H so

they would build the thing! His ego would not possibly allow

him to opt for the other, slightly smaller super heavy

weight classic of the CORDITE era, the 577NE, a cartridge

that was used by a substantially larger number of ivory

hunters. Surely more elephant fell to IT, than the 600NE!

See, the California guy DID NOT WANT A 700NE, HE SETTLED FOR

IT when told he could not have what he WANTED, the 600NE. As

of now, due to H&H REnegotiating with the guy who was to

have the "LAST H&H BUILT 600NE" - H&H builds 600NE rifles

again. The 700's are several pounds heavier than 600's,

don't kill better than 600's, and don't have the history of

600's. So my vote is that 700 never really should have been

conceptualized. IMO, when it comes to rifles, bigger is NOT

always better.