| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 06/03/22 06:53 AM |
Army & Navy has arrived.
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Arrived this morning. Looks very good. Needs a through cleaning but rifling and everything looks very good. Anyone have a clue what the square block on the bottom rib is?
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 06/03/22 08:28 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Likely the remnants of a barrel mounted sling loop…….about the right position.
Bores look decent, good Henry rifling, should shoot!
Engraving has not been unduly softened by past buffing, looks like you got a good one.
Can't really tell from the one picture, the firing pin (striker) head appears kind of flattened? Maybe peened by excessive dry firing over the years. You will know for sure if/when you try to remove it. Easy fix.
- Mike
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 06/03/22 08:45 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Mike I thought sling swivel as well but there's no sign of one ever being in the butt stock.
| TH44 |
| (.375 member) |
| 06/03/22 01:10 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Plus one for Mikes comments (and my previous)
Possible restock many years ago??? Is that Rosewood? when front sling swivel removed??
.500 very popular for India
Excellent best quality Damascus
Straightforward `BP loading if you want to shoot it
Good luck
TH
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 06/03/22 03:35 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Was wondering to myself earlier if this one was possibly restocked years ago (maybe in India). Nice job if it, the telltale would probably be found in the care used (or not) in inletting the lock mortices.
Rosewood? Beats me, I have enough trouble identifying a pine 2x4
- Mike
| 260rem |
| (.375 member) |
| 06/03/22 05:47 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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I'd definitely vote for a front sling point, much more secure then screwing into a soldiered rib.
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 06/03/22 10:38 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Proofed in London has 38 bore marked which from the chart I have is .497 caliber. Tight .500 I guess. Chamber cast measures 3.25" case. bore is .515. That's a 3" case next to the cast.
| bwanabobftw |
| (.375 member) |
| 07/03/22 01:04 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Nice looking rifle !!!!!!!!!
Congrats,
Robert
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 07/03/22 01:11 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Nice.
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/22 02:21 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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It has some nice touches. I like the filing of the Jones underlever right before the knob. Also, the breech treatment where the barrels meet the flats. I think the butt has been replaced many years ago. Not the best but not done in India either. A small amount of case color in the protected areas. From what is left it looks like they were quite colorful when new. Bores cleaned up better than most BPE's that I've owned.
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/22 02:22 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Now to find some 3 1/4" brass.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/22 02:38 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Buffalo Arms has it in stock, only game in town……depends upon how badly you want it:
https://www.buffaloarms.com/500-nitro-3-1-4-cases-by-bert-ber500314ne.html
This is, of course, your option if you want properly head stamped brass.
.500/.450, .465, and .470 (all 3 1/4") can easily be necked up to make usable .500 3 1/4"
- Mike
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/22 02:53 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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I did a search and they didn't come up. Oh well. I just ordered it. Thanks.
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 07/03/22 03:45 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Great rifle!
The 500BPE variants are the best all round chambering IMO.
Keep an eye on that crack in the trigger plate - may want to get that fixed sooner than later.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 07/03/22 04:33 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Quote:
Great rifle!
The 500BPE variants are the best all round chambering IMO.
Keep an eye on that crack in the trigger plate - may want to get that fixed sooner than later.
My guess is it was "repaired" like my John Patstone .577BPE lower tang, a doubler brazed on behind. (why do it right when you can do it cheap?) Who knows, both rifles could have been repaired and restocked by the same guy?
Anyway, Steve Bertram now has it and it is being redone correctly……
ADDED: Those bores really cleaned up to be quite respectable, should shoot just fine. In all likelihood the barrels are taper bored in the typical Henry patent fashion, being .515" at the breech end. Are they stamped "A&T" (Adams and Tate) and "Henry's Patent"?
- Mike
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 07/03/22 09:30 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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The best solution for .500 3-1/4" brass is to blow out .470 NE brass. I have used 11 grains of Red Dot, fill with Cream of Wheat and plug with a small wad of newspaper or other paper. Bullseye or Unique would do just fine too. Shoot them in the back yard like dry-fire practice. Viola! You have .500 3-1/4" brass.
Check with Ken at Kebco for once-fired .470 brass: Classified listing in Nitro Express classifieds.
Curl
| rigbymauser |
| (.400 member) |
| 08/03/22 02:30 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Quote:
The best solution for .500 3-1/4" brass is to blow out .470 NE brass. I have used 11 grains of Red Dot, fill with Cream of Wheat and plug with a small wad of newspaper or other paper. Bullseye or Unique would do just fine too. Shoot them in the back yard like dry-fire practice. Viola! You have .500 3-1/4" brass.
Check with Ken at Kebco for once-fired .470 brass: Classified listing in Nitro Express classifieds.
Curl
Yep.
I use cheap oncefired Hornady cases overhere to 1$ a' piece. Expanded the casemouth with an oiled .511 expanderplug. Lathcut them to 3" and just reload. Very simple and very cheap...and it works perfect.
Love to have a 3¼".500ex.
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 08/03/22 07:42 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Now that is something special indeed Casper!
Congratulations on getting & preserving this wonderful piece.
Love the engraving on these older guns - magnificent!
| 260rem |
| (.375 member) |
| 08/03/22 02:23 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Quote:
The best solution for .500 3-1/4" brass is to blow out .470 NE brass. I have used 11 grains of Red Dot, fill with Cream of Wheat and plug with a small wad of newspaper or other paper. Bullseye or Unique would do just fine too. Shoot them in the back yard like dry-fire practice. Viola! You have .500 3-1/4" brass.
Check with Ken at Kebco for once-fired .470 brass: Classified listing in Nitro Express classifieds.
Curl
I used to do that with 303 brass to make cases for the 410 shotgun.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 09/03/22 03:54 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Same method for making many wildcat ctgs.
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 18/03/22 06:06 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Even though it's still cold and snowing outside I couldn't wait any longer and I loaded up two rounds of the 500 3 1/4" BPE just to hear it go bang. Target was at 50 yds and I shot off of a stick. I put the bead to far down in the V notch. It seems it is suppose to be level with the top of the rear sight. But, I'm really happy with that group. 2 shots a left and a right.
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 18/03/22 08:56 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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I just reread this and putting the bead all the way down should make the shots go low not high. Will have to shoot again to see what's going on.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 18/03/22 10:56 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Out of curiosity, what is your load and bullet choice?
Could just be the way the pizza box cardboard tore, but lower hole looks a bit like the bullet was trying to keyhole.
- Mike
| casper50 |
| (.400 member) |
| 18/03/22 05:36 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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the top flap was angled towards the back. It was just a hurry up setup. .504 450 grain bullet patched to .512. 57 grains of 4198 with 13 grains of dacron filler, standard rifle primer. Will try the 340 grain bullets when I get some.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 18/03/22 05:55 PM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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One hole two barrel shots. Excellent. What could be better.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 19/03/22 04:40 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Quote:
the top flap was angled towards the back. It was just a hurry up setup. .504 450 grain bullet patched to .512. 57 grains of 4198 with 13 grains of dacron filler, standard rifle primer. Will try the 340 grain bullets when I get some.
Great results! Taller front sight and you'll be in business.
- Mike
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 19/03/22 05:04 AM |
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Re: Army & Navy has arrived.
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Quote:
Out of curiosity, what is your load and bullet choice?
Could just be the way the pizza box cardboard tore, but lower hole looks a bit like the bullet was trying to keyhole.
- Mike
My first thought as well.