| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/02/19 03:30 PM |
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.577 3-1/4” Express - lets see them
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W. J. Jeffery .577 3-1/4” BPE #2457
Made by R. Ellis and entered in the day books on 20February1896, this is a 6-1/2 Dram 650 grain rifle weighing 12lbs 6oz.
Barrels are 25 1/8” with a 14-1/2” length of pull to the front trigger, anti recoil heel plate (recoil pad), and lever forend release.
The rifle came to me from Australia with the importation help of Steve Bertram of Bertram & Co., Ward, Colorado, USA.
There is a very lightly stamped “Maharaja Number” behind the pistol grip indicating that it originally went to India where it must have seen very little use because the (age faded) case colors are quite extensive and the bores are, aside from a scattered few light pits, almost as new.
I have shot it with both Black Powder as well as suitable “Nitro for Black” loads. Needless to say, even at 12lb 6oz the recoil of a 6.5Dram (178grain) load of Swiss 1-1/2 and 650 grain bullet at ~1650’/sec is an attention getter?
A somewhat more “civilized” loading recoil wise is the NfB loading of 78 grains H4198, Federal 215, foam backer rod, and a 650 grain bullet cast of 1:30 from an Accurate Mould Co. mould which runs about 1750’/sec.
After much chasing of dead end leads and months of time I was able to obtain a copy of the existing Jeffery day books record of the rifle.
- Mike
The above daybook entry reads:
2457 .577 3 1/4 6 1/2Drams + 650 bullet, LOG Action (Lever Over Guard, ie: Jones underlever), Dolls Head, Lever Forepart, Sights 50 100 150, BA Locks rebound, pistol grip, cheek piece, recoil heel plate, file cut rib, 12lbs 6oz.
Ellis 20/2/96
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/02/19 03:51 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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A couple more pictures:
Original, NOT a rechamber
Tight as the day it was finished, and lots of original case colors
A shameless plug for Cal’s book
| Waidmannsheil |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/02/19 03:55 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Very nice with a lovely patina.
Matt.
| Sarg |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/02/19 04:59 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Oh Man that is a awesome rifle, you could use that on any thing, pity you took it farther away from me lol !
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 20/02/19 05:50 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Absolute bloody corker Mike - we're all drooling here!
CptCurl
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| 20/02/19 10:36 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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That is a rare prize! It will stomp anything (including your shoulder).
Congratulations!
Curl
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 20/02/19 10:42 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Let's see them?
Well I have two. My Henry .577 2-3/4" and the Watson .577 3" I got from my good friend Watson577.
But I guess when we pull 'em out, yours is longer . . .
Curl
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 21/02/19 04:34 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Oh NICE - 178gr./650 - decent load.
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 13/03/19 10:15 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Mike,
Any range reports?
Perhaps you're not out of trauma rehab after shooting the thing?
Just kidding! But not kidding about wanting range reports.
I'm thinking about dusting off my .577 rifles for a bit of range time this spring.
Curl
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 13/03/19 10:17 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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To everybody else, if you have a .577 pull it out and let's see them.
Curl
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 14/03/19 01:30 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Quote:
Mike,
Any range reports?
Perhaps you're not out of trauma rehab after shooting the thing?
Just kidding! But not kidding about wanting range reports.
I'm thinking about dusting off my .577 rifles for a bit of range time this spring.
Curl
Roscoe,
Trauma rehab .....that would be a stiff shot of Whisky and two aspirin when I get home from shooting it.
I will say that even at 12lbs 6oz it does kick a mite with the 6 1/2 Drams of Swiss 1 1/2 and a 650 grain bullet.
Up til now I have not done much more than shooting 50 yards offhand at a paper plate or warermelon sized rocks, either the BP loads with cast 650’s, or 79 grains of H4198, backer rod, and a Woodleigh 650.
I do need to get the chronograph out and shoot off a rest to see how it really groups and verify the speed.
Right now this has been a heavy snow year here and no access to shooting spots since November. Can’t wait for Spring.....last big snows are usually mid to end of April.
-Mike
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 14/03/19 01:37 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Quote:
To everybody else, if you have a .577 pull it out and let's see them.
Curl
“.....pull it out and let's see them....” - that is not to be confused with “whip it out”
I know that Huvius (Ben) has one, he needs to get with it and post pictures and specs!
- Mike
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 14/03/19 11:16 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Here’s the Alexander Henry 3-1/4”
Pretty photo heavy here but I’m hoping to showcase the little aspects of these Alex Henry doubles that make them so great.
She’s a pretty worn old girl but just exudes a presence of refinement and brutality in concert with each other.
Sort of an embodiment of the British Empire of the time.
This 577 was added to the ledger on Nov. 29th 1873.
I think I’ll start calling her Queen Victoria!
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 14/03/19 11:35 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Mike, I know what you mean about the snow this year!
Every weekend I think “yeah, next weekend I’ll get out to the range”
Then by Weds the weekend forecast is for snow and cold.
As I write this, we are in the midst of a pretty good blizzard. Wet snow and gusts up to 65mph. Have to go out periodically and shake the Austrian Pines and Firs I have around the house as the snow is really weighing them down. Fortunately the deciduous trees haven’t leafed out yet or they would be getting thrashed. I guess the wind keeps accumulation to a minimum on those too.
I agree with the posts about the 577s
One can shoot a 450 quite comfortably for a good long time.
A 500 is still a ball but you know you’ve been shooting one, that’s certain.
The 577 is an entirely different ball game! I’m about a ten shot man in reasonably quick succession, that’s all I can muster before the novelty wears off.
The barrels heat up much more quickly than a 450 or 500 too. I guess that stands to reason considering the amount of powder these things consume!
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 14/03/19 12:02 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Guys, let's get together for a .577 shoot!
The weather here is good enough for casting bullets now, provided the rain stays away. I need to cast some and the load for my two .577 rifles.
Come to Virginia and shoot! We can take pictures, post them on NE.com, and be famous.
Ben, that Henry is gorgeous. I didn't know you had that.
Curl
| Huvius |
| (.416 member) |
| 14/03/19 12:16 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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That would be great!
I have always wanted to visit Virginia, especially the North.
Was looking at a great property near White Post but luckily it sold (according to my wife anyway)
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 14/03/19 12:25 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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I think the western mountains of Virginia are the best, but certainly the Shenandoah Valley is splendid. White Post is right near Winchester, a very historic area. I'm just a little over two hours southwest of Winchester.
Come visit and shoot. DarylS was here last fall.
Curl
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 14/03/19 12:55 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Ben,
Very nice .577 Henry! So November 29, 1873.......
Gotta love a classic .577 Express. Your hammer profile is a clone of my 1877 vintage .450 double.
I just had Steve Bertram bring back the damascus brown on my .450, it had been rebrowned by some hack somewhere in its past and was as dark as a Hershey bar with no pattern. Now it looks like a well preserved 140 year old period specimen with nice subdued brown and visible pattern.
Guess I need to get with it and post pictures of my 1873 vintage Stephen Grant .577, it is a 3” now but I’m guessing it was originally a 2-1/2” as there is just the faintest visible imperfection at 2-1/2” on my fired brass, that and it weighs only 8lbs 4oz.
Have tried to contact Francis Lovell as well as Atkin, Grant, & Lang to see if there are any of the old Grant records in existance but they don’t return either emails or actual letters. Probably have to phone them.......
- Mike
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 14/03/19 02:46 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Take him up on it, huvius. Most excellent host (his wife, that is.) Turned out he couldn't even get the County to open the public range for us. Scared of a little hurricane or something. Did do some shooting up on shit ridge, though - that was fun!!!
On the plus side, he does have a good taste for beer.
| Yukon577 |
| (.224 member) |
| 20/04/19 05:42 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Hi Guys,
I have a Jeffrey hammerless top lever .577 3 1/4” double regulated for the 6 1/2 dram 650 grain bullet load.
Would someone mind helping me to post some pictures of the rifle and the Jeffery daybook entry for it?
Any help would be appreciated.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/04/19 06:11 AM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express - relatively rare chambering
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Quote:
Hi Guys,
I have a Jeffrey hammerless top lever .577 3 1/4” double regulated for the 6 1/2 dram 650 grain bullet load.
Would someone mind helping me to post some pictures of the rifle and the Jeffery daybook entry for it?
Any help would be appreciated.
Shoot them to me & I will do it. Not sure you still have or ever did have my email address.....I’ll PM you.
- Mike
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 27/05/19 04:18 AM |
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.577 3-1/4” Express
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Posted for Yukon.577
Jeffery .577 3-1/4” BPE
6-1/2 Dram 650 grain bullet
Just the thing for a Woolly Mammoth/Mastadon?
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 27/05/19 03:43 PM |
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Re: .577 3-1/4” Express
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Lovely and useful!
Thanks 3DogMike for assisting the member with displaying images.