| TH44 |
| (.375 member) |
| 10/03/19 05:45 AM |
Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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HI guys
I bought this at a recent show, mainly because of the calibre
The serial numbers on the frame and barrel are the same, and the 3 blade leaf sight lead me to believe it was built like this and not a modified military rifle or shotgun
Posting on another forum I was advised not to shoot it despite a recent proof as RBs have a poor safety record????
The cartridge, a Westley Richards competitor to the .500 express but shorter, possibly for their "Improved Matini"
A favourite cartridge for India, I have a DR and "Improved Martini" in the same calibre
Extra safety on the hammer, to allow for ruptured primer?
Recent Birmingham proof marks for BP
Husqvarna trade mark?
Any ideas on the date?
Plus comments please
TH44
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 10/03/19 06:27 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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TH44 - that's pretty cool rifle. If the action is tight, that is, if block is forward with the hammer and it is tight, then probably just fine to shoot it. Appears a fairly late gun. Husky collectors can likely tell you the date of mfgr.
How's the bore?
You could always pull the cross pivot pins to check for damage. If not, then why not shoot it? The cross pins take all of the gaff, due to the hammer block, blocking the rolling block when in fired position.
Thus, in order to 'come back', the pins would have to shear on all 4 - side contact positions to the action walls, or the holes elongate- but still, for the blocks to fly back, they pins would have to shear. RB's are quite strong and even stronger if replaced with schedule 5 or 7 bolts turned down, as a fellow here in PG does.
| iomskp |
| (.300 member) |
| 10/03/19 10:12 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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The action looks the same as my 12 gauge I just sold.
| lancaster |
| (.470 member) |
| 10/03/19 05:14 PM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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nice rifle, would like to have it
see no reason for dont shoot it with the birmingham proof
imho, the better 500BPE and allways rare and hard to find. this was the stopping cartridge for the swedish moose hunter in this days.
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 11/03/19 09:41 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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TH44
you have a wonderful rifle the matey - it's a corker! Will make a wonderful BP Express regardless.
What is the actual 'Proof' load for this old girl?
I don't know the comparative 'strength' of actions (Rolling block Vs Martini) but if this round fitted into an "WR improved Martini", really a normal large Martini, they could certainly take a fair old load of BP behind them - refer this old thread!
http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....SID=#Post258697
I guess the Martini Henry 577/450 load was restricted the 85gn service load, but a hunting rifle is shot a hell of a lot less than a battle rifle & hence a greater charge & recoil?
| TH44 |
| (.375 member) |
| 11/03/19 10:58 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Daryl thank you for your advice, I am reassured for shooting
iomskip - the cheekpiece makes it unlikely to have started life as a shotgun, but logically Husqvarna would have used basic actions for different guns/rifles
I am quite please with this extra "safety"
Lancaster - extreme thanks for the connection with Swedish moose hunters, I had not thought of that, but so logical instead of the India connection I had in my mind. The 577/500 should be an ideal stopper for even this large game
To all practical purposes the .500 and .577/500 in BP are identical in a practical situation
9.3x64mm - I do not know the proof load Birmingham used, they do not give them out AFAIK
The Martini and "Improved Martini are probably the stronger actions with the block contained in the action instead of the pins in the RB Daryl has made the good point that 4 pins must shear before failure
The most quoted RB failure involved a .500 Nitro in a 12.7 x 44 rifle!!
I have shot my 12.7 X 44 RB carbine with NfB with no problems in the past
However, as quoted on another forum, in a lightweight rifle 8 1/4lbs the 577/500 is a beast of a cartridge to shoot extensively. I have a WR "Improved Martini" and a "Howdah" DR in this calibre and after 20 shots (in the DR) you certainly knew you had been shooting!
TH44
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 12/03/19 01:38 PM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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I would have no problem with shooting this rifle. Appears to be in wonderful condition.
How is the bore?
A bunch of 12.7x44R's ended up over here on this side of the pond and many were bought up by gunsmiths. They were re-barreled to .40 calibre, chambered for the .40/65 Sharps straight ctg. Many had the date of 1884 or maybe 1882 on the side of the action.
As this placed them firmly in the 'antique' classification, along with being chambered for ammo not available off the shelf. Thus, those people with prior arrests and convictions for assault in Canada & thus barred from owning firearms, could indeed buy and shoot these legally, as well as flintlocks, but not caplocks - go figure.
Such are the laws of the land - here.
Those .40/65 barrels were new GM sticks, I think, and shot very well indeed.
| DoubleD |
| (.400 member) |
| 12/03/19 10:56 PM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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I will say it here also. I think this gun is a recent rebore of generic 12.9 cartridge of some sort.
I have a 577/500 No.2 Express on a Greener Martini action. It is a beast to shoot. I would not want to shoot this lighter gun in its current stock and barrel configuration, it would be unpleasant.
As to safe, this appears to be rifle action and that has passed recent proof, I see no reason to not shot it.
| lancaster |
| (.470 member) |
| 12/03/19 11:02 PM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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but for target shooting you can make light loads!
nobody force you to fill the case with black powder up to the mouth
| DoubleD |
| (.400 member) |
| 13/03/19 10:51 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Tried that lighter load thing with this Greener, shoots like shotgun and fouls badly. Cases that use large powder charges 135grains of Blackpowder don't tend work well with light loads.
Now the subject RB barrel might of been made for lighter cartridge and work just fine with lighter loads.
But that is the reason we shoot these guns, to learn these things.
| TH44 |
| (.375 member) |
| 13/03/19 11:40 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Douglas - I will repeat the comments I have just posted on BMF
Thank you for your opinions and I have followed your posts over many years with the greatest respect
Below is a pic of my 2 Husqvarnas
At left is my 12.7 x 44 carbine external diameter .799" At right is the .577/500, external diameter .894"
With the original Husqvarna trade mark on the barrel and the hunting sights I believe it is all original
Daryl, the barrel is good but needs a good scrub!
Thanks again for everyones help and comments
Tony
| lancaster |
| (.470 member) |
| 13/03/19 10:11 PM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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the site with the Husqvarna serial numbers is not available anymore but iirc, the 577/500 No. 2 was a factory offer
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 14/03/19 03:10 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Tony - a 'good' scrub with a tight red scotch brite 'patch' on a jag with fine oil might work well for you.
| Igorrock |
| (.400 member) |
| 14/03/19 03:25 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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I have a book for sale where is photos of all Husqvarna shotgun models from 1884 to 1970. There is table of serial numbers per year too.
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 14/03/19 07:19 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Quote:
I have a book for sale where is photos of all Husqvarna shotgun models from 1884 to 1970. There is table of serial numbers per year too.
Igorrock,
would it be possible for you to type in the Year made & Serial Number range if possible for TH44?
| Igorrock |
| (.400 member) |
| 15/03/19 01:22 AM |
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Re: Husqvarna RB in 577/500
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Yes itīs possible but for me is much better if he would like to buy my book. Itīs like "have to own" for all fans of Husqvarna shotguns...
