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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

20 Gauge Double Rifle
#84364 - 21/08/07 08:47 PM

I have recently acquired a Henry Egg double rifle, sold to me as a .577 BBE. On chamber casting it, I discovered that the cartridge length is 2 and 1/4 inches and that the bore is in fact 20 Gauge. I am looking for any info on the loading and bullet weight as all my rifles no matter what age must work in the field. Anyone have any ideas to help me out?

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: Finearms]
#84366 - 21/08/07 09:25 PM

20/577 calibre.

Will have to get my ref books but someone
here will answer it.

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ALAN_MCKENZIE
.400 member

Reged: 24/03/04
Posts: 1214
Loc: Western Australia

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: 500Nitro]
#84370 - 21/08/07 09:39 PM

Interesting,I bought a martini actioned rifle believing it to be a 577 black powder.
Research showed that it might be a 20/577 .
I showed it to a very reputable gunsmith recently and he seems to think that is a 577 Snyder.
His belief was that before the Brits addopted the 577/450 they also trialed the 577 Snyder.
Mine is very roughly finished and apart from proof marks has no other markings to identify it.

Marrakai is the man to talk to as iff my memory serves me correctly as he owns one..

Al

--------------------
"Dogs always bark at their master"
Sir Seretse Khama.25th June 1949

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: ALAN_MCKENZIE]
#84377 - 22/08/07 12:48 AM

Marakai has a 20/577. He can surely steer you in the right direction. Did Egg make rifles after the introduction of the 20 gauge?

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: Finearms]
#84396 - 22/08/07 07:11 AM

finearms

am i reading it correctly? that the bore is 20 gauge if so the you got a 20 gauge rifle

the other case the others are talking abouth is an alex henry special 20 gauge x 577
the case is 2 3/4" long and is basicly a 20 gauge neckede down to 577.
marrakai has a good story abouth his on his web site with some good tips to get it shooting again.
i got one as well you can find it @ alex henry return to life. on this site

if you got a 20 gauge dbl rifle look at the gauge rifle section.

what ever you got it will be a gem.

peter

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: peter]
#84419 - 22/08/07 02:38 PM

Thanks for the info Peter. It is definitely a 20 Guage rifle. The 600 nitro cartridge cut down to 2 and a 1/4 fits snug into the breech and the bore diameter is .606 in the grooves. Just need to get the bullet weight now so I can make the mould, and the reloading die, and get the right charge weight.

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: mickey]
#84420 - 22/08/07 02:42 PM

Thanks for the response. Its definitely 20gauge not 20/577. The 577 bullet drops through the Henry rifling. Bore mics out at .606 in the grooves, as opposed to the .585 of the .577.
Rgds,
Duncan

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: 500Nitro]
#84421 - 22/08/07 03:01 PM

Definitely 20 gauge not 20/577. Going to post a couple of pics with the chamber casting set next to a 470 nitro and a snider round. I see you are in Vic. I am off to Aus Antique Arms auction in Oct. If you attend perhaps we can share some views.

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: ALAN_MCKENZIE]
#84422 - 22/08/07 03:05 PM

Alan, definitely a 20gauge rifle. Postibg pics now of chamber casting etc. Your Martini is interesting. A friend of mine in South Africa may be able to shed some light on it. I helped him sell his collection of over 800 firearms and a number of his rifles appeared in Wal Winfers books. Will give him a buzz and see what he has to offer.

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: ALAN_MCKENZIE]
#84429 - 22/08/07 04:08 PM

Alan, I have spoken to Vere Bressler and he tells me your rifle is an Alex Henry calibre. Very rare. He has a cartridge for it and will send me dimensions etc. The cartridge is in the Eley Catalogue of 1901. He has come across an Alex Henry falling block which he has just purchased and has seen a double rifle in that calibre. Have you looked in Hoyam's four volumes on cartridges? I believe you will find it there. Vere is going to dig out his Hoyams for us on that and if he finds it will fax me a copy of the relevant page

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: Finearms]
#84436 - 22/08/07 06:32 PM

finearms

please post the copy on here, we are a few who really like this round.

peter

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: peter]
#84447 - 22/08/07 11:06 PM

Hi Peter, new to the site. How do I put photos into message? Tried copy and paste but no go!
Regards,
Duncan

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: Finearms]
#84449 - 23/08/07 12:49 AM

hi duncan
upload your photos to a website (your own or the free photobucket).

do a reply not a quick reply, then there is an option callede image, press that and write or paste the url of the pictures in there bada bing.

it took me a few trys but now it is as easy as shooting a pheasant.

wellcome to the site by the way, you will find that conserning big bores and dbl rifles there is a lot of knowlegde here and a gentelman like tone among ourshelfs

peter

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Finearms
.224 member

Reged: 20/08/07
Posts: 14
Loc: South AFrica

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: peter]
#84499 - 23/08/07 09:24 PM

Henry Egg [image]http://picasaweb.google.com/Finearms/HenryEgg?authkey=hFgV9WhJClA[/image]

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peter
removed

Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 1493
Loc: denmark

Re: 20 Gauge Double Rifle [Re: Finearms]
#84518 - 24/08/07 12:58 AM