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Hollis500
.224 member


Reged: 17/08/06
Posts: 19
Loc: Surrey, England
New Boy, New Double
      #61316 - 17/08/06 07:35 PM

In a fit of romanticism I have just organised buying a Hollis 500 NE DR. To date my rifle career has been bolt actions, stalking and 3 Africa trips so far (and Zambia for buff in only 4 weeks now). The BAs are both Mausers, a 275 Rigby with a 1912 intermediate Oberndorf and a 375 H&H mag Mauser action - both rifles made by Ron Wharton - the 375 is especially accurate.

The Hollis is a boxlock with terrible stock and very poor factory "India" style engaraving. I fired it yesterday and managed to get 3 out of 4 shots into a 4 in circle at 40m. (Despite ill fitting shoulder pad) It has new hinge pin, all rejointed etc. The plan is for Ron to completely erase the grotty engraving, refurb and restock it (modest wood), likely re colour harden and get Marcus Hunt to do some light engraving/gold, but generally to keep it basic looking. All up in a refurbed case, with tools and new canvas overcover, regulated etc etc it will cost £8000, I want it as a shooter

I'd be interested in advice on sights (I am thinking diamond foresight - good size and flip up moon), will I ever get the dosh back on a resale, should I go for a recoil reducer - I was OK with it at the range but it gave a healthy clout

All advice gratefully recieved - on anything else you want to tell me

--------------------
Hollis500

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: Hollis500]
      #61317 - 17/08/06 08:24 PM

Hollis500

Welcome to the forum.

Re front sight, I have a number of diamond sights and they
are great.

Diamond sights are good but you
need to make sure whoever puts it in knows what they
are doing - ie it has to be the right shaped diamond
cut the right way and set at the correct angle so it gives
the same sight picture regardless of where the sun is.

I believe if you have a diamond you don't need a
flip up - for use anyway - as you never have time
- but they do look good !!!

Personally, I'd get it looking good and working fine
but not over doing it - ie don't over capitalise the
gun otherwise you won't get your money back.

I don't agree or recommend recoil reducers, especially
on old guns.

Suggest use something like a Limbsaver Recoil Pad
which reduce felt recoil by 50%.

Well done and good luck - PM me if needed.

500 Nitro


Edited by 500Nitro (18/08/06 02:22 AM)

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mickey
.416 member


Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: 500Nitro]
      #61320 - 18/08/06 12:22 AM

I would agree with 5ooNitro about putting too much money into it. If you plan to keep it for your pleasure than no problem but if you think to re sell it and turn a bit of profit you can't have so much invested.

I have an Isaac Hollis in 577 and like it very much. There are a couple of long threads on Hollis here with some very knowledgeable posters. Try a search.

Oh, welcome to Nitro Express and the world of Double rifles.

--------------------
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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bulldog563
.400 member


Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: mickey]
      #61337 - 18/08/06 05:56 AM

Can someone post a picture of a Diamond sight?

--------------------
Join the National Rifle Association:
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: bulldog563]
      #61343 - 18/08/06 06:50 AM


bulldog,

My guns are in storage so can't get a photo but
here's a description.

On an English foresight you often have a small Brass bead on the foresight which I and other file down at an angle so that the light reflection is the same regardless of where the sun is.
(A round call of Brass or a dead flat (as in vertical) piece of Brass
will change the POI as the light reflection changes even if you do everything the same).

All a Diamond sight is is a small diamond INSET into the point of the foresight so that it shines white from the light reflection and
as I described above, if done correctly you get the same sight picture / light reflection all of the time.

You don't need to use an Expensive Diamond.

Hope this helps.

500 Nitro

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new_guy
Sponsor


Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: bulldog563]
      #61344 - 18/08/06 07:05 AM

Here's a diamond sight made for a high-end HEYM double.



--------------------
www.heymUSA.com

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: new_guy]
      #61346 - 18/08/06 07:30 AM

new_guy

Good one.

I believe in placing a diamond in the Small standard sight
of the FIRST picture as a replacement of the Brass bead.

500 Nitro

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Hollis500
.224 member


Reged: 17/08/06
Posts: 19
Loc: Surrey, England
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: 500Nitro]
      #61351 - 18/08/06 08:00 AM

All

Thanks for the input

Another thought just occurred - how do I clean the thing??

with my smaller(!) bores I use copper solvent and those pressed out felt wads of the right calibre. I use a bronze brush about every 50 rounds and some v fine abrasive paste about once a year/500 rounds

do I get shotgun cleaning stuff - is a 500 about a 28 bore??



--------------------
Hollis500

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: Hollis500]
      #61353 - 18/08/06 08:06 AM


Use Hope's No 9 to get rid of the Poweder fouling fiRST
with a Bronze Brush an d a Jag + patches.

Get a can of Wipe Out for getting rid of the copper
fouling.

Suggest you buy 50 cal Brushes etc - Parker Hale
make them.

500 Nitro

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400NitroExpress
.400 member


Reged: 26/11/03
Posts: 1154
Loc: Lone Star State
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: 500Nitro]
      #61357 - 18/08/06 08:50 AM

Is this an A. Hollis or an I. Hollis? The two are quite different. If it's an A. Hollis, I may be able to help you date it.

I know what you mean about the game scene engraving. I hate it. However, unless the engraving has been damaged beyond restoration, I would strongly recommend leaving it alone. The gun will be worth more the way it is.

As for sights, it probably already has a wide V rear. All that is needed up front is a .080" platinum bead. Stay away from gold or brass - they're hard to see in good light, let alone bad. Larger beads are a mistake as they are just too coarse for any precision past 50 yards.

Once you have it properly restocked to fit you, recoil shouldn't be a problem, as British built .500s are usually heavy enough for caliber. I would never consider a recoil reducer in a double rifle. They're pure murder on handling dynamics which is much of what makes a double worthwhile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

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Hollis500
.224 member


Reged: 17/08/06
Posts: 19
Loc: Surrey, England
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: 400NitroExpress]
      #61358 - 18/08/06 09:31 AM


I had better check which Hollis - I assumed I Hollis but will check

The engraving is very pooely executed tigers and water buff on a very silvered - almost chromed action - it really does look like its been done by a 4 year old and cannot imagine it would not be better off

I was thinking very modest "upgrade" ie name on sides, perhaps rosette on hinge pin and light border with fences scrateched and calibre on floor plate and thats it

--------------------
Hollis500

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JTOMLINSON
.300 member


Reged: 16/02/05
Posts: 188
Loc: York, England
Re: New Boy, New Double [Re: Hollis500]
      #61402 - 19/08/06 01:30 AM

Hollis

Welcome to the forum, I trust you will find it a great source of info and good advice.

Cleaning brushes and jags for the large bore rifles can be obtained from David Little at Kynamco in Mildenhall, suffolk.

David has brass jags made for upto .600 bore and phospor brnze brushes to the same bore size all made to fit the standard male PH thread. I use them for my own rifles and they work just fine.

As for cleaning copper fouling the same solvent that work for your smaller rifles wil be just fine also

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