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wadeb
.224 member


Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Oregon, USA
Searcy .500 N.E.
      #29549 - 15/04/05 01:32 PM

My Searcy .500 N.E. PH arrived today and I am very impressed at how the rifle came out. I decided to go ahead and order the Searcy due to the positive feedback that I found on this forum. All I can say is that Butch seems to be a very honest, open and up front guy. I already have a
Merkel .470 and an old William Evans .470 that has some great history with it. Granted, the old english guns are wonderful, especially if they have some history behind them but at the end of the day they all fire the same slug and whatever you are shooting is not going to know the difference. I want to thank everyone for all of their valubale input on this forum.

wadeb


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29550 - 15/04/05 01:42 PM

Congratulations. I hope you enjoy your new double. Great calibre too.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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new_guy
Sponsor


Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: NitroX]
      #29551 - 15/04/05 02:25 PM

In reply to:

Great calibre too.




He means "caliber"

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


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39063
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Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: new_guy]
      #29553 - 15/04/05 03:07 PM

Some of us speak English not American.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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Rell
.375 member


Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: NitroX]
      #29557 - 15/04/05 10:07 PM

Congradulations. I'm pretty close to ordering one to. I'm glad to know you're happy with it.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.


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Sig55
.224 member


Reged: 22/05/04
Posts: 11
Loc: Virginia
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29558 - 15/04/05 11:02 PM

How 'bout posting some photos. I'm interested in that exact combinatin myself. I've never seen an "overall" picture of the gun to get a feel for it though, just closeups of the receiver from the website. Congratulations on the great buy, although it sounds like your toy chest was well stocked before this.

John Sigmond


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new_guy
Sponsor


Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: NitroX]
      #29560 - 15/04/05 11:56 PM

In reply to:

Some of us speak English not American.




oh, i was just kidding.

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


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JPK
.375 member


Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: new_guy]
      #29565 - 16/04/05 01:12 AM

Wadeb,

Congrats on the newgun. Can't wit for photos!

JPK


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clark7781
.375 member


Reged: 28/10/04
Posts: 612
Loc: Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29567 - 16/04/05 01:28 AM

Congratulations!!!

I have a Merkel in .500 NE and what a fun round to shoot. My pop just ordered a .577 NE from Butch and is actually meeting with the man today to finalize his options, fitting and engraving...

--------------------
Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE


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500grains
.416 member


Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29576 - 16/04/05 07:26 AM

Congratulations on the new rifle!

My Searcy is a .500 and I am quite delighted with it. So far it has 3 elephants under its belt, and we are looking for that number to increase.


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wadeb
.224 member


Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Oregon, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: 500grains]
      #29608 - 17/04/05 12:27 AM

Thanks for the congrats guys, lucky you to have three elephants under your belt. I don't think that I would be able to afford that ever. I do do the odd buffalo hunt though. As for posting pictures, I just need to find someone who can help me do it and then I will do it.

wadeb


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NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29621 - 17/04/05 02:58 PM

wadeb
Have you considered a cow elephant hunt in Zimbabwe?
The trophy fee is about the same for buff. Hunting cow elephants is about the most exciting hunting you can do.


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Rell
.375 member


Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: NE450No2]
      #29624 - 17/04/05 11:41 PM

About how much USD?

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.


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NE450No2
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Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: Rell]
      #29625 - 18/04/05 12:16 AM

For cow elephants in ZIM, 2,000 to 3,000. And most places you can shoot more than one. I shot 2 last June. I have 6 on quota next March.

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Rell
.375 member


Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: NE450No2]
      #29647 - 18/04/05 05:31 AM

Who was your PH/outfitter and where you happy with him?

This is very interesting!

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.


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500grains
.416 member


Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: Rell]
      #29648 - 18/04/05 05:56 AM

I went to the shooting range today, and one of the rifles I shot was my .500 Nitro Searcy. At 50 yards, with my left hand resting on a sandbag but the butt against my shoulder only, I shot a left-right group that measured 1 1/8 inches center to center. But I'm still not used to the kick.

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wadeb
.224 member


Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Oregon, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: 500grains]
      #29653 - 18/04/05 06:47 AM

In reply to 450no2, thanks for the elephant info and I will keep that in mind.
500grains, that is very impressive shooting. What powder were you using and what velocity were you getting? Just by reading previous posts, Butches 110grains of IMR 4831 is getting around 2050. I have loaded some up and I will chronograph them sometime this week together with RL-15 loads of 94 and 96 grains in both woodleigh softs and solids. My goal, I assume like everyone else is to try and obtain a velocity of as near as possible to the 2150 that the cordite did without losing any accuracy. I remember Geronimo stating that 96 gr of RL-15 did 2150 in his rifle so we'll see what it does in mine.

wadeb


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Geronimo
.275 member


Reged: 14/04/04
Posts: 83
Loc: Michigan,USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29683 - 18/04/05 03:07 PM

You are correct in that quote. However, the original loading was from a 30 inch proof barrel. Most barrels today are about 24 inches or so, therefore those same loads would probably chroney at about 2050- 2100 in the shorter barrels of today. So work up from that point and stop when you get the best regulation. Four to six grains of powder make a huge difference in felt recoil in the 500 NE. I once fired a box of 500 NE from Superior Ammo and they all chronied around 2050 fps.

Geronimo


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NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: Rell]
      #29705 - 19/04/05 01:52 AM

rell
I hunted in the OMAY Juned of 2004 with www.hhksafaris.com
My PH was Wayne Edwards. I had a great trip, no problems.
Shot one cow at 6 yards, frontal brain, second cow at 12 yards, side brain.
We spotted my bull elephant from quite a way off, snuck up on him, saw him at close range in thick jess 3 times, could not get a shot. After a couple of hours spotted him crossing a small more open area I hit him at 120 yards with a right and a left. He spun around and came for us. I had broken his leg so he went a short distance and fell down, as he got back up I frontal brained him at @ 60 to 70 yards.
I added 2 finishers at point blank range.
Tusks are reported to be 50 and 55 lbs.
I recommend HHK and Wayne Edwards with out reservation.
You can see some of my animals at www.safarivideos.com
Mt initials are TB. Ian Lewis did a video of the hunt. I recommend him highly. He is doing my next Safari in March 2007.


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39063
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: new_guy]
      #29723 - 19/04/05 10:19 AM

In reply to:

Poster: new_guy
Subject: Re: Searcy .500 N.E.

In reply to:

In reply to: NitroX

Some of us speak English not American.







oh, i was just kidding.





Here endeth the English English spelling lesson of the day.

Did you know in Germany, some schools offer lessons in either English or American? Which is where my comment above was obliquely sourced from.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39063
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29724 - 19/04/05 10:22 AM

In reply to:

As for posting pictures, I just need to find someone who can help me do it and then I will do it.





WadeB

If you want photos posted please send them to me at PhotosATNitroExpress.com with the AT changed to @ (to avoid spammers).

I check that email address maybe once a week but usually only after inviting someone to send something.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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510Wells
.275 member


Reged: 16/11/03
Posts: 62
Loc: Gold Bar, Wa.
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: Geronimo]
      #29730 - 19/04/05 12:29 PM

Geronimo,

I'm getting right at 2108 avg. (8 shots with ES 29 fps.) using Butchs 110 gr. IMR 4831 load out of my 500NE Searcy. I thought the 2150 vel. for 570 gr. bullet in the 500 was out of a 26'' barrel, yes? even though the proof load was using 30'' barrels? Greater stress and all that...

I'm planning on trying your RL-15 96gr. when the rains let up as I find the IMR 4831 load a bit stout for my taste. How does that (RL-15) load regulate in your gun?

Roi

--------------------
The only constant is change.

Member DRSS


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500grains
.416 member


Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: wadeb]
      #29733 - 19/04/05 01:21 PM

Wadeb,

I use Butch's regulating load of 110 grains IMR4831. But I have had some chrono inconsistencies, so I don't think the velocities I recorded were accurate.

Soon I am going to start trying H4350. Hopefully around 104 grains or so will regulate.

Re15 is intriguing, but I am not thrilled with the idea of a filler.


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wadeb
.224 member


Reged: 11/11/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Oregon, USA
Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: 500grains]
      #29761 - 20/04/05 12:33 AM

I got about 2103 with butches 110gr of IMR 4831 and the recoil was considerably more than RL-15. 94gr of RL-15 with woodleigh softs gave me an average of 2074 and with solids I got an average of 2102. The 96gr in soft gave me 2102 aswell. The weather was pretty cool so that could of affected the chrony but anyway these are the averages it gave me. I have always liked RL-15 for my .470's. Ross siegfried in one of the double gun journals seems to think that this is the only powder worth considering in doubles. He uses dacron as a filler and I have never tried it. G. Wright in his book "Shooting the British double rifle" mentioned that he used regular grey packing foam and never had a problem with it. That is what I have been using and have also never had a problem with it. He has a picture of the foam in that book to give you an idea of the kind he is talking about if you decide to use it. In the .500, I use roughly half an inch of the foam cut so that it fits snugly in the cartridge. In the .470, I use one inch pieces cut snugly to fit the .470 cartridge. Hope that helps.

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Reged: 01/05/04
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Re: Searcy .500 N.E. [Re: 500grains]
      #29764 - 20/04/05 02:00 AM

500grains,

I have found that 105 grains H4350 with the Woodliegh 570 grain SN and a Fed 215 primer in HDS brass regulates perfectly in my Merkel .500 NE.

I also use the very same load with the Cast Performance 525gr. WFNGC .511 dia. The cast bullet makes a great practice load and costs about 1/3 of the Woodliegh. Mine shoots it to the same point and regulates just fine. It would also be a fine bullet for hunting non-dangerous critters.

Like you, I am not interested in shooting R15. I tried a few loadings early on and found it not to be as accurate in my .500 as the H4350. Contrary to popular opinion I notice no difference in recoil.

I hope this is helpful to you,
Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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