.470 NE 3" Reduced Loads

[magnoliaslim]

I went by jefats house the other day, drank 2 cups of his Cajun coffee, and the next thing I know I am the proud owner of a Searcy .470 double rifle. No, I didn't buy it from him. Anyway does anyone know where I can find some reduced loads information for this bad boy? I'm not even sure yet of the exact bore dimension. Mt. Baldy has .476 470/510 gr FNGC so that must be it. I'm looking for loads in the 1000 to 17-1800 fps loads. Of course the really light stuff will be for jefats. Maybe if he really likes it, I can talk him into buying it. Can't wait to watch him touch off a factory load.

[rigby]

Thats awesome, Searcy is a excellent maker way lot of gun for the money. Unfortunately reduced loads dont work very well in doubles. The velocity, bullet weight and recoil all work together to regulate the rifle. I do remember an article Seyried did on a converted Ruger #1 in which he had to use dacron to fill the case for accuracy.

[Len]

Rigby is correct I have had a number of English doubles ( I have no experience with a Searcy) But the principals are the same. If he has a load that is regulated stick with it right down to the bullet shape and weight.

English guns typically shot further apart using lighter loads and as you increased powder you could get the barrels to cross. In this scenario the powder weight was the only variable.

Len

[magnoliaslim]

I imagine the full house loads will remind me of a line from Braveheart,

" That'll wake you up in the morn'n boy. "

[Len]

Double rifles are normally not that hard to shoot assuming it is of correct weight and the stock design does not have excessive drop. A 470 should be around 11lbs. It should balance and handle like a fine side by side shotgun.

I have owned doubles up to 577 and even it was not all that unpleasant too shoot. I will tell you this if your shooting at something that can shoot back like a buff or jumbo you never feel the recoil. Bolt rifles like the 460 various 500s are far more punishing. The velocity your pushing the big slug at is also a factor the doubles are in the 2150 fps range. When you start pushing 500 grains faster you will feel it!

The really large doubles 600 or 700 nitro's are like holding a sewer pipe the barrels are hugh. I have a large hand but have never felt comfortable wrapping it around these barrels.

Set up a target at 50 yards a round black bulls eye of no more than 8". Hold the gun consistently! You can shoot over a truck hood bracing your arms in sand bags. Hold the gun do not let it make contact with the bags just brace yourself forearm elbow etc. You should get what we call minute of buffalo. Four shot groups you can cover with your palm.

Most important have fun.

Len

[rigby]

Len, I figured you may appreciate this one. I love doubles but never had the purse for them. So I had a Good friend and gunsmith who's made double barreled slug guns before make this one for me. I have posted it before but what the heck. Its a Fausti that has been regulated for Brennke Black Magic slugs. They are 600gr and go 1500fps. The target is the first 4 shots I took with the gun at close to 60yds. He left the sights high for me to file where I want. Since I have taken these pictures I have removed the standing leaf and have file the two folding sights for 50 and 100. This way I can use it as shotgun when the sights are folded down. A very poor mans Explora ;D

[magnoliaslim]

Thanks Leonard,
I went over to www.accuratereloading.com forums and scanned their Double Rifles thread. Found some good reduced loads info using anywhere from 35 - 48 grs. of 5744 and cast bullets for velocities ranging from around 1200 - 1600 fps. plus good accuracy. Don't know when I'll get to Africa or Alaska so I'll just use these, if they give me good accuracy, on paper and the local white tail population.
With my double and a .500 Linebaugh on my hip, I should be able to make a stand against any deer and/or Indian attacks. If it begins to look like I'm about to be overrun, I will call my friend jefats for support. He'll get on his phone right away and call up reinforcements.

[Len]

Rigby that is a very nice gun I am impressed with how its regulated that being one of the most difficult and controversial areas of building a double.

Len

[Len]

PS that would make a fun pig gun!

[nobearsyet]

That was whta I thought whne I saw it on the old site, FYI there's talk over on the levergun forum about building a 45-70 double off a 12 ga SXS shotgun, might be worth the read, but there's not much technical on it yet since Paco's wife's been sick