577 NE double rifles

[Red Leg]

I spent too long in the Army to carry a 14 or 15 pound gun of any description hunting. The guys chosen to carry M249 SAW were not picked for their intellect. Frankly neither did the clients or professionals who used them in the Golden Age of safari.

 

[matt85]

I spent too long in the Army to carry a 14 or 15 pound gun of any description hunting. The guys chosen to carry M249 SAW were not picked for their intellect. Frankly neither did the clients or professionals who used them in the Golden Age of safari.

View attachment 792902

These vintage large bore guns arent for everybody. Prior to smokeless gun powder, you didn't have a choice. Now we shoot and hunt with these guns for fun.

 

[vette447]

Here’s my Hollis 577. Once owned by Tony Sanchez Arino. Full 100gr Cordite 750 gr bullet. Also a picture of my 46 3/8” Buffalo. And 2 shots 1L 1 R purely luck at 100 meters offhand was trying a different charge, 1 1/4”on the white steel plate. And 4 shots offhand at 40 meters. View attachment 792880View attachment 792883View attachment 792885View attachment 792886View attachment 792887View attachment 792888

I love that one! Beautiful rifle with an excellent pedigree and provenance.

 

[Red Leg]

These vintage large bore guns arent for everybody. Prior to smokeless gun powder, you didn't have a choice. Now we shoot and hunt with these guns for fun.

I am aware of the history. Yes, I am sure they are reserved for a chosen special few. Blast away all you want. But, trying to personally hump around 14 pounds of rifle while actually trying to walk down a buffalo or tusker in hundred degree heat strikes me as ridiculous and very far from fun. Have you actually attempted such a hunt yet?

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I am aware of the history. Yes, I am sure they are reserved for a chosen special few. Blast away all you want. But, trying to personally hump around 14 pounds of rifle while actually trying to walk down a buffalo or tusker in hundred degree heat strikes me as ridiculous and very far from fun. Have you actually attempted such a hunt yet?

Your reply above reminds me of what we Marines (and I think soldiers) say, "In the Marines we train to be miserable. We are now experts at being miserable.” Back then we did of course get paid a few dollars for being miserable.

Now that I’m in a retired duty status, I have NO desire to pay someone so that I can once again be miserable!

 

[SStomcat]

But, trying to personally hump around 14 pounds of rifle while actually trying to walk down a buffalo or tusker in hundred degree heat strikes me as ridiculous and very far from fun.

At some point the tusker isn’t the only thing you’re stalking, you’re stalking a comfortable place to put the rifle down.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

My 577 NE weighs 13.6 lbs and I have no problems carrying the weight all day. Heck I can even use a sling if I really need to.

HH

 

[matt85]

I am aware of the history. Yes, I am sure they are reserved for a chosen special few. Blast away all you want. But, trying to personally hump around 14 pounds of rifle while actually trying to walk down a buffalo or tusker in hundred degree heat strikes me as ridiculous and very far from fun. Have you actually attempted such a hunt yet?

Whas is this "chosen few" nonsense? I was attempting to be polite and say that we all have our own interests and priorities. If I wanted to argue over my hobbies with someone, I would have gotten married. Goodbye.

 

[Miletic]

THE Fat Lady......
Mines the 2 3/4 version on a converted Greener shotgun Empire action. A well known double in Australia from previous owners hunting and the hunting I've done with it. Its no slouch with the Woodleigh 650 RNSP projectiles at around d 1750 fps. Regulates well and despite the short barrels ,22"balances and handles well. Comes in at around 10.5lbs.
Reloading proposition so Ive stuck with the original loads from previous owner, only change has been the unavailability of 2206 powder so replaced with 2206H. With no changes to regulation. Despite being a intimidating round to look at its nice to shoot
Ive done a bit of hunting. with it from pigs to water buff scrubbers and sambar. Here's a few pics.
Previous owner's Pic (Marraki)


Under recoil, second shot buff. 650 woodleigh


scrubber

650gr RNSP from boar breaking from his bed in long grass, 2m.

boar

recovered 650 RNSP, designed for light nitro velocities


8feet running, Awesome!

nice scrubber

recovered 650 RNSP two variations and FMJ

sambar spike

Greetings 264
Does the .577 have that poor penetration?

 

[matt85]

Greetings 264
Does the .577 have that poor penetration?

He has a 577 NE 2 3/4", it is the less powerful cousin to the 577 NE 3" that most people think of when you say 577 NE.

 

[Miletic]

He has a 577 NE 2 3/4", it is the less powerful cousin to the 577 NE 3" that most people think of when you say 577 NE.

Ok, I didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[Pondoro]

This is the .600 Holland & Holland mentioned, made for The Mahajarah of Rewa 1921..regrettably not mine. He also had a .600 Jeffery double and the famed .577/600 Rewa double.

 

[Red Leg]

Whas is this "chosen few" nonsense? I was attempting to be polite and say that we all have our own interests and priorities. If I wanted to argue over my hobbies with someone, I would have gotten married. Goodbye.

Didn't like those comments did you. However, I am now confident I also can safely assume you haven't actually tried to drag one of these ridiculous things across a few dozen miles of free range Africa.

Look, you should feel free to do whatever you wish with any legal firearm. I simply worry that someone, who is just beginning his journey into Africa, would become so enamoured with the mystic of a truly outsized double that he might think it was a good idea to make that sort of investment in such an impractical hunting firearm. Certainly, the vast majority of professionals and experienced clients of the Golden age quickly embraced the logic of Nitro Express chamberings .500 and below as soon as they could - assuming they were still using a double at all.

I have posted this on the site before, but the words of my old friend Boet of Zim and Moz come to mind when these discussions begin. He would offer in his perfectly modulated Rhodesian accented English that the only thing that really worried him in Africa was a client showing up for his first buffalo or elephant with his brand new double.

So to be as clear as possible, if you want to own an 8 bore, a .600, or a .577 go for it. It is your money and time. But they, and frankly almost any other double, represent a pretty poor choice for anyone intending to walk down and cleanly kill their first buffalo or elephant.

But as you say ............

Postscript - I own double rifles and have used them in Africa and North America. I have no interest in owning, carrying, or shooting a .577.