Well after having the gun for nearly two months I finally got out today and fired some rounds down at the range.
Not having any of my own projectiles, which have gotten miss-layed somewhere between the U.S and Aus, I fired some of a buddy's handloads with the same projectiles that I'll be using in the future to see how a known load will regulate in my gun.
(gun was regulated with Hornady Factories firing the standard 570gn slugs, today i am firing the 475gn C.E.B non-cons loaded with 100gns R15).
The start was very scratchy with my first shot out of the gun blowing away the target stand after hitting one of the upright support.
If no-one at the range knew that I was shooting a big bore up to that point then they certainly did after pieces of steel frame went flying through the air off the 50yds berm !!
It seems that the point of impact for these loads was far right of the regulation target supplied with the gun shot with a projectile weighing 100gns more than the one currently being fired.
I then thought it prudent to remove some of the human/load error and moved the target back to 25yds for the remainder of the session.
The groups produced by each individual barrel were excellent, far better than I expected and better than I even thought capable considering I shot off a tri-pod, standing.
Each barrel printed in and around the inch mark, maybe just slightly over.
Point of impact for the right barrel was about 2.5 - 3" to the right of point of aim and the left barrel was about 1/2" to the right of point of aim so a slight adjustment of sights may be required here.
The most confusing aspect was the velocities recorded.
They varied from between 1955fps all the way through to 2175fps.
I'm begining to suspect perhaps my buddy that loaded these may have got two different loads mixed up as there just can't be that much of a variation in velocity in the same load.
I'm expecting some feedback from him shortly to verify this possibility.
Other than doubts cast on velocity variation an extremely pleasing session showing the true accuracy potential this gun has and reinforcing my views regarding how comfortable a well fitted big bore rifle can be to shoot.
I fired a total of eighteen concentrated rounds in fairly quick succession on a warmishy day wearing an extremely thin shirt with no padding or protection and am feeling no soreness and showing no bruising !
Viva la .500 !!!!!