Big Bore Addiction Group

[Warbird782]

I would love to see your collection @ActionBob! We will have to do a range session sometime for sure!

 

[ActionBob]

Bob,
You've earned it my friend! And there is nothing wrong with excessive compulsive behavior when it comes to guns!
Glad you filled your RSM list,
Cody

Thanks Cody! Now one of these days I'm going to have to just sit down with the wife and give her one heck of a good listening too about buying all these guns!

 

[ActionBob]

I would love to see your collection @ActionBob! We will have to do a range session sometime for sure!

You'll have to let me know which ones to pack up and bring out.

 

[Warbird782]

I can head on down your way as well @ActionBob

 

[matt85]

everyone seems to be buying a 458 Lott... must resist... already have a 450 NE 3.25".

-matt

 

[enysse]

Holy cow, ActionBob....I thought I had a problem. I guess you and I look for solutions to fill the gun safe.

 

[shuter]

Why 458 Lott of course! I plan to be up 40 miles from Fargo tomorrow but won't have time to pick it up first much less clean it and get it ready to shoot or I'd invite you to come try it out! Not sure when I'll be back up but definitely this summer....

Congrats Bob! I'm lovin' the Lott so far. Curious to know what you think of that Caprivi?

 

[JacquesVR]

Shuter - while waiting on Bob's response here is my 2c worth regarding the Caprivi in 458 Lott - I have owned mine now for a couple of years , which happened by chance as I was in the market for a Lott and could not find a Cz at the time , found the Kimber after a gunshop advised they only have one Lott and that it was the Kimber. The rifle is a bit light for some but in my opinion you will be carrying a lot more than shooting - the recoil is stout but hey it is a 45 it should be bearing in mind that what it does on your end is multiplied a 100 times or more at the other end where it counts. I "roll my own" for all my rifles and the Lott being my first straight walled it was a bit of a learing curve but Ty from Barnes helped a lot in getting the right load that is so accurate I take out the inch block at 100yards consistently (Would say MOA but two rounds close enough to each other in the 45 is almost an incha anyway ). The feeding is very smooth (I load to max COAL) and I have run it with 4 in the mag and 1 up to make sure it runs as it should when the chips are down. Irons are good as well but "regulated to 50 yards , a "green" leaf is provided if you want to spend the time on the range with a file or get your smith to do that to "build" the V to your preffered distance , I like the Win based 3 Position safety - it is positive when selecting with a felt click between positions but quiet enough not to cause issues if / when you are up close and personal (I have at occasion swapped rounds from soft to solid by using the 2nd position) . The only downside to me is the fact the Kimber build to exact tolerance (SAAMI Spec) which means you cannot load long and the ejection port is also exact (meaning a possibly a bit small) - if you need to reload in a hurry it could become a problem but if you cannot finish whatever you started with 4 rounds you already have issues ....other than that a great rifle in my opinion, well finished , smooth, propper feeding with CRF and accurate to boot.

 

[matt85]

sounds like a decent review to me.

looking at the weight of only 8.5 pounds id say its VERY light for its chambering! but too light is pretty easily solved by adding weight to the stock so I wouldn't let that stop me from buying one.

did some looking around, the price on a new Kimber in 458 Lott seems too high for what your getting. I see $2800 at most places which is a lot considering the gun is fairly basic. a new CZ in 458 Lott can be had for $1200, then you send it off to AHR for their basic upgrade for another $700 and you have a perfectly serviceable 458 Lott for $1900.

-matt

 

[Wouter Roets]

Hallo Guys

I think it would be safe and in no way presumptions to ad my name here. It is one of the worst and all compassing afflictions that I suffer from. To my utter dismay I have found that I am starting to think in the double direction as well. A friend of mine Johan van Wyk trough a great friend of his Andrew Tonkin are working on my diminishing grey stuff to start investing in grand old English doubles. I can not argue with their reasoning but it is a significant jump specially in the financial department. But a sound one none the less.

Currently I have a 375 Ruger, 375 H&H Ackley Improved, 416 Ruger, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott and 505 Gibbs that fits the bill. All of these guns have to earn their keep and gets taken out on a regular base in the hunting veldt.

Regards
Wouter

 

[JacquesVR]

Hi Wouter - I recognise both names (Johan & Andrew) mainly as they contribute to the local gun magazines quite often - would love to gothe double route but from a cost perspective it will be out of reach for me for a while still - As for using the big or bigger bores - Why own them if one does not intend to use them. To be honest I have not hunted with one of my small bores in a very long time - Big bores are addictive!!

Matt - Agreed the Kimber is expensive (It was quite a lot more expensive than the CZ when I bought) but the off the shelf finish is a lot better (A lot smoother , a decent safety, Nice / Well designed stock (AAA Grade Walnut....albeit Fench )) and the fact that additional Smithing work in SA is pretty expensive in itself but absolutely a fair point.

 

[ActionBob]

Matt;
I think you make excellent points for us in the US. Providing you get a CZ with nice wood. Does that AHR upgrade include installing a proper barrel band sling swivel? And taking off the hand ripping one in the stock? If you get the nice wood and barrel band, etc. from CZ, that gun lists at over $3000.

My biggest complaint ion the "common" CZ's is the wood quality. Saw a full stock 7x57 (I think?) the other day and was thinking that would be one to bring home... But the wood was like a 2x6 from Home Depot.

 

[spike.t]

Hallo Guys

I think it would be safe and in no way presumptions to ad my name here. It is one of the worst and all compassing afflictions that I suffer from. To my utter dismay I have found that I am starting to think in the double direction as well. A friend of mine Johan van Wyk trough a great friend of his Andrew Tonkin are working on my diminishing grey stuff to start investing in grand old English doubles. I can not argue with their reasoning but it is a significant jump specially in the financial department. But a sound one none the less.

Currently I have a 375 Ruger, 375 H&H Ackley Improved, 416 Ruger, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott and 505 Gibbs that fits the bill. All of these guns have to earn their keep and gets taken out on a regular base in the hunting veldt.

Regards
Wouter

@Wouter Roets with all those you dont have a double or two as well? bout time you started buying a few me thinks......

 

[shuter]

Matt;
I think you make excellent points for us in the US. Providing you get a CZ with nice wood. Does that AHR upgrade include installing a proper barrel band sling swivel? And taking off the hand ripping one in the stock? If you get the nice wood and barrel band, etc. from CZ, that gun lists at over $3000.

My biggest complaint ion the "common" CZ's is the wood quality. Saw a full stock 7x57 (I think?) the other day and was thinking that would be one to bring home... But the wood was like a 2x6 from Home Depot.

Good points, Bob. You'd need AHR's #2 package for $1,450, and you'd end up with an arguably superior rifle to the Caprivi, for roughly the same amount...assuming you got decent wood from CZ. I love AHR's stuff, though. I'd probably have to go that way vs. the Caprivi.

And Matt, the Caprivi is both pillar and glass bedded from the factory. Very nicely done from what I hear.

 

[ActionBob]

Rob you right on in that.

I still think the RSM is one of the better options in a Lott. Although I go back to my stance that the 416 Rigby version is the finest of the fine when it comes to those! That is such a cool case, big and impressive but not overbearing like the Gibbs. And not a reworked 375 like the Lott and so many others. Nice ka klunk when your feeding and ejecting them! And the classic caliber.

 

[Wouter Roets]

Guys

On my last buffalo hunt to Mozambique my friend took along one of his Verney-Caorron's in 577NE for his elephant. What a truly beautiful work of art. It is well put together with classic English lines and is a real track driver to boot. I must admit that I never really considered doubles before this, but after this trip my mind is in turmoil to say the least. To make matters worse is that he has got 4 of them in 470NE, 500NE and two 577NE in different grades. He is also a very big Sako collector and his 416 Rigby, 450 Rigby and 500 Jeff is gathering dust because of the doubles. Something I am personally very scared of once the bug has bitten me.

Jacques I have been avoiding meeting Andrew like I avoid our collector of internal revenue because I just know he is going to start with Mike's argument. According to Johan to look at his collection is the same as having a multiple orgasm. Having never experienced one myself you can imagine my trepidation in walking into his fault!

Regards
Wouter

 

[matt85]

hrm good point, my theory on the CZ 458 Lott really only works inside the USA. we are lucky enough to have companies that specialize in working on them. the CZ in its stock form is rough and unreliable in my experience. every CZ rifle ive owned needed work to feed correctly. so if your unable to find someone to work on them for a decent price then i would say they arent worth it.

as for the sling stud on the CZ, ive never had an issue with it. granted i prefer the barrel band (who doesnt?) but in my time shooting large bore guns ive never found my left hand to move much forward or aft under recoil. even when using a schuetzen style hold where you dont actually hold onto the gun with your left hand. im sure this would probably change with bigger guns as ive only tested this up to the 505 Gibbs.

here is a 505 Gibbs being fired in a semi-schuetzen style hold (a proper hold would have my fingers open):

note how my left hand is relaxed and not gripping the firearm. in this hold you tuck your elbow into your body and use your left arm as a shooting rest rather then a means to grip the rifle. i absolutely love this type of hold for off-hand target shooting as its much more stable then stretching your arm out in the standard riflemans hold.

-matt

 

[ActionBob]

im sure this would probably change with bigger guns as ive only tested this up to the 505 Gibbs.

Matt;
Only you can say "only... up to the 505 Gibbs" with a straight face!

 

[matt85]

Matt;
Only you can say "only... up to the 505 Gibbs" with a straight face!

ill give the hold a try with the 585 HE when it shows up. that way i can say "only up to a 585".

on that note, Mr. Hubel has told me my friends 585 HE single shot rifle is complete and its on its way to us! this will finally allow me to try the 585 HE in both light and medium loads. we have two types of cartridges prepared, one which should fire a 750gr bullet at around 2100fps and another that should fire a 750gr bullet at 2300+fps. we may try full house loads in the future depending on how much recoil 2300fps generates. at full steam 2600fps with a 750gr bullet shouldnt be difficult to obtain from his long barrel but im concerned the recoil would be uncontrolable.

my own personal rifle is still waiting on a stock so it will be a little while longer.

-matt

 

[enysse]

note how my left hand is relaxed and not gripping the firearm. in this hold you tuck your elbow into your body and use your left arm as a shooting rest rather then a means to grip the rifle. i absolutely love this type of hold for off-hand target shooting as its much more stable then stretching your arm out in the standard riflemans hold.

I will have to give that hold a try, I'll start with a small bore rifle first though .