Getting ready to buy a .500 Nitro Express

[CptCurl]

I hate to say it, but I am about to jump off the edge again.  I think Saturday I will be buying a .500 NE in the Merkel 140-2 double rifle.  The idea is a Cape Buffalo next July (and a heck of a lot of banging and pounding between now and then - and afterward, I am sure).

Anybody have experience with the .500-3" NE or with the big Merkel double rifle?  I would sure appreciate any observations about the rifle or caliber.  I am intrigued by the .500 NE as opposed to the .470.  Merkel just started chambering that round this year.

I will be loading for it, and really would like some pointers on loads for the brute, both full tilt and reduced.  The fact is, I probably won't ever fire a factory round.  I already have dies and brass for use with my .500
BPE, which I dearly love.

Any good advice will be appreciated.

CptCurl

[Photog]

Don't know anything myself... But.  Go to the nitroexpress.com fourms and ask the same question and you will learn all you need to know from guys that have them.

[50 Calshtr]

CptCurl,
    Nobody else seems to want to get in on the loading end of this so I'll offer my thought for what they're worth.  First the disclaimer, I shoot a 500 BPE that loves the light-nitro loads so I think we would both be starting at about the same point.  Second, if you don't have it, I would get a copy of Graeme Wrights "Shooting the British Double Rifle" second edition. It is the only new work on the subject that I'm aware of and discusses components that are available now as opposed to 50 years ago, an excellent piece of work and good read to boot.  Bullets can be had from Woodliegh and Hawk, powder of choice seems to be Reloader 15 according to Ross Seyfried of Handloader at the rate of 1.19 grains per grain of cordite.  For a goofing around load not involving bullets costing several dollars a pop I'd see if NEI or one of the custum makers could work up a 570 gr mold geared to wheel weights and harden them to handle the 2100 fps you'll need to regulate the load.  Wright makes a good case for duplicating the original Kynoch shape of the bullet so that might be a goal with the mold also, certainly wouldn't hurt.  For grins and giggles it might be fun to work up some hunting slugs using a 2 part alloy mix, soft in front and hardened wheel weights in the rear as Mr. Seyfried explains in either Handloader or Rifle several issues back.  Haven't tryed this yet but sounds like it would be fun and effective.  Also Veral Smith in the bullet casting section of this forum makes molds to do this also I believe, he would be a good point of contact in any case. Reduced loads would be tricky to get regulated but Buffalo Arms has jacketed slugs in 300 and 450 gr and Hawk has them from 300gr up.  May want to try some of your 500 BPE loads and slugs also.  Both  Taylor and JA Hunter thought highly of the round so you're in good company, just wish I had one also.  Maybe one of these days!  Best of luck!

[CptCurl]

50 Calshtr

Thanks for your reply.

When I wrote the post on April 15, I wasn’t 100% sure I was going to take the plunge; but I did.  I had a partner in crime to egg me on.  On Saturday, April 17, my friend and I met with the dealer and hammered out details to each buy a Merkel 140-2 in .500 NE.  The guns were ordered, and we received delivery of them on Wednesday, April 21, a week ago today.

In the meantime we put in a big order with Huntington’s.  We also ordered some 525 gr. cast gas check bullets from Midway.  I was put to the task of researching a load.  From all I can find, Accurate Arms XMR5744 is made for reduced loads with cast bullets.  I can’t find any in stock, so haven’t tried it.  But in researching the AA website I found they had data posted for the 50-140 Sharps with cast lead bullets.  Take a look at:

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/ObsoleteCartridges/50%20140%20Sharps%20pages%20371%20and%20372.pdf

For a 550 gr. lead bullet they show charges of 4350 ranging from 94.5 to 105 grains, not exceeding black powder pressures.  The .500 NE is a 3” case, ¼” shorter than the 50-140, so I can expect slightly higher pressure.  But my gun is made for smokeless pressures, so not to worry.  My bullet is 25 grains lighter, too.  I decided to load 8 rounds with 105 grains of IMR 4350 (note my deviation from AA 4350).

Friday, my buddy and I shot 4 each (2R, 2L) in each gun.  BINGO!  Regulated just fine and shot right to the bead.  Now I’ll tell you the recoil is brutal.  But my group at 50 yds. was about 3 ¾”.  Maybe some of you young bucks with eagle eyes and steel nerves would do better, but this 50 year old codger is pleased.  The load is obviously safe in the gun, and there was almost no leading.  Twelve more rounds shot offhand Saturday confirmed the load.  I was hitting 6” diameter balloons offhand at 50 yds.

The Huntington’s order should arrive any day (hopefully today).  With it will come a good stock of 570 gr. Woodleigh bullets, and trials of jacketed bullet loads will commence.  I’ve picked up some load suggestions from threads on the NitroExpress forum for Reloader 15, IMR 4831, and IMR 4350.  I hope to be trying those this weekend.

My loads for the Purdey .500 BPE won’t chamber in the Merkel.  The Purdey has a groove diameter of about .514”.  With 335 gr. bullets of .500” I am paper-patching the bullets to that diameter using 20 lb. 25% cotton bond.  The Purdey’s chamber is perfect for that combination, but the Merkel is made for smaller stuff.  I may try patching with 9 lb. onion skin for the Merkel.  Also, I had Veral Smith make me a mold in .515 340 LFN GC for the Purdey.  I haven’t used any bullets out of it because I’m still waiting for gas checks.  If the Merkel will digest light bullets, this is probably the one.

About the Merkel:

I really got excited when I found they are chambering the .500 NE.  I’ve been on the horn to GSI quite a few times in the past two weeks asking lots of questions.  As of the time we ordered, only 15 of the Merkels in .500 NE had been brought into the country.  Mine is #3.

Overall I am pleased with the workmanship.  I debated getting the engraved model (140-2.1), but decided to save $1,000 and get the plain-jane.  For me that was the right choice.  You can’t buy much engraving for $1,000.  I’d rather have none than have poor engraving (which is what I saw).  My rifle looks clean and humble as it should, given the price.  This ain’t no H&H!  It’s a damn good job on a factory production, working rifle.  I like it a heck of a lot better than a Chapuis, Blaser, or Heym.

The Merkel has a nice quarter-sawed stock of modestly figured, but very dense, European walnut.  The stock is generally well done, with impeccable wood-to-metal fit.  The checkering leaves something to be desired.  Not too bad, though.

The barrels are nicely made and assembled, and their finish is fine.  They are short and handy at 60 cm (24 5/8”).  (The Germans seem to like that length.  I have two other German DR’s with 60 cm barrels.)  Interestingly, the barrels have 7 grooves.  I don’t know that I have seen another gun made for smokeless powder and jacketed bullets with an odd number of grooves.  That was certainly the norm for lead bullet guns, though.

The gun balances right on the hinge pin.  My advice to Merkel would be make the barrels 70 cm (27 ½”) or to leave them at 60 cm and make them a pound heavier.  Either way, it would be better to have the balance 2” ahead of the hinge pin.  The gun now weighs 10 lbs. - 5 oz.  Another pound of barrel would tame it quite a bit and give it better off-hand handling qualities.  Of course, the trade-off is portability.  A day in the field with this rifle will be far more comfortable than a day in the field with an 11 ½ lb. rifle.  So there; the Germans figure a little harder rap on the shoulder is not a bad trade for the light, handy day-long carry.

But all-in-all this Merkel is one hell of a good gun for the money, and what a great caliber!  I am very pleased with it regardless of my criticism.

The gun comes with a nice Emebbi full-leather case with the Merkel label inside in embossed leather.  Not bad!

I am still open to the experience of others who have loaded the .500 NE or who otherwise want to discuss double rifles in general.

Maybe you can see I have a real problem with double rifles.  Did I mention I love them?  I like double shotguns too!

Cheers,
CptCurl

[50 Calshtr]

CptCurl,
   Sounds like you have the situation well in hand and in short order too!  I also like the shorter barrels, I have a bolt gun with a 27" barrel and it seems as if you're carrying around a flagpole.  Might be worthwhile to get another forend carved out to see if you could add a pound of lead to it without messing up your original. I have one rifle that greatly benefitted from some extra weight in the front end, really slowed down the barrel whip. What's killing me now is the eyes, ain't it a pain that when you get old enough to afford nice rifles ya can't see the sights? And I'm not about to put a scope on a 100 year old British double, guess I'll have to live with a blurred rear sight and larger groups.  I'm also shooting 340s in my 500 BPE along with some 380s and 400s, all from NEI molds I picked up years ago.  It seems to handle all of them equally well with 61  to 66 gr of 3031 depending on bullet weight and some dacron filler. The Merkel sounds nice, I've been impressed with the pictures I've seen.  Sounds like they knew what they were doing when they stocked it also.  Gotta go, have a good weekend with the Merk.
Best

[Don McCullough]

Fellows and CptCurl,

The 500 NE is also my favorite of the old African double rifle cartridges.  As was said, when Taylor and JA Hunter like it lots that's all you need to know.  I also like it's appearance better than the 470, 577 or what have you and the 470, like the 30-06, is great but a little too "plain-jane" for me.

Although you say you probably will never shoot factory loads in this gun I'd think it fun to buy a couple of old timers loaded with cordite  powder just to feel and smell the "real thing."

I appreciate your excitement over the gun and cartridge!

Don McCullough

I hate to say it, but I am about to jump off the edge again.  I think Saturday I will be buying a .500 NE in the Merkel 140-2 double rifle.  The idea is a Cape Buffalo next July (and a heck of a lot of banging and pounding between now and then - and afterward, I am sure).

Anybody have experience with the .500-3" NE or with the big Merkel double rifle?  I would sure appreciate any observations about the rifle or caliber.  I am intrigued by the .500 NE as opposed to the .470.  Merkel just started chambering that round this year.

I will be loading for it, and really would like some pointers on loads for the brute, both full tilt and reduced.  The fact is, I probably won't ever fire a factory round.  I already have dies and brass for use with my .500
BPE, which I dearly love.

Any good advice will be appreciated.

CptCurl

[magnum308]

Support what McCullough said. Hunter (JA) sware by it and it was his favourite, though not the only rifle calibre he had used. He favoured it for all the big five, particularly elephant and rhino.

Magnum308