doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Purdey DR in 450/400 2 7/8"

I loaded up 10 rounds. I don't have proper dies yet, just borrowed 450/400 3.25" dies. Thankfully cases didn't need sizing and all I needed was to expand the mouths slightly (using a 43 Spanish expander) and seat the bullet. Load is 96gr of Swiss 1.5g with just bees wax foundation between the powder and LRN gas checked bullets from Buffalo Arms. These weigh 244-246gr on my scale vs 250gr as described on the website. Diameter is .408".

Will wait till Sunday or Monday to try the range as we have guests this weekend and Debby dumped a ton of rain here in NC.

So initial 10 rounds were decent but not great. Roughly 3” group, consistently right of POA about 3”. Not crossing. Range only 30 yards.

I suspect a portion of the poor accuracy and large group was my shooting. I can shoot sub 1” groups with irons on a 22LR at that distance but I’m wondering if I’m anticipating the recoil with the 450/400. I brought along a little BSA martini and shot that between sessions w the Purdey and that was fine.

I’ve not heard of a double shooting to one side only before.

The ejectors worked perfectly.

CJF
Since the rifle shoots consistently right of POA, I suggest the "fix" is in the sights. The size of the groups is likely to improve with load development and more experience with the rifle.
Mike

I have a single 360 Nitro which with my first cautious loads shot high and left. As I approached the original velocity with the 300 grain bullets the groups came down and right and tightened up. When I give her the last 100-150 fps I fully anticipate the shots will be right on the sights and as tight as they will get.

This makes me wonder if you are right handed or left handed? And the same for CJF, right or left?

In my one experience with regulating a double rifle, I did have a right-left issue. Just worked on convergence (which does involve right and left, but not together for both barrels, of course).

I'm right handed.

Firing position was standing, elbows on a bench, rifle held normally (not a death grip and no significant pulling by the forward hand to bring the butt to the shoulder. Just an easy hold.

I believe I'm close to the original factory (Eley) load the rifle was regulated for. Will try patching next.

This rifle is in nearly new condition with a new and unmarred breach face, so it presumably should still shoot to its original regulated point of aim. The front sight is not adjustable. The rear has a screw and witness mark. I doubt it would move with the screw there. The witness mark is ever so slightly off by the width of a fine chisel blade. I have not figured out if its slight drift would lead to a shift to the right for impact. Will evaluate that at next range session. But I'm not confident the rear can be or should be moved yet.

Chris

CJF,
Without seeing your particular rifle, the screw in the rear sight suggests it is intended to be loosened prior to adjustment, then re-tightened afterward. You didn't say which side of the witness mark the rear sight is on. If the sight is on the right side of the mark, realigning them will likely help matters, but maybe not enough.
Mike

Ken - If I'm right, your rifle was sold by Cowen's a few years back. It is 4 digits before a 450/400 2 7/8"s Purdey double sold by Champlin in 2019. That rifle was 7lbs 7oz. Mine is a quarter pound heavier, with 1" longer barrels. Yours looks to be 28" barrels, and 4oz heavier than mine, and regulated with 6gr less No.6. I suspect yours is a little more comfortable to shoot. All 3 of these are from 1895 (mine went out in the black that year, and was colored and engraved, then finally completed in 1896.)

Beautiful rifle. Thanks again for sharing it.

I was out at the range for another go at loads for the Purdey. This time I used 96gr of 2Fg Swiss, under a 1/4" grease cookie of beeswax and Crisco and a 210gr JHP by Hornady for the 41 magnum. Large pistol primers.

I also tried again with the .406" 245gr LRN bullets, unpatched. Still nothing special there. Need to carefully patch those up to .410" and see if that helps.

Performance was great at 30 yards for the jacketed lighter bullet, as shown below.

For others shooting double rifles with black powder, are you swabbing the bore at all between pairs? How about making sure the rifle barrels have cooled?