New member from North Carolina, USA

[CJF]

Hello All,

Glad to be here. I'm joining to learn more about stalking. I hunt whitetail deer here in the USA, usually either up north in Minnesota, or in the mountains of western Maryland. I've been interested in, and collecting, Scottish and English sporting arms from the 1870s to roughly 1914, focused mostly on double rifles but some single shots as well. I was lucky enough to acquire an 1895 Purdey DR in 450/400 2 7/8" awhile ago, and that's my nicest rifle. It's a wonderful shooter that needs to be properly hunted, but I'm a bit worried about marring it in the field, so I usually take either a Watson DR in 360 2.25" (BPE, not nitro) or a wonderfully accurate 1890s Dickson hammer double in 450 3.25" BPE.

I'm hoping to hunt elk in Colorado, and maybe one day stag in Scotland or Ireland.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Sweep]

Welcome Chris.,
Well using a 450/400 for deer you certainly are following Elmer Keith’s mantra to “use enough gun!”

 

[Charlie]

Sounds like an interesting collection that we look forward to hearing more about in due course. Welcome to the site.

 

[CJF]

Thanks Sweep & Charlie. Appreciate it.

Sweep, the 450/400 is pre-nitro and weighs under 8lbs. It's black powder charge of 96gr C&H No.6 powder is engraved on the buttplate. So not a real thumper, at least compared to 450 3.25" or 500 3". So far the only buck I've gotten with a double rifle was with the little Watson 360EX, and that is driving a 190gr bullet about 1750fps.

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site.

BC.

 

[Sweep]

I suppose it’s similar to my Shiloh Sharps 45-90 then

 

[CJF]

That was the comparison I was going to make, at least in terms of charges, although bullet weights and diameters are substantially heavier on the 45-90. I'm embarrassed to say that I have an Axtell-made 45-90 Sharps that I've never fired. Wrist was damaged in transit. Finally had it repaired but have moved on to other interests so it sits besides my desk in a long oak case, until it's picked up for auction next month.

Below are 1 pic of my rifle, the Eley shop room drawing for this round, and a charge label from an earlier Purdey (1891 vs my 1895/6).
FWIW, mine absolutely loves lighter jacketed bullets made for the 41 magnum revolver round.

 

[Sweep]

Similarly, mine also sits in the cabinet being used infrequently. It was something I really hankered after but don’t seem to use it as much as I should. Very pretty rifle though.

 

[Sweep]

Great to see the Eley drawing. Interesting to see that it is dated 16th of August 1918 when the war was still raging and yet they were developing sporting cartridges

 

[CJF]

The 450/400 2 7/8" cartridge has been around since at least the 1890s. The Purdey history by Donald Dallas has it being introduced before 1900. I spoke with the Purdeys folks and they know of at least 2 rifles chambered in it besides mine that were pre-1898. Mine was finished in 1895 and sent out in the black, then engraved and delivered again in 1896. The condition on it is amazing.

I'll take some pictures of the Axtell sharps. Yours is gorgeous.

 

[FeckArseIndustries]

Welcome Chris, it's going to be great getting your perspective on things.

 

[CJF]

FeckArseIndustries, that was kind and I'll try to live up.

To be honest, I'm more of a collector than a hunter. So I have a lot to learn here. I'm a decent rifle shot but I'm always going to be outdone by anyone who focuses on just a rifle or two and makes that sing.

When I hunt, I'm looking to learn more about what the older rifles could do, and I always prioritize humane shots versus having to harvest. I've passed on a ton of shots where I wasn't confident I could drop the deer. Since my hunting is woodland, the longest I've shot at game is 115yrds, and that was with a scoped Winchester model 70 in .243. With iron sights I live with the constraints of my sixty year old eyes (btw, typing sixty YO is still painful...how'd I'd get this old?). So most shots are 75 yards or less, and usually 50 yards or less.