Am I being silly?

[Kevin Peacocke]

I chose to order a 375 flanged (with scope in claw mounts). Chris let me know the rifle shipped to the states the week before Christmas so I should have it in the next couple of weeks. I might be ready for it to get here - as you can see from the picture
As for hunting, I am just a good old boy from Idaho so my hunting has been restricted to DIY western US game, nothing as interesting as the opportunities you have available to you.

View attachment 381475

Look forward to seeing it NJC. What decided you on the 375 Flanged? I do believe it is superior to the 375H&H. Great gun to bring out to Africa some time.

 

[mark-hunter]

VC - they are sponsors on this site. Contact them, to see what they will say.

 

[Royal27]

I'd be starting on that 1-2 year exercise now .....

I was in a hurry this morning when I typed this. So I'm gonna add on. I really only see two choices:

1. Get it fixed
2. Throw it as far into the Zambezi as you can

Whichever choice is made I'd get started on it today.

No way I'd trust that rifle even with new ammunition. It may not have a problem opening up today, but what about tomorrow? Hate got the first issue to be while shooting at an elephant or buffalo!

 

[robert kuester]

Sounds like a severe over load to me.

 

[flatwater bill]

I have addressed this problem in some cheap lever guns by using brass with the thickest flange........ does ok.............not an option for you, I suspect........good luck...................FWB

 

[IvW]

@VERNEY-CARRON COLLECTION

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Very disappointing to read this. VC has a good reputation and it seems this rifle should never have made it out their door in this condition. Seems the situation is that you can't rely on it and it would be dishonest to not divulge the problems to a potential buyer of the rifle, thus you probably can't sell it without taking a beating on the price. So I agree with the others in getting that 1-2 year clock ticking now and send it back to VC for repair.

Agree on all points. I considered destroying ir if VC cant fix it or it is just too hard. But lets give that a try first.

 

[yhc]

I chose to order a 375 flanged (with scope in claw mounts). Chris let me know the rifle shipped to the states the week before Christmas so I should have it in the next couple of weeks. I might be ready for it to get here - as you can see from the picture
As for hunting, I am just a good old boy from Idaho so my hunting has been restricted to DIY western US game, nothing as interesting as the opportunities you have available to you.

View attachment 381475

@NJC. So you are the one who has been hoarding all the 375 flanged ammo!! No wonder I can’t find any.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Sounds like a severe over load to me.

No, not at all. Loading is modest, giving well below the recommended 2400fps for 300 grain Woodleighs.

 

[NJC]

I was looking for the most versatile, do everything cartridge I could get, something I could use on an eventual trip to Africa but not be completely unrealistic for use in my normal hunting. The heym rep in NA (Chris Sells) was also amazing and walked me through the pro’s and cons of the 375 flanged vs the 450/400.
I have some experience with rimless cartridges in break action pistols that made me shy away from the 375 H&H for a break action, although I love that cartridge in my talkeetna and ruger no.1

 

[IvW]

Agree on all points. I considered destroying ir if VC cant fix it or it is just too hard. But lets give that a try first.

If getting it back to VC is too much of a hassle can you get it back to SA easier?

 

[NJC]

@NJC. So you are the one who has been hoarding all the 375 flanged ammo!! No wonder I can’t find any.

Yea, sorry about that....

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I was looking for the most versatile, do everything cartridge I could get, something I could use on an eventual trip to Africa but not be completely unrealistic for use in my normal hunting. The heym rep in NA (Chris Sells) was also amazing and walked me through the pro’s and cons of the 375 flanged vs the 450/400.
I have some experience with rimless cartridges in break action pistols that made me shy away from the 375 H&H for a break action, although I love that cartridge in my talkeetna and ruger no.1

My 375 H&H is also a Ruger No1 Tropical, excellent rifle.
There was a post on AH a few years ago where someone debated the 375 FL vs the 375 H&H and concluded that the slightly lower velocity of 2400fps for the FL was perfect. Kevin Robertson concurred. Do you know yet what the weight of your new Heym is? I believe it comes in different frame sizes and I am hoping it isn't unnecessarily heavy.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Hi Kevin. I was hoping you could clarify a few things. You said that factory ammo didn't split but that only the reloads had the problem. Likewise the action opening only happened when the cases split ie with the reloads. You also said the headspace was way out, 12 & 24 thou (and yes that is massive).

Did you measure check the headspace with guages or using cases, if cases, were they virginal or fired and resized?

Likewise, have you checked the headspace measurements of a factory round vs a fired case vs a resized case? A tool like the Hornady Headspace Comparator kit can be useful for this.

Where I am going with this is that given the time, costs and hassles involved in sending the gun back to VC, you need to eliminate all the ammo issues first. If the only cases giving problems are resized reloads it could be that the resizing die is faulty or needs adjustment to fit your individual rifle. A lot simpler and cheaper to fix.
ps. Are you using a 375 Flanged Magnum die or a 375 H&H die? (The only reason I ask is that I have heard some claim the cases to be identical bar for the rim. This is sufficiently incorrect to give problems.)

 

[CBH Australia]

Yes I did buy it new in Johannesburg and then imported it to Zimbabwe, a huge exercise. I did report it to the gun shop there, but it seems the remedy will involve sending it back to France, ie re-exporting it from here to SA, then another permit to export it from there to France, then the same in reverse. Literally a 1 to 2 year exercise and I dont think I have the energy. I will nevertheless report it formally as I agree they need to know, but I am not holding my breath for a remedy. I am not angry with VC, they make excellent rifles, this was just a mistake I am sure.

Agree on all points. I considered destroying ir if VC cant fix it or it is just too hard. But lets give that a try first.

Hi Kevin. I was hoping you could clarify a few things. You said that factory ammo didn't split but that only the reloads had the problem. Likewise the action opening only happened when the cases split ie with the reloads. You also said the headspace was way out, 12 & 24 thou (and yes that is massive).

Did you measure check the headspace with guages or using cases, if cases, were they virginal or fired and resized?

Likewise, have you checked the headspace measurements of a factory round vs a fired case vs a resized case? A tool like the Hornady Headspace Comparator kit can be useful for this.

Where I am going with this is that given the time, costs and hassles involved in sending the gun back to VC, you need to eliminate all the ammo issues first. If the only cases giving problems are resized reloads it could be that the resizing die is faulty or needs adjustment to fit your individual rifle. A lot simpler and cheaper to fix.
ps. Are you using a 375 Flanged Magnum die or a 375 H&H die? (The only reason I ask is that I have heard some claim the cases to be identical bar for the rim. This is sufficiently incorrect to give problems.)

If @Hunter4752001 is correct then that’s something to consider. But also you said the gunsmith says the headspace is excessive, if so and it’s out of spec then that is not acceptable and you should not have to compensate for that or to that degree.

In Australia an Importer would be the middle man and should manage the warranty problems, there fore they should send it back arranging exports and all or Arrange repairs with an authorised gunsmith.

Step 3 , threatening to destroy it shoul get the attention of @VERNEY-CARRON COLLECTION for some assistance. Destroying it to make safe is costly to you. You should not have to just deactivate or destroy a new rifle that came out of spec from new.

It sounds like it should be repaired or replaced under warranty, I hope that happens and the timeframe is much more acceptable than the anticipated one. If you don’t get some help on this I can see Heym getting more consideration and recommendations on this site.

 

[shootist~]

What @Hunter4752001 said makes a lot of sense, especially the use of the Hornady tool - assuming there is a bushing that works with the 375 Flanged shoulder.

The only thing I might add, and ive never reloaded for a double, is to back off on the sizing die to effectively reduce the Headspace by about .010". But then use the reloads for Practice Only, since brass fired in the upper barrel will very likely not chamber in the bottom barrel.

 

[mikecatt13]

If @Hunter4752001 is correct then that’s something to consider. But also you said the gunsmith says the headspace is excessive, if so and it’s out of spec then that is not acceptable and you should not have to compensate for that or to that degree.

In Australia an Importer would be the middle man and should manage the warranty problems, there fore they should send it back arranging exports and all or Arrange repairs with an authorised gunsmith.

Step 3 , threatening to destroy it shoul get the attention of @VERNEY-CARRON COLLECTION for some assistance. Destroying it to make safe is costly to you. You should not have to just deactivate or destroy a new rifle that came out of spec from new.

It sounds like it should be repaired or replaced under warranty, I hope that happens and the timeframe is much more acceptable than the anticipated one. If you don’t get some help on this I can see Heym getting more consideration and recommendations on this site.

I know nothing about the import export laws where the OP lives, but if it is indeed a 1-2 year process for a repair, VC ought to consider making him a new rifle and simply replacing it if that's any faster and less time for him being without. Not that they care about my opinion, but it would be something I would inquire about if I was in the OPs shoes and a brand new rifle had such major issues...or propose a return and refund situation

 

[Ray B]

Curing a headspace problem is not a big deal if the barrel is detachable but that isn't the case with break actions. As noted, you can expand the neck then neck down to the appropriate length to get a firm headspace, but that will result in the portion of the case in front of the rim being unsupported, so as noted the best solution would be for the maker to correct it.

 

[Hunter4752001]

On my understanding, flanged (rimmed) cartridges like the 375 Flanged Magnum headspace on the rim and not the shoulder. Kevin made no mention of popped or excessively flattened primers which suggest that rim recess dimension may be OK. (Still needs to be checked by someone with far more real knowledge than me). The position of the shoulder can be adjusted via backing off the resizing die. I know some rimmed designs were made with a deliberately long chamber to allow reloading in instances where dust/mud debris etc may have entered the chamber. (possibly important in the case of a Dangerous Game rifle or a combat rifle) Of course that was a practice predicated around the use of factory ammo only. I don't know if it is the case with the VC.

I know I'm showing my ignorance, but I would have thought that in Zimbabwe or South Africa, there would have been gunsmiths with a knowledge of double rifles and who would be able to at least diagnose the problem (even if they aren't VC authorised to do warranty repairs).

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I had a case split on a lee Enfield 303. It cocked the striker back all the way. It scared the crap out me.
Please don’t shoot that rifle until it’s fixed.