Heym Model 89 in 500 NE

[matt85]

Matt85, out of curiosity why did you purchase ammo other than what the gun was regulated with? I'm sure that stuff isn't cheap. Do you reload or will you be using factory ammo for all of your shooting? Providing you get test targets from Heym would you please post them? More than anything I was wondering how multiple cold barrel shots from each respective barrel group as well as the overall group size. I've never been at a range when a double rifle was shot. I fully understand that doubles of this caliber are intended to shoot minute of elephant not MOA.

i wanted to test assorted factory ammunition to see if any of them come close to regulating. the Federal Hydro load isnt always easy to find and if something happened overseas and i needed more ammunition, i wanted to know if other brands work. i also have a decent stock pile of Woodleigh Hydro solids and Hornady 500 NE brass for hand loading so i wont be buying any more factory ammunition unless its an emergency.

i will gladly post pictures of the regulating target as well as some of my own targets when the rifle comes in. a key thing to remember is that a double rifle is in fact two rifles. each barrel may shoot a 1.5 MOA group but the pattern of both barrels together could be around 4 inches at 100 yards.

So I suppose a rifle of that caliber runs approximately $15-$20K?

The 89B starts at just north of $20K. Given the engraving and all I’m guessing that Matt’s would run more in the $30K territory.

base price for this Heym model 89 is around $24,000 so after my engraving and upgraded finish/checkering the rifle was $29,500.

-matt

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

@matt85,

Just curious to know as I've never loaded a straight walled (albeit tapered) rifle case. Only straight wall I've loaded are my 9mm pistol. Is there anything that makes that a little more difficult or challenging?

 

[Shootist43]

The degree of accuracy you mentioned is about what I expected. I was thinking that each barrel would fire repetitive shots somewhat close together but that the collective group would be much larger. Your reason for trying out different brands of ammo is very sound and logical. I never considered that possibility, but now that you mentioned it, it makes perfect sense.

 

[CTDolan]

i wanted to test assorted factory ammunition to see if any of them come close to regulating. the Federal Hydro load isnt always easy to find and if something happened overseas and i needed more ammunition, i wanted to know if other brands work. i also have a decent stock pile of Woodleigh Hydro solids and Hornady 500 NE brass for hand loading so i wont be buying any more factory ammunition unless its an emergency.

i will gladly post pictures of the regulating target as well as some of my own targets when the rifle comes in. a key thing to remember is that a double rifle is in fact two rifles. each barrel may shoot a 1.5 MOA group but the pattern of both barrels together could be around 4 inches at 100 yards.




base price for this Heym model 89 is around $24,000 so after my engraving and upgraded finish/checkering the rifle was $29,500.

-matt

That’s a lot of rifle for the money. Were I in the market (in other words, had I the funds) it’d be an easy choice.

By the way, I take it that you have Graeme Wright’s book?

 

[matt85]

@matt85,

Just curious to know as I've never loaded a straight walled (albeit tapered) rifle case. Only straight wall I've loaded are my 9mm pistol. Is there anything that makes that a little more difficult or challenging?

the only thing that's challenging about the 500 NE is that its a very old cartridge meant for black powder as it was directly converted from the 500 BPE. unlike the 450/400 NE 3" and the 470 NE which were designed for smokeless powder and toughened up. both the rim and the case walls on the 500 NE are very thin and easily damaged. when sizing 500 NE cartridges you have to be very liberal with case lube or you will easily tear rims off cases.

By the way, I take it that you have Graeme Wright’s book?

no proper reloading collection is complete without that fine book! I also have the Woodleigh hand loading manual which has excellent data on double rifle cartridges.

-matt

 

[CTDolan]

Agreed, the Woodleigh book is a good one, too!

 

[PARA45]

Wow, what a beauty! Congrats sir on such a fine rifle!

 

[CTDolan]

@matt85 , one thing I neglected to mention is Imperial Sizing Die Wax. It’s good stuff, the best in my opinion. Maybe you know (and maybe you use), but in case not I thought I’d offer it as a suggestion.

 

[stug]

@matt85 , one thing I neglected to mention is Imperial Sizing Die Wax. It’s good stuff, the best in my opinion. Maybe you know (and maybe you use), but in case not I thought I’d offer it as a suggestion.

They also do a graphite powder for inside the neck, but maybe not useful for the 500NE.

 

[Ray B]

I find comfort just knowing that such a beautiful rifle will be in the state in which I reside.

 

[Travis2282]

Maybe I missed this in the post but was the federal hydros what you ask them to regulate it to or is this just the normal ammo they chose?

 

[matt85]

I find comfort just knowing that such a beautiful rifle will be in the state in which I reside.

your welcome to shoot it if you make it up my way, i always welcome new shooting buddies.

Maybe I missed this in the post but was the federal hydros what you ask them to regulate it to or is this just the normal ammo they chose?

i requested the ammunition. they threw a bit of a fit about it because its not easily found in Germany and needed to be imported.

-matt

 

[Opposite Pole]

Great looking rifle Matt and interesting choice of ammo. I’m not surprised they had a hissy fit about regulating with it, I’ve never seen it in the shops here. I’m really curious if the Federal Hydro load will shoot to similar point of impact to Norma’s ammo. Please keep us posted.

I wanted to buy some of that Federal stuff in 470N.E. in Poland but the people in the shops looked at me like I was some sort of an alien creature, over here they consider 9.3 as a proper big bore. I was even told there’s no way I could handle any of the Nitro cartridges cause I’m not big enough a bloke, what do I know I only shoot it weekly. Also while I’m no Shaq, at 181cm I’m a fairly regular sized fella.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Congrats Matt! She's a beauty.

 

[matt85]

i contacted Woodleigh and they insisted that the hydro's would share a similar point of impact with their other bullets. i am however quite skeptical about this considering they are completely different bullet designs. the Hornady ammunition is just there because i found it on a clearance shelf at Cabela's for $99 and at that price it was worth a try. of the 3 types of ammunition i believe the Barnes has the best chance of coming close since the banded solid is very similar to the hydro solid. another bullet id like to try at some point in the future is the Peregrine bushmaster expanding bullet if i can ever get my hands on some.

Congrats Matt! She's a beauty.

thank you, now get me on an elephant hunt and you will get to see the rifle first hand.

-matt

 

[larry4831]

Are you bringing it to the Alaska shoot Matt?

 

[BobT]

Beautiful rifle Matt! It looks like it was worth the wait.

 

[Brent in Az]

Handsome rifle.! A double rifle is the Icon of dangerous game hunting rifles. I bet you are anxious to get your hands on that beauty. I don't blame you.

 

[Shootist43]

Matt85, that was a smart move on your part to have your new Heym regulated with a respectable load that is readily available in the U.S. Why try to match some "foreign" load when you don't have to.

 

[matt85]

Are you bringing it to the Alaska shoot Matt?

yes sir, ill be sure to bring plenty of ammunition as well.

-matt