Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Custom 600NE Bernardelli Sidelock Double Rifle - The long wait is over - long story

Custom 600NE Bernardelli Sidelock Double Rifle - The long wait is over - long story

Hello All,

I've always wanted a BIG BORE "Sidelock" Double Rifle. So, I contacted Aaron Little, a Custom Gun Builder from Texas who is known for building Custom Double Rifles from Shotguns. I inquired about building me a Custom Double Rifle in 600NE from my 10ga Bernardelli Venus Royal Best Gun Shotgun. The Bernardelli was from 1972, during a time when Bernardelli was building some of their Finest High-Grade shotguns for the U.S. market. Here's the original listing from when I bought the Bernardelli, and some "before" photos.

Aaron carefully examined the Bernardelli and gave his blessing for the build, deeming the Bernardelli would be suitable for the project. I discussed my desires for the build;

- 26" barrels
- 14 pounds 12 ounce weight
- 14-3/8" LOP
- Red Silvers style recoil pad
- "Flip-Over" Moon Bead Front Sight

Aaron indicated that all this was doable. I gave the go-ahead, and then ..... the waiting started for Aaron to perform his majic.

I was a pest for progress pictures, and over the following many months, Aaron sent a few. Most of the major build steps for this project are shown below.

After receiving the photos of the work in progress, I knew it was going to be a long wait for the rifle to be finished. I knew that craftsmanship took time. I tried not to pester Aaron too much while he patiently worked.

I took this time to prepare the 600NE ammo that Aaron would require for regulating the rifle. I have found from experience, that many Big Bore Double rifles will shoot to the same point of aim with a 75% load, so this is what I prepared. The load was a Barnes 900g FMJ, at 1450 fps, with 75 grains of IMR 4198 powder, with a 1" long piece of 5/8" dia. backing rod foam. I had developed this load for my 600NE VC, and it shot to the same point of aim as the full-house load of 1950 fps. When finished, I sent Aaron 30 rounds.

In the mean time, I also acquired a custom hard case, and waited for it to be filled.



It wasn't too long after that Aaron sent me a photo of the "final regulation" target. It only took him 24 of the 30 rounds to regulate the rifle. And the results were .. - - - TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE ! !

Any further improvement (as if one was needed) would come from "tweaking" the load.



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And, once again, I waited for the project to be finished. ....

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...... And then, finally, one day last week, there came a wooden crate to my door.






The waiting was over, and the empty case was finally filled.

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Here are some detail photos of the finished rifle. A Bernardelli Sidelock Double Rifle in 600 Nitro Express caliber.

With the project complete, I evaluated how it turned out. Well, in the end, we missed on 2 of the desired features; - No Red Recoil Pad, because apparently no one makes a "Red" Recoil Pad wide enough for the existing stock which was a full 2" wide. Not wanting to alter the existing stock, we had to go with a "Brown" Recoil Pad which was available in the 2" width. - And, after final polishing and clean-up the finished weight was 3 ounces light at 14 pounds 9 ounces. However, this was no big deal as the 3 ounces were more than made up by loading the rifle, which brought the weight to exactly 15 pounds. "PERFECT" - "PERFECT" - "PERFECT"

And how did it balance? Also "PERFECT" - "PERFECT" - "PERFECT"



So the final test would be - how does it shoot? Well, you be the judge. Here is my first target..... "PERFECT" - "PERFECT" - "PERFECT"

Am I happy? YOU BET ! - I've got a High-Quality 600NE "Sidelock" Double Rifle - for only a small fraction of the cost of one from a contemporary maker.

Way cool! That's superb work.

Having fired a .600 Nitro of "proper weight" a few years ago, I can testify that a well-fitting double doesn't recoil nearly as much as many shooters assume. (Neither does a nice SxS 10-gauge.) What are your field plans for the .600?

Impressive, to say the least! Not my cup of tea, but beautiful--and presumably eminently functional--for its intended purpose(s).

Very nice! One of these days I'll need to scratch the double itch.

I would say I'm jealous, but after shooting my 500 Jeffrey I've realized I no longer have a desire for a rifle larger than 50 caliber. Though I'd never pass up an opportunity to shoot one

Absolutely fantastic! What a beautiful rifle.

GORGEOUS !

I probably need one. The Rhinos & Buff are getting thick in Arkansas.

I can't help looking and admiring ! BIG SMILE.

Jerry

Awesome rifle, well done all around!

Jeff

Thanks for posting this. I've always wanted a nice Side X Side double rifle, but there has always been other more pressing needs for my $. I have an O/U in 9.3X74 and always figured that it would have to do me as far as a double rifle goes, but your thread has me thinking. I have an old Westley Richards Box Lock 12 ga that is tight as new, but shows some earned character. I think that it would make into a plain but good looking double rifle. Maybe one day I can give it similar treatment in a smaller caliber like a 450 3".

Gorgeous rifles!

Thank you for sharing the build. Congratulations to you and to Aron. Kudos.

GORGEOUS !

Magnificent rifle. Congratulations!

But the burning question is, are you going to bring it to Africa on an elephant/buff hunt or will it remain a beautiful show piece?

Hello Winchestrmodel70,

Thanks for the reply,

None of my guns remain as "show pieces" - they are all fired regularly, and hunted on occasion. As for Africa ? Well, not likely. But I'll be thinking elephants and buff during the moments of recoil.

Impressive work and awesome looking 600 nitro.