The Reeder .500 Nitro build is progressing well

I bought the barrel long ago and was letting it simmer. Doug and I built up .470 and 500 Nitros a while back but let them slip away. This is to be a keeper. The 12 ga. fore ends are bringing $250-350 each (not kidding). The Muzzleloader friends are all screwy and have to be fitted anyway. I liked the idea of the “Flex-tech” furniture and bought some off GB from a fellow in TX. Goes by Awesomeopossum. Fair price.

Boy was fitting the rifle forend to the 1” barrel a chore! The Flex-tech stuff is much more gummy and fills up abrasive material very fast. I was using a mandrel with emery cloth in a lathe. Took lots of cloth and a very long time. This was about half-way done, an hour in.

I finally got the barrel setting atop the support pillars. I want good contact as I’m using the factory 8/40 screws. Blake’s idea of a little adhesive might not be a bad idea either.

It looks and feels good. We only have this one “rifle”, barrel in .500 Nitro. The others are 16” so we can go either way with them. 7-08, .476 GNR to name a couple. But that should have things covered. As some guys pointed out, it’s LIGHT! All hole! I get 6 lbs. 6 oz. Any suggestions for 4 lb. Sights?! lol. Really with a 500-550 gr. bullet and case full of Trail Boss it shouldn’t be rough, and still shoot through about anything. Or stoke it full of Reloader 22 and clap your shoulder blades, detach a retina, whatever blows air up your dress.