Has anyone any preference regarding the one or the other in the 500-A-square? Its suppost to be used on elephant and buffalo.

Any other bullet recommendation than Barnes?

Regards

Mads

I have no field experience with the 500 A2. However, I am planning on building one.

I suggest considering Woodleigh bullets. In other calibers, I have had fine accuracy from Woodleigh and they don't foul bores like Barnes.

You may also want to check GS Custom bullets out of South Africa. I have had excellent accuracy from them as well.

As far as weight, you may find 700's better if you have a fast twist rifle such as 1:10.

I have not killed any game with it but I have shot them enough to know that 600 grains at 2400 fps or 570 grains at 2500 fps is all the recoil I want to deal with without a muzzle brake. I don't want to hunt with a muzzle brake.

700 grains at 2200 fps or 750 grains at 2150 fps are straining my tolerance without the muzzle brake. You can make them go faster than that, but those are my favorite loads, in a 12.5 pound scoped rifle. Who needs a T.rex?

Norbert has experience with them on elephants. I believe he would say that the 570 to 600 grainers will give all the penetration and punch you will ever need.

My pick is the GS Custom 570 grain FN at 2500 fps, and the 570 grain Barnes XLC, for less penetration.

Of course the 600 grain Woodleigh softs and solids would be great too.

Gerard actually has a 450 grain HV that might be good for long range big game shooting. That is a an interesting proposition I have not tried. A .510 caliber 450 grain HV at 2800-2900 fps???

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

Well my exsperiences goes with the 600 grains Barnes solid - and I'm not completly saticfied with the penetration. I know that many people agree with me on this point because the bulet are very long due to the bullets lower density - so I was just wondering if a step up in bullet weigh would be an answer.

Sincerely

Mads

Mads,
Please, at what velocity are you shooting the 600 grain Barnes? Can you, also, convey your experience as to why you are not fully satisfied with the penetration?

Thanks .... Nick

Nick
I don't know the velocity - but it would be around 2400-2500 fps I guess.
On two elephants non out of 8 bullet (head and body) exited. Thats not what I want. And the .416 400 grains bullet will exit most of such broadside shots.

I also considering to go for the 535 grains woodleighs and load them to Jeffrey standards. Or might want to try the 570 grains intended for the 500 NE 3" - but don't know if it will work proporly at 2400 fps?

Regards

Mads

Mads,
This news is most discouraging for me. My next buffalo hunt revolves around this bullet at 2,300 fps in my .505 Gibbs. S@&*!

Barnes is also making a 600gr X for Arizona Ammo

I am considering building a 505/.510" using the hi pressure cases if they hit the market and I bet it will drive those bullets clean through.

Well Nick

Both Elephant died - and I'm sure that you coming buffalo will aswell.
Needless to say al bullet penetrated more than a soft would have done from any caliber!
And the .510" slug even solid will make a wound channel that (I guess)matches a wound channel from a .375 soft - so don't worry.

But for the use of this .500 A-square I will have total penetration on broadside headshots on elephant.

Best Regards

Mads

>"But for the use of this .500 A-square I will have total penetration on broadside headshots on elephant."

The .510 cartridges are not so simple with respect to penetration as the myths are telling you. The Jeffery 535 gr at 2400 f/s is not total penetrating every time. It depends also on angle and position on the broadside ele head.
To be on par with the proven .458 500 gr at 2400 f/s you have to use a .510 600 gr at 2450 f/s or 625 gr at 2400 f/s. A 700 gr at 2400 would be plenty enough, but who will handle that recoil in the bush.

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Not me Norbert. I went up to 2,450 fps or so with the brakeless Gibbs and realized it was not feasible at that level. At 2,325 fps, or so, I can hunt with it in fairly normal fashion. I'm gonna send it off to Don G for some penetration testing before trying any other solids.