Anyone use one of these? Opinions?

Thanks,

Chuck

Chuck never shot the 505, however a 458 Lott and a 500gr TSX on buf and it will knock the snot out of a buf real fast... Will also penetrate the head for a brain shot...

Mike

I have to second retreever. I use them exclusively out of the Lott (500 grains) and they are incredible. The one recovered from by buffalo last June retained 100% of its weight and was fully opened - buffalo went 50 yards after the shot. The one recovered from my hippo on the same hunt - side brain shot at 25 yards weighed 490 grains. It was fully opened and had lost only a part of one pedal. Pretty inpressive after having penetrated that unbelievably think bone.

Bullet on the left is from the buffalo. One on the right is from the hippo. I don't know if this helps, becuase you were looking for information on a different caliber and slightly different grain. But, generally, I can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of the TSX.

Thanks much! It does help. A 525 TSX at 2300 fps out of a 505 should definitely do the job. Are the Barnes solids as good?

Regards,

Chuck

I like the Barnes solids as well. Honsetly though, someone else may be in a better position to opine on them. Neither buffalo I've shot needed a follow up solid, and the only elephant I've put a bullet in was a charging cow, and I ended up shoulder shooting her with a Honady solid after the PH's shot had missed the brain and only turned her.

I will tell you the Barnes solids tend to be quite long and result in compressed loads when I load them to the same velocities as the TSX.

Chuck, if you are interested in some solids for shooting I would go with the conventional ones..
If you want to go with Barnes solids just start loading them down three grs lower then your softs and see how they shoot... Remember when you are shooting them they will be up close shots... So knowing where your rifle patterns them from 5yds to 60yds is plenty of range in my book...
Those TSX bullets will be crushing at close range... I think at very close range the 505 would most likely give you a pass thru length wise... And will go clean thru a shoulder shot in tight...

Mike

Chuck, the 570 grain Barnes FN banded solid has become my go to solid in .510 caliber.

I shot one through the spine of an elephant in Tanzania this year. It completely penetrated the elephant and was not recovered.

One of the finishers I put into the elephant's brisket penetrated six feet and we did recover it. They just flat out work.

I also use the 570 grain TSX. Just a perfect bullet IMHO.

Personally, I think that 525 grains, although standard in the Gibbs, is light for caliber. It's a shame that Barnes doesn't offer something heavier for the .505.

GS Custom makes a 570g .505 flat nose solid, I could probably get it to shoot to the same point of impact with some work as the 525g TSX. The die is cast, I'm sending out the rifle Monday ...



Chuck

Chuck375,

I personally love the 505 Gibbs for a hunting and actually a fun cartridge. Most of the criticism, of this cartridge, seems to come from people who have never shot one.

My shooting/experience aside I'd refer you to Kevin "Doctari" Robertson's book AFRICA'S MOST DANGEROUS GAME. He writes about the Cape Buffalo and his extensive experience with the 505 Gibbs which he also has a dear affection to.

He also discusses the 525 TSX and other bullets in the 505. I think his experience will put your mind at ease that this cartridge/bullet combination if quite satusfactory for Buffalo and larger game. You can also move up to a 600 grain Woodleigh if you feel you need increaded momentun and can handle the recoil.

I'd even go so far as to reccomend purchasing the book I'm sure you will be glad you did.

Good Hunting,

Thanks I'll find the book on the Net and order it today. I'm looking forward to my 505 Gibbs! Now if I can convince my wife that I have so much invested in my rifle (actually less than $2500) it would be a waste if I don't book a buffalo hunt. I plan to put a few hundred rounds through it and hunt here in Colorado with it for a year before booking a hunt though.

Thanks,

Chuck

I love my Lott. But I love big bores in general. If I were going to buy another bolt gun, it would probably be the 505 Gibbs. They are a real stopper. One drawback is the ammo cost. I'm sure that issue can be mitigated with reloads.

I hunted elephant and buffalo in 2006 with Kirk Mason in Zim and he was carrying a 500 Jeffery - also a very impressive cartridge. He told me when he ordered it he really wanted the Gibbs, but opted for a less expensive rifle in the Jeffery.

You'll have to post some pictures of if when you get it. I'll also be interested in your reports after you've had a chance to shoot it.

Will do!

Chuck

Don't be worried about ammo you can easily reload; brass is readily available from Jamison Int'l and various outlets. Contrary to what some have said I've reloaded Jamison cases 8 times now and primer pockets and necks still good.

Woodleigh makes an excellent bullet as well as the TSX you have already mentioned and others as well. Don't forget about lite loads with hard case bullets with 5744 powder or other powders with fillers. With standard loads I have never used fillers as some say you must do. If your loading for a double rifle that's a different thing altogether. The slower powders you will use for the Gibbs will be bulky enough that you will have a 90 to 95% full case or more.

Mike Roden (Owner of Granite Mountain Arms) and I have talked a lot about the 505 Gibbs and it is his favorite cartridge also. In fact he has a monster hog shown in Bored to Death (DVD available through Big Bore Productions) he used his 505 on it--unfortunately they did not have a camera with them to record the actual kill but it's a monster hog.

Your in good company with the 505 so just get out and enjoy it no matter what your shooting!

Good Hunting,

I Fedex'd out my rifle today to Triple River for the 505 Gibbs conversion. Hopefully in a month or so I'll be filing a range report ...



Chuck

HURRAY, AWESOME, YOU-THE-MAN-CHUCK! Let me know how you like it. I'm in Grand Island,NE. so if you ever get through look me up in the phone book or profile and we'll go out and shoot. I have a couple other AR friends close they'd love to come along. Than we would have our two 505's a 500 Jeff. 450 Rigby, 416 Rigby 416 Remington and my wife and her 375 H&H at 5'3" 120 will out shoot us all but what the heck she had a GREAT TEACHER. ; )

quote:

Originally posted by 500 Fan:
HURRAY, AWESOME, YOU-THE-MAN-CHUCK! Let me know how you like it. I'm in Grand Island,NE. so if you ever get through look me up in the phone book or profile and we'll go out and shoot. I have a couple other AR friends close they'd love to come along. Than we would have our two 505's a 500 Jeff. 450 Rigby, 416 Rigby 416 Remington and my wife and her 375 H&H at 5'3" 120 will out shoot us all but what the heck she had a GREAT TEACHER. ; )

Are you back on the .505 bandwagon? Does that mean I need to get something bigger, again?

I'm on the bandwagon after resisting it and listening to common sense for almost a year ... I just couldn't help myself lol. Thanks for the invite to Grand Is I'm going to commit to going to at least one big bore shoot and the Reno SCI convention this year. Hopefully by 2011 I'll have booked my first African DG Safari. I will take it deer and elk hunting this fall for sure. Should be hell on elk in the black timber as long as the muzzle blast doesn't start a fire ...

Regards,

Chuck