Does anyone here have an experience with this caliber?

Also, where do you get your ammo for it?

I have a chance to buy a new double in this caliber for a very good price. It is not my caliber of choice but for the price, I can't hardly turn it down.

I have a Krieghoff double and really like it.Have used it on 2 trips and several buffalo. Norma lists the ammo on their web site but I can not find it for sale. Krieghoff has ammo, and they have guaranteed that they will always have ammo available.

PM Dave Bush here...he has one.

I have shot one a good bit in a Blaser S2 it was a great gun that was very, very accurate. I just killed paper with it, but would own one if the right one came my way. I think I have 40 or so peices of new brass, and maybe a set of dies (I'd have to see). I'd sell them if you get intrested.

Ed

Don't know why the caliber was not better received when introduced. It just about attains the magic "400gr @ 2,400 fps" that seems important to many African hunters. It pretty much emulates the ballistics of the 416 Rigby, but in a DR. Perhaps folks like the 470 and above calibers once they go beyond the 9.3x74R and that type of lighter-duty double.

My theory is that it's popularity suffers from only being offered in the Krieghof which apparently is not for everybody

Its offered in the Blaser S2 too, and I believe I've seen a Heym in that caliber as well.

BGH:

I have a K-gun in that caliber and although I have not hunted with it, I really like it. It is basically a .416 Rigby in a double rifle. I bought mine used from Garby and he had a bunch of BeLL brass but I also bought 100 rounds of brass from Jamison. The .500/.416 is not nearly as popular as the .450/.400. It generates more recoil but then again, it's a lot more gun. I think it is a dandy round. At the range, I shoot 400 grain Hornady bullets but if I would hunt with it I would use the 410 Woodleigh softs and solids. I would have to check my records but I think my load is 108 grains of H1000. You'll want some brass with the proper head stamp of course but the cartridge is basically a .470 NE necked down to .416 so I don't think brass will ever be a problem. Because the .500/.416 is not at popular as the .450/.400, you can usually get a pretty good deal on a used K-gun.

One thing to be aware of. If you are looking at a Blaser in that caliber, the Blasers don't seem to work with all brass. If you want, I can send you a couple of cases for you to try.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
BGH:

I have a K-gun in that caliber and although I have not hunted with it, I really like it. It is basically a .416 Rigby in a double rifle. I bought mine used from Garby and he had a bunch of BeLL brass but I also bought 100 rounds of brass from Jamison. The .500/.416 is not nearly as popular as the .450/.400. It generates more recoil but then again, it's a lot more gun. I think it is a dandy round. At the range, I shoot 400 grain Hornady bullets but if I would hunt with it I would use the 410 Woodleigh softs and solids. I would have to check my records but I think my load is 108 grains of H1000. You'll want some brass with the proper head stamp of course but the cartridge is basically a .470 NE necked down to .416 so I don't think brass will ever be a problem. Because the .500/.416 is not at popular as the .450/.400, you can usually get a pretty good deal on a used K-gun.

One thing to be aware of. If you are looking at a Blaser in that caliber, the Blasers don't seem to work with all brass. If you want, I can send you a couple of cases for you to try.

Dave has it down pat on this cartridge! Though the .416 dia is not my favorite this particular cartridge make far more sense in a double rifle than the 416 Rigby. The balistics are about the same with these two cartridges and I have fired both in double rifles and I find the rigby to have more of "PUSH" type recoil, while the 500/416K seems a sharper faster recoil! Of course these two rounds were fired from different brand doubles, and that may be the cause of the difference in felt recoil.

Brass is available, and .416 bullets are everywhere! IMO, not all the .416 bullets on the market are the best choice for a double rifle, but the ones that are are good bullets.

The reason, IMO, is that the chambering didn't take off is as someone said earlier initially it was only available in the K-gun, and that rifle was not well recieved in the begining. Once folks found out that the K-gun was not the bugger it was first thought to be it took off, but the 500/416K has seemed to lagg behind even today though it is a fine cartridge.

Buy the rifle and procure about 100 new brass, bullets and dies. IMO, anyone serious about hunting with a double rifle needs to hand-load for it to get the absolute best the rifle has to offer. Very few double rifle regulate at their best with factory ammo, not to mention the retail cost of factory ammo for double rifles.

I think you will love the rifle if you buy it and do your part to make it work properly!

..................GOOD LUCK, and when you buy welcome to the DRSS!

It is a great caliber. I used it in a K-gun in 2005 to kill my elephant. One shot to the body knocked the bull down. I shot the bull 3 more times to make certain he stayed down. Penetration was great and that rifle was very accurate. I used it to kill an eland at nearly 100 yards. Very easy to reload for and my gun liked a max load of H-1000 and 410 grain softs and solids. I wish I hadn't let Don Heath talk me into selling it to him.

Perry