Here are some pic of the cases and bullets for size comparison.

We are placing an order for barrels for this monster. Any one interested in getting a barrel or increasing the horsepower of your current big bore should consider this.


550 mag, 460 weatherby, 458 lott, 30-06




458 lott 500gr, 550mag 700gr, 550mag 800gr, 600ok 900gr


The 550 mag is in the middle between the 458 lott and the 600 ok


.550 700gr, 800gr and a .620 900gr, bridger 900gr

Companies supporting this cartridge so far are

Barrels @ Cut Rifle

Bullets @ Hawk
Bridger
GS Custom ( Said they would )

Head Stamped Brass @ Quality Cartridge

Loaded Ammo @ Quality Cartridge

Realoding Dies @ C&H Tool and Die

Gunsmiths @ MICHAEL SCHERZ

Reamers @ Manson Reamers

Stocks @ Acra-bond laminates

barres so far are
RNS
Ed Hubel
Robgunbuilder
mrlexma
tigertate
fritz454
sharps54
JKS

[ 10-21-2003, 22:21: Message edited by: RNS ]

The 700gr and the 800gr bullets are from Hawk and have an .065 jacket. Hawk has an .035 jacket which needs to be used for load developement. John at Bridger bullets have exchanged emails and in the next few weeks as time permits he is going to get me some samples.

Now that brass and bullets are available I would like to find out if any one is serious about getting a barrel in the first run from CUT RIFLE. Cost is 350 for a barrel with intergal recoil lug. I plan on order ing my action by the end of the week right after I finish my 257 AI for my deer hunt in 4 weeks. I would like to order the barrels in december.

ED I talked to Andy at hawk and he can change the nose design to a spitzer shape for your 550 project if you buy the nose shaping die.

RNS- Looking good!-Rob

RNS-Looking good!!Please post Hawks number.Also can the barrel company,
Cut Rifle rebore my 50 cal barrel to .550?
Post their number also.Ed.

Thanks Rob, ED

Hawk info is 856-299-2800
http://www.hawkbullets.com

RNS,

Nice job! What a monster!

What are the SDs of the 700 and 800 gr. bullets? And where do you get that brass without the headstamp?

Will the rounds feed from a .416 Rigby sized CZ 550 Magnum action?

Ed, I see what you meant about this round. The straight case is the way to go!

I think I'm in love.

Mrlexma--Yes they do look great.And the best part is you can use 460 brass, basic or
otherwise.Can even use 500Asq brass, and, being straight you get the max from that case.With
Hawk making bullets and fritz making better solid bullets, we have a wildcat developed fast without having to wait for brass or bullets..In regular
length actions of regular diameter with good margins of safety, like Ruger,REM,WIN,Savage,WEA,MRC,Enfield,Mauser, CZ, etc...My 550 wildcat needs long action, and I
already have Enfield set up for that.Do you want to join in an get a barrel, and stick it in something??This case won't have feeding problems
that Jeffrey has, and will be very close to
Nyati in power with regular available brass.
I really thank RNS for getting this idea started.
Ed.

Awesome cartridge !

Ed/RNS,

Yes, I am very much interested, but need some more info:

1. If I go with the .550, I'll be taking it to Africa, so I'll need brass with the proper headstamp, i.e., ".550 Mag." rather than ".460 Wby. Mag." or blank (.460 Basic). Who's providing the brass and will they headstamp it for us?

2. What is maximum OAL for this round? Unlike some of you guys, I'll need to consult a gunsmith to build my rifle, and will need to provide specs.

3. Seems like a good price on the barrel. Is it based on a minimum number of orders? Will there be additional tooling costs to be shared?

4. What are the barrel specs: (a) bore and groove diameter; (b) twist rate; (c) number of grooves; (d) contour (is there a drawing or spec chart for the barrel?--again, I will need it for my gunsmith); and (e) does the price include chambering and threading for action of choice?

5. I'd think the 700 gr. bullet would be the weight I'd prefer both for solids and softs. I would want a cannelure for heavy crimping at the proper place. Will Hawk/Bridger do this for us? Do you know the SDs of these bullets? Seems like 2,300 to 2,400 fps ought to be possible with a 700 gr. slug. At that velocity, with an SD comparable to a .458 500 grainer, they ought to penetrate as well as anything out there.

Sorry for all of the questions--I don't mean to be a pain in the neck--but I'm going to move forward soon with a new big bore DGR and am truly interested in this project.

Thanks.

RNS- Got to admit that this is a really good idea! Better than a 500a2 in performance and using readily available brass. Good going!-Rob

Sorry for not responding eailer work is got me hopping.

Yes it is am monster and a very impressive round.

mrlexma
I don't know the SD of the bullets yet, I'll call hawk and see if they have that already figured out.

The unheadstamped brass is from Buffalo arms.

I am working with Pete from Quality Cartridge who has an order from Dieter Horneber for Weatherby basic I asked Pete to get the baic 3.00" unheadstamped and he should get the order from Dieter this year.

Pete is planning to get headstamping dies made for the weatherby cases like 500 a2, 550 mag and some others in one batch to keep cost down.

So Pete from Quality cartridge will have headstamped brass for the 500 mag. I would suggest that we make a combined order for the first batch.

Both the 700gr and the 800gr rounds have the bullet seated to one bullet dia. and the 700 gr oal lenght came to 3.620 and the 800gr came to 3.790 which should feed through a cz 550 416 rigby which has a box lenght of 3.850".

Ok got to got to lunch now since it is 1:35 I will answer more questions later. RNS

[ 10-10-2003, 02:48: Message edited by: RNS ]

I will try to get some more barrel information from Dan in our next phone call. I would suggest that he do the barrel and action work since he will have the reamer. Dan works with Wells and they come pretty highly recommended. The barrels right now are pretty standard which I left up to dan since that is what he does. I know that the bore is .540 and the grove is .550.

Yes there is going to be a tooling cost involved ED and myself have some of it covered if we can get enough barrels ordered there will be no extra cost for tooling.

We also need to do a combined order for the bullets from hawk. RNS

I'll go in on a barrel!-Rob

THanks Rob--That will help. I am ready to get
with you to order 12GA FH barrel.

mrlexma-The formula shows with a full load of ball
double base powder, 27 in barrel, that a 700 grain bullet will do 2420 fps.Over 9000 ft lbs of
energy.About 52,000 psi load.

RNS- Glad you and others who join in, will be able to get brass you can headstamp.Ed.

RNS/Ed,

I will take a barrel, too. I'll have to figure out a way to coordinate the gunsmithing work between Wells and AHR, which is my preferred builder. Ed Plummer there is terrific.

I will want a lot of brass and soft nosed and solid bullets too. So count me in on any orders for these as well. Thanks for all the good work. You will both have PMs shortly with my contact information.

Well this should answer some more questions

Basis barrel information
.900" at the muzzle
.008" per inch taper contour
20"-24" barrel lenght dan will go to 30"
6 grove
intergal recoil lug
cost is 380.00 not 350 as I mistakenly posted before.

Reboring cost is 265.00 as long as the muzzle is at least .800" or bigger.

RNS--Thanks for info.My barrel that I need rebored
is an inch at the muzzle so that part is fine.
Well you got three barrels so far.

mrlexma --You, Rob and RNS can get together and get a finish reamer built, that is the length needed for present brass length.You said they
were 2.91 to 2.92, so make chamber a little longer
to allow for brass lengthening to cut down trimming.Say 2.95...Then with a reamer you can get barrel from Dan and get it to your gunsmith,
along with reamer.When one is done pass reamer on to next guy.Everyone who comes in get a few bucks, and you,Rob ,And Rns get the costs back.
Of course folks keep joining it will be smaller
cost for you to do it, each one.

RNS-Then if you get longer cases later, the
belt shoulder on the reamer can be cut back and be used to make chamber no problems.Some won't want to make chamber overy long for the present brass.Won't need a new reamer at all as the
taper is so little that going a tenth of an inch longer won't change chamber diameter any measurable amount.You have a thousands of an inch taper on sides per .530 in length, so going
.100 longer changes diameter only .0002 in.
I have done it with my 458HE
and went eighth inch longer, and I have more taper
than 550 Mag...Ed.

Ed I think that is the way to go on the reamer. I have the drawing and I will contact a reamer maker and c&h tool for the dies That way everyone is working off the same print.

I got some great news from Hawk about the bullets today.

When I find my note pad I will post the information.

Just thought I would say Hi to Dans class if you are still following this.

Just thought I would say thanks to Rob/ Ed/ Mrlexma for you support on this RNS

Ok I was a little nervous about the cost of the bullets from hawk there web page said call for pricing which means the price is double because of tool set up and you have to order a whole bunch before they will make them.

http://www.hawkbullets.com/P-LIST.htm

There is a link so you can see there pricing. 585 750gr $54.50 a box so I was expecting about $90.00 for the .550 700gr

Well I called Andy told him I wanted to get a price on the .550 700gr .035" jacket 50 per box.

$54.00 a box 700gr .035 jacket
$56.00 a box 800gr .035 jacket
any combination 6 box min since he does not keep them in stock. with as many shooters as we could get on this they may turn into a stocked item.

$67.00 a box 700gr .065 jacket
$69.00 a box 800gr .065 jacket

3 box min mixed order.

$.02 per bullet to put a crimp grove any where we want.

As far as bullet weight goes He said the way they are set up we can order from one extreme to the other 500gr-900gr

So I am pretty impressed with what they are offering. RNS

RNS-- Those great prices,I will take 2 boxes in
.035 jacket.And I want cannelure.I do my own ,but can't do cannelures for 2 cents each, so I will let them do it.Set the cannelure .045 foward of the base..Ed.

Great prices. Let's get together on an order.

Well guys I have some more good news. I talked to Pete at Quaility Cartridge and he is going to order the blunter to headstamp the cases which should take 2-3 weeks to get. The blunter normally would cost $150.00 since it is a wild cat catridge. Pete is not going to charge me for the stamp and I have 20 cases headed his way for stamping when the stamp gets in. In addition to headstamping the cases he is going to offer loaded ammo as he does with other cartridges for the non handloader.RNS

Ed did you mean .045" or .450" from the base?

Please count me in. I'm in line for an MRC PH action and was wondering what I would make of it. This sovlves the puzzle. Thanks to all.

tigertate
Thanks for letting me know

I just got off the phone with Dave Manson from Manson reamers. He reviewed my case drawing and he will provide the reamers and go no go guage. After I send him some cartridge samples he will complete the throating.

I am going to check pricing with so other reamer makers.

RNS

I e-mailed Cut Rifle earlier about ordering the barrel before I thought to ask if this needs to go thru you or not. Makes me no difference to me if it does.

Gee... before I got spell-check I could spell and write complete sentnces at the same time. What the hell happens?

RNS--I put the decimal in the wrong place.
I meant .450, but after our phone calls today we will go with one diameter---.550 tentative on the
700 gr--- to be all the same.And I absolutely recommend cannelures on all big bores.

Tigertate- We have to get Cut rifle enough orders
for them to build tooling for .550 caliber, Hopefully will get about ten or more in a few weeks.Then Cut Rifle will do the order as a
group, but each person will send in their money when RNS says go.We have 4 now plus my rebore to
.550..Come on all you Wea guys, here is the ultimate and best use for 460 brass. Join in..Ed.

OK. Make me #5. I'll pony up early for brass, dies and bullets where it will help.

Tigertate

I have to use the edit feature the little pencil and note pad. RNS

Just to make it simple please send me some contact information

So far
RNS
ED
Rob
mrlexma
tigertate
Fritz454
sharps54
JKS

I talked to Dave at C&H today about the reloading dies and we have them worked out pretty good. With what we worked out we will be able to reload the 3" cases, and if the supplies of the 3" runs out we can switch to the 2.92" from Bell or resize 460 weatherby. This will allow us to keep a supply of brass and reload just about any big weatherby case we get our hands on. RNS

[ 10-21-2003, 22:19: Message edited by: RNS ]

RNS... I am sorry for not paying close attention, school is a little heavy right now.
What is the body taper total or per inch on the 550... or is there none?
thanks for your time

[ 10-16-2003, 12:30: Message edited by: smallfry ]

Smallfry
Base above the beltis .582"
Neck Dia is .570"

The brass maker, die maker and the reamer maker have all reviewed the drawing and given there professional approval

Now how about ordering a barrel with us.
RNS

RNS- I sent my contact info to you earlier before the server crashed and again just now to be sure. Do you plan to pursue cast bullets as well or would you like me to try? I was thinking of 800 to 900 grains with a gas check but I haven't figured out the check yet.

RNS,
I'll have some samples going out to you on Monday. 600 - 700 - 800 gr.

I'm leaning to doing a switch barrel on this one. .308 - .338 - .358 - .375 - .416 - .458 - .474 - .510 and .550.
I was originally going to do the same on the 8mm mag case and go from .25 to .416 but will rethink that one and stick to the smaller calibers to start off.

John
Bridger Bullets

RNS,
I am having problems with my computer at home which is why I haven't been in touch. I confirmed with Bauska Barrels that it would be $50 per plus an intital $200 in tooling for the intital order which would be divided between the intial barrels. If you are still going with the Cut Rifle barrels what was the price one more time? If we are ordering in December when is the money needed? If it is after the beginning of November you can count me in. Please email me again (I can check my webmail at work) and I will send you my contact info. Thanks,
Jason

tigetate
yes I would like to look into cast bullets and round balls. The .550 is the same as 28 guage so we might be able to find slugs for the 28ga and use them too. If you got time and want to look into Please do so.

John
Thanks for getting those done so quick I know you are busy. I will post some pics when they get in. You will have to keep us informed on that switch barrel. I thought a .458/.510/.550 would happen soner or later. I sent you my information by email.

Sharps54
Ed Hubel has contacted Bauska Barrels and I will go from memory on this one. Bauska has part of the tooling and the $200.00 is for a new button to do the button rifling. If you geta barrel from them that is equal to the barrels at Wells/Cut rifle They are only dollars apart.

Wells wants 10 barrels and the tooling is free.
Bauska wants 6-8 barrels and the tooling is free

Both barrels would be tapered and contoured with an intergal recoil lug.

Wells is $380.00 any lenght to 30"
Bauska is $350.00 or so/ and $20.00 per inch for longer barrels.

So cost is about the same. One is cutrifling and one is button. Both are good barrels. If I have (ED and Jason) made a mistake please correct me since I have not talked to them personnaly.

I would still go with Cut rifling since they are close enough to me to drive to and Robgunbuilder is pretty close. My gunsmith also drives through there several times a month. That way we can have some contact with the barrel maker in person

Sharps54 you would make #7 I told Dan we would start sending check around December he is pretty flexable so I will count you in. I will email you also.

Thanks Guys RNS

I will clarify on the payment to Dan at Curtrfle each of us will pay him direct and I will clarify with him but as per our last conservation as long as he is paid before he ships the barrel. The tooling will take a couple of months so we have time to get him paid. RNS

When I talked to Bauska- he gave me a price for my extralong barrel of a 100 bucks with a big diameter,And contouring about 35.But there
wouldn't be no extra recoil lug.To get one with recoil lug would run it up to about 300 dollars,
in the long length I want, as
he has to turn down and mill a real big blank.Ed.