Paul H & Others: 500 Jeffery

04 April 2002, 07:21

Allen Glore

Slight correction here. The 500 AHR is not a rebated rim, I have one. The 500 Jeffery is a rebated rim. My 500 AHR was built by Ed Plummer, very nicely done except for some blueing salt problems around the barrel band sling swivel and the front sight mount. Not Ed's fault, but the dies from his die maker were crap. The Laminated Walnut stock on mine is a very good stock. Has 2 4" pieces of 1" copper tupe in the buttstock filled with lead to bring the weight of the rifle up. Points very nicely. Fits very well. It is built on the CZ550 Magnum Action, holds 3 in the magazine. Will send pics upon request. Forgot, brass is also less expensive than 500 Jeffery. I paid $2.25 a piece for 500 AHR brass and $4.00 a piece for 500 Jeffery brass.

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AlleninAlaska

[This message has been edited by Allen Glore (edited 04-03-2002).]

04 April 2002, 09:17

500grains

If anyone needs some 500 jeffery brass, I have a box of 20 new unfired Betrams. $50 takes it if you need it.

04 April 2002, 16:05

<500 AHR>

Allen,

How long have you had your 500 AHR? The reloading dies I received with my were OK except that the neck was oversize so that the bullets were a slip fit into the resized cases!

I just made a neck sizing die myself and that has worked very well.

Will,

I would get a 500 AHR if I were you. It is just an all around better case than the Jeffery. After all it is an improved Jeffery.

Todd E

[This message has been edited by Todd E (edited 04-04-2002).]

04 April 2002, 17:04

Mingbogo

Did you guy pay $3500 for that 500 AHR/CZ rifle? Is it worth it? How is the quality of work on the action, barrel and stock? Any detail info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ming

04 April 2002, 18:07

Paul H

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
Okay, what are my options for a 500 Jeffery?
Action, barrel, etc. Seems that the CZ Magnum is the cheapest & easiest way to go for an action.
Other ideas?
Will

If I had it to do all over again, and I'm still waiting on my barreled action, then I'd go with the 500 A-square or equivalent, due to the brass issue, and you also won't have to do work to the bolt. I have 28 cases, which I figure will suffice for most of the shooting I'll do with it, and I'd planned on getting AHR brass and turning the rim down, but now they are up to ~$4 a case, so I'd go for the Hornbear brass Huntington is carrying.

Anyhhow, if you have to have a Jeffrey for your 50, I'd look at the CZ or one of the other large mausers that should be available shortly. For barrels, there is Pac Nor, Lothar Walter, Douglas, and I'm sure a few other choices. See what brand your gunsmith prefers.

The specs on mine are P-14 action, Douglass blank that was tapered to match a Ruger #1 458, and thusly the barrel band swivel and front sight. The barrel is 25" long, and I'd recomend a 24-26" thick barrel, the extra weight will be nice for both steadying, and taking up a bit of the recoil.

I'll still be doing the magazene and feed work, as well as stocking the beast. I have a temporary beater stock that should hold up to my 450 gr cast plinker loads, but will likely get a Tukish walnut blank and carve a proper stock for it next winter. Oh yeah, I also have to fab up a rear sight, and I'm consdiring taking some 1 1/4" cro/mo tubing taper bored to the barrel contour, welding a second recoil lug on the base and a rear sight on top. Then I gotta blue the metal as well. Hmm, lots of work.

One last thing, dies are $140 w/ shellholder from CH4D, though you need a 1 1/2"-12 threaded press to use them, like a rockchucker. I believe the 500 A-sq is small enough in dia to allow 7/8-14 dies.

05 April 2002, 08:10

<Paul Machmeier>

Sorry Will,
Passed when I should have rushed, dropped the ball. Allen is correct. The 500 AHR is not a rebated rim, that is a feature which makes it a good DGR cartridge.

pmm

05 April 2002, 10:33

Will

I will have to admit my ignorance on the 500 AHR caliber. Even though the 500 Jeffery has a rebated rim, I, in theory, can buy loaded ammunition for it from Kynoch or Westley-Richards, and cases from Bertram. I don't know how I would do that for the 500 AHR.

If all things were equal, ammunition availability-wise, between the 500 AHR and Jeffery, if the Jeffery is good enough for Tony Sanchez it is good enough for me!

Will

05 April 2002, 12:41

<500 AHR>

Ming,

My rifle was a bit more than $3500. It has several special add-ons and upgraded wood. The fit and function are very good and well worth the price.

Will,

The only issue I have with the Jeffery is the short neck. If that doesn't bother you go for it. You will not be able to use a staggered box magazine with any action other than a magnum mauser with either the Jeffery or AHR. If the Jeffery is what floats your boat I so do it. It is a good round and will easily do anything the 500 A-Square can do. Besides I believe some additional brass sources (besides Bertram) will be available soon.

Todd E

05 April 2002, 13:14

Allen Glore

And which gun maker are you going to get to build this 500 Jeffery. Does he have the correct reamers. There is so much controversy out there as to what the correct deminensions are. I was originally going to build a 500 Jeffery, but nobody knew if they had the right reamers. My brass was made for Star Custom Bullets by A-Square, several so called knowlegeble gunsmiths said that was not the correct brass. Wel the brass was made for one one of the original Schuler guns that Bill McBride at Starr owned. So make sure the gunsmith you decide to build this Jeffery has the correct reamers.

Loaded 500 AHR ammo is avauilable from d Plummer. I believe it is even cheaper than 500 Jeffery ammo and uses the same Woodliegh Bullets.

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AlleninAlaska

05 April 2002, 13:14

DaveC

I just picked up my .500 Jeffrey at the gun shop. A beautiful piece of work by Butch Searcy.
John Ricks is also building them and his work is top notch.
As Nick pointed out, SABI does make some fine looking rifles as well.
As mentioned, the .500 AHR would also be an option.
The CZ Mag is a good action to start with. If you opt for the CZ action and a .500 AHR, get one for the .416 Rigby. The .500 AHR does have a rebated, .416 Rigby rim size (.586" vs. the Jeffrey .575"). As mentioned, .500 AHR cases are cheaper than Bertram .500 Jeffrey cases.
Mast / Bell is supposed to come out with .500 Jeffrey cases this year, but I have no idea what the pricing will be.
Many choices as far as barrels go, but you will need to decide what rifling you want. If you plan on shooting military ball or A-maxes, you will need a faster twist rate than is standard for a Jeffrey or AHR.
Bullets, you have Woodleigh, GS Custom, Barnes, Hawk - plus various cast bullets, and jacketed bullets designed for the .50-110 for light loads or full bore for prairie dogs.

05 April 2002, 13:41

<500 AHR>

If you biulding either the Jeffery or the AHR do not start with a 416 Rigby action. The extractor is too long (distance from bolt face to back face of extractor). Use a 375 and have the bolt face and extractor opened up. You can of course bend the Rigby extractor or buy a 375 extractor, open it up and install it on the Rigby bolt.

My 500 AHR brass was cheaper than Jeffery, but that isn't such a big deal anymore. Plummer is getting $3.77/case now for the 500 AHR. The rim diameter on my cases measures .585 to .592. Rim thickness .045 to .052. My Rigby brass measured rim thickness is .058 to .063. You will have a rebated rim with either the Jeffery or AHR. The only 50 calibers that I am aware of that do not have rebated rims are the 505 Gibbs and the various 500-460 Weatherby derivatives.

Actions:
1.) Dakota 76 (if money is no problem).
2.) CZ 550.

Whatever you decide I hope you enjoy it.

Todd E

05 April 2002, 17:08

Mingbogo

Thanks Todd for the info. Cheers. Ming

05 April 2002, 23:09

<577 Robert>

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
If all things were equal, ammunition availability-wise, between the 500 AHR and Jeffery, if the Jeffery is good enough for Tony Sanchez it is good enough for me!
Will[/B]

@Will
Yes, I agree with you comment about availability of ammunition. I personally have a .500 Jeffery since nearly 10 years and I have never problems with the feeding of the cartridges.

But you could not use Tony Sanchez for you argument because Tony has a rifle made by Harald Wolf of Belgium for the .500 Jeffery Improved which is a .500 Jeffery with a full diameter rim.

Best regards

Robert