I didn't want to hijack the other 500 thread so....

Do any of you guys have one? I've thought for years that it would be just about the perfect .510. I realize that the 500a2 is the easiest and cheapest route to take and that's what I will probably do. But, again, I've always found the AHR cartridge appealing. Looks like the old Jeffery but with improvements.

I've already got a ton of 460 Wby brass so for me the choice should be simple. Just can't get the AHR cartridge out of my head.

I have one and it works as advertised.Excellent gun and cartridge. I still shoot my 500a2 way more. Just something cool about the 500a2. Never thought that much about the 500 Jeffery. Rob

Robgunbuilder

Let me ask you this: Of all the big 50s, which cartridge do you think is the best?

I agree that the 500a2 is probably the easiest and cheapest route to take. But putting aside cost and brass availability etc., etc. and just looking at technical aspects of the cartridges, which one do you think has the best design?

what is your mission?

x weight of y bullet at z velocity in m weight rifle, with q overall length, and what degree of recoil?

Well put Jeffe.

jeffeosso

That's why I wrote "of all the big 50s". Everything from the 500a2 to the 505 Gibs (I know, .505 vs. .510) but you get the drift.

Probably a rifle in the 11.5 to 12 lb range, 600 grain bullets up to 2400+ feet per second or a little less.

There's the 500 Mbogo, 500 Wells, 500a2, 500 Jeffery, 500 AHR, 505 Gibbs and surely several others that I am missing.

Just trying to see what some of you fellas think are the better cartridge designs when it comes to the big 50s (ones requiring a magnum action).

See, I've already got a 460 Wby and loads of once fired brass and can get new brass easily enough. The 500a@ makes the most since. Also have a CZ 550 416 Rigby that could be converted real easy. That's probably what I will do.

But like the rest of us, I like to talk about these sorts of things and I know that a lot of you guys spend your lives building these rifles so I thought I might pick your brains on the finer aspects of the big 50s...and your reasons for thinking so.

"of all the big 50s"

I don't understand why this group is limited to the length of the case, that is, needing a magnum length action?

shouldn't a "big 50" be defined by it muzzle energy? For example, the 505Gibbs and 500 Jeffrey are rated at about 6200ftlbs and 6900ftlbs, respectively.

For me a "big 50" is a cartridge that can generate 7000ftlbs of muzzle energy without wheezing.

That means, of course, that the 500AccRel Nyati
needs to be included in the discussion.

The AccRel cannot be handloaded up to 8000-8500-9000 footpounds. But that is a moot point if someone plans to hunt and shoot with a cartridge in the 6000-7000 ftlb range.

So the first question to be asked is what level of energy does one want to shoot with in the 50-calibre? If 7500-8000 is the level, then a magnum length cartridge is recommended. If 7000ftlbs is the max, then the standard length 500 AccRel would be my first recommendation.


Anyway, I followed my own advice and built a 500AccRel and then a 500AccRel Nyati (shorter freebore). It will do 2300fps with both 570grain and 600 grain bullets, if someone wants slow and heavy. I prefer faster, so the 450 GSC and 360 CEB at 2650fps and 2900fps are 'big 50' for me and more than enough gun.

But if you want to build on a CZ safari magnum, then the 500A2 is the most natural and practical choice.

here's the thing -- the "big 500s" are measured against either the 500 ne or the 500jeffe/505 gibbs --

let's blend those and say 570gr at 2350 ---

which the 500 accrel does with 20% OR GREATER less powder than anything but the 495 a2 -- but that cart idnt in this discussion.

a 50 doesn't have to weigh 11# empty.. it could weigh 8, or less, and still be shootable ..

if you have a cz or rsm - go with the bigger cases.. you'll burn tablespoons more powder to the get same results

if you have a standard length action, you might consider a 500 accrel ..

416

At the present, I am not interested in any of the shortened cases. I have a CZ 550 416 Rigby waiting to be converted. That's why I am looking at the larger cases.

And yes, I am interested in the upper limits with regard to velocity and bullet weight.

Landrum,

I hear you.

While you are waiting to decide, you might want to see what your 416Rigby can do on its own.

For example, 101.5 grains of Rel 17 with a 350gnTTSX should send the bullet out at 2800-2850fps, or 6000 to 6400 ftlbs. That makes for a long (and short) range elk rifle.

It will let one feel what the 500 recoil will feel like in that rifle and stock. You might also try out the new IMR 4451 powder for about the same load. I'd like to hear some feedback on 4451 in 416Rigby.

Jeff

quote:

a 50 doesn't have to weigh 11# empty.. it could weigh 8, or less, and still be shootable ..

if you have a cz or rsm - go with the bigger cases.. you'll burn tablespoons more powder to the get same results

if you have a standard length action, you might consider a 500 accrel ..

well said

my all time favorite .50 is the .50BMG!!! By far the best design!! Rob