I Couldn't Resist!

01 March 2020, 21:45

Biebs

I Couldn't Resist!

Despite having no plans for returning to Africa, I couldn't resist this rifle when I saw it. It's an A-Square in 500 A2. I know they're kind of clunky, but nothing tames recoil like these rifles do. I wonder if it will work OK on a Whitetail? :-)

01 March 2020, 21:55

victor1050

Very nice!

was that the one they had listed on the Hunting Africa Forums? What does it weigh by chance?

01 March 2020, 22:13

xausa

Is that an Enfield action or a Remington Model 30?It looks a lot like mine, built on a P-14 Enfield action.

01 March 2020, 23:11

Biebs

I think Alpin used P-14 actions for all his Hannibal builds. This one isn't from the African Hunting Forums...found online somewhere else.

02 March 2020, 09:08

ColoradoMatt

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
I think Alpin used P-14 actions for all his Hannibal builds. This one isn't from the African Hunting Forums...found online somewhere else.

The P14 bolts are better suited for the really wide rim rounds compared to the M17 and 30.

Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."

02 March 2020, 09:30

eagle27

Of course it would work on whitetail, a swat around the head by that club would probably even lay an elephant out

Nice find and supposedly a very accurate and easy to shoot combination of cartridge and rifle. Factory setup with the scout scope too I believe. What scope is used?

I have an early A Square A4 sized brochure with all the details of their rifles and cartridges, lots of interesting info.

02 March 2020, 11:36

Pondoro

What is this...a paddle ore..??

02 March 2020, 18:00

Bill/Oregon

Put it to good use on your Jersey bears, Jon!
Use cast boolits for deer.

02 March 2020, 18:28

nopride2

quote:
I wonder if it will work OK on a Whitetail? :-)

Nah, your under gunned.

Dave

03 March 2020, 01:56

Atkinson

All you need is a chain saw and a new #50 cabinet rasp and a couple of weeks, and you will have on hell of a nice gun..Well maybe a horseshoe rasp after the chain saw then the cabinet rasp..

ONe more thing, DON,T CLOSE THE REAR DOOR ON YOUR WHITETAIL BLIND

03 March 2020, 02:06

Biebs

Ray, it's staying as is...unless I switch to a peep or dot sight.

03 March 2020, 02:13

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
I know they're kind of clunky, ...

Maybe, but is a huge step in the right direction from, well, you know ...

I do hate to hear you're off of Africa Jon. I was too for 6 years. Going back this past summer relit the fire to some extent. But, I'm getting seriously concerned with my physical abilities to continue going. The back issues that took me out of the cockpit professionally 16 years ago are not getting any better.

03 March 2020, 02:13

Atkinson

wELL OK BUT KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN, DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU BOUNCING OUT ACROSS THE PASTURE FULL OF SPLENTERS..

03 March 2020, 02:34

JohnDL

I still have one that I haven't shot in about 30 years. Ugly, but it always impressed me as being built like a brick sh*t house.

03 March 2020, 03:38

Brandon.Gleason

Well, when you're bored of it, look me up! I need a year to recoup from this last purchase, though.....

CT's close, I'll let you have visitation rights!

03 March 2020, 04:06

jeffeosso

quote:
Originally posted by xausa:
Is that an Enfield action or a Remington Model 30?It looks a lot like mine, built on a P-14 Enfield action.

no difference - but they are 17 actions with 14 bolts

as for the coil chunk stock .. rumor is at art got a sweet deal on reject railroad ties

03 March 2020, 04:31

xausa

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Ray, it's staying as is...unless I switch to a peep or dot sight.

It's not that much different from mine on a P-14 action and in a Fajen stock. Three trips to Africa.

The feature which impressed me was the lack of drop at the heel of the stock, just like mine. Mine propels a 570 grain bullet at 2150 fps and has killed everything I shot with it. I never felt the need for a scope, except to test loads with.

03 March 2020, 04:44

Biebs

Yes, a close range stopping rifle like that does well with a peep or ghost ring sight.

03 March 2020, 16:24

jeffeosso

xausa,
What you aren't seeing is the cross section - the coil chunk stock is THICK -- idr, but i believe is nearly 3/4 + thicker than "normal" stocks -- think holding the thick end of a pickaxe handle for the grip.

and, to be clear, art's claim to fame on these was using 17 actions with 14 bolts,

the 500s in a bolt gun, at 2150 is a big shove - at A2 2400fps, there's a bit more of a WHACK

03 March 2020, 21:45

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by Brandon.Gleason:
Well, when you're bored of it, look me up! I need a year to recoup from this last purchase, though.....

CT's close, I'll let you have visitation rights!

I will give it two months until we see on the classifieds.

06 March 2020, 09:33

Michael Robinson

Uglier than Cinderella’s stepsisters.

And life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

Still, I might buy it, if was chambered in something more suitable to its ugliness, like .577 T-Rex!!!

06 March 2020, 13:44

416Tanzan

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Despite having no plans for returning to Africa, I couldn't resist this rifle when I saw it. It's an A-Square in 500 A2. I know they're kind of clunky, but nothing tames recoil like these rifles do. I wonder if it will work OK on a Whitetail? :-)

Looks like a great rifle as is.

Personally, I would load 450gn GSC at 2600fps for all-around comfort. Faster powders recommended.

06 March 2020, 19:02

Biebs

Yes, not much need for 570gr bullets around here. I do have some 570gr moly Barnes bullets I may try just for fun.

06 March 2020, 19:13

DManson

Jon:

It's really all about fun, so have at it!

Dave Manson

06 March 2020, 23:10

Biebs

Dave, I'll see how much "fun" I can take :-)

08 March 2020, 05:31

John145144

Jon
Put it to use that will make my friend happy someone is using it

John B

08 March 2020, 05:51

Atkinson

There is no better big bore action out there, Ive built some fine Enfields in the big bores from a long throated 375 IMP to a 505 Gibbs IMP. and at a reasonable price, can't do that with a big Mauser action that cost a small fortune...but Biebs please restock it!

08 March 2020, 19:58

Biebs

Ray, the stock is ugly but classic....kind of like you! :-)

09 March 2020, 02:16

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Ray, the stock is ugly but classic....kind of like you! :-)

Ditto that !
Don't change a thing.

Rip ...

15 March 2020, 21:27

Atkinson

Yes sir, a certain part of my body is ugly but classic and resembles your gun, my old white wrinkled butt!

19 March 2020, 22:10

chuck375

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Despite having no plans for returning to Africa, I couldn't resist this rifle when I saw it. It's an A-Square in 500 A2. I know they're kind of clunky, but nothing tames recoil like these rifles do. I wonder if it will work OK on a Whitetail? :-)

Nice rifle! Grats!

20 March 2020, 14:55

jlabreck7316

quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
and, to be clear, art's claim to fame on these was using 17 actions with 14 bolts

Not clear. Lol. I’m not following the logic of this, or the heap of P14 bolt-less rifles and M1917 bolts it would have produced. Both P14 (.303 British) and M1917 (.30-06) were cock on close, unless I’m mistaken, because all they did was rechamber for .30-06 and go to war. It’s too late to bother going down to the vault to check my Remington M1917 or Eddystone M1917, but I know for a fact my .500 A2 is cock on close and is based on a M1917 action. Do you have any more information on this? I have Any Shot You Want and I don’t recall Art claiming that, but it’s been awhile since I read about his fence post epiphany.

27 March 2020, 02:32

chuck375

quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
Despite having no plans for returning to Africa, I couldn't resist this rifle when I saw it. It's an A-Square in 500 A2. I know they're kind of clunky, but nothing tames recoil like these rifles do. I wonder if it will work OK on a Whitetail? :-)

Looks like a great rifle as is.

Personally, I would load 450gn GSC at 2600fps for all-around comfort. Faster powders recommended.

Agree!

27 March 2020, 03:43

MoreBS

One nice thing about a big gun, is that if they [deer] are standing behind small trees, just shoot thru them!!

27 March 2020, 03:56

foxhound

Love ya Biebs!! You're one of a few special guys that can come up with more creative reasons to buy more big bores than I can! ROCK ON !!!
Rick

27 March 2020, 23:22

MoreBS

Just measured the tree that I have been shooting thru with the 405B and 300 grain TSX's. 8.1/2" testing speed. Will this load kill a Deer?

28 March 2020, 19:27

jeffeosso

quote:
Originally posted by jlabreck7316:
quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
and, to be clear, art's claim to fame on these was using 17 actions with 14 bolts

Not clear. Lol. I’m not following the logic of this, or the heap of P14 bolt-less rifles and M1917 bolts it would have produced. Both P14 (.303 British) and M1917 (.30-06) were cock on close, unless I’m mistaken, because all they did was rechamber for .30-06 and go to war. It’s too late to bother going down to the vault to check my Remington M1917 or Eddystone M1917, but I know for a fact my .500 A2 is cock on close and is based on a M1917 action. Do you have any more information on this? I have Any Shot You Want and I don’t recall Art claiming that, but it’s been awhile since I read about his fence post epiphany.

at the time, the actions and bolts could be had for little more than scrap weight. Yes, there is a cock on open "kit" for the enfields - i've installed more than a couple
https://www.brownells.com/rifl...n-kit-prod25037.aspx

the initial 14 in a 17 was due to bolt face - a magnum case fits right in, zero gunsmithing required, AND the bolt face is different

here is a TERRIBLE video quality youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugr1Vxztu6E

in short, it eliminated several delicate machining steps to start in this config