Guys

I am in the process of building a 500 A-Square turnbolt and am about to order a barrel. I want the rifle to weigh-in at around 11 pounds (no ammo or scope) with a 24" barrel and walnut stock. What Pacnor profile would recommend? Details are available here

Thanks for the suggestions.

Fergus

The Straight Taper target weight barrel that is 0.850" at the 26" point of muzzle will be very close to your desired goal weight of 11 pounds. It is your best choice. It will be so close that a few ounces of balancing lead in forearm or butt will make it exactly 11 pounds, depending on the density of the stock wood or synthetic.

The RIP has spoken. End of story ...

My 10" twist McGowen is 23" long and 0.875" at the muzzle, straight taper. Action is BRNO ZKK 602, with Wisner safety and sights, in a McMillan stock with no lead or mercury, muzzle brake removed, it weighs in at very close to 11 pounds bare in .500A2: It is exactly 10.75 pounds bare.

If my barrel extended out to 26" instead of 23" it would be very close to the 0.850" that Pac-Nor is showing for 26" diameter.

There is no other choice.

RIP

Thanks for the input. I was thinking a #7 profile so we are in pretty much the same ballpark. Have you hunted with the rifle and if so, how did you find the barrel length?

Thanks again.

Fergus

Fergus,
That #7 is .875" all the way out at 28" point of taper.
It will be a little heavier for sure, probably put you closer to 12 pounds with wood.

My barrel is a little slimmer than your choice. You can always add mercury tube or lead.

I have carried my .500A2 in Alaska as backup for a friend hunting brown bear. I fired one shot at a medium sized black bear on my own tag, but it was 200 yards uphill at a 45 degree angle and made the fur on the bear's back fly but then so did he, into the thick stuff.

Otherwise I have busted plenty of commercial fishing floats on the beach with it while waiting for the floatplane to come pick us up.

I have busted paper out to 1000 yards with it too. 705 to 750 grain bullets are wickedly accurate.

I have a Ruger No.1 in 500A2 also. I also call it the .510/.460 Weatherby Improved JAB, or .510 JAB. The Ruger No.1 barrel is the same 10" twist McGowen, but it is 1.000" at the 27" muzzle diameter.

Still supersonic at 1000 yards.

Barrel length: 23" and 27" are the ones I like. 100 fps velocity difference between the two.

The BRNO 602 at 23" is the same length overall as the Ruger No.1 at 27".

For packing afield: your 24" figure sounds perfect.

Fergus,
One more example.

The .505 Gibbs, CZ 550 Magnum Safari Classic, will be similar to the .500A2 in weight, though being .005" smaller bore, the barrel will be a wee bit heavier per lineal inch in a given contour, excluding the chamber area:

23" barrel
0.820" at the muzzle
Pretty good walnut stock
NECG banded hooded front, band sling base, CZ express rear sight
Otherwise bare:

10.75 pounds rifle weight.

I'd still pick the barrel from Pac-Nor that is 0.850" diameter at 26" point for your .500A2. Then chop it to 24".

If I could wave a magic wand and make all my barrels 24", I would.

RIP

Thanks for the info. Point taken on the 28" dimension vs the 26" diameter. I think I will order the Pacnor target weight profile for this rifle. Looks like a 24" barrel it is.

Regards

Fergus