I have heard a lot about how these cartridges perform but know nothing about case formation, parent cases, brass availability or all the cartridges with the name "Gibbs." Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Seamus-
I have been told that all Gibbs cartridges are formed from the .30-'06 case. There seems to be some debate on whether or not some are based on the slightly longer .270 WIN/.280 REM.. I have a 6.5 Gibbs and use .270 WIN for a parent case. Is it REALLY a Gibbs? In my mind, yes.

The cartridge is similar to a 6.5-'06, except that the shoulder is blown forward. This is done be seating a bullet rrrrrrrreally long, then very gently closing the bolt, to headspace off the bullet. I've heard of some people using a "secondary shoulder" to fireform, but not really sure how that works.



[ 05-27-2002, 04:32: Message edited by: LongDistanceOperator ]

Don't forget the 505 Gibbs which I don't beleive has a parent case. Brass from Bell, Bertram and Horneber.

The Gibbs line of cartridges as designed by Rocky Gibbs of Viola Idaho are based on 30/06 brass and are in no way related to the 505 Gibbs a very large British cartridge. Different Gibbs, different country, and different brass.

Rocky Gibbs was the man who designed the line of cartrides that bore his name. Most were designed in the 50's and early 60's.There were 8 cartridges in all: .240,.25,.6.5mm,.270,7mm,.30,8mm, and .338. They featured 35 degree shoulders, 1/4" neck lengths, were made of .30/06 brass, and were blown out with very little taper. Gibbs did all the chambering and had his wife destroy his records shortly after he died in 1973. He first made his .270 from .270 WCF brass, but later switched to .30/06 brass for all cartridges as it was cheaper to use military surplus cartridges.

Mr. Bains has just about covered all there is to say about the Gibbs line, except that, with today's powders and using 26" barrels, these wildcats will just about equal the performance of comparable calibered short ('06 length) magnums. For example, the .338 Gibbs will give almost the same muzzle velocities as a .338 Winchester, using the same bullets, and do it with slightly less powder and using a cheaper, beltless case, too! But the cases are a pain to make from '06 brass.

I don't believe Gibbs destroyed all his records.I have his book.It can be purchased from Wolf Publishing.I have two Gibbs at present.If you want help in the future,there are a few ways to fire form brass.Be glad to help you with it.By the way if you get the Gibb's book,it has the loads he used for all his cartridges.
1geejay
www.shooting-hunting.com

I shot the Gibbs cartridges a lot back in my teens and man thats been awhile back..I even had one of Rockys hydralic case forming dies that you filled with 30 wt. oil and hit with a sledge hammer and it squirted oil all over you and the handloading room..Never got a decent case out of those dies....I had a 30 and a 6.5 Gibbs.

My conclusion, after a few years was he got ultra velocity with ultra high pressure, and I could do that by loading my 06 4 grs. over max and get the same velocity and pressures as my gibbs...

Hi Ray,
I going to pick up my new just finished 6.5-06 AI,next week.I won't be able to shoot it till I get back home to SC.I'll let you know if it was worth the money I put into it.Ron Propp Gunsmith(former)built a 6.5 Gibbs for George Paige of Edmonton.It is quite a shooter.Ron Propp used to specialize in Gibbs cartridges.
1geejay
www-shooting-hunting.com