The Accurate Reloading Forums
What is the twist of an original 500 Jeffery? 500A2 question.
29 September 2005, 10:13
Thomas MWhat is the twist of an original 500 Jeffery? 500A2 question.
Well, I finaly took the plounge and ordered a reamer for the 500A2 when Midway had a sale. But now I'm having trouble finding a suitable barrel. Lothar Walther is the easiest way for me to get a barrel and they only makes one in 1:18 twist for the 12,5x70 Shuler( 500 Jeffery).
This new barrel will only be used for plinking I think, or perhaps some deer hunting. No trips to Africa is planned and if I go I probably take the 416 Rigby anyway.
-Is 1:18 twist what 500 Jeffery came in a factory rifle?
-Would a 1:18 twist do for a 500 A2 plinker?
Thanks

Thomas ...450 Rigby...
29 September 2005, 11:34
ALF.
29 September 2005, 13:56
Thomas Mquote:
Originally posted by ALF:
One important correction though, the 500 Jeffery is not the same cartridge as the 12.7 Schuler.
The shoulder dimensions of the two cartridges differ and you cannot chamber the Schuler in the Jeffery. You can however chamber the Jeffery in the Schuler
The CIP have accepted that these are two different chambers and thus you will find that Lothar Walter being a signatory to CIP will cut their chambers based on the CIP specs.
This is the reason why I dont go for a 500 Jeffe
I just could not figure out what reamer-brass-die combination I had to get...
Thanks for the info Alf

Thomas ...450 Rigby...
29 September 2005, 15:38
jeffeossoa 1:18 twist will also allow you to use milsurp bullets..
if you have a thoater, or your smith does, have the throat pushed out an ADDITIONAL 3/8" to 1'2" an inch... that will let you put the bullet out a bit, giving you back alot of case capacity.
email me after you make your rifle, as I might be interested in buying your reamer.
I can't tell you how GOOD it is that you went with a weatherby based 500.
btw, for me, the easist way to get the 500 jeffe working properly was to have the reamer and the die men share the print of the reamer/round
jeffe
29 September 2005, 17:04
Thomas Mquote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
if you have a thoater, or your smith does, have the throat pushed out an ADDITIONAL 3/8" to 1'2" an inch... that will let you put the bullet out a bit, giving you back alot of case capacity.
email me after you make your rifle, as I might be interested in buying your reamer.
I can't tell you how GOOD it is that you went with a weatherby based 500.
jeffe
It will probably take 6 month or so before the barrel is tested and ready. I email you then.
Thanks
Thomas ...450 Rigby...
29 September 2005, 19:12
schromfquote:
btw, for me, the easist way to get the 500 jeffe working properly was to have the reamer and the die men share the print of the reamer/round
Jeffe isn't it easier to get a blank die from C&H tool then use the reamer to cut the die? Back when I was working with wildcats more thats how I insured that the die and the barrel chamber were the same. Its also cheaper, if your looking at the expensive custom dies , the die blank is reasonable, the reamer is on hand. Labor is needed certainly, but its straight forward. No this doesn't make sense when you can buy the die set for $30, but on cats and custom stuff it does.
Benefit is no matter what your reamer ( final chamber ) specification is, the die matches. I have done this on canyon shooters ( 1000 yard benchrest guns ) in the past, simply because it is a 100% guaranteed match.
29 September 2005, 19:32
krazykarlThe barrel on my 510 wells is a Douglas Premium. I don't know the twist though...
29 September 2005, 19:39
Michael RobinsonThomas,
Good choice!
FYI, SAAMI specs for the .500 A2 call for a 1 in 10" twist. Very fast.
Mine has a 1 in 14" twist and works just fine.
It's hard to imagine that you could go wrong with anything between 1 in 10" and 1 in 14" (or so . . . ). I'd be a little bit concerned about a slower twist, though, especially if you plan to use the longer and heavier bullets.
The Jeffery originally used a 535 grain bullet. I use 570s and 600s in my A2.
Mike
Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
29 September 2005, 20:58
RobgunbuilderMine is 1:15 same as my .50BMG barrels and I did it specifically for shooting 647gr mil-surp bullets. Seems to work fine.-Rob
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers to do incredibly stupid things- AH (1941)- Harry Reid (aka Smeagle) 2012
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29 September 2005, 22:36
Paul HMy 500 Jeffrey was built with a 1-15 douglas 50 bmg barrel, and long throated to accept 50 bmg milsurp pils.
If I were to do it again, I'd go 500 A2, cheap and easy to find brass, and enough powder capacity for the job at hand.
Another nice thing about a slower twist is it will be more friendly to shooting cast bullets. I load mine to 500 Linebaugh pistol levels, 470 gr @ 1100-1200 fps. Cheap, very mild recoil, great accuracy, and serious grins and giggles.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
30 September 2005, 12:34
Thomas Mquote:
Originally posted by Paul H:
Another nice thing about a slower twist is it will be more friendly to shooting cast bullets. I load mine to 500 Linebaugh pistol levels, 470 gr @ 1100-1200 fps. Cheap, very mild recoil, great accuracy, and serious grins and giggles.
To be able to shoot cast is a realy good thing for me since it will make BIG holes in my wallet everyt time I have to byu new woodleight bullets.
I placed the order for a shuler barrel yesterday. 1:18 twist it is. The BMG 1:15 blank is twice the price of the smaller shuler blank.
Thanks all

Thomas ...450 Rigby...