Help!! I need some advise quick. I'm looking at several options for a big bore. The first would be getting a CV550 in a 458 Win and having it rechambered to one of the bigger 458's such as a Lott. The second option would be to pick up a CZ550 in a 416 Rigby ($799) and send it to AHR to be rebarreled to a 500 AHR for $495 without sights. One of the advantages would be ammo at $95 dollars per 20 with the headstamp.The second option will run about $1300 for a DGR in 50 caliber but I feel it is worth.

AHR is not ready to launch their 585AHR yet. A picture of the brass compared to a 500 AHR is on their web site.

What do you think? Thanks for the help.

GJS

GJS,

Get a 416 Rigby in the CZ and then load it to full potential and what you will have is virtually a 416 Wby without the muzzle brake.

If you find the recoil nice and easy then rebarrel to a 450 Dakota which is essentially the 416 necked up to 458.

If you don't even notice the recoil, then head straight to the 585 Nyati and by pass everything else

Mike

What exactly are you trying to achieve with the gun? Do you cast your own bullets? Are you an experimenting reloading nut? Are you just looking for a heavy hunting rifle?

Somehow I'm having both a 500 Jeffrey and 458 lott built, though I really don't know why.

The 458 lott will cover any earthly potential for a big bore rifle, is relatively inexspensive, and is perhaps the most flexible is far as how you can load it, down to a 45 colt pistol with paper patched pistol bullets, up through all phases of 45-70 rifle, 458 win mag, and at full lott potentials. The selection of .458" bullets imense, and many are relatively inexspensive for big bore bullets.

The 500 Jeffrey or AHR can be loaded to downright evil levels of power and recoil. Look at the guys with the 500 A-squares pushing 750 gr 50 bmg bullets 2200 fps, and factor in a larger case for the AHR. Also figure you can download to 50 Alaskan lever gun, 450 gr cast @ 1800 fps. The downside is component bullets are pricey, and not on every gun stores shelves. The gun will also be more exspensive.

If at all possible, try and get a chance to shoot the rifles, and be honest with yourself as to what level of recoil you can handle. I'd say most folks would concede the 458 lott at full patch levels exceeds most folks recoil tollerance. Adding 100 gr to the projectile and launching it at the same speed puts you in the nearly intolerable level of recoil.

Well, I'm getting one of each, so I suppose am not of much help

After reading about the 500 Jeffery in African rifles and cartridges by John Taylor I felt I had to have something in a 50 caliber. I like the ease at which a CZ550 458 win can be rechambered into something bigger, but the 50 caliber is always there begging me.

I would like to get to Africa someday with a gun like this. I just like big guns and really like the 500 AHR photo.

AHR sent me a case for the .500 AHR. It is a brute. I also have a .500 Jeff from Kynoch and a .505 Gibbs from one of the brethren here. All are impressive, but I have overcome any desire to own one. I have had built, and used, a .450 Rigby. It took quite some while to get used to the recoil and should I choose to use it again, will take equally as long. Frankly, I can imagine no particular use for any rifle that hits harder that that big Rigby. 3 foot tons of energy is enough for anything and I don't feel any need to brag about how much bigger a gun I shoot. Others differ, but I have yet to come up with a reason for wanting anything larger than a Class III DGR. Stick with the Lott.

Sarge

I pretty much have to second everything oldsarge said, except that I shoot the .450 Watts/.458 Lott now and don't think I want the abuse of anything bigger.

Thanks for the replies. I'm not looking to load any excessive loads in a cartridge such as the 500 AHR. What I had planned on is shooting the 535 grain bullet at the same vel that a 458 Lott shoots a 500 grain load. I'm looking at the larger dia. bullet, shorter bearing surface of the bullet and a low pressure load as being the positive attributes of this cartridge. With all things considered, wouldn't the recoil be similar if the bullet weight and vel are similar? I really appreciate all the advise!

GJS

Snapper,

Get the 500 AHR! I have one and the recoil is lighter than expected. If you load as you are suggesting I think you may find recoil to be lighter than the 458 Lott. I know my 500 kicks much less than the 460 Weatherby Talon I once owned.

Besides that and contrary to what many here (with no first hadn experience I might add) say the 50 calibers are awesome killers and knock about everything they hit down. I have shot bison, buffalo, and moose with the 500s and they always provided an immediate and total knock off the feet. I did have one bison get back up, but that was because I missed the brain pan (shot too far with open sights).

One thing to remember though. The 500 AHR and 500 Jeffery share a common rim thickness with the 375 H&H. That rim thickness is .051". The Rigby uses a rim thickness of 0.062". You may be better off getting a 458 Win Mag or 375 and opening up the bolt face. Run it by Ed Plummer and see, which will cost less. With the Rigby you will most likely need a new extractor.

Todd E

Todd, Thanks for the reply! I knew you had a 500AHR and liked it. I've heard many people pick up the 416 Rigby because of the lower pressure compared to the 416 Rem at the same speed. I was hoping to do the same with a 50 caliber such as the AHR.

Should I have sights put on at the same time or leave the barrel smooth? I have picked up a 1.5 x 5 for such a gun and really like shooting scoped guns.

I fondled a CZ550 yesterday and will contact AHR and ask about which action to use. Thanks for that advise.

GJS

Snapper,

I would have sight put on it you need to make your own decision. I prefer the to use iron sights for ranges less than 100 yards or so. The problem I have with scopes at close range is that your bullet path is much lower than the point of aim of the reticle. An example:

If you are zeroed at 100 yards with the scope and the scope centerline is 1.5" above the bore centerline then at say 25 yards if you place your cross hairs where you want the bullet to hit the bullet will actually impact about 1 inch low.

Anyway, my 500 has a 1/4 rib with express sights and a 1-4 power Leupold in Warne quick release mounts. I have had no problems with either the scope or the mounts. Again you need to determine what will work best for you.

One last thing I almost forgot (this is an edition). Make sure if you are having a 375 or 416 rebarreled that you also get the magazine follower and any necessary rail work done. My rifle uses a 375 H&H magazine box (at least that is what is stamped in the side of it). I am not sure however if the rails are stock. I can tell you that they have been opened up in the back and are opened up for about 3/4 the length of the port.

I must completely concur with you 500Grains.

Todd E

[This message has been edited by Todd E (edited 01-17-2002).]

If you think you can stand the recoil, get the 50 caliber. Blessed is he who shoots big slugs of lead.

Thanks for the help. Bigger is better.

If you know how to shoot guns with lots of recoil safely, then I can't reccomend the 500 A2 or AHR too strongly. They are a absolute hoot to shoot and the ability to use cheap .50bmg bullets or 750 A Max's is a big factor in actually shooting the gun rather than just talking about it. If you don't have this level of experience, then buy a .416 first and get used to it. Then deceide if you need more gun. Remember ,it will only take one good deep scope cut like the one a friend of mine got a few days ago with my 500 A2(read a few stitches and copious amounts of blood) for you to develop a flinch that will take a long long time to get over. I've seen a few guys utterly ruin their shooting for life this way. With this in mind, you can also load these guns way down and still have alot of fun.-Rob

Rob,

I can't agree with you more! By the way, if you think that the 50 is fun at the range wait to you hunt with one...impressive, very impressive.

Todd E

The 50's are impressive killers in my experience and I think the word awsome pretty well describes them...the only one I have had on hands experience with is the 505 Gibbs ans Gibbs Imp. and the 500 N.E....

They are too heavy for me to pack all day and the recoil is pretty brutal from field position..Most can shoot them offhand, few from a squatting position or bent over shooting forward..I use this as my personal criteria for choosing a big bore...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com