Hi all, I'm planning to load up some 535g Woodleigh PPs at around 2000 fps for a light 500 Jeffery load for elk, deer, black bear this year. I figure it will be a nice 200 yard and under load in the timber and a good way to get used to the rifle. I ran the numbers on the recoil calculator:

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

For a light 500 Jeffery elk load: 535g Woodleigh at 2000 fps (95g RL 15) in an 11.25 lb rifle (about what mine will weigh)

Recoil velocity: 18.41, recoil energy: 59.22 ft/lbs

For a comparison a 416 Rigby shooting a 400g bullet at 2400 fps in a 10 lb rifle:

Recoil velocity: 19.43 recoil energy: 58.61 ft/lbs

Of course full power 500 Jeffery loads 570g at 2300 fps (106g RL 15)

Recoil velocity: 22.03 recoil energy: 84.79

Ouch! lol gonna work up to that hopefully the two mercury recoil reducers and Pachmyer XLT recoil pad will soak some of that up ...


Regards,
Chuck

Chuck
seriously, fire 4 full power loads, then stoff those cap gun loads in, you won't even notice it went off.

11.25 is what my 550 express weighs.. LOADED .. 700gr at 2130 is my normal loading

chuck375,

I would simply use the "full house" load of 2300 fps. The reduced load really makes no sense. Having used Woodleigh 535 PSP (2330 & 2480 fps), 570 SN (2450 fps), and 600 PSP (2440 fps) on elk I know of what I speak.

I would strongly recommend however you try very hard to avoid shoulder and spine shots, if you want the maximum amount of meat that is (you maybe amazed at how much spine a Woodleigh can destroy).

Thanks all, I'll work up to full (nominal power, 535g at 2300 fps) loads this summer. Never had a flinch (not saying I haven't pulled a shot now and then), and don't want one.

Chuck

no reason to run up to the 2300, if you don't want. use the PP bullets, it should be tons better than the old style.

Actually running faster might work better. The Woodleighs, even the SN, are pretty tough for elk.

quote:

Originally posted by ScottS:
Actually running faster might work better. The Woodleighs, even the SN, are pretty tough for elk.

the man asked about light loads, woodleigh recommends are maximum speed, and the question was answered.

it is ALWAYS going to lead to bullet failure if you exceed makers recommendations....

Chuck, stick to what you know, and take it along as you are going. the recoil at 2000 will be shockingly lower than at 2300

Jeff,

He is of course welcome to do whatever he wishes.

Just for the record, the last elk cow I killed (Nov 2008) was taken with a Woodleigh PSP, 535 gr at a chronographed muzzle velocity of 2320 fps (avg). That elk went ~ 15 yards and dropped. It was a broadside double lung shot from about 70 yds. A large piece of her offside lung was hanging out the exit wound.

quote:

chuck375,

I would simply use the "full house" load of 2300 fps. The reduced load really makes no sense. Having used Woodleigh 535 PSP (2330 & 2480 fps), 570 SN (2450 fps), and 600 PSP (2440 fps) on elk I know of what I speak.

That's my idea of a 500 Jeff elk load1
Load the rifle, point it at an elk....Death sure to follow!

x-man,

If you place the shot in the boiler room, using the full house loads in a fast 50 kills elk REAL quick!

quote:

Originally posted by ScottS:
x-man,

If you place the shot in the boiler room, using the full house loads in a fast 50 kills elk REAL quick!

That just a guess? After all, you finally "confessed" to never having a .510 gun

quote:

Originally posted by ScottS:
Steffen,

Everyone here says that the 458 Winnie doesn't kick! I'd hate to see how bad a 50 cal or bigger is!!

Hey Chuck whats the status of that beast? when is it due? Nothing like having a biggun. Are you getting it with a matte finish or with blue on the metal? We're gonna need some pics upon delivery. Rodney.

I called Harlan at the beginning of the month, I plan to call him later this week to see how he's doing. Since it's a rebarrel/rechamber job, looks aren't going to change except for the black thicker recoil pad and the bigger hole in the end This is how it looked when I sent it in.



I do eventually plan to have the checkering gone over and have a darker finish put on. I'd like it to look a little more like this Hartmann and Weiss (not my gun, I wish it was)



Regards,
Chuck

Hey ScottS- We are still waiting to see the pics of your .458 win mag with the BULGED barrel? Can you please post them for us?-Rob

A .50 hole through the boiler room of any animal on the planet will kill it. Expansion isn't necessary at this point.

Well, for what it's worth, my first 500 Jeff (w/0 scope weighed 9.5 lbs unloaded...boy that kicked like hell!..but was pretty easy on the "carry". I built another, came at 10.5 lbs..I think I'll try to shave a half pound to end up with a 10 pounder...say about 11 with a scope.

Sort of a compromise...since you "carry"a lot more than you "shoot"

My loads come in at 2245 w/535 Woodleighs

My hat's off to you Duane.

It takes some big apples to light one of these thumpers off with a scope mounted to it.

These big guns and scopes sometimes do not mix well...I have the scars to prove it. My new 500 has a 1.5-5 Leupold...lots of eye relief at lower power, but you gotta pay attention as you creep up to about 4x...pls note that I hit the wrong key on velocity...it's 2245.

I've found that bumping up to over 2300 results in LOTS more recoil

I've got the same scope Duane, 1.5 - 5x Leupold and plan to put it on my 500 Jeffery eventually. I'm going to start out with open sights.

Chuck

I think that it's a good choice...wish Leupold would make a true 30mm version.

Is stand behind my orignal posts. 2350fps on an 11lb 500 shooting 600gr pills is no big deal. If you find that is is you should probably go back to a 458 Win mag.

PS - Recently killed a cow elk with a 458 Win mag. It is a good deer killer, as I have stated before!