The Accurate Reloading Forums
Ideal weight for a 600 single shot ?
20 January 2015, 08:56
tankhunterIdeal weight for a 600 single shot ?
Iam having a single shot 600 built on a FBWs action, and the idea being to make it as heavy as possible first, then make it ''lighter''[if possible,practical,thinking 14 pounds]] so the barrel will be left as a straight profile ,stocked then tested to see what its like to shoot ,if anyone who has had a 600 and can offer some advice ,i dont want a muzzle brake on it .Reduced loads for 600s [for practice shooting etc ]
Thanks
20 January 2015, 09:07
pagosawingnutFrom what I've heard about the .600, 25 lbs should be just about right!

20 January 2015, 15:04
tankhunteri will make it 30 LBs just to be safe !!!!!!!!!
20 January 2015, 15:18
RockdocJust had a look at Cal's excellent book "The .600 Nitro Express".
Jeffery had a lot of falling block singles at 12 lb to over 13 lb, some even less than 11 lb!
Whenever mine gets finished, I am hoping for between 12 and 13 lbs.
Good luck and please show some picures.
Cheers,
Chris
DRSS
20 January 2015, 16:23
DK1You're an Aussie, harden up mate. 7lbs is heaps!
20 January 2015, 17:52
mgremthat is funny.
20 January 2015, 20:25
cal pappasI've owned a Jeffery single shot made around WWI. I seem to recall it weighted 11 pounds. The recoil was severe!. A gent who posts here had a new single made up to weigh the same. After one shot he sold me his Woodleigh bullets and used lead bullets and down loaded it. I also know of a vintage double .600 by Wilkes that weights 11 pounds as it was built on a .500 frame. Again, too much recoil. A .600 double is fine to shoot in at 16 poounds but to reduce the weight in either a double or single is foolishness. What is the point of having a .600 if downloaded to .500 levels? Just to say, "I have a .600?" I would suggest be practical and keep the weight at 15 pounds if you are going to shoot a full house load. By the way, all the original Jeffery .600s were proofed for the 100-grain charge of cordite, or 1850 fps in a 28-inch test barrel.
If you are building this rifle to be a serious hunter you want it light. But I assume you will be shooting it a lot more than carrying it, so keep the weight up and enjoy what a .600 was meant to be.
I have all the loading data you need. PM me if I can be of assistance.
Cheers,
Cal
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20 January 2015, 22:36
AfricanHunterCal is right, from my experience with 3 600 doubles, 15-16 is a good weight.
20 January 2015, 23:26
Pa.FrankJust make sure your vehicle had hard points for mounting it, and don't forget to design the pintel and cradle! (did I get that right?)
to be serious, I have absolutely no clue, and I really don't want to know either.. I'm not planning on a tyranasaurus hunt anytime soon.
NRA Benefactor.
Life is tough... It's even tougher when you're stupid... John Wayne
20 January 2015, 23:59
56hawkWhen I first got my 600 Overkill it weighed just under 9 lbs. Recoil wasn't too bad at 1800 fps. Started to get pretty extreme over 2100 fps. which is about as much as I can get out of the short barrel.
Just got a new stock and now it weights 11 lbs. Haven't shot it yet so I don't know how much of a difference that extra 2 lbs will make.
21 January 2015, 02:49
Idaho SharpshooterI would think 16 lbs about right.
My Ten Bore Double that Colin Stolzer did for me weighs about eleven pounds loaded. Recoil is stout, but not crippling level.
But, I am mostly shooting roundballs at about 1600fps.
21 January 2015, 03:05
RobgunbuilderIs it a range queen or a hunting rifle? If your gonna carry it, you can easily go 10-12 lbs. you can take any amount of recoil for one or two shots, and your gonna carry it far longer than your gonna shoot it! If it's a range queen then 14-16 lbs and shoot it all day long.
Depends on the load too. At 1800fps no issues at 2400fps you just have to roll with the recoil more.-Rob
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers to do incredibly stupid things- AH (1941)- Harry Reid (aka Smeagle) 2012
Nothing Up my sleeves but never without a plan and never ever without a surprise!
21 January 2015, 04:24
bigdoggy2boreMine is right at 13 lbs.
Used to be bigdoggy700 with 929 posts . Originally registered as bigdoggy 700 in July 2006.
21 January 2015, 06:15
chuck375My 500 Jeffery weighs in at 11.25 lbs without scope. I shoot a 570g bullet at 2300 fps. The 600 NE shoots a 900g bullet at 2050 fps. Using the recoil calculator at:
http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.aspand guessing at a powder charge of 120g for the 600 NE, here's the numbers:
500 Jeffery, 11.25 lbs, 570g bullet 2300 fps 103g powder (H4895)
recoil: 83.62 ft/lbs
recoil velocity: 21.88 fps
600 NE, 13 lbs, 900g bullet 2050 fps, 120g powder
recoil: 131.77
recoil velocity: 25.55
Way too much for me!
600 NE, 15 lbs, 900g bullet 2050 fps, 120g powder
recoil: 107.06
recoil velocity: 20.76
Seems like humans could shoot this ...

Regards,
Chuck
"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"
Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"
21 January 2015, 06:27
RockdocThanks Chuck.
About 150gn - 160gn powder (H4831 IIRC) behind the 900gn .600 bullet.
Cheers,
Chris
DRSS
21 January 2015, 11:17
tankhunterThanks Gents for the advice and comments ,i will plan on it being 15 pound to 16 pound ,i would like the load to make 7000 ft lb so probably around 1900 fps,i dont want to go any harder than that .I would like to hunt with it ,which is the whole purpose of having it, to see its effect on big game ,only water buffaloes or wild cattle .There is a bullet mould maker here in Aust who makes bullet moulds for the 600 ,a 600 gr ,850gr and 1000 gr which will be good for getting some practice with it and getting used to the rifle .I do have a Dodge M37 or unimog 404 i could mount it in the back of if i get desperate ...........
cheers thanks again
21 January 2015, 11:22
tankhunterI think the hardest part will be getting it stocked right and getting someone here to do it ,or ask CPA rifles in the U.S to make a larger and heavier stock than usual for it ,which might be the easier way out for it
21 January 2015, 12:47
RockdocI would get the stock made to fit you, not too large. Proper stock fit will reduce felt recoil.
Cheers,
Chris
DRSS
21 January 2015, 17:05
DK1Ken Davis in Perth did a good stock from a blank for my CZ. Reasonable pricing compared to East Coast also.
Cheers
DK
21 January 2015, 17:12
nitro450expHello
Here is my FBW L action in 577 NE.
http://forums.accuratereloadin...781093691#178109369128" barrel will have to weigh it and measure it.
Nitro
"Man is a predator or at least those of us that kill and eat our own meat are. The rest are scavengers, eating what others kill for them." Hugh Randall
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470 Krieghoff, 45-70 inserts, 12 ga paradox, 20 ga DR Simson/Schimmel, 12 ga DR O/U Famars, 12 ga DR SXS Greener
25 January 2015, 19:41
600 OverkillRob's right---12+- for hunting 15+ for a rang gun
26 January 2015, 06:07
505ED13 lbs.....
Ed
DRSS Member
27 January 2015, 03:03
DB Bill15 pounds plus whatever the wheels weigh.
DB Bill aka Bill George
27 January 2015, 04:05
Idaho Sharpshooterhaving a muzzle break makes recoil feel about five pounds more rifle weight than without one.