What would you suggest would be the ideal barrel lenght for a 500Jeff?

I am thinking of 22 or 23 inches?

Is it to long for this caliber?

Thanks,

Gerhard

Personal preference for sure!I have had several 505's with barrels that were 20,22 &23" and they looked and handled well...on these Large Hole guns,the length doesnt make a large difference and the target on the other end certainly cant tell!...I just did a 500 Jeffery(postings are here with pics) with a 16"(!) barrel for a Alaskan BB Hunt.(Will use it in Africa in 2 weeks andHogzilla hunting in Georgia too)I wanted something light and handy,that I got!Anyway,we had NO problem hitting 2200fps with 570X bullets!I pushed 600s at 2300 in the 22" Wells 505....Point is,dont let ballistics determine the length and if you go shorter,it makes it so much handier,just shorten the forearm proportionally and it wont look short!

Thanks for the info SAFARIKID.

My problem is that I have never handled a rifle in this caliber. I have know idea what will be the best length.

Gerhard

I have a CZ in .500 Jeffery and it has a 25 inch barrel. Howver, I argee with Safarikid that a shorter barrel is probably better because it just makes the rifle so much more "handy." None other then the late, great John Taylor discussing the .500 Jeffery said:

"If I was having one built, however, I would certainly insist on a 22" barrel instead of the 24" that is normally fitted. The cartridge has an ample reserve of power to permit of this reduction of barrel length, whilst still leaving an adequate reserve."

Jakkals - Aside from aesthetics, I think the contour you choose will go a long way towards determining barrel length.

For example, if you put an un-turned blank on it, the rifle may balance well with a 16" barrel.

If you put a muzzle-thin contoured barrel on it, it may balance with a 25" barrel.

IMO, for it to feel right and handle well, as much weight as possible should be kept on the back of the barrel.

This means a custom contour, as I've not seen a standard barrel maker’s contour that was suitable to good balance on a 500 - they are usually too small on the breach end and too thick on the muzzle end. That moves weight from the breech end to the muzzle end of the barrel

I’m having a 500 Jeffery built and am adding what amounts to an oversized ¼ rib to the bottom of the barrel (yes, the bottom of the barrel). This will add weight to the back of the barrel, while also serving as an oversized recoil lug and enable me to keep weight in the stock “between the hands†as opposed to out on muzzle of the barrel.

That doesn't answer your question but provides food for thought.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
I’m having a 500 Jeffery built and am adding what amounts to an oversized ¼ rib to the bottom of the barrel (yes, the bottom of the barrel). This will add weight to the back of the barrel, while also serving as an oversized recoil lug and enable me to keep weight in the stock “between the hands†as opposed to out on muzzle of the barrel.

That doesn't answer your question but provides food for thought.

A quarter rib on the bottom of the barrel will hollow out the forearm wood that is abutting any recoil lug on the bottom of the barrel and weaken the stock, eh?

Rip - it will definitely reduce the amount of wood in the forend of the stock, but the removed wood will be - effectively - replaced with steel.

So I guess when the stock is off of the rifle, it will be weaker, but on the rifle - and properly inletted - I would think the steel bar would strengthen the stock.

I like a 24" but to answer your question I would go 23".

I have never understodd what makes some folks so adamont about 4 inches or so of barrel, my pocket knife is longer than that..

Most confusing is the reasoning given for not using a long barrel, its ridiculas..

I have always liked 26" barrels as I get better velocity, longer sight radius, and they are really nice for off hand shooting and since I never knew in advance where that fabled "brush" that hangs up a long barrel was going to be I ignored that over used statement...

But, being the level headed, mild mannored, human being that I am, I just built myself a 20" 416 Rem on a pre 64 Win. and its a delightful rifle.

I have some very short barreled special purpose rifles, shotguns, and pistols, and all work fine for the purpose I built them! I also have some rifles, shotguns, and pistols, with longer than normal barrels, and those work fine for the special purposes I built them. So, I guess what I'm saying as long as the barrel isn't so short so that it will not burn all the powder, and balances well for YOU, then do your thing!

The length of the barrel doesn't have as much to do with the ballance of a firearm, as does the weight distribution! The shorter the barrel on a rifle, the heavier the barrel needs to be, as Chris says, and the longer the barrel, the thinner it needs to be to ballance right.

The fact is a 500 cal rifle is not going to be a "shoot accross a canyon rifle" anyway, so build it as short as you want, but leave the barrel heavy, till you handle, and shoot it. It is easy to remover the barrel and turn it down, till it ballances. Once you reach the sweet spot, go ahead and finish the rifle, and go hunting, and don't appologize to anyone for your choice!

I like longer barrels and have a 25 inch heavy contoured barrel on my .500 A-Square. The barrel is a fairly straight taper from 1.250 inch diameter at the receiver ring to 0.800 inch at the muzzle. With two mercury tubes in the butt stock, the rifle balances just behind the receiver ring. The longer barrel is very steady and "hangs" very well for off hand shooting.

Here's a photo:

I always compromise between 20 and 24 inches and that is 22inches, and that's what all of my bolt rifles have from 505 Gibbs to 375 H&H.

Is that a custom rifle built on a CZ 550 action? (CZ doesnt make a 500 jeffrey)What size boltface? any problems feeding? thnaks, looking to build a .510 cal rifle soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
I have a CZ in .500 Jeffery and it has a 25 inch barrel. Howver, I argee with Safarikid that a shorter barrel is probably better because it just makes the rifle so much more "handy." None other then the late, great John Taylor discussing the .500 Jeffery said:

"If I was having one built, however, I would certainly insist on a 22" barrel instead of the 24" that is normally fitted. The cartridge has an ample reserve of power to permit of this reduction of barrel length, whilst still leaving an adequate reserve."

quote:

(CZ doesnt make a 500 jeffrey)

They list it...