I shot one that had been a 30.06 converted to 500 NE 3 inch during my hunt in Mozambique last July. That rifle belongs to 500nitro who is a member of this forum. He is from Natal RSA and I am certain he would gladly answer any questions you might have about this conversion. It was a pleasure to carry at about 7.5 pounds, but the recoil, while not painful, is certainly robust.

Perry

I have some questions about your 500 NE as well.

What brand barrel was used? How about the length and contour?

What kind of accuracy do you get? What kind of ammo or handloads are you shooting? How about performance on game?

Who was your gunsmith, from RSA or USA?

Did you fit a muzzle brake or mercury tube? Or special recoil pad?

As you can tell I'm very interested in this conversion.

[This message has been edited by Ken Cline (edited 02-03-2002).]

I use Bell and Bertram brass with federal primers and GS custom 540 gr flat nose solids.
The weight was arrived at by experimenting with the original 570gr bullets Gerry made to order for me. I was getting a tad more recoil than I wanted and could not get the bullets to group satisfactorily.
I turned them down on my lathe until I found the optimim length/weight for my barrel and GS then proceeded to make up a batch for me and keep the programme on file for further orders.

I shoot average velocity around 2180-2200fps and group in 2" @ 50m (55yds) with Express sights (3 shot groups)

Since we are limited by powder choice in SA, I battled with what was available. I had problems with pressure with S341 and the next powder up was S365 which gave irregular velocities and left a sooty appearance in the cases and barrel.
I finally settled on a duplex 3.5 grains of Red Dot followed by 107gr of S365 and the bullet seated snug onto the powder.

This load has been used on several buffalo and 2 elephant. Penetration is more than sufficient and creates an impressive wound channel and has yet not to go clean through.
PWN used it for an insurance shot on his buff last year in Mozambique.
From behind at about 15 paces he shot at the heart . The bullet went in just above and 6" forward of the tail and exited the chest. The buffalo looked as if someone had given it a healthy kick in the butt!

I had a pretty pice of wood on the rifle ex factory which I stripped, finished to the action and gave an old english oil finish, I filled the action screw hole up with #9 lead shot held in place with a high density foam and finished off with a de'celerator recoil pad.
The forend had the front lopped off and replaced with a piece of buffalo horm and finished like the butt.
The regular safety catch tore chunks out of my thumb in the original configuration, so it was cut down into a small oval with a fine chequering - problem solved.
I had a 3/4 rib fitted with custom single robust blade express sights and a corresponding front sight which is quick interchangeable should I ever change loads.
It has an integral front barrel band.
Gunsmiths were John Hall and Chris Neubauer of Durban.
I did all of the stockwork and Tinus Els (Jhb) did the engraving.
Steelwork including the barrel price and satin blueing worked out at around US$1000, and engraving(not excessive) was $120.
The rifle handles like a pedigree shotgun, points beautifully. Recoil off a bench is attention getting, but in the field I have yet to notice it.
It weighs 7lb 9 oz.

It makes a relatively lightweight rifle, but mine's Magna-ported and the kick doesn't seem so bad. The long, low pressure round just shoves you half a step back. I can shoot it with a second and third round in between my left hand fingers, and get off all three rounds as fast and I can work a bolt. I get 2140 fps with 450 grain solids in the 22 inch barrel and no sticking of brass in 100 degree weather.

If anyone wants to rent a reamer... let me know.

[This message has been edited by judgeg (edited 02-04-2002).]

I think if I was doing one I would look at the 470 Nitro and for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, you have good brass available.

Secondly, if you wanted to load it up to full potential, the 470 has about the same base diameter as the 416 Rigby and Ruger does chamber that round in the Number 1. The 500 Nitro is also about the same diameter but brass might be questionable with that caliber.

Thirdly, you would have various bullets made for the 480 pistol, which I think are the right diamter for the 470.

Mike

I have shot the speer and hornday .475 pistol bullets in my 470 capstick. The speers feed but the hornadys do not. Thy shoot about 2" at 100 yards. I have not used them on game.

I hope it (the reaming out of the belt) works for you. Since I only had an original .45/70, the belt question was only speculative when I asked my gunsmith. He may have been shooting from the hip when he answered and didn't refer to schematics of the respective cartridges. I feel sure that your smiths did their homework and are right. In any event when your project(s) are finished, I will be interested in sharing loads with you folks and pricing on reloading dies, etc. too. Right now I'm having someone load for me and I can't afford to shoot the gun as much as I'd like.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim in Idaho:
Gentlemen, perhaps I�m stating the obvious (I�m good at that ), but it seems that there is no need to reinforce the buttstock at all on the Ruger #1 when converted to some monster thumper caliber? At least no one mentions it, when it is a constant warning when converting a bolt action to something over .40 caliber.

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J.D. at SSK discussed this aspect with me a couple of years ago. It is one of his real concerns regarding the #1. He prefers to install a Counter Coil in the stock to relieve the jolt.

The Counter Coil may be effective towards this, however, it is about as ugly as one can imagine!

I think the #1 will deal with cartridges at the .500 NE level but above that I would be hesitant.

~Holmes

Thanks for so much good information. If not too much trouble I would certainly like to see a picture of your 500 NE.

Everyone else, thank you for sharing a wealth of information on big bore single shot DG rifles. Most intriging. I'm going to print this and file it in my gunsmith data book.

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black powder rules

With the standard 470 loads, this shouldn't be that bad to shoot, but it could get brutal with the Seyfried loads, we'll see.

Mike

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Victory through superior firepower!

quote:

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Originally posted by ready_on_the_right:
doesn't Pac-Nor rebarrel Number 1's??

Mike

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Just found this on their site.

"PAC-NOR does barrel Ruger models 1 and 3 but does not rebarrel other lever actions, slide actions, or semi-automatic rifles."

From your posts - Is it the "pre 300 prefix SN" guns that are good for reboring to 500 NE? It sounds like it, but just wanted to be clear on this. Hate to belabor this.... Thanks Jeff P

Did you consider CH4D for dies? http://www.ch4d.com/ch4d/Catalog/Page21b.htm
$120 for 470 NE. Everyone I know who has used CH4D has been happy with the dies.

I'm very interested in hearing from you regarding your thoughts about your new rifle. Was looking at a nice used Ruger #1 the other day but it was in 416 Rigby, had it been in 458 WM I would have closed the deal on the spot!

[This message has been edited by Wachtel (edited 02-08-2002).]

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black powder rules

steveferg@sympatico.ca

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black powder rules

A Ruger #1 colorcased w/ gold inlays in (drum roll please)...500 NE

http://www.h-baelder.de/foto903.html
http://www.h-baelder.de/foto1003.html
http://www.h-baelder.de/foto1002.html
http://www.h-baelder.de/foto1001.html

Regards, Jeff P

PS: Thanks to whoever it was that showed us Herr Baelder's website! Ken is this what started this whole thing?