I did a search and only found one reference from 2007 on the boards. Has anyone got any current information or opinions regarding them?

VR1 505 Gibbs semi-auto

Opinions are cheap. Looks like it weighs a gazillion tons. Life is too short for an ugly gun. And who's going to shoot the type of game this cartridge is intended for prone with a bipod? Unfortunately, semis are illegal in most or all African countries anyway. And (my personal opinion) muzzle brakes have no place on hunting rifles.

For the same $$$ thou could probably get a .500 Nitro double.

Oops. I must noticed they have a price page. You can't get a decent double for that much but you can get a good CZ550 in .500 Jeffrey of Gibbs (forget which) and probably have enough left over for a trophy fee on a CApe buffalo.

At 17 lbs I would hope that no one considered it a serious walk-about hunting gun. More of a toy (of which one can never have too many). Semi autos are illegal for hunting in Africa anyway. I was just curious if there were any durability issues.

It was originally built as a cheaper semi-auto sniper/long range rifle in 408 Cheytac and they built a 505 since it is the same basic case

Well if it does the Gibbs it would do my long
585HE. Weird looking rig---
People pay to much attention to
weapons/guns real or otherwise on tv

I put my HE in a much
better looking gun.Ed

Much prettier but a 408 Cheytac would open it up like a ripe melon. I don't think the VR1 was ever given much thought as a big bore option. That came as an after thought.

But if you wanted to, you could run your 585HE long at 60,000 psi in the VR1. That would make some big holes in big things.

Well I get over 10,000 ft lbs at the 40k psi loads
I use in it; as it is. That is why the case
is long. So it can do that.
That auto is well built, and is a bit stronger
bolt lockup than Remington, Mossy, etc.
And I put on heavy 585" bore bull barrel.1.05" muzzle
In the 12ga barreled one of the grandson,
I did 3.5" brass about 20K slug loads which is about
same bolt thrust.Gun weighted to 14 lbs,
doubled up pads.Ed

I was thinking you'd be well over 50 BMG energies if you ran the 585HE that high. The first question is always "Why do that?" and the first answer is always "Why not?".

Amen- That is the holy word 'Why Not'.

That VR1, I'm sure as you say would
take high pressures and probably take
70,000 in 585 brass, with open straight hole,
like the strength of the one I have on PH.Ed