I finished my TC Encore with a purpose built, black pepper spectra-ply stock and two cape buffalo barrels, 500S&W and 500-110. It weighs under 8 lbs. The 500-110 barrel will shoot a 450 grain CEB Solid at 2,000-2,100 fps. The 500S&W should get a 385 CBE solid going close to 2,000 fps.

It sure is the ugliest rifle that I have ever owned, however it handles and fits real nice with it's Skinner Peep sights and weighted for-end.
It's first buffalo hunt will be in Mozambique in 2021.

I will agree they are not the prettiest but I sure do like them! I shot a 500 S&W Encore rifle for a while and it was a lot of fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
I finished my TC Encore with a purpose built, black pepper spectra-ply stock and two cape buffalo barrels, 500S&W and 500-110. It weighs under 8 lbs. The 500-110 barrel will shoot a 450 grain CEB Solid at 2,000-2,100 fps. The 500S&W should get a 385 CBE solid going close to 2,000 fps.

It sure is the ugliest rifle that I have ever owned, however it handles and fits real nice with it's Skinner Peep sights and weighted for-end.
It's first buffalo hunt will be in Mozambique in 2021.

Jesus wept. That's like planning to drive a go-cart in the Indy 500.

Good luck.

Why do you say that, Mike?

Yes the Encore can be used to shoot a buffalo. Yes it can be reloaded quickly by hand. Take your go cart and drive it.
Respectfully I think you are a bit ambitious about the .500 S&W. I love the Encore and enjoy using it to caliber sample, but I think I'd feel better behind the .500-110 whatever that is, than the .500 S&W. My largest Encore is a .375 H&H and I'm happy with it. There is a lot of practice to be done to get good and fast with the reload. I suggest you practice with a revolver and speedloaders to gain the speed with the right hand.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Why do you say that, Mike?

MR is a better comedian than gun guru.
He does not handload, and does not understand many basic principles of internal ballistics.
Take his joking with a big grain of saltpeter.

.458 WINCHESTER MAGNUM PERFECTION
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Why do you say that, Mike?

MR is a better comedian than gun guru.
He does not handload, and does not understand many basic principles of internal ballistics.
Take his joking with a big grain of saltpeter.

.458 WINCHESTER MAGNUM PERFECTION
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

Don't believe a word he says!

He is a lawyer!

You will have no problem killing your buffalo.

Just hit him in the right place, with the first bullet.

Otherwise you might need a lawyer to get you out of the mess that might follow!

Thanks for your support. I am just a little touchy about my new project rifle for buffalo. I like the break open single shot style of hunting but there are not many rifles to choose from. I have enjoyed good fortune so far with one shot DRT kills on cape buffalo break open single shot and loads in .500 cal with similar ballistics.
Like you say it's all about the first shot on buffalo. I try to get close for that. The bullet design and construction are the key factors of course and I am going with CEB solids.
The 500-110 with water capacity of 115 grains has plenty of power. the 500S&W is usually considered to be a pistol cartridge. But with a fast rifle powder ( Hodgden CFE blk) instead of pistol powders we are getting 300+ fps over the pistol velocities, with the rifle barrel.

The hunt is a long way off and pending the covid19 virus but I am pretty excited already. I plan to hunt a buffalo with the 500 S&W at my pals farm, Africa Dawn, near Vaalwater, Limpopo, before we head off to Mbabala, Mozambique. It's located on the Mozambique side of the border in the Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park, midway between Crooks Corner and the Save river. It's historic old country where the blackbirders, slave traders and ivory poachers were at home as described in the book, The Ivory Trail by TV Bulpin.

Thanks again. Enough about me, Brian

Is there anyway to pair two of them together.

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
I finished my TC Encore with a purpose built, black pepper spectra-ply stock and two cape buffalo barrels, 500S&W and 500-110. It weighs under 8 lbs. The 500-110 barrel will shoot a 450 grain CEB Solid at 2,000-2,100 fps. The 500S&W should get a 385 CBE solid going close to 2,000 fps.

It sure is the ugliest rifle that I have ever owned, however it handles and fits real nice with it's Skinner Peep sights and weighted for-end.
It's first buffalo hunt will be in Mozambique in 2021.

Forest, A 375 HH in an Encore would be great! Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Why do you say that, Mike?

Brian, it was just my way of suggesting that there are better tools for the job.

But I do sincerely wish you good luck, and hope you don't need any.

Thanks MR, I have hunted cape buffalo with different rifles. What do you use to hunt cape buffalo with?
Brian

Brian, I use a fifty caliber bolt action magazine rifle.

A .500 A-Square.

With big and heavy, 570 grain, Barnes X-Bullets.

Loaded by me with 115 grains or so of RL15 powder, depending on the lot.

Which gets me 2,500 fps of MV and 8,000 ft. lbs. of ME.

And I hunt always with a full magazine. Ed Plummer built me this rifle, and it is the bomb.

The full magazine is for second shots that have never been needed but have always been rapidly delivered.

I have used lesser rifles, but I have found that this one is the best.

Impressive.

nyati have been taken with 500sw in a 4" .. lion too ... they are NOT impressed, nyati that is, with velocity

then again, they've been taken with 45/70, 7.62x39, and at least 1 270 and 1 338mag.

put the bullet in the right spot, it will work ..

Will you have a 500 S&W wheel gun as a back up side arm since you are bringing a 500 S&W barrel anyway? If something goes south, you will have a few extra shots you can get off in a hurry. Congratulations on picking CEB bullets. you have good taste there Don’t be afraid to cut your own path. this is your journey.

Thanks for your comments fellas, I enjoy experimenting, and discussing it with you enthusiasts, otherwise I would just stick with my .577 NE. or 458 Lott.

I have had good luck with .500-110. CEB raptors, 410 grain at 1,940 fps, DRT, one shot kill on three buffalo. (Broadside center shoulder shots, not heart shots.) I will be able to get another 200 fps out of them in the Encore barrel.

In the 500 S&W I get the 385gr. CEB solids up to about 1940fps out of the rifle barrel. ( Boomstick, no I won't have a pistol,( good idea, though) just a PH who is real good with his double 470.)

The 500S&W is certainly not a perfect buffalo cartridge and may get left at home. ( Just using the break open single shot makes buffalo hunting exciting enough.) But, using the 500S&W is fascinating to me.

The idea of using the 500S&W came to mind just because I have the barrel and have not used it and I thought that it would be a good experiment and make a good story.

As you can see I have the covid 19 cabin fever and am grateful for this discussion. Brian