505 Gibbs

28 February 2019, 00:09

gunslinger55

505 Gibbs

Well I found a couple loose 505 cartridges in my gun room and was reminded again just how huge they are. I have not hunted with the caliber yet rifle is at AHR for a facelift. Had a box of 470 NE sitting on table (thanks webfeet) And compared the two. 505 is definitely huge. Is it the biggest repeater cartridge? If you wanted to hot rod it how far can you go with that case capacity? Looking forward to getting it back I almost forgot I had one

28 February 2019, 03:24

Biebs

Yes, Cordite strands took up a lot of room in a case. Just look at the difference between a 416 Rigby and a 416 Remington. These cartridges were designed in a different time.

28 February 2019, 04:06

surefire7

As far as hot-rodding the 505 Gibbs goes, yes, it’s a huge case as Biebs pointed out, and it can be loaded hotter.

The question may be, do you want to?

My CZ 505 Gibbs weighs 9.5 lbs. and has the factory supplied (2) mercury recoil reducers. I had the barrel cut from 25” down to 22”, so lost some weight there.

I shoot Woodleigh 600gr. soft & solids. I started at 2,300 fps, and found no joy. I then went to 2,150 fps, and it’s a true handful, for me at least, but I can shoot it accurately. All the joy I can handle.

Of course, one can increase the rifle weight, but I choose not to, as I hate carrying rifles that weigh 10lbs. or over. That’s just me I guess. I’m 67 and weigh 160 lbs. YMMV.

28 February 2019, 04:37

chuck375

Agree, 570g at 2300 fps from my 500 Jeffery is still fun for me anything more fun index approaches zero. The 505 Gibbs holds more powder so for the same velocity it will kick a bit more. I've seen load data for the 505 Gibbs shooting a 600g bullet at 2500 fps Ouch!

28 February 2019, 05:10

boom stick

Where can I buy cordite?

28 February 2019, 06:27

cal pappas

If any of you gents need .505 brass, I have three bags of new brass. PM if interested.
Cal

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28 February 2019, 06:58

Overkill from sweden

I have read here on AR that 2650FPS can be reached with a 600 grain bullet

28 February 2019, 09:33

gunslinger55

Wow. Impressive. I think 600 at 2300 should be adequate always good to know you can do more but agreed it’s good enough by far as is. I have dies but my factory loads are milder than that

28 February 2019, 19:16

ALF

The 505 is indeed a hold over design from a previous era and in terms of ballistic and piezometric efficiency it reached a ceiling and limit. The limiting factor was the characteristics of cordite it was originally loaded with.

The 500 Jeffery at the time as comparison an example of why the discovery / development of modern propellants were so pivotal in the evolution development of modern cartridges ( Decrease is caliber, increase in SD and thus increase in BC, huge increase in ballistic efficiency and finally the ability to manipulate piezometric efficiency )

28 February 2019, 21:14

gunslinger55

You could sure stuff a lot of powder in it. I guess the wildcats based off the case are taking advantage of it for sure p

28 February 2019, 22:13

memtb

This may be a strong case (pun intended), for developing a “light load”. But, if you want a true magnum....this “will” fill that void in your life!

memtb

28 February 2019, 23:40

gunslinger55

Glad I can get 3 down in my CZ. Quite a feat

01 March 2019, 03:05

stradling

CALL AND SEND US MONEY WE CAN ADD MORE

01 March 2019, 03:20

stradling

LIKE 5 DOWN

01 March 2019, 09:40

gunslinger55

You only need one right?

So how much to add 2 more? $1000?

02 March 2019, 04:05

chuck375

I was thinking 3 is plenty

02 March 2019, 07:25

boom stick

If you need more than 3 down, just hire two PH's. You could do a 425WR with the attached mag for extra DG rounds. Maybe we need a belt fed 505?

03 March 2019, 22:29

Charles_Helm

Had to get The Perfect Shot -Dinosaur Edition when it came out...505s and 50AEs...

03 March 2019, 22:55

eagle27

quote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
Where can I buy cordite?

Only source today would be to buy up old military 303 British ammo, pull the bullets and the cordite strands.

There were different varieties of cordite, some in strands like uncooked spaghetti pasta, others was "chopped" cordite used in revolver cartridges, presumably was just the strand cordite chopped to resemble some of our smokeless powders today, and there was also "flat or ribbon" cordite, supposedly giving better performance than the usual strand variety.

Although there is published data on cordite charge weights for many of the old British nitro cartridges, without knowing what type or exactly what length of cordite was used in the various cartridges it would be a hit and miss affair if loading today with cordite.
Also not sure if cordite deteriorated with age too, any around today would be very old now.

03 March 2019, 23:14

LR3

Another option if really need another round, I ve not with my 505 for buffalo, is to pull the bolt, load a round on it, and push it in on top of the others, assuming it’s a CRF.

03 March 2019, 23:18

LR3

ps I use 144 grains RL 33

03 March 2019, 23:38

Atkinson

I had a 505 Gibbs Improved at one time, other than bragging rights that 7.5 lb. monster donated a black eye and a couple of bloody noses,ane a pair of broken glasses. I sent it down the road to some other poor bastard who informed me he had lots of recoil tolerance, I saw he had an add in shotgun news about two weeks later!! Yep, the bragging rights were actually the best thing about that gun..I later acquired a 13 pound std. 505 Gibbs, didn't much care for it either..Guess my recoil tolerance toped out at the .470 and that was iffy, and my "lug around for 5 to 15 miles a day" settles at about 10 lbs max and 9 lbs. keeps me happy. My testosterone leaked out at about age 80.

04 March 2019, 00:15

boom stick

Great idea! Unless I make my own. I just want to shoot a big ass case full of cordite and go shooting on a crisp morning just to say the words "I love the smell of cordite in the morning" and know what it smells like in the morning.

quote:
Originally posted by eagle27:
quote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
Where can I buy cordite?

Only source today would be to buy up old military 303 British ammo, pull the bullets and the cordite strands.

There were different varieties of cordite, some in strands like uncooked spaghetti pasta, others was "chopped" cordite used in revolver cartridges, presumably was just the strand cordite chopped to resemble some of our smokeless powders today, and there was also "flat or ribbon" cordite, supposedly giving better performance than the usual strand variety.

Although there is published data on cordite charge weights for many of the old British nitro cartridges, without knowing what type or exactly what length of cordite was used in the various cartridges it would be a hit and miss affair if loading today with cordite.
Also not sure if cordite deteriorated with age too, any around today would be very old now.

04 March 2019, 17:42

gunslinger55

Plus one up the pipe

quote:
Originally posted by chuck375:
I was thinking 3 is plenty

16 March 2019, 10:17

338User

FUN cartridge, I tried 525gn @ 2500 (Kills pigs well), and 600gn at 2300. which worked OK on Buff, but showed a bit to much expansion, so I now prefer a more practical 600gn @ 2150 for Buff (or anything), and I load the 525gn down to the same velocity with 105gn AR2208 (Varget), and a foam filler. However, I found my barrel is actually 0.507, so needs a bit more powder than a standard 0.505 A true 505 barrel will get a bit more velocity with that load. I have fired well over 1000 rounds since 2008 out of my GMA now.

17 March 2019, 09:58

Colin Masters

That is a lot of lead.

18 March 2019, 05:00

chuck375

And a lot of recoil, you have my admiration.

20 March 2019, 23:32

Atkinson

Boomstick, got a flash for you, you wont remember the next day..punch drunk doesn't always apply to boxing!

21 March 2019, 01:31

JCS271

Hey Charles, its not just for dinosaurs anymore. It works fine on little stuff too!

21 March 2019, 05:20

chuck375

What's that funny looking thing at the end of the barrel?

21 March 2019, 06:20

K Evans

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
If any of you gents need .505 brass, I have three bags of new brass. PM if interested.
Cal

Cal, I sent a PM.

21 March 2019, 07:06

JCS271

quote:
Originally posted by chuck375:
What's that funny looking thing at the end of the barrel?

That little miracle of engineering allows me to hunt with the Hammer of Thor yet absorb the recoil of a 30-06 at best. PRICELESS!

21 March 2019, 07:33

Charles_Helm

quote:
Originally posted by JCS271:
Hey Charles, its not just for dinosaurs anymore. It works fine on little stuff too!

I see that!

21 March 2019, 08:19

chuck375

quote:
Originally posted by JCS271:
quote:
Originally posted by chuck375:
What's that funny looking thing at the end of the barrel?

That little miracle of engineering allows me to hunt with the Hammer of Thor yet absorb the recoil of a 30-06 at best. PRICELESS!

Nice! Good to see folks shooting the big 50s

21 March 2019, 16:41

Overkill from sweden

JCS271

What loads/bullet do you use for moose and bears? How is the reaction when they get hit?

I still remeber the effect on moose when they got hit straight in the shoulder with my old (now sold) .460 wby loaded with 500 grain hornady rnsp at 2650FPS.

23 March 2019, 10:14

JCS271

I shot the Moose at about 60 yards through the chest with Factory Norma ammunition. 600 grain woodleigh. He simply staggered and fell over. It was very impressive. The bear was about 30 yards with hand loaded 525 grain hornady Bullet at 2350 ft per second. Took him through the chest and just crushed him.

25 March 2019, 17:41

505ED

A Gibbs at anything over 2500 fps is absolutely obnoxious...

26 March 2019, 07:11

chuck375

Agree. I find with my 500 Jeffery, a 570g TSX at anything over 2300 fps tends to get less enjoyable. At 2500 fps, downright painful.

06 April 2019, 05:19

Atkinson

Boom Stick, that ain't the smell of cordite your smelling early in the morning if you shoot it more than once!~

but not to worry carry a clean pair of shorts and pants to drive home in..

20 April 2019, 00:46

gunslinger55

Wayne messaged me and said my rifle was done at AHR. Sent me a nice 5 shot group pic at 50 with the new front sight. Got the number 1 plus fixed a round popping out of the magazine issue. Now this rifle should be good to go.........