I have a 500 Jeffery put together by Ed Woslun on a 550 CZ action.Its a beauty of a gun.Problem is I cannot seem to get the BBS 570 grain; woodleigh solid/soft 570 grains to hit 2,300 fps.Using H4895 , Fedral 215 M primers and 102 grains, the max I was able to get was 2295 with the BBS and the Woodleigh Solid, the Softpoint Woodleigh's were slower 2275 fps using the same load.As for the BX....PRESSURE PROBLEMS ABOVE 2225 fps even with 101 grains of H4895.I WILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE HUNTING ELEPHANT WITH A MV OF 2,300 FPS.Jess Bush in Africa needs the 570 grainer and preferably 2,300 fps to be on the safer side of safe.HELP PLEASE.

h4350, win760+filler, reloader22 .. leave the 4895 behind,,

I had excellent results with the H4350 in the 416 Rigby, 2400 fps and no pressure problems with the woodleigh 410 grain;bbs and bx.I will try that reccomendation.....interesting.
Thank You

That elephant won't know the difference between 2200fps and 2300fps. Use a load that works and is below max. You don't want a jammed bolt when elephant are close.

Have you tried that load in someone else gun.

You could just have a tight / slow barrel.


But as the previous poster said, I wouldn't worry about trying to get to 2300, go with a load that works above 2200 and go hunting.

The last thing you need is to get there and have pressure problems from the heat and or a jammed case.

do you really think that a animal can tell the diffrence between a bullet going 2300 and 2295. I would be more worried about accuracy than 5 fps looks to me like your splitting hairs.

Here's a thought! Instead of shooting the 570 grain bullets, try the 535 grain banded solids. That's what the makers of the gun designed the cartridge for. Trust me, in a 500 Jeffery a 535 banded solid at 2300 fps + will do all you will ever need to do and with a lot less recoil.

Just step 5 yards closer to the elephant before you shoot.

As has been said the animals won't be able to tell the difference in speed anyway..... but if it is of concern, I'd suggest going to a different bullet or bullet weight.

FWIW, I've used the 500 grain GS Custom flat nose solid in my 500 for many years and have never felt the need to go to a heavier bullet and also FWIW, I reckon I get something like 20% more penetration from the GSC than I used to get from other bullets.

btw, add 15-20 FPS at 15 ft to get your true MV

I don't know how many elephant you have shot but I shoot a 500 N.E. with 570 grain bullets traveling 2100fps and penetation has never been an issue on elephant and it won't be with your 500J with 570 grain bullets at 2100-2200fps. I believe your majoring on a minor issue, you have one of the best elephant killing calibers on the planet.

Thank u guys,I do control work in Nigeria and I have no PH to back me up.Those Western Buffalo and Elephant,have moved south into thick forest towards the Atlantic Ocean and are fearless.They raid the Cocoa and Casava Plantations to the north of their coastal habitat with impunity in Nov/Dec and Feb/March when the Late pod crop are on the trees.I prefer the 570 grain , because I have to shoot through dense 'jesse' like bush and my hunting companion an old retired Police Firearm officer uses an old Dumolin 404 Jeffery to back me up(Not much of a Back up).Here every Hunter killed was either using a 404 jeffery, a 12 guage with 000 buck or a smoke pole muzzleloader shooting pieces of 3/8 inch diameter structural steel.I have succeded in stopping the "Boys" from going after them with 12 Guage 000 buck.
I will stick with the velocities 2275+ and trust YOUR ADVICE AS WELL AS my shooting.If you want to google where I go,it is The OWENA RIVER , ORE , ONDO STATE IN NIGERIA.REAL THICK BUSH.
I'LL let you know when I bag a 100.

I don't have your hunting experience (I wish I did) but I'm using H4895 in my CZ 550 500 Jeffery, I'm using Federal 215 primers, Jamison cases and loading 570g TSX's. I get 2300 fps out of a 24" barrel using 103g H4895 seating to an OAL of 3.63". My Max load is 105g H4895 using the same bullets giving 2410 fps with no pressure signs. I've settled on the 103g load. 101g H4895 gives me about 2175 fps (500 NE levels).

Regards,

Chuck

I also have had great results with my 500 nitro
using the 570gn projectile at just under 2100fps-those big slugs do not need much over 2000fps to slay any elephant that ever walked

I agree with wombat,why do you need it to go at 2400 fps???? I shoot a .500 jeffery and only use the 535grn woodleighs at just over 2100fps and it stops everything in its tracks!

quote:

an old Dumolin 404 Jeffery to back me up(Not much of a Back up)

Ha! You might have a hard time convincing many here of that truism.

Ode,

I would have gone at least 50 fps to get to the hunt report. Maybe 2237 fps. A 63 fps deficit has more creds than 5.

babaode:

If you wish to shoot a heavier bullet in your .500 Jeffery, why not shoot the 600 grain Woodleighs solids instead of the Barnes bullet? They are specifically made for the .500 Jeffery so the cannelure is in the right place. The 570 grains Barnes bullets are made for the .500 NE.

Dave
the 570gr solid crimps just fine in place .. MOST big bore bullets are .800 from the crimp to the nose ... and it does take up space that could be "filler" in a standard load.

but, heck, i shoot em all!

Thanks chaps,I must say how much I learnt from this discussion.I will take all the comments and advice and I have concluded the following would be practical with my gun.
1:Try with the H 4350 to get mv up to 2300 fps + on the BBS and Woodleigh SP and keep the 0AL at 3.63 ins and go up to 103 g on the 570 grain Bullets.
2:Try the 600 grain Bullets with H 4895 and work up to 2200+fps mv.
Remember that I dont have "much of a back up" and avoid pressure problems that can jam the bolt deep in the forest.

babaode, my 3.63 OAL was with the Barnes TSX bullets NOT the Barnes Banded Solids. The Barnes manual should have the recommended OAL for the Banded solid. If you don't have one handy I'll look it up for you.

Chuck

Chuck,how have you found the TSX 570 grain with your 500 jeffery rifle ?.Mine 'sucks'.I have found it difficult to get above 2200 fps without pressure and extraction problems.I had my Barnes manual 'siezed' in Nigeria by Customs Officials despite having valid firearm licences, so I have to pick up another one.pls let me have the recomended OAL for the BBS.I remember it was a tad less than the Woodleigh SP and the Woodleigh S.H 4895 and the BTSX ? would you suggest another powder ? H 4831 fed 215 M ?.

Hi Babaode, there's folks like Jeffeosso, Mjines and Dave Bush to mention a few that have LOTS more experience loading and using a 500 Jeffery than I do. I have had very good luck with accuracy and velocity with the 570g TSX's so far. I have not loaded and of the Barnes Banded Solids. If the TSX's don't shoot well in your rifle, a lot of folks swear by the Woodleighs softpoints and solids at around 2150 fps ...