I am really close to ordering another Hein rifle. Before you ask I do not need it and probably the biggest critter it will shoot is a Alaskan moose. I just like em big and love the "wow" factor.
Being LEFT HANDED I am looking for something truly unique and big that is why the .50's have my interest. I doubt if there are more than 50 left handed rifles in either of these caliber on the planet.
The Hein action will support either the Gibbs or Jeffrey. Other choices include the 500 A square or 510 Wells. Which of these rounds would make the best choice? Price and availability of brass and bullets is very important to whatever choice I decide to go with. Inital thoughts are to go with the syn stocked Hein rifle with a target weight of about 10 pounds and 24 inch barrel. It will hold three down, or possibly four if you guys think it is doeable and will not look out of place. It will most likely carry a low power scope. Any and all suggestions are welcome as long as they are .50 related.
Thanks guys.

If your looking for WOW get the 505 gibbs, it is a much more imposing looking round than the other 50 cals (bmg excepted). It is also, I believe, the oldest of the 50s designed for a bolt gun. At one time Jamison was selling brass for $1 a piece. Hein will build a Gibbs that holds 4 down. The only drawback is that bullet selection is a bit limited.

I chose a 500 jeffery. They can make it feed and hold 4 down and it should be done by Christmas. I'll then get Tip working on the sights and barrel.

505ED

Given your criteria, the .500 A-Square would be hands down the best choice for you.

It uses .510" bullets and Weatherby's biggest case, both of which are available from multiple sources at relatively reasonable prices. Plus, the .510" bullets come in a wider variety of weights than .505 inchers.

Besides that, the .500 A2 is a SAAMI standardized round (i.e., not a wildcat), and can push 600 grain bullets to 2,500 fps, if you are so inclined. If you are going to shoot such loads, however, you will find that a 10 pound rifle will beat you up pretty well. I'd go with more weight - at least 11-12 pounds.

Your rifle should be able to hold three down, and with some work on the floorplate, four. No drop box should be needed to get four down.

BTW, I have a .500 A2 built on a CZ 550 Magnum action and like it very much.

quote:

Originally posted by 505ED:
I chose a 500 jeffery. They can make it feed and hold 4 down and it should be done by Christmas. I'll then get Tip working on the sights and barrel.

505ED

Yea, Christmas of 2008! My 375 has already been on order for over a year and I suspect I still have another 4-6 months wait for it.
I have never worked with brass this big before. Is it an easy process to neck up the 460 Wby brass to .510?
Do you remember what the cost was for reloading dies for the 500 A square?
I noticed brass is cheaper for the 505 Gibbs and bullet selction is ok, where does a person find dies for this caliber and the cost?

Hi,

no shortage of Bullets for the .505" Gibbs

Lutz

It's very easy to neck up .460 Wby. to .500 A2 in one step.

I also have Weatherby cylindrical brass from BeLL (now Jamison) that I neck down in one step.

I bought my dies from CH4D for a couple hundred bucks (including a neck expander/sizer).

Don't know about .505, except that fewer makers produce the bullets and in fewer styles and weights, and the brass isn't cheap and is relatively hard to come by, again, as compared with the A2.

Good luck.

Can you reload for either the Gibbs or the 500 AS with the standard RCBS Rock Chucker?
Lutz,
The link you posted didnt mention who made bullets or in what grain weights. It just showed some reloading data.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Can you reload for either the Gibbs or the 500 AS with the standard RCBS Rock Chucker?

Yes for the A2; don't know about the Gibbs.

I have an older rockchucker that wouldn't work. I bought a lee classic cast for 60 bucks that works on rounds up to the bmg. even though its cast iron the lee feels a bit cheap compared to some other presses I've used. I think it is that it's lighter in the ram and linkage, but it works.

I can't find Weatherby cylinder brass at either Graf's or Midway.
Who carries it and what does it cost?
505 brass ($45 per 20 at Graf) and bullets seem to be more readily avaliable. Brass is the same price if not cheaper than Norma 460 Wby.
More bullets on the market for the 505 than I originally thought, Barnes, Woodleigh, A square and probably more.
Thank you

I bought 200 cylindrical Wby. cases from BeLL (aka MAST) a few years ago before they sold their equipment to Jamison.

It was $1.70 per case, IIRC. Headstamping by Quality Cartridge will add a quarter or so, depending on the volume of the order.

Who makes the Graf .505 brass? That is the best price going, if the brass is any good.

Midway has .378 and .460 Wby. cases (made by Norma) for $45 and change per box of 20.

.510" diameter bullets are available from Woodleigh (solids and Weldcore and PP softs) in 450, 535, 570 and 600 grain weights and .509s from Barnes (monolithic FN banded solids and TSX bullets) in 570. A-Square has their Triads at .510" at 600 grains apiece. Other makers, too, but I have used and will rely on Woodleighs and Barnes.

Good luck.

For ease, the 500 A2. For glamour, the 505 Gibbs and for sheer horsepower in a easy to build package, the 550 Magnum.

Jamison makes the brass I was referring to from the Graf web site

Contact Jamison directly 1-605-347-5090. I bought early, and was able to get 200 cases for $200. They have gone up since then but is still less than $2 a piece. If you do opt for the .505 it wouldn't be a bad idea to stock up on bullets, Midway seems to have a hard time keeping the Woodleighs in stock, and when they are out of stock they seem to be out for a while.

The only Jamison brass I have used is in caliber .577-.450 Martini-Henry and it is good stuff.

Snowwolfe,

I hope it is X-mas 07 I just getting the action from WH. The metal work is by Tip burns with the stock work by John Valicek. They both live about 10 min from me.I'm having a Bauska barrel made i know I know 1-10 twist.

505ED

550 Gibbs Magnum. Check the archives. 715gr hard cast at 2200+fps should do the trick.

Rich
DRSS

Having built a 500 Jeffrey, I'd say 500 A-square. While you won't find brass and bullets at Boondocks, at least I haven't seen any, the A-sq is still the most practicle in terms of brass and bullets.

Yes currently 505 gibbs brass isn't as expensive and hard to find as it once was, but that could change. There is some at Great Northern Guns. Not sure on the bullet choices.

I have an LBT 512" 470 gr LFN gc mold, and it is a superb plinking bullet. Really no reason not to use it on game, as at would certainly work. Then again, I think the 570 gr XLC @ 2400 fps would be superb

For best resale value I would go with the .505 Gibbs.

I would go with the .500 Jeffery. There are all kinds of .510 bullets. I shoot 535 grain Woodleighs. Horneber makes brass and I understand that brass will shortly be available from Jamison through Graf & Sons or Huntingtons. The Jeffery will work through a .375 lengh action and, in my opinion, it is much easier to load than the Gibbs.

Dave

Why not go for a 510 Gibbs? That would solve the bullet issue.

Actually the bullet issue is a moot point at this place in time. There are more than enough .505 bullets on the market to play with and since I can cast what I want I have a source of low cost plinkers.
Presently I am leaning towards the 505 as the brass is easy to find and at good prices. Second choice is the 550 Gibbs.
I did request a quote from Hein but they have not yet replied back.

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Can you reload for either the Gibbs or the 500 AS with the standard RCBS Rock Chucker?
.

Yes you can use the Rock Chucker for the Gibbs and probably the ASQ as well. Sizing is not a problem. But, you have to insert bullets into the seating die first then put the case in the shell holder. Then you have to unscrew the seating die a few turns to get the loaded round out of the press. A pain in the rear but cheaper than a new press...

Currently components for the 505 are just as cheap and available as the others. The Gibbs is not any harder to load for either. The 500 ASQ is probably your easiest route but the Gibbs has the largest case and can generate more power than the other two cartridges.

Matt V.

;;;;;;5oo A-Sq. or 500 A H R......I,ve reloaded lots of 500 A-2 ammo with a Lyman Acculine C press.... It worked fine till I broke it necking up 7 mag brass to 416 Taylor ..before I learned how to anneal brass.....With an old Rock Chucker or Reloader Special 5 , press you just need to slip the bullet up the seater die then set it on,in the case mouth as you raise the ram........Where theres a will theres a way....

TH 5000 said it better than I did....