I have been wondering for quite some while what cal. in the .50's i'd choose, so i let all you guys tell me what you'd choose between either.500 A2 or the .500 AHR, and eplease explain why.Besides, are these two cartridges ballisticaly twins ?

I think the .500 A2 is a pretty easy job to do, just buy a cz .416 and buy a new barrel and have it chambered for .500 A2. Then neck weatherby .460 brass up, I think there is minimal work needed for feeding. .500 AHR I can not comment on.

The 500 AHR is the 500 Jeff with the rim not rebated and the shoulder moved forward (I thought the neck on the 500 jeff was already too short).

The problem with the 500 AHR is that only Bertram makes brass for it. It is well known that Bertram brass is not up to high pressure loads because it is too soft.

The 500 A2 is a 460 wby necked up to .510. High quality Norma brass is readily available for it, and cheap ($35 for a box of 20).

I vote for the 500 A2.

The negative side of the 500 A2 is that it starts to develop pressure when you push 600 grains to 2400 or 2450 fps due to smaller case capacity than the 500 AHR. But I think 2350 fps is enough.

Per577,

My vote goes to 500 A2.

More easy and cheap to find .460 WBY brass and blow up to .500.

500 AHR is a lonf .500 Jeffrey more expensive.

Had hoped Todd E. was available for comment as my .500 AHR build on CZ 550 has not been delivered as yet. He is the expert.
My reason for .500 AHR was the rim, longer neck, and angle change.
Also lower chamber pressures than the .500 A2.
The Bertram brass is the unknown as it is reportedly too soft. The cost aside as the brass can be used several time so it becomes less of an issue, but what is important is sticky cases if it cannot stand up to high pressure loadings.
Now where does the problem begin, at 2500 or 2600 fps- somewhat typical of .500 A2 loadings or at lower values. I'm told the Bertram brass is not a problem when loaded with 535 or 575 grainers at 2400 fps.

If there is a sticking problem, I can cold work the brass to the desired strength level. Also other sources for brass may develop. To me it was an improvement on the nostalgic Jeffrey round and with the lower pressure seems to fit my hunting requiements somewhat better.

pm

For info on 500 AHR, go to American Hunting Rifles, Inc at:

www.hunting-rifles.com or huntingrifles@qwest.com

Good site!

For 500 A2 psi pressure values, see the A-Square manual.

I have two rifles that I call 510 JAB's that are essentially 500 A2.

In a 26" barrel one can get 2400 fps with a 600 grain bullet at about 50,000 psi, using RL-15 powder.

Heavier loads will get you 2467 fps with 57,500 psi by the A-Square manual, using RL-15, a very heat stable powder.

You want a 40,000 psi load in a 22" barreled 500 A2 with 600 grain bullets? That would probably be 2200 fps with RL-15: my best guess, as a self proclaimed "expert" on the 500 A2.

To answer the question, 500 A2 is my choice as best all around .510" bullet pusher, for many reasons, many practical reasons.

I will vote for the 500 A2 also. Good quality plentiful brass available, and a much easier conversion are my reasons.

I have a 500AHR and have built a 500A2. The 500A2 is probably the more versatile of the two cartridges. With proper throating you can shoot 650 gr military .50 BMG rounds out of the 500A2 ( lots of fun and brass is easy to come by. as others have said the 500AHR brass is proprietary and harder to come by. However, it is a very well designed round. You can also build a 500A2 from a CZ .416 very easily. The 500 AHR is much more complicated, but works at lower pressures which might and I repeat might be an issue if someone were foolish enough to take max loads to Africa where the heat might cause problems. In fact there is mostly the convenience issue to reccomend the 500 A2.-Rob