Gentleman
I talked to the ATF agent that is handling the 550 MAGNUM classification and it has been classified as a sporting cartridge. I will post the information in the wildcat section on what I had to do with the AFT.

The barrel tooling is in and Dan is setting up his new shop and should be ready to start making barrels soon.
RNS

RNS: I have been following this thread without making any comments for some time now. I think it's a real shame that you are so alone here as it seems, about 90% of the entries are made by yourself. I have great respect for you and I've read a lot, but not everything, about your 550 Magnum.

I sincerely think that you deserve a whole lot more recognition than you've gotten on this thread.

Myself, the toughtest I've got is a "whimpy" 458 Win Mag in a 700 Remington. It's easy to handle once you get used to it. I shot my first moose with it five weeks ago, standing on the ladder up into the hunting tower (separare thread in Hunting Reports - Rest Of The World).

I wish you the best of luck in the future, and maybe I will be the proud owner of a rifle in 550 Magnum some day - I think it's a real neat idea!

I've made arrangements to try out a 585 Nyati here in Sweden in the next couple of weeks. I really hope it gives me a kick!

Yours,
Rikard

RNS has had a great response from a lot of bigbore nuts
on here in the way of commitments to buy barrels, bullets,
dies and brass.That is why it is developing so fast and keeps him real busy posting.There will be a couple dozen in less than year done.Maybe more..Ed.

Exabit
Thanks for the post.

There is a lot of things going on behind the scenes that most people don't see. I have talked to most of these guys over the phone and buy emails and they are all great guys and with out there support the 550 Magnum would not be where it is today. It is my baby and I am proud of it and thankful that I have had such great support here.

As Ed has said that we will be building quite a few the first year and it will probably go from there.

Speaking of doing the foot work for this project. I went to Prescott Az and watched as Dan contoured a barrel profile for me.



The contour is custom and he has a pattern to copy from I will get more information on the contour and post it.

RNS

My Gunsmith is working on a
front sight
barrel band swivel
and a quarter rib for this contour barrel

He started working on them since he could not find anything big enough. The largest front sight he could find is .827" and that won't be big enough. I will let you know what he comes up with. RNS

RNS:

Give NECG a call for a larger banded front sight than the larger one cataloged... I have ordered a few larger ones with ID of .950" and NECG had to order these directly from Germany. If I remmeber correctly, I paid about $65 each for these special order banded front sights. Good luck.

RNS,

Thanks again.

RNS-Barrel is impressive.How long is it.Will get mine to him
after holidays to rebore.Ed.

I've been reading this thread for a while now and I think the 550 mag is great! Maybe in a year or 2 I'll have to get one myself. Keep it going and I can't wait to see pictures when it's put together.

"Rhino" in CZ550 Safari magnum "light rifle". (.416 rigby)

Drop at heel for iron sights, yet classic lines, and note the 1.25in Kickeez. Input on shape is welcome.

Thanks Rod
The pic looks great. The stock looks beefy considering how big that action is. RNS

The Barrel can be finished to 26" and should be about .830" at 26". We thinned down the barrel just a little to keep it looking like a barrel instead of a bar of steal threaded into the action.

Here are some sights we are looking at from NEGC
Ming was right they have some larger sizes but the .827" should work.




with front sight and hood



either the .930" or the .950" depending on how big the barrle measures



I don't think I will go with the 2 or 3 leafs since this cartridge is designed to pound something and stop it. Anyone interested in sighting in this thing . 40 rounds and a small jewlers file should do the trick.

We are still working on the quarter rib and I will keep everyone updated.

RNS

As of yesterday Dan had completed about 50% of the work on 4 barrels.



RNS

The first order for the 600gr bullets will close out on 27th of Feb 04 and then the bullets will be shipped in about a week after that. I will post some pic for everyone to see.

The 700gr will go next and will close the order about the end of march. the 800gr will be schedualed the same way.

RNS

RNS--I will take one box of the .035 jkt 600 gr, and
one box of the .035 700 gr. Dan is working on my barrel now.Ed.

RNS,



I'll wait for the 700s. BTW, I stopped by the Wells booth in Reno and Fred and his son had your .550 Mag. book there together with about ten or so of that really beautiful big monometal solid with the huge flat tip (he gave me one).



Thanks.

tiggertate

Thanks for the update.
RNS

I'm going to contact Dan Pedersen today about my barrel, who are various people using for gunsmiths to build their rifles and what actions are being used? Just curious, I have a 1917 and a local gunsmith that may do mine. He is currently in the middle of a move and won't really be up and running until this summer so I may consider farming it out to another. Thanks in advance.
Jason

Right now I plan on an MRC PH so mine won't start for a while. RNS is using a CZ Safari in 416 Rigby, I believe. Anything that will handle 378 Weatheby or 416 Rigby will work. The CZ will take a lot less work that a P-17. If cost counts, you may want to switch. Also, the cast bullets come in at 700 grains.

What will be the MAX velocity for the 700 grainer and the 800 grainer???
And what diameter is the bullet? 14mm?

Thanks!
//OK

Overkill
Why don't you rebarrel your 460 to this.
Ed has posted several times that we may be able to get as high as 2,500fps with a 700gr we will have to do some testing and the 800gr I don't have a guess. I am shooting for 2,300fps with a 700gr.

Here are some updates

The first barrel should be done by Thursday.

Next unless other arrangements are made since there is 1 reamer at this time Gila River Gunworks will be chambering the barrels from the barrel maker. Mike will be building mine and will be willing to assist others in building theirs as well.
Mike will be picking up the barrels and shipping them out chambered so contact Mike
Mike can be reached at 1-928-783-3850.

Rob, John, Mrlexma want a chambered barrel sent to them

Ed will be doing his chambering.

tiggertate I have forgotten what you have told me about the chambering. If I am incorrect please correct me but you wanted a chambered barrel and you were going to wait for the PH actions to hit the market.

That leaves sharps54 and JKS.

As tiggertate stated the Cz 550 would probably be more cost effective in the long run. I payed 500.00 for my action and the cost of modifying the 17 might push the dollars up there plus most stocks I looked at were available for the Cz inletting.

Sharps54 check out this 416 that Mike did.
http://www.accuratereloading.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=518288&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=21&fpart=1

It is a good hunting rifle and just about what I am looking for.

RNS

Yes, 14mm is close. Velocities for jacketed 700 grain bullets should be between 2300 and 2450 and 800 gr solids at 2100 or 2150 with comfortable pressures (As far as the gun is concerned). Cast bullets around 1300-1800fps will be fun and plenty powerful for many applications.

I hadn't thought that far down the road yet. A chambered barrel makes sense but if Mike has the reamer I guess it doesn't matter; I'll just send him the whole kit to be fitted up. As of now I'm thinking a McMillan stock for this one because it is to be a no-frills knock-around gun that will be used hard. My pretty guns, on the other hand are hardly used.

Just my tastes but I would like the forearm 1 inch shorter. Would not turn it down, however if that is going to be the final profile.

Now some news on the bullets



I talked to Andy at hawk bullets and I am going to have him start a run of the 600gr bullets. After the 600 are done we will move on to the 700gr and then the 800gr. I want some 600 to do some load testing and shoulder toughening. Right now I have been pounding away with the 500gr in my watts.



I am going to order

6 boxes of the .035", Ed(1)

3 boxes of the .065"



Let me know if anyone wants a box or two.



RNS

THE DIRTY HARRY BULLET





715gr .550" and a 405gr.458"

Good job Harry

RNS