550 Magnum questions

08 July 2008, 13:01

I am interested in building a .550 RNS Magnum. It is one of the many itches I have and it needs scratching!! I've been scratching a lot lately and I sure hope it's just the gun bug that's biting me!!

I do have a few questions though, concerning the best way to go about it. I would definately use a CZ action but the rest is a little foggy.

Here are my questions...

#1)Does Bauska Barrel Co make a good barrel at a fair price? (I was thinking of going with Bauska Barrel Co since Idaho Sharpshooter wrote well of them a couple of years ago.) If not, who does?

#2)Who should I get to mate the barrel to the action? Does Bauska do this too or would I need to get someone else to do it?(I'll probably do the sights and barrel band sling stud myself.)

#3)To RNS: Do you do feed work for this caliber? If not, who should I get?

#4) How well is this cartridge doing? Is buying loaded ammo, brass and bullets a problem that I'm likely to run into? I haven't heard much noise coming from this cartridge lately.(I realize this cartridge is no .375 H&H but with the current political trend, I'm scared investing in something TOO OBSCURE!)

#5) Should I use the same barrel contour as I would use for building a .500 A2? (1.125" shank 2-3" long, tapering to .830" on a 26" barrel. BTW...I will probably want a 22" barrel to make it handy as possible.)

I guess that's about all for now. I appreciate any info I can get on these matters.

08 July 2008, 16:13

jeffeosso

CZ can make you an entire rifle in their custom shop. Full stop. Not bad, huh?

Jim Brockman can also build you a 550

Bauska is closed. I have asked for my .550 tooling to go to McGowen, but I haven't heard that they have received it. I'll call the Bauska's today and see if it has made it.

--Pacnor also offers this barrel, as well as several cut rifle companies

McGowen and/or Pacnor can either chamber and install or suggest someone who can and can do the feed work.

http://www.custombrassandbullets.com/550caliberpage.html

You should use a .040 or more larger at the muzzle 23" barrel,,, 22 works, but go with a something with an inch long shank than normal.

a built in recoil lug is a MUST
jeffe

08 July 2008, 17:48

Gerard

Bullets are available in expanding and solid.

08 July 2008, 22:41

Magnum Hunter1

Bauska is out of business???? Damn!

08 July 2008, 23:37

srshooter

quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
CZ can make you an entire rifle in their custom shop. Full stop. Not bad, huh?

Jim Brockman can also build you a 550

Bauska is closed. I have asked for my .550 tooling to go to McGowen, but I haven't heard that they have received it. I'll call the Bauska's today and see if it has made it.

--Pacnor also offers this barrel, as well as several cut rifle companies

McGowen and/or Pacnor can either chamber and install or suggest someone who can and can do the feed work.

http://www.custombrassandbullets.com/550caliberpage.html

You should use a .040 or more larger at the muzzle 23" barrel,,, 22 works, but go with a something with an inch long shank than normal.

a built in recoil lug is a MUST
jeffe

I'm glad McGowen is going to be doing this caliber. I have already ironed out the details with them on a .500 A2/CZ 550 project and they will do my barrel work and action work at a very reasonable rate. My only decision now is which to do....or is it which one to do first???

I have been dead set on a .500 A2 for a while now but this .550 thing is really tugging at my gut. I love straight wall cartridges too! I think it's their effeciency that I like most. With a straight wall you're wringing out all the power potential that a case has. I have felt for a long now that the .500 A2, .500 Jeff, and the .505 Gibbs were the most powerful "practical" cartridges that I could carry, shoot, and half-afford to shoot. I now think the .550 RNS Magnum might be that cartridge. The .500 A-Square sure is versatile though, with milsurp bullets to boot...tuff call indeed!

If there's anyone out there who owns both, I'd appreciate some opinions/advice on the matter. Thanks for the help and info Jeff!

09 July 2008, 00:57

jeffeosso

i own or shoot most of them...
550 express, 500 jeffe, 500Ar, loaded for the 505 and the 550 mag, and 500a2 ...

of the 50's, the 500 AR is easy peasy ... at least for me

the 550 express can be loaded to the point where 99.9999999% of shooters can't shoot it 5 times in a row

jeffe

09 July 2008, 03:40

srshooter

It's a tough call. I really like the .550 RNS Mag but the .500 A2 seems the practical choice with all the bullets available for it and factory A-Square ammo available from Midway.

I'll probably do the .500 A2 first and maybe the .550 later. If I get the .500 first, my debate next year will be between the .550 Mag & the .600 OK, which I'm interested in too. I just don't know!?!?!?

I'm glad that McGowen will be doing .55's. They're good people.

09 July 2008, 05:49

Robgunbuilder

You wont go wrong with a 500a2, a 550Magnum or a .600Ok. No one who owns any of these has been disappointed. You should realize that the cost of building any of the above is about the same with brass readily available for all of them. AHR has tremendous experience with the .600OK and lots of very satisfied customers. Just remember the Japanese Cruiser motorcycle motto. Buy one now, own a Harley 6 months from now. There is something very alluring to many of us in having the biggest and the best. -Rob

09 July 2008, 08:07

Huckleberry

How does the 550 RNS differ from the 550 Gibbs?

09 July 2008, 08:14

jeffeosso

550 magnum is a 3" weatherby case, first of the caliber

550 express is a 2.65" of the same

550 planged is a 577/500 magnum blown out and improved

the 505 gibbs is a derimmer improved version of the 577/500...

the 550 gibbs is made from gibbs brass to .550
jeffe

09 July 2008, 08:37

srshooter

quote:
Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
You wont go wrong with a 500a2, a 550Magnum or a .600Ok. No one who owns any of these has been disappointed. You should realize that the cost of building any of the above is about the same with brass readily available for all of them. AHR has tremendous experience with the .600OK and lots of very satisfied customers. Just remember the Japanese Cruiser motorcycle motto. Buy one now, own a Harley 6 months from now. There is something very alluring to many of us in having the biggest and the best. -Rob

I'll probably go with the .500 A2 first for it's versatility as a hunting rifle for various large & dangerous game and comparitively cheap target practice. The availability of inexpensive .50 BMG bullets makes it the solid first choice in a SUPER HEAVY rifle cartridge.

I want a .550 or a .600 OK for a pure elephant rifle and the SHOCK & AWE factor amongst friends. My friends get harder to impress every year! In the "OUCH! & WHOOAA!" categories the .600 OK & .577 T-REX are the champs in a carriable weapon but the T-REX is too expensive for my blue collar taste and .600 OK ammo and brass is pricey too!

The .550 seems to be the best option for me in an over 50 caliber rifle. The availability of high quality, reasonably priced brass weighs heavy in my caliber choices and this makes the .550 alluring to me. Bullets aren't all that bad either but I am worried about future supplies in this caliber. That is the only real negative I see concerning the .550 Mag and Express. I do like the fact that I can get three down and one in the chamber with the .500 A2 and the .550 in a standard CZ Safari .416 Rigby magazine too. Again, I will most likely go with the .500 A2 first but I am VERY INTERESTED in the .550 Magnum for next year....the .600 OK too. I'll try to find more info on both but I welcome all opinions on the .550 Mag and .600 OK and advice to help form a more definitive opinion.

On a side note, who can build and install a reliable 5 or 6 shot magazine
for the CZ 550 Safari Mag in these large calibers?

Thanks to everyone and good shooting!

09 July 2008, 09:15

Hog Killer

quote:
On a side note, who can build and install a reliable 5 or 6 shot magazine
for the CZ 550 Safari Mag in these large calibers?

Man, if you can shoot it dry,(6-7 rounds) rapid rire. You are one muey malowe hombre. Even with the std mag box +1, that is still doing something rapid fire. Of coarse that is still hitting what you aim at.

I have shot the 550Mag, 550Exp, 550Gibbs, 550Flanged, So I know what kind of recoil has to be dealt with.

Good luck and have fun.

Keith

09 July 2008, 10:22

RIP

I sure am glad to know that McGowen Precision Barrels will soon be making .550-caliber barrels. High quality. Same price for stainless or chromoly.

The .550-caliber centerfire rifle has been around since the 55-100 Maynard Improved Hunter's Rifle No. 11, 1882-type.

It was also offered with interchangeable shot or rifle barrels, and both types of factory loads, bullets and birdshot.

Yes, it was the original 28-Guage From Purgatory.

Base diameter of the case was .590" and rim was .718" diameter.

470 Nitro Express brass could be cut short and formed into 55-100 Maynard or 28-GFP brass.

Neal Shirley should not feel bad about that. Even the .395 centerfire rifle was knocking around in the 1880's.

Then Came Bronson on this Sportster Hawg:

Ammoguide case capacity under-estimates are woefully inaccurate. They use a computer program for that baloney, and do not accept the designer measurements from actual cases.
As a relative comparison tool related to the exterior volume displacement of the various cases, they are useful, but the units are imaginary then, and a correction factor to convert to more realistic grains of water gross capacity would be required.

500 Mbogo: It does it all in style, with slightly higher velocity/lower pressure than the 500A2, no belt, and no rebated rim, longer neck, same vast array of bullets.

Brass is coming from Peter Cardona of Quality Cartridge: about $3.50 per properly headstamped case, made from Hornady Rigby basic.
You could blow out Hornady, Norma, Jamison, Federal or other .416 Rigby brass for cheap practice ammo. Also Jamison and Norma .416 Rigby basic has been available in the past.
This is competitive with 460 Wby basic.

Properly headstamped 500A2 brass is not cheap!!!!

The 500A2 (or 550 Magnum) has no brass cost savings advantage over the 500 Mbogo.

Reamer from Dave Manson: Same as a 500A2 reamer cost.

Dies from Redding are in the works. These will be about $250 (subsequent to my first set costs, estimate still pending) for a 3-Die Custom Deluxe set with
1) FL-sizer
2) Neck-sizer
3) Seater-crimper

Can you get cheaper 500A2 2-die sets off the shelf? They are false economy if so.

The 500 Mbogo beats the 500A2 all around.

Psst! Rob: My third Stainless-Snake-Skin barreled rifle is being built now, 300 Lapua Magnum CZ 550 Magnum. Kevin had a few spare hours to whip out another Mud Flap Girl. I gave him the parts yesterday. Maybe done by Friday? McGowen barrel.

09 July 2008, 10:29

boom stick

quote:
Kevin had a few spare hours to spare whip out another Mud Flap Girl. I gave him the parts yesterday. maybe done by Friday

Cant wait to see the Mud flap girl gun!!!

Now you have to get matching ones for your truck!

09 July 2008, 10:41

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by boom stick:

Cant wait to see the Mud flap girl gun!!!

Now you have to get matching ones for your truck!

Youbetcha! Three Mud Flap Girl rifles and a pair of MFG's on my truck.

300 Lapua Mag, 398 Lapua Mag, 500 Mbogo: Photos of that Czech-American trio will be "gun porn." All with McGowen barrels.

09 July 2008, 16:22

jeffeosso

al what rip said on the 500 mbogo, and fits in a standard length action, for the 500AR (and the smaller ones, and the 550 express) .. In fact, 550 express and magnum headstamped brass is already on the shelf at qualcart.

Neal Shirley, Dave Estergaard, and Rob Garnick are some of the cornerstones of modern wildcatting. I am just darn happy to be included in that group, and have all of them for hunting buddies!

Oh, yeah - Keith and I, i believe, are the only folks to have shot all 4 (5 if you count 550 BPE) of the .550s

http://hometown.aol.com/goldcoins1/myhomepage/index.html

09 July 2008, 16:23

jeffeosso

while the folks at mcgowen are great guys, and make a fine product, stainless is 75 bucks more than CM
http://www.mcgowenbarrel.com/pricing.htm

09 July 2008, 17:13

RIP

jeffe,
News to me on McGowen Precision changing their initial policy of the new company on pricing stainless and chromoly the same.
$75 is still a better differential than most.
Thanks for the update.

Er, uh, just to be as accurate as you were above, "lower pressure or higher velocity" than the 500A2 does not apply to the 500AR, though it does to the 500 Mbogo.

Highjack off.

09 July 2008, 19:35

jeffeosso

You are correct, sir.... the 500 AR i not lower pressure, for the same vel, as the 500a2/510wells

jeffe

10 July 2008, 04:05

srshooter

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
I sure am glad to know that McGowen Precision Barrels will soon be making .550-caliber barrels. High quality. Same price for stainless or chromoly.

The .550-caliber centerfire rifle has been around since the 55-100 Maynard Improved Hunter's Rifle No. 11, 1882-type.

It was also offered with interchangeable shot or rifle barrels, and both types of factory loads, bullets and birdshot.

Yes, it was the original 28-Guage From Purgatory.

Base diameter of the case was .590" and rim was .718" diameter.

470 Nitro Express brass could be cut short and formed into 55-100 Maynard or 28-GFP brass.

Neal Shirley should not feel bad about that. Even the .395 centerfire rifle was knocking around in the 1880's.

Then Came Bronson on this Sportster Hawg:

Ammoguide case capacity under-estimates are woefully inaccurate. They use a computer program for that baloney, and do not accept the designer measurements from actual cases.
As a relative comparison tool related to the exterior volume displacement of the various cases, they are useful, but the units are imaginary then, and a correction factor to convert to more realistic grains of water gross capacity would be required.

500 Mbogo: It does it all in style, with slightly higher velocity/lower pressure than the 500A2, no belt, and no rebated rim, longer neck, same vast array of bullets.

Brass is coming from Peter Cardona of Quality Cartridge: about $3.50 per properly headstamped case, made from Hornady Rigby basic.
You could blow out Hornady, Norma, Jamison, Federal or other .416 Rigby brass for cheap practice ammo. Also Jamison and Norma .416 Rigby basic has been available in the past.
This is competitive with 460 Wby basic.

Properly headstamped 500A2 brass is not cheap!!!!

The 500A2 (or 550 Magnum) has no brass cost savings advantage over the 500 Mbogo.

Reamer from Dave Manson: Same as a 500A2 reamer cost.

Dies from Redding are in the works. These will be about $250 (subsequent to my first set costs, estimate still pending) for a 3-Die Custom Deluxe set with
1) FL-sizer
2) Neck-sizer
3) Seater-crimper

Can you get cheaper 500A2 2-die sets off the shelf? They are false economy if so.

The 500 Mbogo beats the 500A2 all around.

Psst! Rob: My third Stainless-Snake-Skin barreled rifle is being built now, 300 Lapua Magnum CZ 550 Magnum. Kevin had a few spare hours to whip out another Mud Flap Girl. I gave him the parts yesterday. Maybe done by Friday? McGowen barrel.

The prices I've seen generally show .378/.460 brass to be about $3.00 per case. They are cheaper but not much for sure. I still see the .500 A2 and .550 RNS Magnum as the safer bet for me in the long run due to the longevity of the .378 & .460 Wby and this brass has a good reputation and is sure to be around for a while. Also, I have interests in building both a .378 and .460 Wby one day and I could use the same brass for all if I needed too.

I admit that I'm not too familiar with the .500 Mbogo. I will definately read up on it though. Right now the .500 A2 still seems like the best choice for me to go with and maybe a .550 RNS next year. The .500 Mbogo's slight increase in velocity isn't important to me as I have no intention of pushing 570-600 gr bullets faster than 2400 fps....probably closer to 2300 fps, 2200-2300 max for 700 grainers in the .550 Mag. These power levels should do all I could ever ask of any hunting rifle. I am not ruling out a .500 Mbogo completely yet, I just think the .500 A2 has a lot going for it, especially since I'm hoping for a .378 & .460 Wby also. I'll read the Mbogo site over some tonight.

Hogkiller, I think a couple of extra rounds could never hurt and could possibly help. They sure won't hurt me if they just lay at the bottom of the magazine. To date, the most powerful rifles I've shot have been a buddies .460 Wby and my own .458 Lott. I've had more experience shooting big bore revolvers than anything and started getting into big bore rifles more lately. The .458 Lott and the .460 Wby sting after a while but I feel confident that I can handle any of the calibers we've discussed in a rifle of proper weight and design and my recoil tolerance is pretty good I think. If needed, I'll bring out the old "sissy pad" and keep going. Most of my loads will be less than max, especially practice loads and I'll practice plenty of speed drills in time. If it doesn't come soon, it'll come later!

Recoil will never knock me senseless. My opponents in the boxing ring already did that long ago!!!

10 July 2008, 04:44

srshooter

It's great that we have so many choices available. The .550 RNS Mag & .550 Express are great cartridge ideas and I hope they get all the support that a great cartridge idea can get from shooters and manufacturers alike. The same can be said of the .600 OK and the .470 & .500 Mbogo alike. Accurate Reloading deserves a lot of credit too as I had never heard of half of the cartridges mentioned on this site until I became a member.

10 July 2008, 04:57

srshooter

quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
CZ can make you an entire rifle in their custom shop. Full stop. Not bad, huh?

Jim Brockman can also build you a 550

Bauska is closed. I have asked for my .550 tooling to go to McGowen, but I haven't heard that they have received it. I'll call the Bauska's today and see if it has made it.

--Pacnor also offers this barrel, as well as several cut rifle companies

McGowen and/or Pacnor can either chamber and install or suggest someone who can and can do the feed work.

http://www.custombrassandbullets.com/550caliberpage.html

You should use a .040 or more larger at the muzzle 23" barrel,,, 22 works, but go with a something with an inch long shank than normal.

a built in recoil lug is a MUST
jeffe

Jeff, I emailed McGowen about the possibility of a .550 Mag and he replied saying he didn't have the tooling for it....at least not yet.

Did you find out anything about it?