I just noticed online that CZ is offering their Safari classic now in .500 Jeffery, unless I was having a blond moment and never noticed it before. If you had to choose one which would be the better of the two? I know it's kinda like splitting hairs asking which is better but I have no experience with the .500 Jeffery, only the big old Gibbs. Thanks!

I have owned a couple of rifles in both claibers. They were on original Orberndorf, not CZ actions. Both have merit and there will be numerous folks that will argue one over the other for many reasons. The fact is that either caliber in any action will require some reworking in order to make it a true dangerous game rifle. Nothing comming from the factories now is really suitable for its intended purpose. A quality gun maker can make either round feed and eject the way it should. I think forum members forget that all of the rifles originally made in 505 Gibbs and 500 Jeffery were custom rifles and hand tuned to perfection to handle dangerous situations flawlessly. The same is true today. You will have to spend some extra money to make them perfect.

me, I really like that big old Gibbs. Enough to be building a necked-up 550 caliber version.

Rich
DRSS

Metalsmith:

If you are getting a CZ, go with the .500 Jeffery. I have one and it feeds fine. In addition, the .500 Jeffery is just so much easier to reload. You don't have to fool around with fillers. Just get some brass from Huntington's or Graff and Sons, drop in about 110 grains of Reloder 15 and cap it off with a 535 grain Woodleigh and you are ready to go!

The CZ action is really not suitable for the Gibbs because the bolt face is not large enough. If you want the Gibbs, go the whole nine yards and get a Granite Mountain action or buy a Heym.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
me, I really like that big old Gibbs. Enough to be building a necked-up 550 caliber version.

Rich
DRSS

Rich- What action are you building your Gibbs on?

I would go with the Jeffery. It is easier to reload, and has more power to boot.

Thanks a bunch for your input! I love that big old case of the Gibbs, but I've read too many issues dealing with the CZ in this caliber. Think I may go about with the .500 Jeffery, as for reworking the action to make it reliable I've worked on several of the CZ's I already own so that isn't a big deal. But I think later on tonight when I head down to the old gun joint I'll put one of them on order.
Actually does anyone have any good loads for the .500 Jeffery, and where can I find reloading equipment for this caliber? Thanks!

www.huntingtons.com will have Horneber and Jamison brass, Woodleigh and Barnes bullets, and RCBS dies, shellholders,etc. for this cartridge.

RCG

quote:

Originally posted by bigdoggy700:
I would go with the Jeffery. It is easier to reload, and has more power to boot.

Why is the Jeffrey easier to reload? I had my heart set on a 505 Gibbs but would love to know what reloading problems I can expect with the Gibbs if I do go this route.

510 gibbs

Reloading equipment: RCBS AmmoMaster 2 press and RCBS dies.

CZ apparently thinks the 505 will work, they have built and sold over a hundred as of this date. Mine will be on an enfield of some flavor, and if you check the archives you can see the data I posted on on belonging to a friend I did load work for. It was a P17 Remington.

Rich
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:

Why is the Jeffrey easier to reload? I had my heart set on a 505 Gibbs but would love to know what reloading problems I can expect with the Gibbs if I do go this route.

I’ve never loaded for the Jeff, but I’ve never had any of the above mentioned issues in loading for my Gibbs. You do not have to use any filler if you use a slow enough powder. The only quirk in my loading is seating bullets in my Rock Chucker. Ya just have to insert the bullet into the die first.

Snowwolfe, if I remember correctly you are doing the Gibbs in the Hein? I’ve never owned a Hein but have heard good things and don’t think you’ll regret your choice.

Concerning which cartridge is better suited to the CZ? I can’t really make an accurate statement since I’ve only owned one! But I fair to say the Jeff would probably have less feeding issues due to its smaller case dimensions. My CZ feeds Gibbs fine but instead has ejection issues, but I’ve never owned a CZ that didn’t have “issuesâ€.

As far as the CZ bolt face being too small for the Gibbs I believe this to be a vast rightwing conspiracy created to destroy the relative popularity of the Gibbs.

All kidding aside I’ve fired a couple hundred rounds in my 505 (600gr@2250fps) and am still alive to tell about it. The thin rim has yet to have done me in, besides there have been other cartridges with the same case head dimensions built on the CZ for years (i.e. 585 Nayati).

I chose the Gibbs due to the benefits of a larger case capacity and the absence of a rebated rim. In all practicality neither cartridges are very practical. If I had to do it all over I might have just had AHR build me a 500A2, belted and rebated! But I guess that’s a whole different thread!

Matt V

Both are great cartridges, but I lean towards the 500 Jefferys, and I always got a bit more velocity with it, even though its a smaller case. Why that is I don't know, don't care because they are both equal in that dept. and the difference in not enough to worry about.

The Jefferys can be made on a std. Mauser action btw, I have seen several that were very nice. I even saw a nice English rifle by either Rigby or WR, not sure in 500 Jefferys on a std action...I know Paul Zorn shoots an original Rigby or WR in a 404 on a std action.

I have only owned one 505 and one 500 J, and the recoil was bothersome to some extent, and the 505 was just way too light for that kind of recoil. The 500 J I built was tolerable I suppose, but not desirable IMO.

Trophyhunter 500,
I do have the Hein on order pending approval of my 375 which I am STILL waiting for (hopes someone at Hein is reading this )
Starting with a clean slate as I am simply after a .50 caliber rifle. Considering all aspects such as brass avalibilty, price, price of dies, etc.
I have hopes of flattening a couple of Alaskan moose and a grizzly or two with it before I die.

Unless limited to a standard length action, I would opt for the 500A2 over both.