I can get a .50 barrel cheap and bullets from a local bulletmaker at a good price, and started to wonder what to do with it...
Since I'll probably never win the big lottery and therefore never will hunt tons of elephants this is mainly an idea to have some fun on the range - so weight and "handyness" insn't critical factors. What should I aim for in barrel length, weight and recoil reducing extras to keep this rifle one to reach for as often as possible?

For a big bore plinker, 5 kilos +/-, 24" barrel, and a Decelarator recoil pad. Then lots of ammo.

Hog Killer

quote:

500 A-square any fun?

You bet. Check this out (video clip) and see for yourself.

Cheers,
Canuck

500 A2= The best of the best.Throat for 750 Gr A-max and have a ball! Great Great cartridge!-Rob

500 A2 is what Dudley Rogers uses. I shot his and it is a hand full! On the other hand build one and you will have yourself a serious stopping rifle.

A friend has one that I have shot some. With the 600 grain loads from A-Square there was a lot of recoil. I didn't realize a gun that size could jump so high!!! Fun indeed.

Telly

Only if you can honestly say that the recoil associated with shooting full factory 460 Weatherby loads is easily tolerable.
I don't enjoy being a punching bag for heavy wt. world boxing champion, but some here,.....

As long as you keep muzzle velocity below 2200 or thereabouts recoil isn't too bad. It's mainly recoil velocity that I find problematic, in any caliber.

quote:

As long as you keep muzzle velocity below 2200 or thereabouts

Now where's the fun in that?

Cheers,
Canuck

ps: the guy in the video I posted is shooting a 600gr bullet at 2400 fps. The rifle is owned by 470 Mbogo - Dave.

quote:

Canuck: the guy in the video I posted is shooting a 600gr bullet at 2400 fps. The rifle is owned by 470 Mbogo - Dave.

Yes, I've seen Dave's rifle in action first hand, at Camp Cooley. A real stand-up guy. I wasn't sure I'd be standing up however if I accepted his offer to shoot his Mbogo so I respectfully declined. Also declined Neal's offer to shoot his 550 Magnum. And Harry's offer to shoot his souped up Gibbs. I have a 510 Wells (almost identical to the A2) which isn't bad with 650s @ 2150 (not quite max). But after Jeffe sucker punched me with his 500 Jeff "light loads" (535s @ 2400), I found my threshold. My Wells theoretically delivers alot of power but because it's muzzle velocity isn't particularly high with heavy bullets, I think it is recoil velocity that is the real culprit when it comes to pain (think 378 or 416 Wby).