I'm looking for suggestions on Mauser type actions that can handle the 505. Are any of them even somewhat reasonably priced? I'm sure the CZ550 is one option, but I'm looking for others that are closer to the original Magnum Mausers.

Also, for any suggestions, could you please include known sources for the actions.

Thanks,
Brian

My guess is you can either order an action from Johannson or, for the same money, get a whole rifle built on the CZ. In either case, I suspect that you will have a straight line magazine. Figure 3+1 max.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bjdoerr:
Hi Bjdoerr,
Have you looked at the Granite Mountain Arms actions. They have a link on my website. Go to www.470mbogo.com and then go to the links page to find them.I think with the 505 their actions hold three in the magazine.
470 Mbogo

1. CZ550 for about $550 or $600

2. Remodel an Enfield P17 for $1500 to $3000

3. Granite Mountain Arms for about $3500 or so.

4. Reimer Johansen for about $4000 or so.

5. Dakota for about $4000 or so.

6. David Gentry for about $4500.

7. Selous action for about $3500.

8. Wells Sport Store for $8000 or so.

It's not pretty, is it?

If the CZ action is selected for the .505 Gibbs, the bolt diameter is borderline in as far as ensuring reliable function. AS such, the boltface should not only be opened up but also deepened, prior to fitting the barrel. This will aid the function factors of feeding and extraction. Also, one must both lengthen and deepen the original CZ box magazine by about .200" to allow a staggered 3 round capacity while retaining a bit more room for enough additional stack compression to facilitate the chambering of a top-fed 4th cartridge. The CZ, while certainly one of the most cost effective routes to building a .505 Gibbs rifle, is not without its' share of problems, due to the large base diameter and overall weight of the loaded cartridge.

Check out
www.prairiegunworks.com
they are advertising a action to be out soon. Don't call Granite Mountain till after 05 September he is hunting in Aferica hope he has a good hunt. RNS

I think the Enfield action when properly surface ground and cleaned up is a fine action, simply a modified Mauser and strong as a vault door providing you get a good one.....and slick as a whistle.The Enfield makes a beatifull 505 Gibbs at a lesser cost than the others...

The latest Mauser copies of the M-20 Mauser are probably better, but not by much, from a practical point of view...They are Mauser design and that is a plus and resale would always be much more..

I don't consider the CZ the best canidate for the 505 Gibbs, perhaps the 500 Jefferys would be a better cartridge for the CZ but I'd have to check the base measurements at the rim before I'll commit to that...however it has been done successfully with no problems..I probably need to study that conversion before I commit to it..I havn't had a lot of experience with CZ's other than looking at them..I consider them a little rough on the outside, but thats an easy fix., they are Mauser in design so thats a plus, just dunno....They are no Brno.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Ray,
My R.S.A. builders feel the CZ-550 is still the same BRNO ZZK-602 rifle other than in the degree of finish and the obvious improvements in regard to trigger, safety and bolt shroud. Dimensionally, metallurgically and from a gunsmithing perspective, they say they are unchanged.
My own comparisons seem to bear this out.
I assume you are referring to preferred earlier versions of the 60's and early 70's.

[This message has been edited by Nickudu (edited 09-02-2001).]

Enfield p14 or p17 will work just fine. They take a little work to get the ugly out but they are one of the nicest actions to work with.The Eddystone ones are harder to drill than the others.I have a 416 Rigby on an Eddystone and am working on another to barrel in 470Mbogo.Mark

358mark

Who did the action work on your Enfield, and was the action work excessively costly?

I did all the work on Enfield.I made some jigs up years ago for grinding the ears off and drilling etc.It takes a lot of time but I'm not usually in a hurry.For the Rigby and 460WM it took more work to rails and magazine as well as bolt face but I think it is worth the time.Where I come from a magnum action is worth half a years wages.Mark

NickKudu,
I'm sorry, when I refer to Brno I conjur up the Mod 21M and the 22F double square bridges of the early 50's...I know of no factory rifles that have ever come close to the fit, finish, accuracy and reliability of these guns nor damn few Custom rifles for that matter...

I have two of these rather rare rifles, a 8x57 rifle and a 7x57 full stock carbine.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I believe that Hannibal told me that some chap in the UK is building .505's on the CZ action but the first thing he does is remove the bolt and bore out the action to .750". THEN he makes up a complete new bolt and proceeds as usual. Perhaps this would alleviate Nick's concerns?
Sarge

I visited the shop in Bristol, England where the Gibbs 505's are built. As I remember they are using a magnum mauser action.

You might do a "yellow" page search for them.

They were using Douglas bbls as I recall and chambering them there as well as all the other work.

It might not be a bad idea to investigate buying a 505 Gibbs from Gibbs! The name of the business there was not Gibbs. It was a sporting goods store with a sign on the front saying they were the home of Gibbs rifles.

I met a guy there who had shot 750 deer on an estate.

Another option is the Ruger M77 magnum. I've seen a few of the 458's that were re-bored and chambered to 505. Considering the integral rib in the barrel, it is a pretty slick route to go. Hamilton Bowen has done several of these conversions. A local shop had 5 built, the barrels are stamped .505 Gibbs a rifle for big game, nice subtle touch.