How does the recoil and performance compare to .458 Win Mag? I know it is considerably better but I am curious to hear from first hand shooters

Very similar to the 458 Lott. 525 @ 2350 versus 500 at 2350/2400. Almost the same recoil. The Win Mag is more comfortable to shoot by a noticable margin, all else equal.

I do not own a Gibbs, but I have shot one. The felt recoil was comparable to my 458 Lott, although I'm sure the Gibbs has more recoil on paper. Once you get to a certain level of recoil, describing variations in felt recoil between disparate cals becomes fairly futile. If you get a rifle that has sufficient weight and fits well, the Gibbs' recoil is tolerable. That said, shooting it off the bench probably requires a 1/5th of scotch and handful of vicodin. All this recoil stuff is relative, but I don't know too many folks that would get a kick out of shooting a Gibbs off the bench... pun intended.

A 1/5th of scotch and handful of vicodin still won't convince me I need that much fun....
I would use a standing bench or shooting sticks the same as shooting a big Nitro Express rifle. I have heard of people using a “lead sled†and cracking stocks but haven’t seen it happen or had first hand knowledge of this happening. Perhaps if you only used about 25 pounded of shot for weight you could get by.
Bill

I use a lead sled with my 458 Lott and my 416 remy. I've never had any problems with it, and it really does make shooting the Lott off the bench bearable. I shoot my 470 off hand. Maybe two bottles of scotch would work...

So the Wby 460 shoots a 500 at 2700 and is no big deal if you have the proper fitting rifle and some basic technique.

quote:

Originally posted by maddenwh:
I use a lead sled with my 458 Lott and my 416 remy. I've never had any problems with it, and it really does make shooting the Lott off the bench bearable. I shoot my 470 off hand. Maybe two bottles of scotch would work...

How much weight are you using in your lead slead?
Bill

I use 25 lbs usually, 50 lbs with the 550 magnum. It doesn't take a lot to mitigate the recoil.

The .505 Gibbs is in the same league as the .450 Ackley/Lott/watt. No big deal. Of course you can load it up to uncomfortable levels if you want to.-Rob

My 505 Gibbs is set up by Ryan Breeding to weigh 13 pounds with scope. There is a difference in a client rifle vs a PH's dangerous game rifle. The weight of the Gibbs is the same as a heavy varmit class rig. When the 525 grain bullets are launched at 2,300 fps this heavy rifle is a big push back. It is not a nasty recoil.
My 458 Win. Mag. at 11.5 pounds by Mark Brown (Brown Precision) has been known to knock the earmuffs off an inexperience shooter.
The heavy 505 Gibbs does not wip back like the lighter 458 Win Mag.
But it does move you.
One can always load the 600 grain 505 caliber bullet up to 2,300 fps. Now that will get your attention.
Sincerely,

....With my 500 A-Sq with the 600 gr bullet @2350 fps recoil was not fun but it was doable before I got injured ..That rifle was an A-Sq Hannible ,looked very simular to THE CHAMPION execpt it had a 21" barrel and a fwd mounted scope , sometimes ..... my 458 custom Ruger when I take the muzzel brake off .is not in the same class even tho it weighs 8 1/2 lbs or so ...The Gibbs is alot bigger than the A-Sq. and can be handloaded alot faster....It makes my brain hurt just thinking about it ..,,Bugle ,,,PACE YOURSELF......Get so you can offhand hit tennis balls at 100 yrsd with your Browning 4 for 4 consistant ,,,,,,When you can come close to doing that you may not need a gibbs oh gibbs

lol dont worry guys I am not selling the .458. I am just trying to think of a gun/caliber that just kicks the snot out of you.

Maybe Safarikid has one he wants to get rid of lol

Q>

quote:

I am just trying to think of a gun/caliber that just kicks the snot out of you.

A> .55" Boyes Anti Tank Rifle. 735 grains at 2950 fps.

got pics ?

Got pics? Got better!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Found on someone else's You Tube.

Friend of mine had a .50BMG he had built. Decided to shoot it ONCE with a standardish 1000 yard load and with the muzzle brake removed to "see what it would be like". Thumbhole stock. Thumbhole got way bigger as the stock broke in half but it didn't break his shoulder. Never did it again. My worst are my Martini and Snider carbines. They just don't weigh enough with loadings developed for rifles twice their weight but they are historic so I load them down instead of modify them. 5.5lb .577 loaded hot with a steel butt plate will wake you up. That's why they developed the cavalry loadings.

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
The .505 Gibbs is in the same league as the .450 Ackley/Lott/watt. No big deal. Of course you can load it up to uncomfortable levels if you want to.-Rob

I think that is what tiggertate was up to with his loading of 600gr@2400fps.

Keith

ISS is still doing more testing on the 558 Grain FN's I sent him. He is over 2400 now with a way to go. Maybe 2500 FPS?!?!

I have a 12 lb 505 Gibbs and shooting 600 grain bullets at 2050-2100 off of a bench is not bad. Of course recoil is relative one individual to another, but IMO Recoil is no different than shooting a 9.5 lb 458 or a 8.7 lb 416 Rem. mag. which I have done in the past. I know I'm preaching to the choir but a pound of weight will tame 10% of recoil in a big bore and a rifle that fits you is still the #1 factor with felt recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
The .505 Gibbs is in the same league as the .450 Ackley/Lott/watt. No big deal. Of course you can load it up to uncomfortable levels if you want to.-Rob

I think that is what tiggertate was up to with his loading of 600gr@2400fps.

Keith

Still have 3 or 4 of those left. Prolly will for a long time.

I've got some 900gr .600Ok,s left at 2500fps for those who are still seeking their sexual destiny!-Rob

Those 458 kick harder than a 505 Gibbs! That is why I don't own any 458, just 500s.

Uhhh woah...waitta minute...the .458's kick worse than the .500's? Are the laws of physics that backwards over here?
Maybe we should get a book from ScottS and Shootaway about the physics of recoil.
ScottS, the .505 Gibbs is definitly less comfortable to shoot than a .458, and I'll throw it out there and say I'd rather shoot a Lott than a Gibbs. Especially the heavier loads. Yeah certain .500's have a slower recoil velocity than compared to certain higher pressure .458's, no doubt. That's like saying it's more comfortable to shoot a .35 Whelen in a similarly set up rifle than a 30-06. Gonna have to disagree on that fact buddy.