Hey, has anyone looked into the 505 Empire cartridge? I believe it is based on the 460 Wby case, but don't know for sure. I have a chance to buy a rifle in this caliber, but don't want to depend on custom ammunition and its cost as supplied by Superior Ammunition. I have Wby brass available from having 378 and 416 Wby rifles, and thought someone may be familiar with the issues in forming 505 Empire from the parent Wby case.

I found a drawing here:

http://www.municion.org/

It does look like the 460 wby case. I think he took his own direct measurements, so all the 460 based rounds are shown ever so slightly different.

its a tapered 460 weatherby case, to .505 bullets, meant to be less than a lott length -- its pretty great performance, and is about the same case capacity as my 500 AccRel

The round is meant to be SHOOTABLE, and the advertised loads are very easy to "beat" .. beat being the operative word here .. as more than given will beat YOU ..

its a great round, lots of good data is available from Empire, and you can call them and ask about the round and that specific rifle.

all in all, a GREAT short belted .505

Jeff, those were my thoughts...a heavy (600 gr) solid at 2,150 or so would be a great "shootable" Elephant round. No need to load hotter than that...I have yet to see a freight train on my hunts in Africa.

I load the 500 AccRel to the same, alot .. its then fun to shoot .. George and I have talked about that level of recoil being, while not PLEASANT< at least nicely shootable
j

I don't imagine the Jumbos would complain, except perhaps posthumously!!!

The 495 A square and 505 empire drawings on municion.org look almost identical. Twins.

Yes, I figured it was a 500 A-Square (necked-up 460 Wby) just trimmed a bit shorter to fit in a Magnum Mauser action.

I had interest in an Empire till I asked Larry at Superior what ammo would cost. It was about $18 per round if I remember. Do it yourself reloading is better but no head stamped brass.

bras is about 4 bucks a pop from qualcart ..

18 bucks around is what Larry charges for cheap stuff ...

With the cost of Rigby brass going down thanks to Hornady I don't know why more people don't make 500 AR's and 500 Mbogo's

Cart design is superior.

Or make a 2.85" version.