I went off to the range this am. I had to break in a few varmint rigs but never to pass on a chance to shoot some of the big boys I had to take along a few others.

Other than to say the 204 ruger is an amazing little round I won't get into the details regarding the sub 416 caliber.

First off the 600 Ok. I am forever surprised on just how well balanced this case is. Rob you did one hell of a design job. I took along some really mild loads for my shooting buddy to shoot (he was a bit of a scardy cat to start ) Those had 148 grs of 7828 under a 725 gr solid. I didn't chrono them but they recoiled less than the heavy barreled 7stw I took along. No I'm not smoking anything funny here. I will prove it to anyone that wants to shoot it. Drop me a PM and we'll get together.

Of course I didn't stop there. I loaded up some with 155, 160, 165 and 168 grs of 7828 under a 900 gr Bridger FN solid. At the high end the chrono told the story, 900grns @ 2260. Recoil was on par with my 416 rem. model 70. This is a hell of a cartridge. Some one should pick up 300 H&H’s that is for sale. You will not be disappointed. Groups ran right around 1.5" @ 50yds. I'm sure the gun is capable of better but I'm not with open sights. Oh, I was shooting it from the bench most of the time.
The 148gn load was about 14" lower than the 165gr load which is the one I've decided to use next year in Africa. At 100 yds groups were 3" and dead center of POA. Muzzle rise was almost non existent and getting back on target is not a problem.

This is probably the best DG rifle I've ever owned. I know I will never be with out at least one in the safe. In fact one of the local gun shops has expressed interest in having one on the shelf.

I also brought along a 550-600Ok that I've been working on. It's still unfinished but I had to shoot it. 700 gr FN Bridgers @ 2680. I wasn't shooting for group but every shot stayed within 4-6" @ 50 yds off hand. Recoil was tolerable but much more noticeable than the 600. This will be another great case.

The 550 Mag is not quite ready but next time I'll have some info.

Also took along my 500A2. This is a lighter rifle (9.5 lbs) and it will let you know when you pull the trigger. Shot it to verify zero and let it be.

Took my 475A&M out for its first outing. I really like this one as well as its twin in 470Mbogo. Both are great cases and they are all you really need, but need has so little to do with it. I will soon finish up a 470 Capstick and will then have, what I consider to be, a grand slam of 470s bolt actions. I will someday drop the coin to get a 470NE but until then these will do very nicely. The 475A&M and the 470Mbogo are for all practical purposes the same gun. Both send 550 gr FN Bridger Solids downrange at 2500 with no pressure signs. The Capstick I suspect will loose 200fps but no Dagga boy will notice that.

Lastly I took along my 416 rem shooting some experimental copper Walterhog clones. These may be available soon thru RNS and his website. I zeroed 1.5†high at 100 yds and they were dead on @ 200 yds. At 300 they dropped only 9â€. Weight was 370 grs and the groups were very good. 5 shots at 300 yds grouped into 3.7†and this rifle is not the most accurate gun. The interesting thing is that the FN solids were only about ½†off of these bullets at 100yds. This would be a great combo with a soft or two on top and 2 solids to follow. I’ll let everyone know how these bullets develop.

Well, that’s about it. It was a beautiful day here in SW Montana and I got to get out of the shop to do a bit of shooting. I’m really not ready to get back to work tomorrow but Next weekend is a 3 day event.

John

Sounds like a 2 Excedrin day!

quote:

Sounds like a 2 Excedrin day!

Don't forget the single malt chaser.
John

John,

Do you think that an 11 pound .600 OK shooting 900 grain bullets at 2000 fps without a brake would be too difficult to control?

500grains - In a word “Noâ€. I'm thinking of cutting off 2 to 3" from the barrel and maybe taking out one mercury tube. I have shot it without the brake and although it’s no pussy cat it’s certainly tolerable (no worse than any of the large case Weatherbys). In the field you would never notice it.

Did you ever get up to Plains Mt to pick up your gun from Dennis Olson? If you ever do drop me a line and we can meet so you can shoot it.

I'm pretty sure I've got an extra barrel and I know I've got a few brakes (only for range work) left over from the last time I made them. I'd part with them really reasonable if you are interested.

There is a great steak house in, believe it or not, Manhattan Mt. It’s about a mile from the range and I'll but the steak. You may even be able to talk me out of some solids.

John

550-600 ok.. 700 gr at 2680...

g's, i am a whimp!!!

I'll try to call you tomorrow!!

what's the case capacity of the 550-600 ok?

damn john, even i would be a little whincey after that day at teh range..

even with a malt pre-emptive strike!!!

jeffe

John,

Dennis got my barrel screwed on and feeding is basically done. But he still has a bunch of metal work to do, sights, recoil lug and stock. So I will plan on dropping by in 4 years or so.

Jeffe, I started with 165 grs of 7828 and it needed a looooong drop tube and a bit of shaking to get it all in. I then went to 414 and that is where the velocity really started to go up. I'll weigh some with H2O now that I've got some formed to the chamber and report back.
Recoil was stiff but manageable. The muzzle brake really tones it down. The rise was fine but it was starting to torque a bit. I don't think I'll push it much faster. In fact I may tone it down a bit for shoot ability sake. Also I don't like to hunt with brakes. I'll make an exception when I get the 12 ga FH finished up .

500grains If / when Dennis finishes up the offer stands. He does great work and I'm sure it will be worth the wait . I'll give a heads up if I'm ever heading south.

John

500grains, What is Dennis putting together for you? Action, Caliber Etc.?

John

He's doing a Lott and a Nyati. The Lott is a Mauser and the Nyati is an Olympic Arms Ultramag action. The Lott is just a barreled action, but he is doing the stock as well on the Nyati.

Great choices. I've thought about doing a Nyati someday. Seems like a must have for any complete big bore arsinal.

John,

I got committed to the Nyati before the .600 OK was even invented. If the .600 OK was already in existence, that would be the route for me. I was one of the original dirty dozen on the .600 OK order, but decided to stop building custom guns and go hunting instead. However, since I got Dennis working on the two projects described above back in 2001, it was a little late to pull the plug.

I am trying to get the Nyati to come in at 11 pounds, pushing 750 grains at 2100 fps. No brake. Hopefully the recoil will not be too radical.

John,
The .416/370 grain Walterhog Clone is an appealing thing.

A 9.5 pound 500A2 is not.

I suppose someone with a 17" LOP and proper technique could handle that puppy better than lesser mortals such as I.

A man has got to know his limitations.

I will be sending some of your .505 solids downrange if CZ ever sends me the .505 Gibbs shop mule.

Giddyup Pokie.

Fritz 454

Sounds like your 600 OK is shooting just great. You stated that 165 gr of IMR 7828 and 900 grainers gave you 2260 fps with a chrony. With 7828 powder (165 gr), all I can push it to is 1950 fps. Talked to Rob and he suggested 7828 SCC for added push or go to H 414 to reach around 2150 fps. Later you stated that you were shooting the higher velocity loads with 414, is this when you clocked 2260 fps?

Agreed the 600 OK is a well designed cartridge and all that has to be done is to determine the optimum bullet and velocity for maximum penertration on ele and buffalo. Don't know if I would shorten the barrel any, love the 25 inch barrel and balance of the rifle. AHR did a good job.

Dak

Dak

Dakota45056, My barrel is 28" and I was getting 2260fps with 168 grs of 7828 in the 600 OK. I have tried 414 but I really see no need to go any faster.

The 414 loads were with the 550-600. I was trying to push it a bit and 414 seems to be the powder for that.

RIP If you have a source for the 505 CZ let me know. I would love to pick one up. That and a 404 as well.

John

John,
I will send you an email on that.

quote:

Indians Vow to Endeavor to Persevere"

RIP Is this quote from "The Outlaw Josie Wales"? For some reason I though it was from that movie and Eastwood's Native American partner in crime, or justice.
John

John,
Yep, you got it. Chief Dan George was the actor that said that as character Lone Watie, a Cherokee in Oklahoma on the way to Texas.

Or was that Lone Wattie. I can recite all the lines, I just can't spell sometimes.

Remember:

"Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.": Josie Wales.

Etc.

"Your words of death have iron in them for all to see. So too do your words of life."

or sumthing like that....addicted to westerns...

Cheers,
Canuck

Memorable Quotes from The Outlaw Josey Wales



Lot's of good lines in that one. I think my favorites are "Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?" and "Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy."

Thank you Sir Charles,
My current tag line is the newspaper headline that Lone Watie quoted and then was reminiscing about in the memorable quote from your link:

[Quote] Lone Watie: We thought about it for a long time, "Endeavor to persevere." And when we had thought about it long enough, we declared war on the Union. [End Quote]

And I reckon John/fritz454 must be about the size of Chief Ten Bears, to whom was dedicated the original novel (basis for the movie, _The Outlaw Josey Wales_), by Bedford Forrest Carter: _Gone to Texas_, first published in 1973 under the title _The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales_, a less PC title.

Forrest Carter was of Cherokee heritage, and his Cherokee name was Gunyi Usdi, or Little Tree. _The Education of Little Tree_ is another one of Carter's books. Carter died suddenly in 1979, in his mid-fifties.

Now, I will turn this highjacked thread back over to Chief Ten Bears', er, uh, fritz454's topic.

RIP hijack away. That is one of my all time favorite movies.

Yea, I'm no small fry I'm but not a yeti either, although my handle, years ago, was Johnny Mac. Short for Johnny Mack Truck because when I put a hit on an attack man on the lacrosse field that was what they thought had just happened to them.

John

John,

Does your 600 OK feed properly with FN bullets, or are RN needed to make a go of it from the magazine?

Also, does yours have the AHR single stack mag, or a staggered feed?

500grains - It feeds great with the FN Solids. I can set a round on the top of the rails and if feeds fine or from the magazine.
It is one of AHR's single stacks and it does work great. I get two down and one in the chamber. It is close to getting a third down but I will need to thin the follower if I decide I have to have three down.
The single stack lines up the case with the chamber and it just sides right in. I will either be buying these from AHR or making my own on all future difficult feeders. It works great.
John

John,
i had to go this way with the 550 express.. single stack... not as easy as is sounds, but a great way to get it to work.

jeffe

Jeff, If I end up making a few, which I think I probably will, I'll make a bunch and if you want one or two... I'll sell them reasonably.
I think AHR get $400+ for his I think I can do it for half or maybe less than half of that. It is actually is worth it because of the time you spend getting the rails set up right. At least it’s worth it to me.
As you know I've got a few projects in the pipeline so I'm not too sure where the priority level for these will be but I'll let you know.
John

John,

Will you hunt this year, and if so is th .600 OK going with you?

500grains I've got nothing planed for this year in Africa but I may try to book a PAC hunt for elephant later this summer. I've got to fly thru Johannesburg in September to New Zealand and if I can get it worked out that will be my trip this year. Other than that I'm of to TX for a big bore shoot in November. The 600 will be making an appearance either way. I hope I'm not under gunned
John

RIP Thanks for the lead on the 505 and 404 CZs. I've got one each on the way.
The 505 is not in yet but I'll have the 404 next week. Boy am I a happy camper.
John

fritz 454- Man you have gotten more velocity out of 7828 than I have. Are you using your Bridger bullets? If so do you think the additional barrel length and reduced bearing surface is whats driving the velocity up? -rob

I am trying to get the Nyati to come in at 11 pounds, pushing 750 grains at 2100 fps. No brake. Hopefully the recoil will not be too radical.[/QUOTE]

500 gr what your are doing with your Nyati is exactly what I want to acheive when I one day build a second .585 Nyati. This time it will be on a Montana PH action if they ever come to fruition. I want 750 gr at 2150, have the dies and gun in same claiber now as you know so like you I am settled on the fact the .585 Nyati will be the biggest round I own, I to would have gone the .600 OK route had that been invented.

Rob I have been using Bridger bullets. I was surprised to see the numbers come up on the chronograph as well. It is far more than what quick load predicts but the chrono doesn’t lie. At least I have no reason to think it does. I chalked it up to the 28" tube but who knows.
I'm taking it out again this weekend and will run it over the screen again and let you know.
John

PC,
i shoot the 550 express(700 gr at 2185 max.. ) at 11.8, no brake, and it's fun

jeffe

Fritz 454,
Is it possible that the longer barrel and the reduced friction of the bridger bullets could increase the velocity to that extent. If the larger part of this is the bullet deformation and friction, then it appears to be an easy way to reach max velocity in big bore rifles.

I have shot your .510's Bridger's, but did not Chrony them at this time against other bullets. They grouped very tight but at different target locatons.

Dak

I've seen 3 inches give almost 200 fps more in velocity before. On the surface it makes sense that if there is less force needed to engrave and push the bullet down the barrel then that energy could be used to increase speed. I don't think one range outing is sufficient to exclude anything or to prove anything.

In the past I’ve usually noticed that velocity initially drops when switching to the groove designed bullets but it allows you to increase the charges slightly and you usually get a bit more speed in the end but charge weights go up slightly. I have also seen where the opposite is true although not as often.

Is anyone with a 600 running the same charges, 168grs 7828. If so what are your velocities?

I thought all of the readings I got were on the high side but the chrono was consistent with what it recorded. I looked up my last 5 recorded shots 2247, 2266, 2255, 2258, 2263. All were 168grs of 7828 under a 900 gr Bridger FN solid.

I do drop 5 grs of pistol powder in the bottom of the case to insure ignition. I don't see this as having any impact on the velocity thou.

John

I have no doubt that the additional three inches of barrel gives at least 150 fps in this case. I have seen larger bores actuallyproduce more velocity than the traditional 50fps/inch particularily when burning very large amounts of powder. My barrel is a 26 incher and I've seen 2150fps ( corrected for sea level) with the same load. I gues I'd probably expect 2250 with a 28 incher.-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
PC,
i shoot the 550 express(700 gr at 2185 max.. ) at 11.8, no brake, and it's fun

jeffe

Jeffo the 550 express sounds like a top option but who in Australia has bullets ?? until there in the woodleigh brochoure there a no go for us Aussies I think. Shipping bullets down here is to expensive.

PC,
there's three companies what make bullets in oz right? you might give those other gents a call and see when/what it takes to get a run...

you take a 416 ribgy, basically a barrel swap, and boom!!

jeffe

PC,

Have you checked prices by surface mail as compared to air.

Bullets was one of the things that made me pull out of the 550 half way through.

Mike