Here is the first run of custom ribs for the 550 Magnum barrels that Mike Scherz is offering









Right out of the mill and onto the pattern barrel for a really nice fit.




I see the making of some really nice barrels here. I believe Mike said he can go from .510 -.550 -.585. They are 9/16 wide 8.5" long and should look good on the larger barrels.

RNS

NICE... a bit tall, but that's far easier to solve then short!!

does the barrel of a intregal lug?

jeffe

jeffe
Mike left them tall so they could be adjusted as needed.

That barrel is Mikes contouring dummie. Mike could send that to many of the barrel makers and they would send him back a barrel with the correct contour. It does have a recoil lug but it is removable.

RNS

I just send ch4d an email, to start the process on 2.5" dies!!!

jeffe

American gunsmiths insist on making quarter ribs that look like the deck on an aircraft carrier, weighs a pound or more, and I used them for many years, that is until I saw a light 4" quarter rib that buts up to the chamber of a Holland and Holland barrel contour....It is petite, light and very usable..

Think this smith would make up some of those..????

Anyone interested enough to get on the barrel bandwagon for this one?

Neal has the specs, and I want one

Who wants a 550?!?!?

jeffe

Man I wish I could, but I have a slow going 500A-2 project first. Id really like to see someone work on a rimmed 550 3".

Smallfry-Send me a few 577 NE cases, Made by Bertram that
has the double radius heavy web and base and I will
make you some.And if they are basic cases like the long nyatis I built my 550 HE belted case from, I can get you
a rimmed 550 case
about 3.45 in long.Ed.

C&H Tool and Dies has the first run of 550 Magnum reloading dies ready to send out. They are going fast

Ray yes he can make up a run of ribs any size you want, as with the ribs for the 550 barrels a larger order reduces the cost. If you want more information email me and I will pass his information on to you.

RNS

I will try to get a better picture of this



600gr Hawk .550", 500gr Horn .458", 600gr Barnes .458"

The 600gr hawk is short and will give a little more powder room in the cases.

RNS

About the brass; Pete called the house and got the relevant info about 3 weeks ago but I haven't seen anything yet. Has anyone else started receiving brass yet?

I will call Pete tomarrow and find out I recieved my reloading dies on friday and I know Pete needed his dies to trim and form so they should be ready soon.

Here is a picture of the barrel package that Mike is offering. The front sight and banded swivel is straight out of the package from NECG and the rib is Mikes. As you can see starting with this kind of fit the labor costs will be very little.



RNS

Neal also worked out a deal to have Bauska build barrels.
He has to build a 550 button(he has the right finish reamer) and I will help the crew with a 100 bucks toward the cost of the button($300) at Bauska.Les has helped me a lot and I am glad to help him; and you guys building 550 mags. Long ones and short ones.Ed.

I am in for another 100 on the button

jeffe

That is greatI sure like the way it is taking off.Ed.

I must of missed something. What is the price Mike is asking for the barrel/rib/band/ramp package?-Rob

Rob,
click on Neal's link... it's laid out... bauska is a different deal/price

jeffe

Its listed on the 550 Magnum Homepage link RNS has in his signature. Scroll down and you'll see it.

Well I saw what Neal had laid out but what deal does Bauska
got going for a price for everything?
I'm sitting here wanting to build one but not sure if I should junk a weatherby I have or buy a CZ to build one
I'm just wanting all the information I can get

Here is the deal so far

Classic barrel who built my first barrel the contour is wrong for anything to fit. Cost is $380.00 then add the labor/time to make them fit it took about $400.00 of Mikes labor to fix my first barrel..

Mike has contacted a cutrifle barrel maker to produce barrels for him with his contour for $410.00. I ordered the sights and swivel straight from NECG and they fall into place on the barrel. That is worth $30.00 to me. Then Mikes ribs are $100.00 and then fall into place again saving labor.

Bauska barrels came back into the picture because Jeffeosso and myself are working on a short version to replace the 458 win mag in standard mauser actions. Since you can pick up and action for under $350.00 or so and all the affordable stocks out there for the mauser actions we wanted to get a barrel with a desent price that we could mount a front and rear sight to and have a hunting /field gun nothing fancy. Bauska needs 300.00 for tooling and then will start making barrel.

Mikes barrels are defintly the why to go for a good to fancy finished hunting rifle.

Bauska will be an affordable way to go for the regular hunting guns without the ribs.

Jeff I have not forgot about the cases.

RNS

Nice Nice

If your working on a 550 short for standard M-98 actions, will it need registration as a sporting cartrige also? With affordable Bauska barrels, this sounds like a winner.

Gentleman

I have given alot of thought to this and with all the excitement over my project I have made a difficult decision.

First let me appoligize for letting or helping this get to this point. All companies so far have paid for their own TOOLING and RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMENT for this project and it would be unethical to pay for Bauska tooling.

As an example Pete from Quality Cartridge paid for everything to headstamp the 550 Magnum cartridge. Bertram wants $200.00 to do the same thing. If I paid Bertram it would be taking away from what Pete had provided to this project. The only fair way to do it is to have Bertram pay for his own tooling as Pete did. This would hold true for all companies providing products for this caliber.

Now to the Gentleman who offered to help pay for Bauska tooling. Thank You but no Thank you I will not except your money. Keep it and put it towards your own gun. If Bauska wants to produce barrels in the future they know there is a market and they can join at any time, or Douglas or Pacnor.

I, in good conscience could not financially support some compaines at the expense of others who have invested in this project.

RNS

I think Jeffe's short is a grand way to go; I just ended up with another big CZ action and aftermarket stock so the choice was easy. All of them are like a street rod; you build 'em cause you want one, not because you need one. I was cautioning Jeffe about one thing and maybe I should mention here if RNS hasn't elsewhere. The barrel diameter on a 550 bore is way to large for the standard pattern stocks out there. There isn't enough wood on the sides to shape a proper forearm. Be real careful to check into that if you are one who orders semi-inlets or synthetics. Even McMillan's big one is a little narrow according to some who've checked. Mike Scherz is making a pattern stock to hopefully solve that.

Here you go, smallfry; that's the Lott inside the 550.

Here is a different perspective: [/url]]From the left: 50 BMG, 550 magnum, 505 Gibbs, 458 Lott, 500/416, 416 Rem and for comparison, a 300 Win Mag.

Speaking of Quality Cartridge; Look what came in the mail today:
Excellent job, Pete and RNS.

tiggertate stack a Lott next to one of them at the same angle, then a full on side view if you can.

I will in a while when I get home. The difference is striking.

I saw on Midway reloading, they were selling 550 magnum brass. I like the 550, 550 short, a 550 rimmed, and you all might as well throw in a 550 for the lever lovers (a short rimmed). Now how about press? Like shooting Mags, COW. Etc...

Please post a link for the midway reloading

RNS

550 magnum brass on Midway


I think that will work.

Neal-Smallfry--HAVE WE ARRIVED?? Couldn't resist. Ed

Smallfry



Thanks for the information. That really made my day. I had to print a copy and put it in my book.



tigertate is correct the barrel is wide and a stock with at least a 1.5" at the tip of the forearm should be a good starting place. I have already contacted MPI stockes and they are waiting on me to send them some information so they can fit one of there stocks for the wider barrel, but they know about the 550 Magnum and are willing to help. Now I will have to contact some of the other stock makers and see who else can produce a stock for a big bore with a wider barrel channel and forearm.



Yes it is great that Midway has noticed and is selling brass. That is a huge step.



RNS

Neal-That will really generate a lot of calls to find out
about it.This would be the one for CZ to do in a big way
instead of other xbrand caliber we hear about.Ed.

Neal,

I am suffering confusion of the muzzle diameter

Is it .830 or .930?

I think for my purposes if it is .830 that will be too light. Can I have my barrel at the .93 area or there abouts.

Mike

Mike... leave it at .830"... you will feel better

RNS... you are driving me crazzy, here I have a 500 a-2 project on the table and the wonderfull 550 magnum. I have the cz-550 action, and a .510 brl... I guess I could set the .510 on one of my Ruger number ones and make a 500 3". Ahhh decisons decisons.

Hubble what was the parent case for the 550 rimmed?

smallfry

.83" would be convenient as I could just buy a Wby Dekuxe stock from Wby for the 460. The 460s use to be .85" but I think the later ones are slightly smaller. A McMillan would also fit as there stock for Wby takes the 460 contour.

But the rifle will be too light. A 460 is about 10.75 pounds without scope and mounts and would be a bout a half pound lighter with a 550 bore.

Mike

About how much do you want your 550 to weigh, Mike? Ed... what are they working out to be in lbs?

It's a very special custom taper that keeps the barrel much heavier without needing special one-off sights. The weight is rearward between the receiver ring and forearm tip so it aids balance as well. It still looks "right" too; very clever really.