Living Large -- Wiebe Take Down .500 Jeffery (Lots of Pictures)

07 July 2009, 05:46

PS...I Love the Wood,love the takedown feature(neato in a lil short case),love the caliber,love the QD mounts,love the Euro scope,love the peep,love the
"African" look,love the long sloping pistol grip,love the metal reinforced comb and pistol grip,love the shadow cheekpiece,love the banded hooded front sight and would love to Own it!!

....Now,I insist you come up with a fitting name for it...Pondoro,Tembo,Magnus,Slayer,etc!

07 July 2009, 07:00

Will

Too bad you did get the 505 Gibbs that he built. You could call yourself Robert Wilson.

-------------------------------
Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR
_________________________

"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped.
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.

red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________

If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.

07 July 2009, 07:09

MJines

I find the Jeffery to be much more pleasant to shoot than the Gibbs (mine is a CZ 550 Safari Classic). Maybe the porting on the .500 Jeffery helps. In the .500 plus group, this may be the most manageable of the bunch (albeit my experience is limited to .500 NE, .505 Gibbs and .500 Jeffery).

Here are the targets from yesterday. Both at 25 yards off of sticks which is hardly representative of what the rifle is capable of. The solids were shot with the peep. I love that peep sight. The peep with the hooded front sight makes sighting the rifle a piece of cake, just get the circles aligned, put the bead on what you want to hit and squeeze.

07 July 2009, 07:12

J D

That is sweet.
Enjoy her a long time.

JD

07 July 2009, 07:52

GeoffM24

quote:
Originally posted by ForrestB:
Mike, thanks for posting the photos. The rifle is a real looker.

What is most interesting to me is that Duane built this rifle for his own use on dangerous game. I think when anyone with Duane's knowledge and skill builds a working gun for himself, the rest of us should sit up and take notice as to what's there and what's not. The other thing that is interesting to me is that Duane alone built this rifle - right down to the stippling and engraving. Not many guys can pull off that trick.

I don't get along too well with 500 Jefferys but I can't wait to see you at the range with this one.

Here is the 500 Jeff that Duane took his Buffalo with.

Here is a pic of her in action.

Duane named it the Nyati 2003 and this is the rifle he took his Buffalo with. It is very similiar to Mike's but the notable differences are the rear sights (island vs. peep), and the forward mount for the claw mount is on an extended portion of the front reciever ring intead of the reciever ring itself.

I swapped out the Kahles for a Z6 Swarovski.

Works of art for sure.

07 July 2009, 10:14

chuck375

Mike, what kind of porting did you get on your CZ 550 in 500 Jeffrey?

07 July 2009, 12:33

Rusty

Congratulations, Mike! Beautiful rifle!

Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member
"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836
"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
"for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

07 July 2009, 18:38

MHC_TX

Congratulations....I bet it is easy to sight in - you don't need a spotting scope to see the bullet holes!!

07 July 2009, 19:49

MJines

Chuck,

The porting is on the .500 Jeffery Duane built. You can see it above. My .505 Gibbs is not ported. The porting is Duane's own.

07 July 2009, 19:58

surestrike

Mike,

That rifle has several MAJOR flaws....

It's not mine

It's not mine

And most importantly

It's not mine!!

Man what a neat rifle. Congratulations. I've got some really nice safari shoes I'll trade you for it.

07 July 2009, 20:38

Rusty

Will, what do you think? Too light for it's caliber?

07 July 2009, 21:46

RIP

GeoffM24,
Thanks for the detailed comparison.
I was thinking Mike had acquired Duane's original Nyati rifle.
Now I see that it is a fraternal twin.

So you have the Nyati rifle now?

Mike's wood:

The original Wiebe "Nyati" 500J:

It looks like Mike has prettier wood,
though I am sure both are perfectly laid out,
Mike's gets the wood "schwing" points.
The one you are showing has the barrel mounted express sight, that might "schwing" more pinkies than the peep, but not mine.

That front claw base on the barrel may allow for sightly lower scope mounting than Mikes's, but requires more scope tube length ...
or an extension ring claw set (which might not be as low then)...
so either could allow the use of one-inch claw rings and a Leupold 2.5X scope, or 1"-tubed 1.5-5X Leupold ...
the only proper scopes for DGR.

The cobbler's wife goes barefoot?
I hope Duane is putting together another one for his wife.

08 July 2009, 00:25

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by Rusty:
Will, what do you think? Too light for it's caliber?

No way.
Although they could be 1/2 pound lighter than a Magnum Mauser 98 of similar configuration,
all the hardware in the forearms will ballast them well,
not too light for caliber even after those Euro-scopes are removed.
I am "wundering" if they have any weight added to the butt to balance them?

Barrel lengths, muzzle diameters (inside the band), and weights (with and without scopes)
of the "Wunder Wiebe Twins"
would certainly be a nice addition to the thread.

08 July 2009, 00:52

tendrams

Boy, those are TERRIBLE guns..
.
.
.

...terrible for reminding me how shallow my pockets are.

08 July 2009, 02:23

505ED

Very, Very nice!

Duane really knows how to build a rifle.

Ed

08 July 2009, 03:33

jimatcat

very nice!!!!!!!!!!

08 July 2009, 07:04

GeoffM24

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
quote:
Originally posted by Rusty:
Will, what do you think? Too light for it's caliber?

No way.
Although they could be 1/2 pound lighter than a Magnum Mauser 98 of similar configuration,
all the hardware in the forearms will ballast them well,
not too light for caliber even after those Euro-scopes are removed.
I am "wundering" if they have any weight added to the butt to balance them?

Barrel lengths, muzzle diameters (inside the band), and weights (with and without scopes)
of the "Wunder Wiebe Twins"
would certainly be a nice addition to the thread.

Mine is .765" at the muzzle and weighs 10.33 sans scope. Barrel is 23"

If memory serves it is actually the Wunder Wiebe Triplets. I could have sworn he said he built 3. I also remember him saying at least one was a bit too light, something in the 9 pound range.

08 July 2009, 07:08

MJines

Did not measure the muzzle, but:

Weight w/o scope: 10.4
Weight w/ scope: 11.8
Barrel Length: 23.5

08 July 2009, 07:13

GeoffM24

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
GeoffM24,
Thanks for the detailed comparison.
I was thinking Mike had acquired Duane's original Nyati rifle.
Now I see that it is a fraternal twin.

So you have the Nyati rifle now?

Mike's wood:

The original Wiebe "Nyati" 500J:

It looks like Mike has prettier wood,
though I am sure both are perfectly laid out,
Mike's gets the wood "schwing" points.
The one you are showing has the barrel mounted express sight, that might "schwing" more pinkies than the peep, but not mine.
That front claw base on the barrel may allow for sightly lower scope mounting than Mikes's, but requires more scope tube length ...
or an extension ring claw set (which might not be as low then)...
so either could allow the use of one-inch claw rings and a Leupold 2.5X scope, or 1"-tubed 1.5-5X Leupold ...
the only proper scopes for DGR.

The cobbler's wife goes barefoot?
I hope Duane is putting together another one for his wife.

I love a nice piece of walnut as much as the next guy but on the .500 I have to think traditional English was the design. It has that deep red (alkanet root) dense walnut look with the flat top english checkering and it just works for me for some reason.

It would be interesting to hear Duanes reason for the extended front reciever ring. My guesses are are as follows. 1) gives a lower claw mounting area 2) leaves the front square bridge unmolested 3) adds some weight without harming balance because it is right between your hands.

11 July 2009, 00:14

buckbrush

I believe Mr. Wiebe is the best custom bolt rifle maker in the world, along with Rolf Martini.

11 July 2009, 00:52

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by buckbrush:
I believe Mr. Wiebe is the best custom bolt rifle maker in the world, along with Rolf Martini.

Wiebe, Martini, Prechtl.
My picks for the highest class in gunbuilders.

11 July 2009, 04:30

Duane Wiebe

I really appreciate the kind words...thanks... There comes a time when maybe these half inchers are a bit rough on old men!

Shooting this rifle gave me a pretty good headache..Figure somebody up there was telling me "Time to ratchet down a bit"

11 July 2009, 04:54

N E 450 No2

Very Nice rifle....

Even if it only has one barrel.

11 July 2009, 05:05

Pegleg

Looks like practice is in order. That rifle should put them in a single hole at 25 yards if it shoots as good as it looks. Congratulations on one hell of a great looking rifle.

11 July 2009, 05:19

ScottS

I have got to agree with pegleg, those groups are huge!

11 July 2009, 06:38

MJines

Come on down gents, I will furnish the ammo. Internet chatter is cheap. Put the rifle on your shoulder, put up the sticks and let's see what you can do. I am sure you will be putting them in one ragged hole.

11 July 2009, 06:46

jeffeosso

11 July 2009, 07:42

Pegleg

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Come on down gents, I will furnish the ammo. Internet chatter is cheap. Put the rifle on your shoulder, put up the sticks and let's see what you can do. I am sure you will be putting them in one ragged hole.

If I do can I have the rifle?

11 July 2009, 08:01

MJines

. . . only if that first ragged hole is in me. My wife is just now starting to get used to the rifle being between the two of us in bed at night.

11 July 2009, 08:12

Pegleg

MJines- You the man! and what a rifle! I can't imagine how you must feel owning a rifle as nice as that and built by Duane. Hell, I'm proud just cause I live in the same state as Duane. Truly a rifle anyone would love to own and be very proud of.

12 July 2009, 23:24

JPK

Congrats. georgeous rifle, in fact both rifles are georgeous.

Also, thanks for the chuckles and especially this quote:

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
. . . only if that first ragged hole is in me. My wife is just now starting to get used to the rifle being between the two of us in bed at night.

13 July 2009, 22:56

Dago Red

GORGEOUS!!!

20 July 2009, 04:18

bobc

I had a chance to catch up with Mike at Bayou Rifles this morning and watch him shoot nice cloverleaf groups with the Wiebe 500 at 50 yards. This is one beautiful, functional rifle! Had a chance to shoot it, not bad at all off hand. Bob

20 July 2009, 09:54

Hog Killer

Mike, I love it! I know you will shoot it as good as it looks. I hope to see it in person one day.

Keith

21 July 2009, 09:13

22WRF

I think it would be interesting to see some close up photos of it taken down. I would like to see the lock up mechanism.

27 July 2009, 01:17

J Bennett

Mike

Congratulations on one beautiful rifle. I am sure it will function and shoot as great as it looks. It would have to with Duane building it.
Please keep us updated. I almost missed the pleasure of seeing this rifle as an electrical surge took out my satellite but am back on line now.

Duane
Excellent job. What else can I say.
Is this the rifle that you was building for your buffalo hunt in Tanzania this year?
I hope not.

James

29 July 2009, 04:39

bwanamrm

Congrats Mike! You have all the great toys! Very, very nice... let me know when you get tired of her. The rifle, of course.

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.