Sounds like you have quite the collection. Which double did you go with? If I ever grabbed a 470 i think I'd lean towards one of the German makes (Heym, Merkel, Kriegoff). Unless it's in a double I don't see myself going larger than .458.
Big Bore Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
Sounds like you have quite the collection. Which double did you go with? If I ever grabbed a 470 i think I'd lean towards one of the German makes (Heym, Merkel, Kriegoff). Unless it's in a double I don't see myself going larger than .458.
browning525
Member
- Location
- Brooks, AB
Have a Merkel at present. Sold off a Butch Searcy SxS. No real reason in selling one over the other. Financially, I could break even on the Searcy, while I took a beating to get the Merkel, so I am holding on to it to get some use out of it.
I too have a 405 Win, and a few 45-70's. Somehow I never think of them as big bores (or even my 50-70). On the other hand, touch off a 300 gr bullet from that 95 Win with the crescent butt plate and you'll sure notice it. - dan
When I worked in SA, we were lucky enough to have a couple guys on our team from there who had relatives in the outfitting business. So we got to go along on a few hunts. As I hadn't brought any rifles with me, I used a borrowed 30-06. But I wasnt hunting the big 5 either. Just a couple plains species. As you pay for what you shoot there, and it is spendy, I was very careful about what I chose to shoot. - dan
Had a few big ones over the years, .375 H&H, JRS, couple 378s. .416 Ruger, Remingtons and a couple of Rigbies. Several .458 Winchesters and 2 460s. Older now and don’t get out up North much anymore, only a .416 Remington left. 375 trajectory and big hitting power.
My Zastava was a pile of trash, bought it to take 9.3x62mm for a spin but it fed like crap and mangled cases like crazy. Scope mount holes were crooked. Receiver was shaped poorly, needed a generous shim to line the scope rings up. I still owe the 9.3x62mm a fair shake but it'll definitely be on a better platform.
I did own a CZ550 in .375 H&H previously and it was a very nice rifle. It just didn't fit well, it felt like it was a mile long. I thought about chopping the stock but it was very pretty, so sold it to someone who fit it better.
I also owned a. 458 Win Mag Model 70, but it wasn't a Safari model and yeouch!. I sold it off and the guy who bought it ended up making it a .458 Lott. Must've been punch drunk on that one, I think it was a hair over 8 pounds scoped when I owned it
My 9.3 Zastava action wouldn't feed a magazine full of PPU Soft Points either. It was fine with three rounds. Might be a feed ramp issue, I'm sure a competant smith could fix it quickly
Bittereinder
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ontario (GTA)
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stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
Here's a new-to-me big bore rifle... it's an ERA P14 action with a 24" McGowen barrel chambered in 500 Jeffery (unfortunate the caliber engraving is misspelled!). The rear sight has been replaced with a Williams peep and the original front sight has been remounted on a band. The bottom metal is original, as is the two stage trigger. I haven't disassembled the rifle, but I can see that the magazine follower has been extended. The laminate stock is finished off with a nice and thick "tire tread" Decelerator pad.
It's a solid feeling rifle, weighing in at 11lb 6oz --- it makes my rebored Ruger 505 Gibbs at 9 1/2lbs feel svelte! I don't know much more about the rifle, or who put it together, but it appears to be well-done with a very utilitarian style that contrasts with the high lustre bluing. The stock inletting and barrel channel look to be very well done, and I suspect it's full-length bedded.
I've got dies, but I'm on the search for brass or ammunition --- as many of you will know, 500 Jeffery is thin-on-the-ground these days!
Hope you enjoy the pictures - the other rifle, for size comparison, is my Ruger RSM in 505 Gibbs...
It's a solid feeling rifle, weighing in at 11lb 6oz --- it makes my rebored Ruger 505 Gibbs at 9 1/2lbs feel svelte! I don't know much more about the rifle, or who put it together, but it appears to be well-done with a very utilitarian style that contrasts with the high lustre bluing. The stock inletting and barrel channel look to be very well done, and I suspect it's full-length bedded.
I've got dies, but I'm on the search for brass or ammunition --- as many of you will know, 500 Jeffery is thin-on-the-ground these days!
Hope you enjoy the pictures - the other rifle, for size comparison, is my Ruger RSM in 505 Gibbs...
An owner of both a 500 Jeffery and a 505 Gibbs? A man of class and fine tastes.
I guess you'd have to reload for both.
I've never seen factory 500J in stock and only seen loaded 505 Gibbs ammo once, for $300+/box.
9.5lbs sounds light for a 505, that must be a good thumper.
You planning on taking either to Africa?
I guess you'd have to reload for both.
I've never seen factory 500J in stock and only seen loaded 505 Gibbs ammo once, for $300+/box.
9.5lbs sounds light for a 505, that must be a good thumper.
You planning on taking either to Africa?
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stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
All I can say is that it's magnetic. I'm scratching my head a bit to know if it was purpose made or repurposed. The other thing odd to me is the colouration of the front sight/band and the sling swivel band --- neither is finely polished and blued like the rest of the rifle, but the finish is also not in the white. I sort of wonder if the builder may have attempted to do a colour case hardening on them, and it didn't quite take.
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
Not so much taste, but being in the right place at the right time --- I don't think I'd have ever plan to buy/order either rifle, but just happened to come across them and they looked unique enough to pique my interest.
I saw some Sako 500J probably about 2 years ago that was "reasonably" priced. Unfortunately, I believe Norma has stopped making just the brass. Both are definitely worth reloading to save some $$$ --- I was fortunate when I bought the 505 Gibbs about 10 years ago to find the brass and dies fairly easily, along with a bullet mould. The 500J is different altogether --- I was lucky to get the dies with the rifle, but it looks like I'm going to have to order some ammunition for the brass and pay the piper. In both cases, the dies are 1", but my press (a Lee Classic Cast) has a removable insert to accommodate them.
Unfortunately no plans for Africa -- I just enjoy shooting the big bores at the range... for now!
Previously owned a Remington 700 in 338 Win Mag but a recent visit to a Black Powder shoot intrigued me with the Pedersoli Sharps "Q" Down Under in 45-70.
Now I got one. Just waiting on some brass.
No plans on going the BP Route but have on order 5744 and Lead bullets (300 and 405 grain weights).
Now I got one. Just waiting on some brass.
No plans on going the BP Route but have on order 5744 and Lead bullets (300 and 405 grain weights).
