500 A Square from 450 Dakota?

[Elkbugling]

Hey all! Could a 450 Dakota be rechambered to a 500 A Square? Since the Dakota is based on the 416 Rigby, and the 460 weatherby (parent case for the 500 A2) is also based on the Rigby, would this conversion be possible? Thanks for any and all insight/advice.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would fear the lack of shoulder to headspace off of. The 460 is belted, and the 500 doesn’t have much of a shoulder. Calling @USMA84DAB

 

[USMA84DAB]

The .500 A-Square has a .031" "shoulder" at 35 degrees that spans a whopping .022" as one moves forward on the case. This is intended to get parallel case walls for gripping the projectile. The belt at the base is where it headspaces. For all intents and purposes, it is a .460 WBY opened up to .510". Same (basically) for .495 A-Square, but one trims the .495 back to 2.800" vs. the .460 at 2.913". COAL for the .495 is 3.600" vs. the .460 WBY at 3.750". .500 A-Square case length is 2.900" and COAL is 3.740".

 

[colorado]

If your bolt face is large enough why not just rechamber / rebarrel to 505 Gibbs?

 

[USMA84DAB]

Some considerations:

- Bolt face is for the .505 is .640". A .416 Rigby bolt face is only .590". Without putting a set of calipers to the Rigby bolt face, I don't know if there is enough metal there to open it up for the .505. I believe the only practical route to go in terms of cost would be to open up a P-17 Enfield action?

- Bullets are a bit scarce due to it's unique bore size.

I am all in on quirky builds - putting together a .495 A-Square myself - from practicality standpoint there are other choices that make feeding the beast alot easier.

 

[colorado]

I really like the concept of the 495 A Square almost went that route, went with the 500 Jeffery instead. Very happy

 

[Elkbugling]

Thanks for all the replies. I was just wondering if I could use the action to rechamber it to something still unique, but a little more common than the Dakota. Since the Dakota is so propietary I didn’t know what my options were.

 

[USMA84DAB]

The hands down "logical" choice is .458 Lott (3.600", .532") due to ammo availability.

.460 Wby (3.750", .579")is the next step up, but still has ammo available.

.505 Gibbs - (long cartridge - 3.850", .640"), .500 Jeffrey (3.465, but varied specs, .575"), .495 A-Square (3.600", .579"), .500 A-Square (3.740", .579"), .577 Tyrannosaur (3.710", but .688" bolt face)

What level of recoil can you effectively withstand? What can your wallet withstand for brass and bullets, because to not practice is irresponsible towards the PH, Tracker, the animal, and yourself.

 

[colorado]

470 Mbogo?

https://470mbogo.wordpress.com/