500 Jeffery barrel selection

[OzarkSafariGuy]

Getting ready to order a barrel blank for the 500 Jeffery project, and wanted some advice.
Normally when building a rifle, I have some sort of baseline for the barrel contour. Either copy an existing rifle in a similar caliber, or check what contour the factory rifles are sold with in that caliber.
Cannot find any info on this for the 500 Jeffery. I'm assuming it will be a fairly heft contour. I also was wondering what barrel length people go with. I usually go 22 to 24 on everything else, but noticed that some people are doing 28+" for 500 Jeffery.
Likewise twist rate, I've seen everything from 1:12 to 1:24.
I also don't own any other 50 caliber guns except a 500 S&W, which isn't very helpful for this (don't need an 8" revolver barrel on my 500 Jeffery), so I have nothing to copy.
Advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[John J]

I do not know what blanks Matrix Gunsmithing in CO uses but, he can turn you a barrel with integral front and rear sight. I'm sure he can advise. John

 

[OzarkSafariGuy]

I do not know what blanks Matrix Gunsmithing in CO uses but, he can turn you a barrel with integral front and rear sight. I'm sure he can advise. John

I'll contact him! Thanks! I probably won't buy a barrel, half the fun is turning my own. Also, I'm rather fond of the folding leaf sights I put on my last rifle, going to likely make one with only 2 leafs for this rifle since I very much doubt it will be used at range.

 

[Luederitz]

Heym uses 24" barrel length as standard for its Express model in .500 Jeffery. With this barrel length the gun is still somehow compact enough for the African bush.
Muzzle diameter at Heym is 22 mm (0,86").

Regarding the twist rate, if you´re looking into CIP you find

https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/tabical-en-page153.pdf

https://bobp.cip-bobp.org/uploads/tdcc/tab-i/tabical-en-page75.pdf

with 20" (the Jeffery) or 17,7" (the Schüler) as twist rate for .510" bullets.

 

[John P.]

I have a Pac Nor (Pre Fire) 510 barrel contoured "heavy" for the 500 Jeffery. New Old Stock, not threaded or chambered.

I will take measurements and post a photo if this will help.

Built a few in the past on a Pac Nor No. 6 contour with 1.300" diameter at the breech.

I have reamers also.

 

[OzarkSafariGuy]

I'd appreciate that! I've never built on Pac Nor, but heard good things.
1.300 at the breech sounds about right for what I'm doing. If you could get the other specs, that would be great!

 

[OzarkSafariGuy]

Do you know if the barrel is stainless or chromoly?

 

[John P.]

Chrome Molly. Stainless, to me, just does not look right on a classic big bore.

Pac Nor makes good barrels, it is a shame they had the fire a couple of years back. But Chris has rebuilt and they are back in production with the expected huge backlog.

Below, 458 Lott, full house loads, 100 yards, iron sights. One of my rifles. 24 inch Pac Nor No. 5. Yes, it does recoil! No brake.

I will measure the.510 barrel and post a pic.

 

[John P.]

This one is a 450 Rigby. No. 6 Pac Nor chrome molly, 1.300 breech, CZ550 Magnum action.

 

[OzarkSafariGuy]

Yeah, I agree about stainless doesnt look right on classic rifles. Plus, accuracy wise, Ive had better luck with chromoly anyways

 

[OzarkSafariGuy]

I have a Pac Nor (Pre Fire) 510 barrel contoured "heavy" for the 500 Jeffery. New Old Stock, not threaded or chambered.

I will take measurements and post a photo if this will help.

Built a few in the past on a Pac Nor No. 6 contour with 1.300" diameter at the breech.

I have reamers also.

Did you get the measurements on that barrel?
I'd appreciate those
Thanks,
Frank