500 Jeffery Bullet weight suggestions

[ktk120]

I have a Ruger No1 on its way back to me from oregunsmithing rebored and some other modification to 500 J. ( I will make a separate post about the gun later where I can answer questions or discuss it)

My question is what weight bullet would be best for this if I only intend to shoot it at hogs. I would like to experience the full effect of 500J but dont likely need heavy bullets. Hawk has 500gr and 600gr that dont require a 3 box minimum. I know hawk are known to be soft but i dont think that will matter on hogs at close range.

I'm also looking for anyone that could mail me a handful of bullets to test before I spend on a full box of something.

Thanks

 

[mdsalern]

Since you’re single loading, there is a load for the 647gr Barnes TSX and there are 450 grain Hammer bullets. Might be a load for the 325gr from the S&W500.

 

[colorado]

Are you looking for inexpensive bullets? If so I have some 520g .511 cast lead bullets. I used Accurate 5744 with data from Accurate to a nice sedate 1800 fps which is more than enough to kill piggies. I bougth them from MidwayUSA. I really only use one load these days, 570g TSX at 2300 fps. Will act as a decongestant if you have a cold.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I really like the 570Gr bullet, but fully concede that even the traditional 535Gr bullet will be perfectly adequate for feral hogs.

 

[Flewis]

Full house no1 500j ? That will be fun

 

[colorado]

Full house no1 500j ? That will be fun

I've never shot one, but I hear the Ruger No. 1 is a "recoil enhancer"

 

[spike.t]

Yup...I will be interested to know the results from both ends of the ruger ......

 

[Flewis]

I've never shot one, but I hear the Ruger No. 1 is a "recoil enhancer"

I have a 450-400 and a 470. They are not the best for recoil management. I would love to shoot it in 500j, i think it would be memorable. Might be for sale soon.

 

[AZDAVE]

Year ago I built a #1 500NE with full NE loads it was sporty in the recoil department. I would suggest on yours you start a little lower that full loads and work your way up, and stay off the bench. If you are using it mostly on pigs the 535 softs will be more than enough. As @colorado mentioned a cast load with 5744 will work great. I have a box of 440gr hard cast you can have to try out. PM me your mailing info and I will send you a box if you are interested.

 

[Green Chile]

What's the weight of your #1? Most 500J loads are for the 500ne bullet of 570 grains...some are for 600 grains. As suggested, I have done a lot of practice loads of 525 gr GC cast bullets and 5744 to get regulation in doubles but that won't be a concern for you. Consider using the 440 gr cast bullet designed for the 500 Linebaugh or 50 Alaskan.

 

[mdsalern]

Does anyone have a load for the 325gr S&W 500 bullet in the .500 Jeffery?

 

[Green Chile]

500 S&W bullets are incorrect for a Jeffery. The .500 S&W is a true .50 whereas the 500 Jeffery, 500 Linebaugh, 50 Alaskan, 500NE, etc are .510 diameter. It will go down the barrel but way undersized with a ton of gas blow by.

 

[ktk120]

Thanks everyone for the input. I will for sure be posting how this little adventure plays out. I have a 458win mag no 1 that has a 2" radial break and with pretty hot 500gr it makes it very manageable. I sort of expect something similar here but I can load down. Is there much difference in 500, 570 and 600gr bullets as far as recoil goes? Reason is with hawks the 500 and 600gr are fairly cheap but the 570 require a 3 box min order.

AZDAVE does hard case lead the barrel up at all? I have no experience with non jacketed bullets at what would be over 2000 fps?

I dont know weight exactly but I think its around 9.5-10lb on the tropical model. The 458 win mag is the heaviest of the ruger no 1. Weight will be in line with most big bore bolt guns. My 458 whitworth is lighter than the no 1

Thanks

 

[mdsalern]

Thank, Chile. I should have looked into it more.

 

[Green Chile]

Dave can answer but one way to get lead bullets to faster velocities is by paper patching them. Understand...this is getting into very advanced handloading techniques that can't be simply described here and then applied without a big learning curve.

There is a LOT of difference in recoil when you change bullet weight 100 grains. Just as an exercise, if you use a recoil calculator (available to anyone online for free), add in the factors of 10 lb rifle, 100 grains of powder (not correct but just for comparision's sake), different bullet weights at 2300 fps (again not correct but what a 500 Jefferey is easily capable of and more)...a 500 grain bullet has about 86 ft lbs of recoil...the 570 has 104 ft lbs of recoil...and the 600 has 112 ft lbs of recoil. All of those numbers are vastly more than most people can handle. That's why you're getting some of these comments about let's wait and see how you feel afterwards. Shoot that gun off the bench and you might detach your retina or tear something in your shoulder. This is serious stuff that can ruin your day. Most builders would never build a big gun that light and if it's less than 10 lbs...well, all of these numbers shift upwards dramatically.

 

[ktk120]

makes sense. I did it for the novelty of something different. I definitely understand this is not something to shoot a lot of. Sounds like the 500gr is sufficient with a mild load to start. Velocity on a pig is not necessary. If the radial brake doesn't cut enough off I figured the long channel for the stock bolt can be filled with lead or something to get the gun weight up. I will never probably go to africa or hunt anything needing this round so I can adjust to the most manageable round with bullet and powder.

 

[Flewis]

First, good luck with your project. I also have a 500j in a sako 85 which is also not great at recoil management. Both rifles are very close in weight, the 470 no1 has quite a lot more felt recoil. I still think what you are doing is great. I want one in 500IVW.

 

[AZDAVE]

On the loads with hard cast I have used for are all going 1500fps or less. It you are looking at 2000+ @Green Chile is correct you will need paper patch to get those speeds without leading occurring. If it were me I would keep the hard cast as low recoiling plinkers to just get familiar with the rifle and softs and solids for your hunting.

 

[colorado]

My two loads with my 11 lb CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery are:

570g TSX at 2300 fps 103g H4895 96 ft lbs very shootable actually fun offhand
570g TSX at 2510 fps 120g IMR4350 119 ft lbs fun index low

 

[Green Chile]

Yea that 2500fps load is a bruiser and truthfully, not getting you much for it...lots of powder (efficiency is dropping quickly)...tons of recoil...and the magic is achieved by 2300 fps so a lot more velocity isn't really accomplishing much...diminishing returns. 2300 fps is where the .416 Rigby made it's sterling reputation and running a 570 (versus a 400) at that speed is about all is needed for anything nasty. Much harder to shoot that big load well.