500 Jeffery - What gun weight to tame it?

[zephyr]

I'd rather take the hit from my synthetic R8 than carry an 11 pound 375 specifically because I'm not a big guy. People are just going to value different things, so to the OP: know yourself. If you are even asking the question, you are probably more toward the "avoid recoil" than "avoid weight" side of the spectrum, so I suspect you'll want it on the heavy end. Or as IvW said, it's not for you. There's no shame in that. Spending a small fortune to end up with a beautiful rifle that you don't enjoy shooting is a waste of money and effort no matter how much you've wanted it. Get the 404 and shoot the hell out of it. You'll be better off in every way than with a 500 that you honestly don't enjoy shooting.

Common sense says the bigger the Bore the heavier the gun

 

[Daniel Cary]

More than 20 years ago, I had a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery built to my specifications.

At the end the rifle was very handy but weighed only around 4.5kg with a scope, which is very light for a rifle of this caliber.

The recoil with a full charge is very strong. But me, no one has ever fired more than one shot with this rifle.

View attachment 464861

Good Lord, may I ask who built this?

 

[grand veneur]

#15

 

[Daniel Cary]

#9

 

[IvW]

11 to 11.5 lbs is the sensible weight

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

11 to 11.5 lbs is the sensible weight

This man knows what he is talking about. Agree 100%

 

[colorado]

This man knows what he is talking about. Agree 100%

Agree

 

[spike.t]

11 to 11.5 lbs is the sensible weight

Oh well never was sensible

 

[50Gunner]

Not a Jeffery, but my 505 Gibbs weighs 11 pounds, no scope, just express sights, have taken the 600gr Woodleigh solids to 2500 fps to test stock/bedding/crossbolt relationship, all is good, but recoil was horrendous, that said, 570-600 grains at a very manageable 2150 fps is where i stay with the 600gr Woodleigh softs and solids, ranges will not be long with my setup and i cant fathom what that wont handily kill.

 

[colorado]

Not a Jeffery, but my 505 Gibbs weighs 11 pounds, no scope, just express sights, have taken the 600gr Woodleigh solids to 2500 fps to test stock/bedding/crossbolt relationship, all is good, but recoil was horrendous, that said, 570-600 grains at a very manageable 2150 fps is where i stay with the 600gr Woodleigh softs and solids, ranges will not be long with my setup and i cant fathom what that wont handily kill.

Once you find your recoil tolerance (mine is a 570g bullet at 2300 fps in an 11 lb 500 Jeffery) even a little bit more recoil seems to really get my attention. I'm thinking of loading them "down" to 2150 fps too

 

[50Gunner]

LOL, Colorado, you bet Sir, imho whether you're firing 570grs using Swift or TSX 2150 will get all that needs done when calling for a soft bullet, and with much less recoil, we all know the great 500 Nitro's capabilities at those speeds, i was researching the web for my 505 and came up on some info from Doc. Kevin on this site, i was ready to buy as many 600gr cup point solids as i could order and shoot everything with them at 2150, then poof, they were gone.
Same/same with the Woodleigh factory fire, i hope very much they're able to get back up and running, and on this subject, when we see bullets for sale that we know work well in a particular rifle, i grab them up whether needed at the moment or not, they certainly wont spoil sitting on a shelf in the load shop.

 

[colorado]

LOL, Colorado, you bet Sir, imho whether you're firing 570grs using Swift or TSX 2150 will get all that needs done when calling for a soft bullet, and with much less recoil, we all know the great 500 Nitro's capabilities at those speeds, i was researching the web for my 505 and came up on some info from Doc. Kevin on this site, i was ready to buy as many 600gr cup point solids as i could order and shoot everything with them at 2150, then poof, they were gone.
Same/same with the Woodleigh factory fire, i hope very much they're able to get back up and running, and on this subject, when we see bullets for sale that we know work well in a particular rifle, i grab them up whether needed at the moment or not, they certainly wont spoil sitting on a shelf in the load shop.

Nice talking to a fellow 500 shooter

 

[cajunchefray]

Once you find your recoil tolerance (mine is a 570g bullet at 2300 fps in an 11 lb 500 Jeffery) even a little bit more recoil seems to really get my attention. I'm thinking of loading them "down" to 2150 fps too

An opinion on the original posters question, I felt like my .500 Jefferey CZ 550 recoiled about 60-70% more than my 450/400.

Good comments by all;
I listen to the men with real experience here. Big Bore rillfes are a passion for me, and I practice regulary to one day fulfill my dream of a Cape Buffalo in Southern Africa.

My CZ 550 weighed 5.2 kg with sling and ammo.
I immediately learned my recoil tolerance when I fired the first 2 shots of Kynoch 535 grain at 2400 fps. The other 3 rounds went with the sale of the gun. They were a beast to shoot.

My master plan was to load 570 grains at 2150, like the .500 Nitro Express.
I fired maybe 50 rounds, over a couple months and realized it was too much recoil, as my accuracy was poor after 4 or 5 shots. I had clearly defined, my recoil tolerance.

I have two 450/400's, a double and a Ruger #1. The double is no problem, and am using faster burning Reloder 15, just a nice big push, and back on target quickly.
The Ruger Number 1 takes some concentration, as it delivers recoil differently.
Stock fit, actual Recoil Velocity play a part.

I shoot my Whitworth .458 Win Mag with full power 500 grains at 2150, and handle this the best, 15-20 rounds off sticks.
What did I learn?

Stock fit is crucial; The Whitworth fits me very well.

I read long ago, from an British officer ( can't remember his name) that was a weapons developer, and big game hunter in Africa and India.
He stated most men can stand recoil velocity up to 17 pounds feet per second, just right where I am with my double 450/400.

I really liked the CZ .500 Jeffery, but knowing my limitations, sold it to a member here for his buffalo hunt.

By all means, if you can shoot a .500 Jeffery, maybe with a .500 NE load as well, do so before you buy.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Felt recoil is not just about the ft-lbs of E generated by the gun (the projectile weight, the gun weight,) but also a function of the surface area of the buttstock, the type of recoil pad, whether or not you have Hg recoil reducers (2 can be installed in a stock), and even the loads that you shoot. Although I only subscribe to the large butt and thick pad with respect to guns, it truly works wonders! Kevin Robertson talks about appropriate gun weight in Africa's Most Dangerous. Many are in the 13+ lbs range.

 

[cajunchefray]

CW Richter is right on point, stock design (large recoil pad surface area, Mercury recoil reducers in the stock) make a BIG difference.

Formulas calculate physical science, but how the gun feels when you shoot, if it fits you or not is critical. I'm in no way on expert, just sharing my experiences.

I thought of having mine Magna Ported, but even with that slight reduction in Recoil Energy, maybe not worth it.

But when you hit a target with a .500 caliber weapon, it is more than a .450 bore.

 

[colorado]

Felt recoil is not just about the ft-lbs of E generated by the gun (the projectile weight, the gun weight,) but also a function of the surface area of the buttstock, the type of recoil pad, whether or not you have Hg recoil reducers (2 can be installed in a stock), and even the loads that you shoot. Although I only subscribe to the large butt and thick pad with respect to guns, it truly works wonders! Kevin Robertson talks about appropriate gun weight in Africa's Most Dangerous. Many are in the 13+ lbs range.

My CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery has two mercury recoil reducers installed in the stock by Harlan at Triple River (also know as the CZ Custom Shop in the day). It weighs 11 lbs without scope or rings, 12 with them. I wouldn't call the recoil mild but I believe they certainly help, at least psychologically

 

[C.W. Richter]

My CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery has two mercury recoil reducers installed in the stock by Harlan at Triple River (also know as the CZ Custom Shop in the day). It weighs 11 lbs without scope or rings, 12 with them. I wouldn't call the recoil mild but I believe they certainly help, at least psychologically

They totally help! Not just the added weight, but the true shock-absorption of their counterweight action. (iow they have greater effect than their mass alone.) I got same and magnaporting for my son in his lightweight 7 RSAUM rifle (that i dialed in and noticed quite some kick with hot handloads.) it was the 7 lb problem child prior. lol

 

[C.W. Richter]

CW Richter is right on point, stock design (large recoil pad surface area, Mercury recoil reducers in the stock) make a BIG difference.

Formulas calculate physical science, but how the gun feels when you shoot, if it fits you or not is critical. I'm in no way on expert, just sharing my experiences.

I thought of having mine Magna Ported, but even with that slight reduction in Recoil Energy, maybe not worth it.

But when you hit a target with a .500 caliber weapon, it is more than a .450 bore.

i failed to mention...so long ago. Art Alphin discusses all of this at length in Any Shot You Want! Have 2 A-sq guns and they are proof of what I (he) said!

 

[C.W. Richter]

'Hunting big stuff in the Caprivi, but at a nice lunchbreak in a palm island oasis we notice many zebra out in the distance. 'Son motions to grab his .375 and the PH stops him, gives quick pep-talk and hands over his .500 NE double. <son smiles> then goes for quite a crawling stalk across the short grass floodplain and plugged one for the communal feast. <grabbed camera and went right behind him> He wasn't prepared for the 1st shot, but hit it well, then was fully prepared for shot 2 and put it out nearly immediately. (I've shot many types of zebra w/ hot .264/.300/.338/.375 and they've not reacted like this one did! "That's no 375!" -my Son. lol 1st shot is upon impact, 2nd down and the rest is history...A bullet of that frontal area, weight, velocity and energy at modest range is very impressive. It's the PHs backing gun! I'd go .500 A-Sq myself. lol

 

[Hunting Hitman]

My 505 Gibbs comes in at 12 pounds without scope and I’m happy for every pound I carry when firing that cannon.

HH