505 Gibbs — Favorite Powders & Presses

[Wildwillalaska]

Gents that roll your own 505’s, which I believe is likely significant majority of the 505 owners who have had them very long or use them often given the price and scarcity of factory ammo…what powders do you favor in your rifle?

Please feel free to also share what bullets are your pet favs as well. Know there are those who like the 525’s, the 570’s A-Frames, and of course the 600’s. Being brand new to the cartridge and awaiting a couple small items keeping me from load work I had to at least ask…the last thread I found on this topic seemed several years old.

Also, for those that load a lot for thing like the 505 Gibbs, what press do you favor? I’ve favored my Forester Co-ax for so long for most hunting and long range target/comp loading, stepping back to the ol’ rock chucker had my mind wondering what folks favored most.

Cheers and thanks in advance for any shares, input, participation in the discussion.

Will

 

[AZDAVE]

Severals years back I had a 505, don't remember the powder used for the 570 and 600 gr but can check my load book. I use a LEE 50 BMG press. It isn't a high volume press but built like a tank and 505 is easy to load in it.

 

[358 Norma]

When loading for my 470 Nitro I use a RCBS 50 BMG press, I'm sure it would work great for the 505 Gibbs.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

@matt85 Care to help out here?

 

[Riflecrank]

I got one of the first batch of CZ 550 Magnums made just to play with.
That first batch of CZ-made ammo would not even chamber, loaded by A-Square, they had a brass case dimensional problem.
I mailed some of my unchamberable cases to the owner of A-Square (after Art Alphin sold), and never heard anything back from them.
So I bought 200 pieces of Jamison brass, flawless stuff, and I doubt I will ever need anymore,
since Jamison became Captech International which became a closed shop, sadly.

I also got a custom bullet made by S&H (wonderful quality boutique bullets also gone now).
558-gr/.505 brass FN with nifty drive bands.

140-grains of H4831 (it was long-cut) gave 2307 fps at 5-yard chrono, zeroed at 50 yards for about 1-MOA 3-shot. If using the H4831 SC, just use a little more foam wad filler.
You can do the same MV with less recoil by using about 118 grains of Varget or RL-15
and a foam wad filler, if using 570-grainers, or 600-grainers.

I suspect that with the lighter 525-grainers, Varget and filler would be the best way to go.
I have not tried that yet in the .505 Gibbs.
My accuracy load for the 500 Jeffery is with the 535-gr Woodleigh and 105-grains of Varget and no filler for 2312 fps.

I use the RCBS Ammo Master press for everything, including 50 BMG and the greatest cartridge of all time, the .458 WIN MAG.

 

[Jefferry404]

N165. Good load density.
H4831sc around 90%-93% load density.

 

[festuscat]

RL 22 130gn - Barnes 525gn TSX 2160 fps
RL 22 132 gn -Barnes 525gn Banded Solid
H4831 132gn - Woodleigh 525gn 2300 fps
H4831 128gn - " " 2150 fps
H4831 131gn- Woodleigh 600gn 2155 fps
5744 62.5 gn Mt Baldy lead GS 600gn 1740 ( reduced load) no filler)
PM me if needed & good luck

 

[matt85]

@matt85 Care to help out here?

I used a Lee cast 50bmg press and it was perfect for the task.

I will try to remember to come back later tonight to post my load data.

 

[matt85]

Here is the data I have (use at your own risk):

505 Gibbs
-570gr Swift A-frame over 134gr of RL-26
-525gr Barnes TSX over 145gr RL-25 (147gr for solids)
-600gr Peregrine VRG2 over 121gr IMR 4350
-600gr Peregrine VRG2 over 113gr IMR 4350