.505 Gibbs Bullet Choice and Energy Data

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

We have been working on developing loads for the .505 Gibbs and would love feedback from the .505 Gibbs hunting community.

While we have been developing loads with Woodleigh, Cutting Edge, Swift, and other brand bullets the approximate data works out the same.
Based on this information... which bullet weight would you choose to hunt a cape buffalo with on your next safari? And why?
And I know that there are a half dozen other bullet weights available with other manufacturers... the question is here, do you stay heavy or go lighter with more energy?

600 Gr Bullet - 2200 FPS (Muzzle) = 6450 Ft/Lbs at Muzzle
525 Gr Bullet - 2425 FPS (Muzzle) = 6850 Ft/Lbs at Muzzle

Just curious...

 

[John Telford]

For Buff I would actually do the 525 Gr bullet at 2200-2300 fps. Especially if shooting into a herd. For solids you can load up to 600Gr. Use good flat nosed bullets like Dzombo. I have twice had them go clean through an elephant side on.
No need to speed up the 525Gr on a buff.

 

[Jefferry404]

for me, Woodleigh's at:
600gn SN at 2140 fps
525gn solid at 2250 fps

 

[Riflecrank]

2300 fps with the 525-grainers
and 2100 fps with the 600-grainers,
both from a 24" barrel.
Any faster than that and you are probably exceeding CIP MAP, the only standard I am aware of for the .505 Gibbs.
But what the hell, who cares about bolt thrust when it comes to beating your hairy chest, right ?
(Insert Tarzan yodel sound effect here.)

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

2300 fps with the 525-grainers
and 2100 fps with the 600-grainers,
both from a 24" barrel.
Any faster than that and you are probably exceeding CIP MAP, the only standard I am aware of for the .505 Gibbs.
But what the hell, who cares about bolt thrust when it comes to beating your hairy chest, right ?
(Insert Tarzan yodel sound effect here.)

The 525 gr bullets are flying 2425 FPS with a very mild load... I wouldn't say we were loading it hot.
And the targets look like mickey mouse for accuracy. Velocity = Energy so we figured it would be a winner. Love the feedback... thank you.

 

[Riflecrank]

With modern rifle steel and modern brass cases why limit the .505 Gibbs beast to Cordite ballistics ?
(Insert Tarzan yodel here.)

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Both weights sound intriguing. Still learning my way around my new-to-me 505, so can’t yet say which of the two weights I’d prefer.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

For me personally,

600Gr Rhino solid shanks & monolithic solids at a modest velocity of 2150 FPS.

 

[grand veneur]

With modern rifle steel and modern brass cases why limit the .505 Gibbs beast to Cordite ballistics ?
(Insert Tarzan yodel here.)

I don't know how often you have hunted dangerous game in Africa; I have hunted that often and that's why I have become very cautious about loads that don't meet the specifications. You hunt in Africa in hot climatic conditions and you are also constantly exposed to the sun, which is not exactly ideal for cartridges. It is not for nothing that the Britains developed tropical loads for hunting in Africa and India. There is nothing worse than overpressure in a rifle, which makes it difficult for feeding another cartridge quickly, by hunting DG. You can experiment with various cartridges at the shooting range, but in practice, you have to stay to what is proven to be effective and safe.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

With modern rifle steel and modern brass cases why limit the .505 Gibbs beast to Cordite ballistics ?
(Insert Tarzan yodel here.)

Because the human body is made from flesh & bone instead of titanium. It will only be able to absorb a certain amount of recoil safely from a shoulder fired weapon. You can easily push a 600Gr bullet out to 2350 FPS from the .505 Gibbs. It’s got ample case capacity for that. But your shoulder will not thank you.

Faster isn’t always necessarily better, except when you’re hunting the great cats. Even then, 600Gr soft points at 2150 FPS will comfortably put down any lion/leopard/tiger that ever walked.

 

[Riflecrank]

gv and HH,
I am just playing devil's advocate here. Been to Africa only twice for cape buffalo, but might suffer the pampered luxury of it again, if you twist my arm.

Finn Aagaard noted that a 500-gr/.458 at a mere 2000 fps made a bloody big hole through anything he ever used it on in Africa. Lucky fellow with those antique bullets, eh ?

The recoil severity of the .505 Gibbs is only due to that huge case capacity requiring a huge powder charge to get modest velocities even with modest-for-caliber bullet weights.

There are much better ways to get better terminal effects on DG instead of the hunter's shoulder.
But, Professional Small Boys do enjoy beating their chests.
(Insert Tarzan yodel here.)

 

[Hunter-Habib]

gv and HH,
I am just playing devil's advocate here. Been to Africa only twice for cape buffalo, but might suffer the pampered luxury of it again, if you twist my arm.

Finn Aagaard noted that a 500-gr/.458 at a mere 2000 fps made a bloody big hole through anything he ever used it on in Africa. Lucky fellow with those antique bullets, eh ?

The recoil severity of the .505 Gibbs is only due to that huge case capacity requiring a huge powder charge to get modest velocities even with modest-for-caliber bullet weights.

There are much better ways to get better terminal effects on DG instead of the hunter's shoulder.
But, Professional Small Boys do enjoy beating their chests.
(Insert Tarzan yodel here.)

@Riflecrank

I will say this, however. Both a .458 Winchester Magnum (500Gr bullets at 2150 FPS) and a .505 Gibbs (600Gr bullets at 2150 FPS) will cleanly drop an elephant. But on body shots to the heart-lung region, the .505 Gibbs WILL down the game comparatively quicker. Assuming of course, that all other factors are equal (which is admittedly seldom the case in the field).

I also give you one more guarantee. Shoot a hippopotamus on land in the heart-lung region with a .458 Winchester Magnum and another with a .505 Gibbs. The one shot by the .505 Gibbs will have a far more visible reaction than the one which was shot by the .458 Winchester Magnum.

Bigger calibers do make a difference as long as the bullets are still traveling sufficiently fast. Even if the difference is ever so slight in practice.

.458 Winchester Magnum is an amazing caliber. But if a gentleman can handle the recoil of a .505 Gibbs and has no issues sourcing ammunition/reloading components… then, the .505 Gibbs should be the optimal choice. Especially if he plans to hunt a lot of elephant or hippopotamus on land.