505 Gibbs vs 500 Jeffery. Thoughts on these heavy hitters? Alternatives?

My 505 weighs in a 11# 11.5 loaded.. I favor a 525gr CEB Solid at 2300fps If you are a handloader by choosing a faster burning powder you can reduce the recoil considerably
Good Luck with your choice let us know what you decide
My last trip to Africa my 505 was the only gun I carried for 12 days it collected a Tuskless, a Buff and a Bush Pig
IMG_1450.jpeg
 
I've had both, neither is a bad choice in a rifle built properly,...but thats the key, "built properly". They both need to weigh 10.5 lbs or more, on actions that accommodate the length of the 505, and an appropriate action for the stubby 550J. I stuck with the 500j on a short fat Granite Mountain actioned rifle with a 22" barrel, I've killed multiple buffalo and a bunch of other stuff with it. Either caliber hits like a lightening bolt from the sky. Shooting either is not for the faint of heart. I use an evo shield shirt with a super thin protective plate in the shoulder to practice so that eliminates the shoulder punch but it still torques your entire upper body during recoil, so if you have a bad back or neck I wouldn't venture into this realm, you will be above 90 ft lbs of recoil, to compare, a stoutly loaded 416 rigby that weight 10.5 lbs generates about 58 ft lbs. The recoil of these .5" hammers is next level. The one other thing I would mention is I have hand loaded for both, and for some reason the Jeffery seemed easier to load and keep ammo concentric, the brass lasted for at least 8-10 firings with both bertram and norma and the primer pockets were still firm fit, and the neck tension was always uniform.

View attachment 560789
Beautiful Rifle!!!
 
My 505 weighs in a 11# 11.5 loaded.. I favor a 525gr CEB Solid at 2300fps If you are a handloader by choosing a faster burning powder you can reduce the recoil considerably
Good Luck with your choice let us know what you decide
My last trip to Africa my 505 was the only gun I carried for 12 days it collected a Tuskless, a Buff and a Bush Pig
View attachment 560856
makes my cz550 look like an ugly step sister
 
500 Jeffery couple weeks ago in Limpopo.

60 yards. My son shot him at the top of the shoulder, took 5 steps and collapsed.
Massive entry no exit. Neck was broken probably because of the massive impact force it created.
Image-1.jpg
 
500 Jeffery couple weeks ago in Limpopo.

60 yards. My son shot him at the top of the shoulder, took 5 steps and collapsed.
Massive entry no exit. Neck was broken probably because of the massive impact force it created.
View attachment 560948
nice sako 85 bro
 
My 505 weighs in a 11# 11.5 loaded.. I favor a 525gr CEB Solid at 2300fps If you are a handloader by choosing a faster burning powder you can reduce the recoil considerably
Good Luck with your choice let us know what you decide
My last trip to Africa my 505 was the only gun I carried for 12 days it collected a Tuskless, a Buff and a Bush Pig
View attachment 560856
What are the details on this masterpiece?!
 
I have a 500 A-Square built on a BRNO 602 that I need to get dies for. I weighed it and my MarkV 460WBY, the 500 is 9lbs 10oz and the 460 is 9lb 12oz.

Personally, 500gr solids at max load with my 460 isn't painful on the shoulder to shoot, but instead it disorients me for about a second or two and literally rattles my teeth. Instead of a shoulder pad, I might need a mouth guard like athletes wear.

I'm reluctant on using mercury inserts to absorb the recoil, I wonder if a lead or tungsten rod might be better to add inertia? I own about ten times as many handguns as I do rifles, is the goal to balance the CG around the trigger guard or trigger if possible on a rifle?
 
I have two 12 oz mercury recoil reducers in my 500 Jeffery. It weighs 11 lbs unloaded, 12 lbs with a Leupold 1-5x scope and Talley steel QR rings. The balance point is in the middle of the floor plate which is just where I wanted it. I think a lead or tungsten rod would be fine as well. 1 shoot 570g TSX's at 2300 fps. Recoil should be similar to your 500 A-Square. I don't need a mouth guard for it :)
 
I have a 500 A-Square built on a BRNO 602 that I need to get dies for. I weighed it and my MarkV 460WBY, the 500 is 9lbs 10oz and the 460 is 9lb 12oz.

Personally, 500gr solids at max load with my 460 isn't painful on the shoulder to shoot, but instead it disorients me for about a second or two and literally rattles my teeth. Instead of a shoulder pad, I might need a mouth guard like athletes wear.

I'm reluctant on using mercury inserts to absorb the recoil, I wonder if a lead or tungsten rod might be better to add inertia? I own about ten times as many handguns as I do rifles, is the goal to balance the CG around the trigger guard or trigger if possible on a rifle?
I might be paranoid and may take some flak for this but I would personally stay away from mercury. I wouldn’t be surprised if that eventually becomes a problem with the airlines. Heck maybe even lead too
 
My 505 weighs in a 11# 11.5 loaded.. I favor a 525gr CEB Solid at 2300fps If you are a handloader by choosing a faster burning powder you can reduce the recoil considerably
Good Luck with your choice let us know what you decide
My last trip to Africa my 505 was the only gun I carried for 12 days it collected a Tuskless, a Buff and a Bush Pig
View attachment 560856
Beautiful rifle. I really like that it’s got a proper quarter rib that is actually level with the square bridge
 
This thread has got me liking the idea of a .510 bore Gibbs.

Yes that would be a great round. Another idea is someone machining the 570g TSX's down to 550g and making the hollowpoint a little bigger. I think Phil Shoemaker (famed Alaskan guide) may have done both of these things.
 
I think Gibbs does

But say a belt less Asquare with the Rigby and that holds plenty enough for most uses .
 

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