505 Gibbs

[Hunter-Habib]

I have a 1917 action laying in my gun safe, and every once in a while I consider a 505 Gibbs build on this action. The only thing that stops me is the other build(s) that I have already in the works.

Enfield Model 1917 is a good choice of action for the .505 Gibbs. But the Pattern 14 Enfield action is slightly easier to work with when building a rifle in .505 Gibbs.

 

[skydiver386]

Enfield Model 1917 is a good choice of action for the .505 Gibbs. But the Pattern 14 Enfield action is slightly easier to work with when building a rifle in .505 Gibbs.

Yes, I believe the bolt face and extractor require less work, but both a in fairly short supply these days.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Yes, I believe the bolt face and extractor require less work, but both a in fairly short supply these days.

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

 

[PCC600]

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

Sorry but I don’t know where they have gone .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

When I had first gone to Australia in 1977, there were DOZENS of military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield rifles lying around in the second hand racks of local gun stores. In my most recent trip to Australia in 2021, I did not see a single Pattern 14 Enfield rifle at the local gun stores anymore. Very unfortunate.

I wonder if they've all been bought up, by now.

Perhaps @PCC600 or @Tintin or @Bob Nelson 35Whelen can shed some light in this topic.

@Hunter-Habib
P14s and M17s were common back then and sold cheap to make sporting rifles and generally cut up to sporterise them. They were regarded as big clunky actions that needed to much work to make them look any good.
The Mauser 98 was held in higher regard hence the cheaper prices for the Enfield.
Finding an original Enfield now is hard and expensive if you want one in good condition. Even average ones command good money.
Finding a P14 or M17 action is doable but expect to pay up to six hundred dollars for one now.
Fortunately I have 2 custom Enfield rifles.
Bob

 

[Jeff505]

As my hunting friend @Doug3006 described my 505 “The gun that kills on one end and maims on the other”.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Jeff, have you looked into a two piece picatinny rail and then mounting your scope on a cantilever mount to get that scope further forward.

Nice bull

 

[zephyr]

More than happy with my 505

 

[Altitude sickness]

What is it Zephyr

 

[zephyr]

Altitude sickness ...​

GMA Action, Krieger Barrel, Bastogne Walnut, NECG Front Sight, Custom Rear Sight ...
Built by the late Mark Peterson Rochester Vt

 

[Altitude sickness]

It looked like a GMA
Very Nice!

 

[Daniel Cary]

I have a basic 101 question .. if anyone can help!

If a rifle is regulated with Norma 570's .&. you want to use Norma 540's

Is there where optics are required (RMR, etc.)??? thank you.

 

[zephyr]

Altitude sickness​

Thank you...,
She is 11lbs empty, 11.5 with 3 down 1 up... 14.5" LOP and 1/4" of "Cast On".. (I shoot right handed bolts left handed)
It is my first custom built rifle ... Lots of fun.... spent the better part of 6 months while waiting for the action, barrel and wood, doing research, collecting pages of notes, pictures and thoughts on the build and loads

 

[zephyr]

I have a basic 101 question .. if anyone can help!

If a rifle is regulated with Norma 570's .&. you want to use Norma 540's

Is there where optics are required (RMR, etc.)??? thank you.

A bolt gun is not regulated like a double for a particular round, the sights are filed in for a particular round at a giving distance ... you have to shoot the two different rounds to see where the Point of Aim (POA) compares to the Point of Impact (POI)... At the distances a 505 is used it may be within the bullet dia. which in this case is .505" and would not matter .....

 

[Daniel Cary]

A bolt gun is not regulated like a double for a particular round, the sights are filed in for a particular round at a giving distance ... you have to shoot the two different rounds to see where the Point of Aim (POA) compares to the Point of Impact (POI)... At the distances a 505 is used it may be within the bullet dia. which in this case is .505 an would not matter .....

Thank You!

 

[zephyr]

This is the process I used when filing in the sights on my 505...
Worked up my desired load first a 525gr CEB #13 Solid at 2300fps
With the desired front sight and a temporary blank rear sight I started filing a V into the rear sight for the range i wanted... In this case 30 yards ... Why 30 yards?? With my load the bullet leaves the barrel approx 1/2" below line of sight and crosses the line of sight on the way up at 30 yards in then stays within a 1/2" above the line of sight to approx 110 yards and crosses on the way down ...
Figured this was all I needed

 

[Daniel Cary]

600grn, Norma 570, Norma 540, Kynoch.

 

[John Telford]

I have both .505 and .500 Jeff and can say that they both deliver what they promise.
My personal preference and it’s a matter of sentiment rather than in field performance is the .505.
Both guns were purchased from the late Col Casey Lewis. The .505 is built on a Heym Ultra Magnum action they the “smuggled” into South Africa when they started the Vektor Africa Magnum project.
The Jeff is built on a Vektor Africa Magnum Mauser action. They are one serial number apart- still looking for the middle one!
I also have an original.505 once owned by the first Game warden of Botswana - Pat Bromfield. I have come to learn that these are highly collectible and super rare. I know of only 23 original Gibbs still in circulation. If anyone knows of one kindly let me know so that it can be documented.
If you can find any big bore with a Vektor action buy it!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Here I am shooting a Friends Vektor actioned rifle in .450 Rigby. It’s a piece of art the makes a loud sound.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I may be able to talk him into selling this Vektor in .450 Rigby if someone is interested. It’s as nice a rifle as I have ever held. Very nice engraving and wood. It may be nicer than the Rigbys and Heym’s I’ve fondled. And could probably be bought at what I would consider a steal for the craftsmanship