Big Bore Addiction Group

[larry4831]

Matt, with your knowledge of ballistics and your knowledge of firearms, you might be " the most interesting man in the world" good luck on your buffalo hunt.

 

[matt85]

lol, thank you but my knowledge is pretty limited. i've spent a great deal of time surfing the net and reading the occasional book on cartridges or firearms, otherwise i lack any real education on either topic. its thanks to this forum i've had the chance to speak with some real authorities on both topics!

some very wise people on this forum, to learn you just need to take the time to read and ask questions of your own.

on a similar note if you like dangerous game cartridges i recommend a book i picked up in South Africa. its called "African Dangerous Game Cartridges" by Pierre van der Walt. i dont know where/if you can find it in the USA but its a great read on the topic and covers some fairly rare cartridges. i especially find Mr. Walt's theory on what makes for the ideal expanding bullet very interesting!

-matt

 

[brushmore]

on a similar note if you like dangerous game cartridges i recommend a book i picked up in South Africa. its called "African Dangerous Game Cartridges" by Pierre van der Walt. i dont know where/if you can find it in the USA but its a great read on the topic and covers some fairly rare cartridges. i especially find Mr. Walt's theory on what makes for the ideal expanding bullet very interesting!

I completely agree on the "African Dangerous Game Cartridges" book. The only place I found it here in the USA was on Amazon but only for the Kindle. But you don't need a Kindle to read it, there's a free app you can use.

 

[Warbird782]

Todays project is to fire all of these fine calibers in search of a big bore. L to R 375 Ruger, 375 H&H, 404 Jeff, 416 Rem, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott, and 505 Gibbs.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Warbird,
Looks like a wonderful day you have planned! Not a day for the recoil shy. Enjoy the trip to the range, you have a great selection of DG cartridges to chose from. Makes for a hard decision to chose only one.

Cheers,
Cody

 

[matt85]

looks like a day full of fun and excitement! but the only hard choice i see there is between the 458 Lott and the 505 Gibbs.

my recommendation is too start with the 505 and work your way down. once you shoot the biggest gun every else tends to feel small.

-matt

 

[Warbird782]

@matt85 The loads you made for @ActionBob seem to be ok. This is a 4 shot group at 100 yards with the Gibbs.

 

[Royal27]

Adequate....

 

[bassasdaindia]

is that grouping open sight or scoped on the Gibbs?

 

[Warbird782]

Scoped. 4X Trijicon

 

[matt85]

did you have fun? what cartridge did you like the most?

i think it will work better if i drop the speed a little. those loads i sent were around 2350fps with a 525gr TSX. i reduced the charge 0.5gr and i think its a little better.

will be testing more this weekend.

-matt

 

[Warbird782]

I had a great time! I now know that 375 is OFF the table and I will own a 40+ cal first. I liked the Winchester 416 Rem, Ruger 416 Rigby, CZ 404, and the Kimber 458 Lott.

 

[matt85]

my general recommendation for people is a Winchester M70 in 416 RM and a CZ 550 in 458 Lott (thats been worked by AHR) as a two gun set. these two rifles give a hunter power and versatility in an affordable package.

i use my Winchester in 416 RM for PG and as a back up for my 505 Gibbs. i like the idea of having a second rifle on a hunt thats suitable for both tasks. i load my 416 RM with a 300gr Barnes TSX at 2650fps and it becomes a excellent medium game rifle that will work on DG in a pinch. i even started carrying my 416 RM when hunting around here (WA state) because it will do a better job anchoring a bear then my 6.5mm would.

for hunting DG the most versatile and practical cartridge i can think of is the 458 Lott. you can use lighter bullets for big cats, heavier bullets for buffalo and elephant, or inexpensive bullets are easily available for practice. the 458 Lott can be loaded up or down to meet just about any need.

-matt

 

[Warbird782]

It was a great range session today. @ActionBob had the chance to try out my Warbird as I shot the big bores. I think he was impressed with the accuracy.

 

[ActionBob]

Yup Warbird, your Warbird is an incredible gun! along with your bench equipment even a mediocre shot like me can punch one hole 3 shot groups... That setup makes it seem easy. I definitely learned and I think gained as much from the session today as you did... Great day!

@matt85 , thanks for the ammo work! I'm looking forward to getting the other loads but you have got to see the video of the flames this load threw! That 505 was roaring!

 

[matt85]

@matt85 , thanks for the ammo work! I'm looking forward to getting the other loads but you have got to see the video of the flames this load threw! That 505 was roaring!

RL-25 is a slow burning powder and a 525gr bullet is light for a 50 caliber gun so what your seeing is likely powder still burning on its way out of the muzzle. i tried RL-33 (even slower) but it would actually leave unburnt powder in the barrel and empty case. when i tried faster burning powders it got rid of the flash but these faster powders didnt fill the massive 505 Gibbs case enough for my liking.

the 505 Gibbs has proved to be a very challenging cartridge to hand load for! i have had to change the way i typically develope a load for a rifle. normally i would focus more on accuracy and power would come naturally but in this case the Gibbs provided the best accuracy at relatively low velocities. so i had to start focusing on power and then try and find accuracy after the desired speed was reached. the CZ 550 in 505 Gibbs seems to like to throw the 525gr TSX at around 2100fps for best accuracy (cant remember exact speed on the top of my head). this may sound good but a 525gr .505" bullet at such low speeds isnt going to have the greatest penetration on heavy game (too wide and too short).

it also didnt help that the load data Barnes gives for the 505 Gibbs is incorrect. the qouted speeds are all much higher then what you actually get despite them claiming to use a shorter barrel for testing.

-matt

 

[Warbird782]

Here is the flame.

 

[ActionBob]

Guys I was wearing some rubber mud boots and actually felt that blast in my feet when I was filming that.

And I am very nervous about too much force on the gun so those are bags of sand on that little sled... I want the sled to move with the recoil.

You can kind of see how low Dave is sitting. I told him to get himself sitting upright as much as possible to let the recoil rock his body similar to when standing. He really did great (once he figured out how important it is to seriously pull the stock tight into the pocket of the shoulder, not let it sert out on the edge of the bone And he really is a terrific shot!

 

[Blackbird]

I have sympathy with the problem. Mine also started at the .375, moved to a 458 and now the 500NE. Needless to say none replaced the other theyre just becoming more and more. Luckily I always have the excuse that I really need it for my job(this is what I tell the wife).

Help...I have 300H&H,338 Win Mag, 9.3x62, 35 Whelen,3.75 H&H, 404 Jeffery, 416 Rem. Mag and 505 Gibbs. I sold my 416 Rigby.

No, there isn't......the new rifle is just the start of a much bigger problem......sorry.

 

[Royal27]

I sold my 416 Rigby.

You do need help!!!! Go buy another one, quickly!!!!