Comparison of the .500s

[Hunter-Habib]

It‘s all largely a matter of preference. I personally like the .505 Gibbs pushing 600Gr Northfork Flat Point Solids and Cup Point Solids at an honest 2150 fps. But I cannot fault the .500 Jeffery or the .500 A Square one bit. As a matter of fact, they don’t require huge Magnum length actions like the Gibbs does.

 

[Rare Breed]

My Merkel 140 AE chambered in .500 Nitro Express weighs 10.4 lbs. I can tell you that full house loads are "very exhilarating".

My plan as I get my new 500 NE which weighs 9.9 pounds is to place a 2.1 pound lead bar in the stock to take it up to 12 pounds. Just talked to my gunsmith about that. while he suggested a mercury instock, I can only find one up to 1 pound in weight and that is simply not enough so I am going with the lead piece I just bought from Monometals. Your thoughts?

 

[colorado]

I'd shoot it first, off hand. If the recoil isn't bad I'd leave it alone. Balance is more important unless the recoil is so punishing it's about to cause a flinch.

 

[Tanks]

My .500 NE weighs 12.2 pounds and balances where the forend bottom connects. Now, my .500 MDM weighs 9.5 pounds and produces 15 ft. lbs more recoil energy according to the calculators. I don't have an issue with shooting them.

As @colorado said, I'd shoot your new firearm and then decide. One thing to consider if going after elephants, "you hunt them with your feet" and that extra weight does matter.

 

[Rare Breed]

My .500 NE weighs 12.2 pounds and balances where the forend bottom connects. Now, my .500 MDM weighs 9.5 pounds and produces 15 ft. lbs more recoil energy according to the calculators. I don't have an issue with shooting them.

As @colorado said, I'd shoot your new firearm and then decide. One thing to consider if going after elephants, "you hunt them with your feet" and that extra weight does matter.

Makes sense and will do. Thanks