Does this big bore cartridge exist?

[Northern Shooter]

Does this cartridge exist, or is it a unicorn?

I'm curious if there is a bolt-action cartridge that replicates the 500NE ballistics or there abouts without the need of "loading down" the 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs.

Essentially looking at options that fit between the 458 WinMag and 500 Jeffery without the recoil of the 500 Jeffery. Is there a cartridge that meets the following criteria? I'm guessing not..

• Bolt action magazine cartridge
• 0.458 - 0.510 cal
• 550-600gr projectile
• 2,100-2,200 fps
• Recoil <80 ft-lbs
• Factory ammo readily available.

458 Lott - Close enough to 458 WM, don't believe there are factory 550gr+ loadings for it.
450 Rigby - This is a close fit, 550gr loadings at 2,100 fps however factory ammo seems non-existent.
470 Capstick - Another close fit but zero factory ammo.

Have I missed any?

 

[Hoofnit]

What would be the purpose of that cartridge ? Any of those you listed would be sufficient.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Does this cartridge exist, or is it a unicorn?

I'm curious if there is a bolt-action cartridge that replicates the 500NE ballistics or there abouts without the need of "loading down" the 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs.

Essentially looking at options that fit between the 458 WinMag and 500 Jeffery without the recoil of the 500 Jeffery. Is there a cartridge that meets the following criteria? I'm guessing not..

• Bolt action magazine cartridge
• 0.458 - 0.510 cal
• 550-600gr projectile
• 2,100-2,200 fps
• Recoil <80 ft-lbs
• Factory ammo readily available.

458 Lott - Close enough to 458 WM, don't believe there are factory 550gr+ loadings for it.
450 Rigby - This is a close fit, 550gr loadings at 2,100 fps however factory ammo seems non-existent.
470 Capstick - Another close fit but zero factory ammo.

Have I missed any?

450 N.E ?

 

[Northern Shooter]

More oomph than the 458WM, less recoil than the standard 500 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs.

The 500NE ballistics seems to be a real sweet spot in terms of Energy vs recoil. Surprised it hasn't been replicated in a bolt gun without pushing the same bullets to 2,300 fps+

 

[Northern Shooter]

450 N.E ?

Was the 450 NE ever offered in 550gr bullets? I don't believe I have ever seen factory ammo for the 450 NE.

 

[AZDAVE]

50 B&M

 

[Altitude sickness]

You can have Hendershots load for you. If you send them your components, it’s much cheaper.

 

[grand veneur]

The question was

"I'm curious if there is a bolt-action cartridge that replicates the 500NE ballistics or there abouts without the need of "loading down" the 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs."

I don't know such a cartridge, but one could definitely have filled this gap, namely the cartridge 495 A-Square, if A-Square had not tried to market it at the upper limit of its performance, as has unfortunately often been done with a lot of big bore cartridges in the past. The cartridge 500 A-Square was available for those who wanted a little more power in this caliber class.

 

[Frederik]

Norma loads factory Norma PH range 458 lott on 550gr.

 

[skydiver386]

450 Rigby 500gr Solid (10 Round Box)

Norma 450 Rigby Ammo

ravenrocksprecision.com

Raven Rocks has piles of 450 Rigby ammo at $59.00 a box. They also have Norma brass. Plus they are a sponsor of this site.

The 450 Rigby can be loaded down to 1900 fps for mild recoil loads, or loaded up near 2600fps (460 Weatherby) power levels should T-Rex tags become available on Jurassic Island. Most on this forum would agree that 2250-2350 is plenty for anything on this planet.

 

[PARA45]

450 Rigby 500gr Solid (10 Round Box)

Norma 450 Rigby Ammo

ravenrocksprecision.com

Raven Rocks has piles of 450 Rigby ammo at $59.00 a box. They also have Norma brass. Plus they are a sponsor of this site.

Wow, cheaper than 416 Rigby.

 

[Daniel Cary]

Heym made a 500 N.E. in a bolt! .. long ago

 

[Mark R]

Was the 450 NE ever offered in 550gr bullets? I don't believe I have ever seen factory ammo for the 450 NE.

No the 450 NE 3 1/4” isn’t available with 550gr projectile. Hornady factory ammunition was available up until recently. I think it has now been discontinued. It was loaded with 480gr dgx and dgs.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Heym made a 500 N.E. in a bolt! .. long ago

I didn't know that, thought it was only doubles and single shots.

I wonder if it had any feeding issues?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

@michael458

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

50 B&M

This one too

500 MDM

500 MDM

www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com

Sorry just saw the factory ammo requirement.

.470 Capstick – Aria Ballistic Engineering

www.ariaballisticengineering.org

 

[Daniel Cary]

I didn't know that, thought it was only doubles and single shots.

I wonder if it had any feeding issues?

Someone here had one in 500 Jeffery for sale from that era (if it was 500 flanged, Id've snagged it). I believe they were distributed by H&K .. they went up to 600.

Knob Creek '13: Heym .600 Nitro Express bolt-action rifle

The .600 Nitro Express.What a round!Used primarily for big game hunting, it’s not for the faint of heart, nor someone with a fear of loud noises.This Heym “Express” model is a bolt-action repeater which can hold 3-5 rounds depending on the caliber.

www.thefirearmblog.com

 

[Daniel Cary]

Someone here had one in 500 Jeffery for sale from that era (if it was 500 flanged, Id've snagged it). I believe they were distributed by H&K .. they went up to 600.

Knob Creek '13: Heym .600 Nitro Express bolt-action rifle

The .600 Nitro Express.What a round!Used primarily for big game hunting, it’s not for the faint of heart, nor someone with a fear of loud noises.This Heym “Express” model is a bolt-action repeater which can hold 3-5 rounds depending on the caliber.

www.thefirearmblog.com

500 Nitro .. if one could be found.

 

[Certus]

The question was

"I'm curious if there is a bolt-action cartridge that replicates the 500NE ballistics or there abouts without the need of "loading down" the 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs."

I don't know such a cartridge, but one could definitely have filled this gap, namely the cartridge 495 A-Square, if A-Square had not tried to market it at the upper limit of its performance, as has unfortunately often been done with a lot of big bore cartridges in the past. The cartridge 500 A-Square was available for those who wanted a little more power in this caliber class.

The question was

"I'm curious if there is a bolt-action cartridge that replicates the 500NE ballistics or there abouts without the need of "loading down" the 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs."

I don't know such a cartridge, but one could definitely have filled this gap, namely the cartridge 495 A-Square, if A-Square had not tried to market it at the upper limit of its performance, as has unfortunately often been done with a lot of big bore cartridges in the past. The cartridge 500 A-Square was available for those who wanted a little more power in this caliber class.

495 a square all the way for .500 nitro performance. It’ll do this without excess case capacity or high pressures as well as plenty of brass around to make it from.
Also should feed fairly well.

 

[Nevada Mike]

More oomph than the 458WM, less recoil than the standard 500 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs...

458 Lott? easy to find bullets and brass. A real thumper, but not too crazy.