Sako Brown Bear 500 Jeffery

I just got my rifle back and the folks over at Canyon Creek Custom Gunstocks did a fantastic job! The balance is just right for me. They got the rifle to just at 13 pounds, but it doesn't feel as heavy as it actually is. They did a great job on the recoil pad too. I can't wait to get it out and shoot it!
 
Lovely looking rifle that. 13lb is heavy but it's all about balance as you say. I held a 2-bore rifle once and it was so well balanced that it was easy to forget it weighed 26lb!

I wonder if you could do me a favour if you have some vernier callipers to hand?
Would you be able to measure the diameter of the barrel just forward of the action and at the muzzle please?
 
I don't have any on hand at the moment unfortunately. I will try to get ahold of some and check the measurements
 
Thank you. There is no great rush, there just isn't much out there for what kind of profile a sporting 50 runs.
Just helps me plan future outgoings!
 
I'm sort of resurrecting this post, I finally have some ammo, 20rds of double tap 525gr loads, as well as some time tomorrow to go to the range to rest out the rifle with the weight added. I plan on getting some more standard 570gr loads soon (until I'm ready to handload for it). I will post a preliminary range report tomorrow when I get back from the range on how it handles!
 
Hello everyone, I am doing a little preliminary review on the sako brown bear I just picked up. It's in 500 Jeffery. I am very impressed with the quality of the rifle, fit and finish is what I would expect from sako which is fantastic. The rifle points like a dream and I love the express sights!!! The front sight is a very large dot which is super quick to acquire. The weight is lighter than I would prefer for this caliber but I intend to have a gunsmith add some weight in the stock and a better recoil pad. The recoil pad appears to be an afterthought though, it's barely an inch thick and has no cushion to speak of, a metal butt plate on a WW2 era Mauser comes to mind..... that's really the only disappointing part about the rifle. Everything else appears to be fantastic. I'm going to be getting some ammo soon, I will try and shoot it stock but I get the feeling that experience will be akin to instigating my own mugging. I probably won't do a ton of serious shooting until I get the weight added and buttpad changed. Does anyone know of a good gunsmith here in the states that's familiar with the big bores? I don't mind paying to have it done right. On a side note, I want to give a huge shoutout to the folks at euro optic @www.eurooptic.com, they were beyond fantastic to deal with. I even picked up a tikka t3 in 30-06 while I was there and threw in some 30-06 ammo. As a heads up they are having an awesome sale on their tikka t3's. I got mine for $200 off regular price! I will report back after shooting it!

Thanks,
Voodoo


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I'm looking at either the Sako Brown Bear in 375 or 416 Rigby. I found the rifle to be barrel heavy and maybe it's me but it seems unbalanced. Think I will go for the Hunter 85 stainless as I live in the tropics in Australia and rust is a major problem.
Also small and feel the Brown Bear is not right for me. Maybe it's just me at the gunshop with very limited time to try?
 
Hi Voodoo,,
Glad you getting round to trying it out.. Look forward to hearing your thoughts after shooting...
By the way, what make of pad did you fit to the sako and did you lengthen the pull.. Personally I like the big white bead on the front, after all your not going to be shooting squirrels with it.
 
I was able to shoot the Sako today, I was shooting some doubletap 525gr loads at 2,400fps. Those were brisk to say the least. I only shot 5 rounds the first outing, this will definitely be one I have to practice with. I also had to sight in my win model 70 in 416 rem mag as well. I never thought I'd shoot my 416 for a break in recoil haha. That being said I could not imagine trying to shoot the rifle in stock configuration at 9.5lbs with the stock recoil pad. The work I had done on the rifle was well worth it. The rifle ejected flawlessly, I worked the bolt fast as well as working it slowly, all cases did not hesitate to clear the rifle. I think given more practice I will become more familiar with the rifle, it handled like a dream. This was quite the step up from my Cz 458 Lott, but I'm glad I made it. I plan on mainly using 570gr loads at 2,100 or 2,200fps which should be slightly more tame in my estimation.
 
Good one Voodoo.. Gland you finally made the time to go and shoot that 500 Jeffery.
 
I was able to shoot the Sako today, I was shooting some doubletap 525gr loads at 2,400fps. Those were brisk to say the least. I only shot 5 rounds the first outing, this will definitely be one I have to practice with. I also had to sight in my win model 70 in 416 rem mag as well. I never thought I'd shoot my 416 for a break in recoil haha. That being said I could not imagine trying to shoot the rifle in stock configuration at 9.5lbs with the stock recoil pad. The work I had done on the rifle was well worth it. The rifle ejected flawlessly, I worked the bolt fast as well as working it slowly, all cases did not hesitate to clear the rifle. I think given more practice I will become more familiar with the rifle, it handled like a dream. This was quite the step up from my Cz 458 Lott, but I'm glad I made it. I plan on mainly using 570gr loads at 2,100 or 2,200fps which should be slightly more tame in my estimation.

"I never thought I'd shoot my 416 for a break in recoil haha. I never thought I'd shoot my 416 for a break in recoil haha. "

Exactly, my sons and I shoot my 500 Jeffery first, after that their 416 Rem and 375 Weatherby are just pussycats. I shoot 570g A-Frames or TSX's at 2300 fps. I think the recoil with a 570g bullet at 2200 fps will be no less sporty than your 525g loads at 2400 fps. Sight in then shoot off hand, off sticks or kneeling (not prone!). The recoil is only tough when shooting from the bench. Congrats on your rifle!
 
It's actually given me a great perspective on other dangerous game cartridges haha! True, I didn't decide to get into this rifle based on how tame it is haha. It will definitely take some getting used to but now that I know what to expect, it will be easier next time I shoot it. It's been a long time since I've had my heart pounding before I shot a rifle hahah, talk about feeling alive! I saved my 25yd offhand target, I'll have to snap a pic and post it. My 1st two shots were below the target (I know I pulled them low due to excitement haha). My 3rd was low as well but my last two were just a hair low but spaced very nicely. I don't plan on benching the rifle unless I can fit my SUV in the lead sled to counteract the recoil, but I do plan on using shooting sticks to sight in so I can at least still use my whole body to absorb recoil. As I said before and can't stress enough, I'm so glad I sent the rifle out to have weight added, the rifle balanced even better for me now than in factory condition. No way would I have shot it at factory weight knowing what I know now. A kick from a draft horse would probably give me the same effect.
 
Voodoo: Gald you had a good time with it at the range.
Same with my brown bear in .450 Rigby, shooting it with 550 gr loads at 2300 tends to wake you up. I have not added weight to mine so at 9.5 lbs you know you have pulled the trigger.
If I decide to keep it I will add a mercury reducer or just some lead to bring it up to about 10.5 lbs to 11 lbs bare.
I am adding a under barrel recoil lug to mine just back and under the rear sight epoxy bedded into the stock. As if you pull it apart you can see that the standard recoil lug is not adequate. I have heard some reports of the stock cracking but have not see this personally.
Happy hunting.. :)
 
Hello everyone, I am doing a little preliminary review on the sako brown bear I just picked up. It's in 500 Jeffery. I am very impressed with the quality of the rifle, fit and finish is what I would expect from sako which is fantastic. The rifle points like a dream and I love the express sights!!! The front sight is a very large dot which is super quick to acquire. The weight is lighter than I would prefer for this caliber but I intend to have a gunsmith add some weight in the stock and a better recoil pad. The recoil pad appears to be an afterthought though, it's barely an inch thick and has no cushion to speak of, a metal butt plate on a WW2 era Mauser comes to mind..... that's really the only disappointing part about the rifle. Everything else appears to be fantastic. I'm going to be getting some ammo soon, I will try and shoot it stock but I get the feeling that experience will be akin to instigating my own mugging. I probably won't do a ton of serious shooting until I get the weight added and buttpad changed. Does anyone know of a good gunsmith here in the states that's familiar with the big bores? I don't mind paying to have it done right. On a side note, I want to give a huge shoutout to the folks at euro optic @www.eurooptic.com, they were beyond fantastic to deal with. I even picked up a tikka t3 in 30-06 while I was there and threw in some 30-06 ammo. As a heads up they are having an awesome sale on their tikka t3's. I got mine for $200 off regular price! I will report back after shooting it!

Thanks,
Voodoo


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Hey Voodoo , i have a 500 brown bear as well and was curious how the weight adding expedition went.
 
@SWARA, that definitely would be a wake up call haha. I haven't done anything with the recoil lug yet but if a problem arises I will probably upgrade it and have a new stock made. I plan on putting it through its paces though and see what happens. Hi boldo, it went very well, I feel it was well worth the cost to upgrade it and get some extra weight on it. Plus it helped balance the rifle better for me. It's still a handful of a rifle but stepping up from my 458 Lott helped prepare me to some degree.
 
@SWARA, that definitely would be a wake up call haha. I haven't done anything with the recoil lug yet but if a problem arises I will probably upgrade it and have a new stock made. I plan on putting it through its paces though and see what happens. Hi boldo, it went very well, I feel it was well worth the cost to upgrade it and get some extra weight on it. Plus it helped balance the rifle better for me. It's still a handful of a rifle but stepping up from my 458 Lott helped prepare me to some degree.
Good to hear the weight adding worked , might look at giving mine an extra pound , it's a great fast moving rifle , but she is a bit snappy.
 
I also have one of these Brown Bear .500 Jeffery rifles and am really pleased with it. It has killed seven bull buffalo so far and a handful of boars. I load 600 grain Woodleigh PPSNs at about 2140 fps. It feeds and cycles beautifully and saved my life on its very first shot. However, I missed three bulls with it at about 100m which is not good, so it is presently getting a smaller front bead and a better recoil pad fitted. Can’t wait to get it back!
 
you should hire a gun bearer to pack a lead sled for when you need to touch that beast off!!!
 

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