.505 Gibbs with a .510 barrel?

Thomas Murray · Jul 26, 2019

Building a .505 gibbs on a cz550 action at the moment and was wondering if anyone had used a .510 barrel?
any issues? seems like projectiles would be easier to find as is the barrel in the first place.

matt85 · Jul 26, 2019

as long as you make sure to clearly mark the gun (so future owners understand) then i dont see the problem.

however, .505" bullets are pretty easy to come by and arent any less common then .510" bullets in the proper weights for this cartridge. the only advantage the .510" bullets will give you are the availability of lighter and heavier bullets then normally used. but i think you will find bullets lighter then 525gr will not perform well in the huge cartridge and bullets heavier then 600gr probably wont stabilize with normal rifling.

-matt

Thomas Murray · Jul 26, 2019

yeah okay i cant see it being dangerous too the user at least worst case.
struggling to find a .505 gibbs barrel in australia, at short notice as my gun smith is retiring so im trying to push it threw !

only company that seems to make them doesnt answer their phones or emails

i can get a .510 barrel in 10days... and im buying the donner rifle from a mate... as they are hard to find in australia atm also.
iv got a .375handh and a .458 lott for other small lighting bullets in anycase.
is there anything i should be looking for regarding twist rates ? 1 in 16 is spec?

matt85 · Jul 26, 2019

didnt say it would be dangerous, but i imagine it would really piss someone off to try and use a rifle marked 505 gibbs and find it wont hit the broad side of a barn with 505 gibbs ammunition.

if you can only get a 510 barrel then why not make a 500 Jeffery?

if you absolutely must invent the 510 gibbs then go for it. the same twist rate will work and there shouldnt be a different in performance or even load data for that matter.

-matt

Hoss Delgado · Jul 26, 2019

Email Safari Outdoor . They will make you a .505 Barrel. Hope this helps and keep us posted on the gun's progress. Here is their email address :
info@so.co.za

Hoss Delgado · Jul 26, 2019

Also , Infamous Professional Hunter , Richard Harland did an excellent Article on the .505 Gibbs . He preferred his personally purchased .505 Gibbs much more to the .458 Winchester Magnum which he was issued during his days as a Game Ranger ( Smart man ) . Here is the article . I find it really interesting that Mr. Harland's vintage 1927 .505 Gibbs was capable of firing both the standard 525 grain round nosed full patch bullet which it was regulated for , and heavy modern 600 grainers. Usually , you aren't that lucky due to issues with the rifle's twist

Thomas Murray · Jul 26, 2019

matt85 said:
didnt say it would be dangerous, but i imagine it would really piss someone off to try and use a rifle marked 505 gibbs and find it wont hit the broad side of a barn with 505 gibbs ammunition.

if you can only get a 510 barrel then why not make a 500 Jeffery?

if you absolutely must invent the 510 gibbs then go for it. the same twist rate will work and there shouldnt be a different in performance or even load data for that matter.

-matt

i honestly have no idea if it would shoot poorly with a .505 proj in the .510 barrel or not, im guessing not perfect? kinda why im asking the question.

as far as the next person well... not really a huge consideration its mine im spending the money for me because i like it, theres very little demand in australia for this sorta thing.

the safety aspect sure and no doubt would mark it .510 bore, i get where your coming from.

no interest in 500 Jeffery i love the stories and the history behind the gibbs, does that make sense, no but same reason i love 375handh and 458lott....

if im kinda wrecking the idea with the .510 bore perhaps i wont bother, if it wrecks the project.

i know you can run .308 proj threw a enfield/mosin it just kinda isnt the best.

i was thinking youd run it as a normal gibbs just with .510 projs ?

really appreciate the input and advice, no intention of being dismissive or rude.
thanks.

Wyatt Smith · Jul 26, 2019

Make sure no one could get your ammo and try to run through a normal 505. That might be dangerous.

Shootist43 · Jul 26, 2019

Welcome Aboard Thomas. Just out of curiosity why are you wanting to build a 505 Gibbs? Do you intend to become a PH and need a stopping rifle? I've never owned one or wanted to, but I think shooting one would be more painful than enjoyable.

Hoss Delgado · Jul 26, 2019

Shootist43 said:
Welcome Aboard Thomas. Just out of curiosity why are you wanting to build a 505 Gibbs? Do you intend to become a PH and need a stopping rifle? I've never owned one or wanted to, but I think shooting one would be more painful than enjoyable.

I'm not the OP , but like him , l have hunted in Australia . Australian Water Buffalo are tough critters. I have a friend who uses a .458 Win Mag Colt Sauer on them and still wasn't always getting the necessary stopping power on them until he got ahold of some A square monolithic solids in .458 Win Mag.
From personal experience , l have shot a .505 Gibbs in 2009 . 7 rounds . Not enough to be an expert on it , but enough to get a feel of the gun. With a good heavily padded hunting vest or a shoulder pads , a .505 Gibbs can be comfortably shot without incurring any significant pain . If l were ever going back to hunt in Australia again , l would definitely use a .505 Gibbs or a .500 Jeffery on Water Buffalo if l could get one. I was using a .375 HH Magnum last time l was there and it was above average and certainly worked , but left a bit to be desired .

Shootist43 · Jul 26, 2019

Thomas, contact BenKK via a personal message on AH. He routinely shoots Water Buffalo in "Oz" and has more than just a few different caliber rifles.

matt85 · Jul 26, 2019

Shootist43 said:
Welcome Aboard Thomas. Just out of curiosity why are you wanting to build a 505 Gibbs? Do you intend to become a PH and need a stopping rifle? I've never owned one or wanted to, but I think shooting one would be more painful than enjoyable.

shooting a 505 Gibbs can be VERY enjoyably if you know what your doing. you do not need an excuse to own a rifle in this fine cartridge.

-matt

bruce moulds · Jul 26, 2019

hoss,
just love those photos of guys with rifles on their shoulders pointing who knows where.
a 505 in the guts would stop you farting in church!
bruce.

colorado · Jul 26, 2019

I believe Phil Shoemaker (Alaskan brown bear guide) had a 505 Gibbs re barreled to use .510 bullets. I wouldn't do it just because a 505 Gibbs is such an awesome traditional African Caliber. If you want something in .510 caliber I would build a 500 Jeffery or 500 A-Square. My CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery (.510 caliber) has a 1in 10" twist McGowen barrel. At the time the CZ Custom Shop used McGowan barrels. It's very accurate, doesn't copper foul much at all considering I'm shooting Barnes TSX copper bullets almost exclusively. They do make .505 caliber barrels. Not sure about the delivery time to Australia.

3 shot groups at 50 yards. 500 Jeffery, 570g TSX at around 2300 fps.

Hoss Delgado · Jul 26, 2019

bruce moulds said:
hoss,
just love those photos of guys with rifles on their shoulders pointing who knows where.
a 505 in the guts would stop you farting in church!
bruce.

Dude , that's Richard Harland , my 9th Favorite Hunter of all time.

But you got a point . Maybe , they had the safety on ?

Thomas Murray · Jul 26, 2019

Shootist43 said:
Welcome Aboard Thomas. Just out of curiosity why are you wanting to build a 505 Gibbs? Do you intend to become a PH and need a stopping rifle? I've never owned one or wanted to, but I think shooting one would be more painful than enjoyable.

glutton for punishment ? just want one, i really enjoy my .458lott and what to go the next step.

colorado · Jul 26, 2019

A 600g bullet at 2400 fps will definitely get your attention

bruce moulds · Jul 27, 2019

a 600 gn at 1300 out of a 50/2.5" sharps with black powder will get your attention.
bruce.

Thomas Murray · Aug 12, 2019

well the good news is i found one on the 2nd hand market, which is uncommon to say the least.
factory cz550 safari .505 Gibbs - Stoked !
came with dies, 80 cases shell holder, couple of boxes of 525 soft points and the cz factory box and wrapping.

Very nicely put together rifle, much better finish on the woodwork compared to my factory hogsback .458 cz550
The attention too detail is quite nice, obvious why they were so much more expensive.
factory barrel band sling point, cz logo stamped into the grip and forend and the factory recoil reducer in the stock, stock is much better finished with all the grain being filled in smooth, im guessing the company who builds the .505s and 500 jeff, replace the stock with their own or something?

In anycase need some load data! too suit 525 woodleighs... the previous owner stated he was using about 130grains of ADI Ar2209.
ADI dont actuly have anything listed on their website and my hornady reloading book mentions nothing any help would be great
thanks

Hoss Delgado · Aug 12, 2019

Thomas Murray said:
well the good news is i found one on the 2nd hand market, which is uncommon to say the least.
factory cz550 safari .505 Gibbs - Stoked !
came with dies, 80 cases shell holder, couple of boxes of 525 soft points and the cz factory box and wrapping.

Very nicely put together rifle, much better finish on the woodwork compared to my factory hogsback .458 cz550
The attention too detail is quite nice, obvious why they were so much more expensive.
factory barrel band sling point, cz logo stamped into the grip and forend and the factory recoil reducer in the stock, stock is much better finished with all the grain being filled in smooth, im guessing the company who builds the .505s and 500 jeff, replace the stock with their own or something?

In anycase need some load data! too suit 525 woodleighs... the previous owner stated he was using about 130grains of ADI Ar2209.
ADI dont actuly have anything listed on their website and my hornady reloading book mentions nothing any help would be great
thanks

If you want load data for 600 grain Monolithic solids , l can give you.

.505 Gibbs with a .510 barrel?

Thomas Murray

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Thomas Murray

matt85

Hoss Delgado

Hoss Delgado

Thomas Murray

Wyatt Smith

Shootist43

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