500 Whisper Dangerous Game?

[Jimbob]

Not to be confused with the 510 Whisper, the 500 is based on a much shortened 378/416/460 Weatherby case.
Appeals to me as I would have a deer legal subsonic rifle which, with a suppressor, would be as quiet as a rifle could be for deer here.
What got me really interested is that, according to SSK, it'll also push a 650gr at 1900fps from a 17" barrel. So that must be able to push a standard 570gr at around 2000fps.
That's enough for DG right?
The idea of a short barrel single shot, possibly suppressed, which can take DG appeals very much

 

[matt85]

a 570gr .510" bullet of good construction moving at 2000fps should work just fine.

however using a single shot rifle for dangerous game is not advisable. big critters dont usually die immediately with a single shot. you would be completely relying on your PH to save you if the animal decided to defend itself.

-matt

 

[Jimbob]

I completely agree there Matt. It's definitely riskier to use a single shot, same as using a bow or muzzleloader. To an extent, that's the appeal along with the knowledge that one has a single shot to take the animal.
I don't mind the PH backing me up if the animal does come so long as he can shoot!

 

[CAustin]

I completely agree there Matt. It's definitely riskier to use a single shot, same as using a bow or muzzleloader. To an extent, that's the appeal along with the knowledge that one has a single shot to take the animal.
I don't mind the PH backing me up if the animal does come so long as he can shoot!

Have you already purchased a rifle or just in the market?

 

[Jimbob]

Neither really. I've designed a few different rifles and the single shot route will be the one I go down. Easiest to make with minimal machinery outlay.
Part of me says just build it in 505 Gibbs and be done with it but I'd never get that approved for use in the UK, only abroad. The 500 Whisper stands a small chance of me being allowed to use it on deer.
It's all a long way off but it's nice to plan and dream, keeps the saving in perspective

 

[CAustin]

Understood!

 

[Jimbob]

Don't get me wrong, if they turn down the 500 Whisper I'll just get a 505 and have at it!

 

[Jimbob]

Or how about a 12.7x99 BPE, that'd be fun.

 

[bilmcc]

Matt85,

There is no way a single shot can be as fast as a double rifle. If I were to use one in hunting DG, I would carry more than one bullet. It is possible to reload and target a single shot as fast as a bolt action, so it may not be a question of relying on the PH, any more than the rest of us do. I would certainly practice until I could send 4 or more useful shots down range as fast as I could with my bolt action. To do otherwise would be irresponsible, I think.

 

[Jimbob]

I don't think Matt said that a single shot was as fast as a double, quite the opposite in fact.
I think carrying more than one bullet is a given, as is practicing with the rifle but I don't think a single shot is as fast as a bolt action. Close maybe but a well practiced user of both will be faster with a bolt gun.

 

[bilmcc]

Of course there is a range of speed depending on several factors. I was conceding to Matt that a double is faster (for two shots, anyway.)

 

[Jimbob]

I think a double will likely be faster for 4 as well. Regardless, it would be a single I would build, disadvantages be damned!

 

[bilmcc]

I don't think Matt said that a single shot was as fast as a double, quite the opposite in fact.
I think carrying more than one bullet is a given, as is practicing with the rifle but I don't think a single shot is as fast as a bolt action. Close maybe but a well practiced user of both will be faster with a bolt gun.

Watch people shooting buffalo with bolt actions on YouTube.

 

[GA Hunter]

If you are seriously considering suppressing it you may find it difficult to find a .50 cal can, much less one that doesn't out weigh the gun.

 

[Jimbob]

Getting the can isn't the hard bit but weight (and cost) certainly is.
The Ase-Utra is readily available but is 2.2kg (4.85lbs). Fortunately I know a guy who builds suppressors, since the Whisper doesn't use anywhere near the amount of powder as the bmg (for which the Ase is designed) he can seriously reduce the size of the can and he is much cheaper too.
Would be looking at something around half the weight, so still a chunk but if the rifle is built to accommodate it I reckon I should be able to have decent balance and a total weight of 11lbs.

 

[Dr Ray]

I completely agree there Matt. It's definitely riskier to use a single shot, same as using a bow or muzzleloader. To an extent, that's the appeal along with the knowledge that one has a single shot to take the animal.
I don't mind the PH backing me up if the animal does come so long as he can shoot!

Under pressure you may drop the cartridge when you are faced with a very angry and vindictive animal charging you. So a single shot Is not a good idea.
You would be more prone to misfeed the cartridge for a second or subsequent shot in your haste.
Suggest you take note of the other writers as well and think it through. Please take that advice in the spirit it is meant.

 

[Jimbob]

I agree with your pints and the other posters points. They're points I was already aware of, however that doesn't negate their validity.

My counter to that is that the chances of a missfeed or a dropped cartridge are just as likely as with a double. You get the rapid second shot with a double of course, and the value of that is not being debated, but when you reload you have two chances to missfeed/drop cartridges which is the same as if you did two shots and two reloads with a single.
As I have acknowledged above, it certainly is riskier to use a single, which is why I wholeheartedly agree with what you're saying, apart from the "not a good idea" part