500ne vs 577ne

[Papabear55]

For all intents and purposes, which one would be the better choice of caliber? From hunting to plinking. Collectors value or resale value. Stopping vs first shot? Ease of reloading? Wow factor?

 

[IvW]

500 NE

 

[Papabear55]

500 NE

Any particular reason? Looking for a bit if a conversation lol

 

[IvW]

You can actually hunt other game with it, easy to reload, components are freely available. It out penetrates the bigger brother. It can stop any animal coming or going. It can be built on a much lighter rifle than the 577.

Most serious hunters can handle the recoil of the 500 NE and very few can handle the 577 NE.

Recovery time for the second shot is vastly increased with the 577 NE due to excessive muzzle lift.

I use the bolt action 500 Jeff that uses the same bullet and although I load it to higher velocities than the 500 NE it is the most devastatingly effective rifle I have ever used on the bigger members of the Big 6 with the utmost satisfaction.

In a bolt, 500 Jeff in a double, 500 NE either one but not the 577.

 

[Papabear55]

I can agree with this points, what makes the 577 less effective? Also, besides the recoil, what would keep one from hunting smaller game? Big slow bullet shouldnt cause hydrostatic shock?

 

[IvW]

The 577 is less effective due to the heavier rifle which makes it slower into action, the recoil can just not be left out of it as this causes poor shot placement. The extra recoil(a lot more than the 500) gives very little gain in performance.

The 570 gr .510 bullet @ 2150 fps out penetrates the 750 gr .585 bullet @ 2000 fps, although the sectional densities are very similar, the 500 NE bullets are longer than the 577 NE bullets.

This together with the smaller frontal area gives the 500 the penetration advantage.

For smaller game you need to get close due to not being able to use a scope. Sure I guess you could hunt whatever you like with a 577 NE,I have hunted Impala etc. with my Jeff, but trust me after a few full power loads from a 577 NE you may want to reconsider.

The weight of the rifle, open steel sights and the excessive recoil would however be the main issues or limiting factors with the 577 NE.

 

[Russ-F]

Having owned both I’d certainly say the .577” has the ‘wow factor’ as you put it.

As regards ease of reloading, I don’t think there’s much difference as the requisites are available for either bore size & the .577” presents no additional problems compared to the .500”.

Resale value would depend on the particular rifle more than calibre - both are very much a ‘niche’ interest. Of the people who want a .577” NE the majority would want a double rifle (ditto the .500 NE). If you have an eye on resale value you’d do best to buy or have made a bolt action in .500” Jeffery.

From a practical point of view I think the comments already made sum it up well.

It’s worth bearing in mind that my friends in Australia tell me the .577” 650 grain bullet at around 1950 fps is very effective on Asian buffalo & scrub bulls plus easier to manage from a recoil recovery standpoint. No doubt good for bear as well.

Regards
Russell

 

[Red Leg]

What IvW says. Every .577 I have held or shot needs to come with either an issue gun carriage or gun bearer. The latter was the norm in the caliber's heyday. I would also note that "plinking" is not a word normally associated in a sentence containing ".577". The negative on hunting other game is a big slow bullet giving you the effective range of an open-sighted slug gun. Of course with the slug gun you won't need the gun carriage or the gun bearer. Unless you already have a SxS or two, and given those choices, I'd pick a .470.

 

[CTDolan]

If it’ll be a toy go with the 577.

If it’ll be a tool you’ll be better served with the 500.

 

[matt85]

calling the 577 a toy is a bit of a stretch and fairly insulting considering the 577 NE was "THE" elephant rifle cartridge in the beginning of the 20th century. the only cartridges with more history then the 577 NE 3" would be the 8 bore and the 4 bore. as far as I know the 577 NE 3" was the first NE cartridge and was the main choice for most of the great ivory hunters.

both cartridges are fantastic and should be respected for their extensive history in Africa and Asia. the primary difference between the two will be weight, the 500 NE typically will weigh 11-12 pounds while the 577 NE will typically weigh 14-15 pounds. in terms of performance both cartridges are fully capable of bringing down the angriest and largest animals on the planet. the 577 will make a bigger hole while the 500 will penetrate deeper but both are outstanding!

now if you don't hand load then the 577 is out of the question. sources of loaded 577 NE 3" are rare and im not entirely sure I trust all of them to be properly loaded (I don't trust Kynoch).

-matt

 

[Papabear55]

Thanks for your reply Matt. Until i can afford a double, either or both calibers will be had in a modified ruger no1.

I wouldn't say they would be toys, partially because no gun is a toy, and because truth be told i will hunt everything from whitetail up to moose and grizzly with it until i can afford a trip to Oz or Africa.

I do handload so the ammunition cost really isnt a big deal. And i love this history of both cartridges and have been considering getting one or the other since i was a young boy. But there's not many floating around washington state nor many gunsmiths willing to do the conversion that id trust

 

[CTDolan]

By “toy” I meant a gun which will basically spend it’s life at the range. Obviously, the 577 is no toy in the common sense of the word.

 

[Papabear55]

CTDolan, i didnt mean to imply that you meant it that way. I more meant to acknowledge the fact that quite a few people who buy these awesome works of art treat them as such. I know a few people in the service who still treat guns as toys and its quite aggravating

 

[larry4831]

By “toy” I meant a gun which will basically spend it’s life at the range. Obviously, the 577 is no toy in the common sense of the word.

I understand perfectly what you meant

 

[matt85]

if this just gonna be a custom ruger #1 then go with a 577 NE. my logic behind this choice is simple... if you only get one shot then make it a big one!

a few things of note though:
1. the stock on a ruger #1 is trash. you will need a new (thicker) stock to make the gun comfortable to shoot.
2. expect to add a ton of weight! the lightest 577 id be willing to shoot would be 13 pounds but 14 pounds would be preferred.
3. insure the gun is properly balanced. don't have too much weight in any one place (muzzle or stock) but if needed the stock can be a little heavier then the muzzle. muzzle heavy guns tend to deliver a sharper recoil.

ive shot just about every NE cartridge out there (still looking to try a 700 NE and a few odd ball NE cartridges) and I can say for certain that both the 500 NE and 577 NE can be real pleasures to shoot if the gun is built properly and fits the shooter. I was just shooting an Army Navy 577 3" double up in AK at Cal's last double shoot and this gun was so pleasant to shoot that I attempted to buy it from its owner (it just fit me so well). the recoil is there and its more then just a little push but shooting 10-15 rounds in a sitting is manageable.

good luck with your project and make sure to give us a report (with pics) when your done.

-Matt

 

[Papabear55]

Thanks for the input Matt. I'd prefer the 577 but trying to get the money together and finding someone willing is a bit of a challenge lol

 

[IvW]

For what you want to do I would personally buy a 458 WM on a ruger nr 1. and have somebody rechamber it to 450 no 2 with the 3 1/2" case. It will give you all the factors you desire and be much more useful and not cost an arm and a leg.

 

[Papabear55]

For what you want to do I would personally buy a 458 WM on a ruger nr 1. and have somebody rechamber it to 450 no 2 with the 3 1/2" case. It will give you all the factors you desire and be much more useful and not cost an arm and a leg.

I actually have the no1 in 458 lott already. Just wanting to go above .50 caliber. The lott is a cannon and works wonders on its own

 

[IvW]

500 NE it is then.

 

[Baz 500]

By “toy” I meant a gun which will basically spend it’s life at the range. Obviously, the 577 is no toy in the common sense of the word.

CT Dolan I know 'exactly' what you meant by mentioning the toy factor, I would have probably said, to calm a couple of members down, said the wow factor, but I'm with you and would go with the 500...….It is more then adequate.