Bolt-Action 500's, who is still producing them today?

[Northern Shooter]

Whether it's a 500 Jeffery, 505 Gibbs or something more obscure in this caliber class, which rifle companies are still producing these rifles today? From my research it's a very small club of the bespoke British makes, especially now with the CZ550 and Sako 85 being discontinued. Other notable makes like Rigby, Mauser & Heym seem to top out with the 0.458's.

1. Jeffery & Co Model 500 (500 Jeffery)
2. Westley Richards Magazine Rifle (505 Gibbs)
3. Holland & Holland Bolt Action Rifle (505 Gibbs)

Any others that I am missing?

 

[R eight]

Whether it's a 500 Jeffery, 505 Gibbs or something more obscure in this caliber class, which rifle companies are still producing these rifles today? From my research it's a very small club of the bespoke British makes, especially now with the CZ550 and Sako 85 being discontinued. Other notable makes like Rigby, Mauser & Heym seem to top out with the 0.458's.

1. Jeffery & Co Model 500 (500 Jeffery)
2. Westley Richards Magazine Rifle (505 Gibbs)
3. Holland & Holland Bolt Action Rifle (505 Gibbs)

Any others that I am missing?

Blaser R8 in 500J. Probably the most affordable too.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Blaser R8 in 500J. Probably the most affordable too.

You're right, for some reason none of the straight pull / switch barrels came to mind. Do any other straight pulls offer a 500 cal class cartridge? I don't believe the Merkel Helix does.

 

[MLindsay]

A 500 A2 is pretty simple to produce, BRNO 602(mine started as 458 Win needed no action work) a Bell & Carlson stock with very slight mods, a reamer and .510 barrel. Mine has had somewhere over 500 rounds through it and taken several buffs

 

[Northern Shooter]

I realize there are options like that to go down the custom route in to obtain a rifle in one of these cartridges.

I'm trying to figure out if there are any factory produced options that I am not currently aware of.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Heym make 500 Jeffery rifles, so does Prechtl. Prechtl is probably more custom but Heym offer 500 Jeffery in the express rifle as standard, it's just they are quite expensive compared to the other chamberings.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Heym make 500 Jeffery rifles, so does Prechtl. Prechtl is probably more custom but Heym offer 500 Jeffery in the express rifle as standard, it's just they are quite expensive compared to the other chamberings.

Is the Heym website just not up to date? I'm seeing the 450 Rigby as the top cartridge listed under available calibers.

HEYM “Express” Magnum Bolt Action Rifle

English Styling... German Precision by Ralf Martini

www.heymusa.com

 

[Muskox]

https://www.reimer-johannsen.de/repetierbuechsen

They make a 500 and a 505 Gibbs.

 

[Muskox]

Here is the actual Heym website.

The American website is not Heym, he is their agent.

https://www.heym-manufaktur.de/media/18/d8/9a/1699974499/2024-express-preisliste.pdf

 

[Muskox]

https://www.prechtl-waffen.de/download/prechtl_m98_repetierbuechsen.pdf

Prechtl is 50 miles from the house, I didn't know that until tonight. I will make an effort to get over there and visit them. I spoke to him at Jagd and Hund in 2024. I didn't see his booth this time. I have ordered reloading supplies from them.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Whether it's a 500 Jeffery, 505 Gibbs or something more obscure in this caliber class, which rifle companies are still producing these rifles today? From my research it's a very small club of the bespoke British makes, especially now with the CZ550 and Sako 85 being discontinued. Other notable makes like Rigby, Mauser & Heym seem to top out with the 0.458's.

1. Jeffery & Co Model 500 (500 Jeffery)
2. Westley Richards Magazine Rifle (505 Gibbs)
3. Holland & Holland Bolt Action Rifle (505 Gibbs)

Any others that I am missing?

American:
John Boliger
Joe Smithson
Ryan Breeding
Reto Buehller

German:
Waffen Prechtll
Reimer Johannsen
Heym

Austrian:
Hambrusch

French:
Dorleac & Dorleac

Italian:
Armeria Concari

 

[Northern Shooter]

American:
John Boliger
Joe Smithson
Ryan Breeding
Reto Buehller

German:
Waffen Prechtll
Reimer Johannsen
Heym

Austrian:
Hambrusch

French:
Dorleac & Dorleac

Italian:
Armeria Concari

Those are mostly custom gunsmiths right?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Those are mostly custom gunsmiths right?

Many are but not all of them.

 

[Muskox]

the German ones are not.

 

[BeeMaa]

You're right, for some reason none of the straight pull / switch barrels came to mind. Do any other straight pulls offer a 500 cal class cartridge? I don't believe the Merkel Helix does.

Merkel Helix, Beretta BRX1 and Haenel Jaeger all top out at 300WM for current production. Although I don't see why they don't at least offer 375/416RUGER as they do fit in a 30-06 action. The Heym SR30 is available up to 375RUGER and the Strasser RS 14 is available up to 458WM. The Savage Impulse is limited to 300WM except for one model available in 338LUPUA.

Another win for the Blaser R8, but it looks like there is a wait time for the 500J barrel. Best bet would be Van at Top Dog Guns Global, Bob & Bobby at Cove Creek Outfitters or Jake @EuroOptic.

I know Heym offers their Express Magnum 505GIBBS (or maybe the 500J) as an option with deposit, but there will be a wait time. Contact Chris Sells for the details.

Obviously @W.J.JEFFERY & CO. offer a 500J magazine rifle.

Maybe @RIGBY or Mauser will do it as a custom request?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Merkel Helix, Beretta BRX1 and Haenel Jaeger all top out at 300WM for current production. Although I don't see why they don't at least offer 375/416RUGER as they do fit in a 30-06 action. The Heym SR30 is available up to 375RUGER and the Strasser RS 14 is available up to 458WM. The Savage Impulse is limited to 300WM except for one model available in 338LUPUA.

Another win for the Blaser R8, but it looks like there is a wait time for the 500J barrel. Best bet would be Van at Top Dog Guns Global, Bob & Bobby at Cove Creek Outfitters or Jake @EuroOptic.

I know Heym offers their Express Magnum 505GIBBS (or maybe the 500J) as an option with deposit, but there will be a wait time. Contact Chris Sells for the details.

Obviously @W.J.JEFFERY & CO. offer a 500J magazine rifle.

Maybe @RIGBY or Mauser will do it as a custom request?

@BeeMaa
I believe John Rigby & Co. offers it as as “London Best” model.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Looks like the London Best is available up to 505 Gibbs.