This is a photo of the latest addition to my collection, a 500 Jeffery built around an M17. I had it made to shoot the SSAA Group 3 events in the Big Game Rifle Club. It was built with a budget in mind, it doesn't have all the pretty bits that other custom or English makers have, but it shoots well, and didn't cost me the earth. It has a 26" Sprinter barrel, and a Boyd's laminated stock with a limbsaver fitted. Sights are a Redfield receiver sight and a M70 front sight. We didn't have too many dramas getting it to feed, made a complete new follower for it, fits 2 down and 1 up. Weighs 10lb 14 ozs. I've shot a group at 50 metres off the bench while running the barrel in that measured .885" for 5 shots. Can't complain about that. As I mentioned before, it didn't cost an arm and a leg, but it got me shooting a 500 J, and that can't be a bad thing.
Very nice indeed. It looks like a very servicable rifle. Does it cock on closing? Also, in regard to feeding, did you have a lot to do to the rails? How about the magazine box?
Telly, It has a Dayton Traister Cock-on-opening kit installed and a 28lb Wolff mainspring. We left the bolt with the dogleg, as I'm left-handed, it doesn't worry me at all, also Boyd's stocks are cut to suit a dogleg bolt, and would have left an awful gap if it had a straight bolthandle. Did a fair bit to the rails, action is a very hard one and dulled the gunsmiths solid carbide cutter very quickly. Didn't do much to the box, mainly lengthened it a little to fit the 500 in. Its actually easier than a 375 length case to fit into an M17, width was the only problem. I also have a 450 Ackley Mag on an M17 as well, more work fitting it in because of its length.
I was going to mention getting rid of the dogleg, as my M-17 based 500 clobbered my knuckly pretty soundly, which lead me to make it a straight down bolt.
VERY cool build!! I was going to do this in .416 rigby but just went out and bought a CZ550. I do have a 1917 in a wildcat .340 that I dearly love. Like you I went with the Boyds laminate JRS stock and the Dayton-traister unit and a heavier firing pin spring. Great minds think alike!!
LOVE God, LOVE your family, LOVE your country, LIKE guns and sports.
About 2016 team "R" candidates "We definitely need a crew with a sack of balls the size of hot water bottles, bloviated estrogen leaking feel-gooders need not apply." Gunner 500
New to this forum, I forgot to sign my campfire name to my comment above.
safariman
LOVE God, LOVE your family, LOVE your country, LIKE guns and sports.
About 2016 team "R" candidates "We definitely need a crew with a sack of balls the size of hot water bottles, bloviated estrogen leaking feel-gooders need not apply." Gunner 500
