The 500 Jeffery Project - Part I
When Way Too Much Is Just Enough

I don't know why large dangerous game cartridges and rifles are described with an aura of mysticism. Objective data would seem more useful, but then I can't even explain why I habitually put cheese on the top of my cheeseburgers and not on the bottom. Life can be quite a quandary. In covering the 500 Jeffery, I promised myself I would analyze only what insight comes through first hand observation and experience; shooting, handloading and data collecting and that I would avoid all of the usual drama and fantasy safari gibberish. I won't be referencing Marlow perusing the Congo in search of Kurtz, the sound of distant drums or the face whipping experience of walking second in a line through tall grass. I won't even suggest that I have discovered the existence of an alternative reality I had not previously considered.   Complete story

The CZ SC550 Safari Classic
CZ-USA's .500 Jeffery and Custom Shop

I'm sure most firearm enthusiasts are aware of CZ-USA's  American Safari Magnum product line. Guns run from field grade to fancy; a base price a tick over $1000, the fancy grade just over $1,700. Available calibers are .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, 458 Winchester Magnum, and .458 Lott. CZ-USA also operates a custom shop that tailors guns to customer preferences and assembles each individual Safari Classic rifle.

The SC 550 Safari Classic models, the big guns in the group, are available in: 404 Jeffery, .450 Rigby, .505 Gibbs, and .500 Jeffery. They feature: slick actions, fancy American walnut stocks, a selection of blued metal finishes, express sights, dual cross bolts, and a classic safari barrel band. Stocks are hand finished and inletted for optimal marriage of metal to wood, and glass bed for strength and accuracy. The .505 Gibbs and .500 Jeffery models also include... Complete Story

Game Loads and Practical Ballistics for the American Hunter

I tend to not buy newly published firearm and hunting related books after scanning their pages and being familiar with author's prior work. Many of the ideas and concepts expanded into a couple of hundred pages are rehashes of everything that came before and do little to advance either of the noted subjects. In other cases, work is reduced to thinly disguised promotional product pieces and the scenarios are so mechanical that reading them is like sitting in front of a TV set and watching 48 contiguous hours of catch and release bass fishing. Subsequently, I have no problem scouting out the used books online or at garage sales, looking back a decade or two for more original, informative and entertaining work.  Game Loads and Practical Ballistic is one of those gems. Complete Story