500 MDM

[Michael458]

The 500 MDM is the largest of the B&M Series of big bore rifles. It is true .500 caliber, a full length 2.8 inch RUM case. It is designed for the Winchester M70 RUM action only. Winchester many years ago made a run of 300 Remington Ultra Mag rifles. Extensive modifications were done to the action to get the much larger case to work properly. One cannot take a standard long action Winchester and make it work with the 500 MDM, it must be a RUM action.

This cartridge was a long time coming, being on the drawing board for a couple of years. The original B&M thought was short, light, handy, fast to action, and powerful. The 500 MDM required a slightly longer action, and burning close to a 100 gr of powder I figured it had to have a longer barrel, true, but during the process we learned a lot about just how efficient .500 caliber is.

Brian at SSK, and I went around the block a few times about barrel length, and what it would take to make this work. I wanted 20 inches, he wanted 22 inches, and we ended up with a compromise of 21 inches in the beginning.

The first gun built was a high polish blue M70 21 inch barrel. It started out as a Super Grade, I wanted to use that stock. The first 18 rounds the stock busted all to hell........... Replaced that stock with another one, and it busted all to hell in the first 3 rounds. We were not even up to full power loads by any stretch...........

During this time we were researching for stocks and came across a small little known stock maker called Accurate Innovations in South Dakota at the time. What was attractive is the full length aluminum chassis they use in their wood stocks. After much discussion with the various owners at the time, we decided that the chassis would absorb the recoil produced by the 500 MDM and would work. The first stock done was a
very nice Myrtle Stock. They didn't have checkering per say, but laser engraving, so I elected for the laser engraving on the first gun with the Myrtle wood stock.

We finally got the gun put together and started some load development early in 2009. I also was using some CNC machined bullets that were designed by JD Jones and myself at the time. In particular a 510 gr Solid that was extremely successful in the 50 B&M and a 470 gr Copper Hollow point. Running the 510 Solid at 2300 fps and the 470 HP at 2450 fps, same POI at 50. I took these to Australia where it was a hammer on buffalo down under, and very impressive.........But this was only the beginning in the development of big bore bullet tech in which we embarked later for an entire line of new bullets from Cutting Edge Bullets and North Fork Technologies.

Concerning Accurate Innovations, Wes Chapman in Andrews NC, bought AI from the fellows in South Dakota. Wes and I worked very close, with him coming here for a week and going over the stocks I wanted for the entire B&M series rifles. Wes was younger at the time, and he has taken Accurate Innovations to what is now one of the Premium Stocks made in the US today. I would have nothing else, and yes, they will stand all the recoil you can send them and hold together. It is the only stock that will handle the 500 MDM period. We now use them for all our stock requirements, and Wes has all the specs required for each of the rifles.

The photo below has the first 500 MDMs made, the one in the middle is Gun #1 at the time. All these have 21 inch barrels, and you still see the laser engraving on the two bottom rifles. The top stainless/wood gun was #3 built, and has standard checkering, this stock was done one AI moved to Andrews NC. It is English Walnut. Of course you see the Myrtle Gun in the middle, and a standard Claro on the bottom.

Below is an old comparison to a Win M70 458 Lott that I used for years........

Again, a little nicer, newer photo of the English 500 MDM..............

n 2009 I took the 500 MDM out on its very first hunt, this was in Australia with Paul Truccolo, and was a real learning experience for both Paul and I. The 500 MDM struck down 13 buffalo, of my OWN, and a few of my hunting buddies buffalo as well. It really proved itself on this trip!

After the buffalo shooting we embarked on a mission to have even better bullets and more definite load data, which I am going to talk about in the next post.

Also, at a later date, I had Wes remove the laser engraving on the Myrtle Stock, shorten it a bit, to match its new shorter barrel at 19 inches. I also shortened the English gun to 19 inches.

But next, we will talk about Bullets and and Load data and just what the 500 MDM is capable of..........

 

[Michael458]

After returning from the buffalo shoot, we embarked upon a major mission for better bullets. Serious bullets for large dangerous game, buffalo, hippo, and elephant at the top of the list............We accomplished that mission with Cutting Edge Bullets, and later North Fork, in both solid design and expanding, or trauma inflicting bullets. I won't go into detail on that at this point, as that would be an entire book full of details, that I am sure you are not all that interested in.

But, none the less, I am going to give you a lesson on Solid Bullet Technology, as short and quick as I can.................

There are 8 Absolute Known Factors for Solid Penetration and are as follows in Order of Importance.....


#1 Meplat Percentage of Caliber

Meplats that attain 65% Meplat of Caliber are terminally stable.... Above 70% Meplat bullets remain stable, however depth of penetration begins to decrease with every step up in meplat size. 70% Meplat or larger does increase trauma to, and destruction of tissue. 70% Meplats start to get difficult to feed, even in Winchester M70s...... From 65% Meplat to 68% Meplat is OPTIMUM for Stability, destruction of tissues, and feed and function in most quality rifles..........


#2 Nose Profile

There are many and varied Nose Profiles of solids on the market today, from the angled Nose Profiles of CEB and North Fork, to the straight nose profile of the older North Forks and GSC, the Barnes/Hornady Profiles (like a RN cut off at the top) to many more... Not all of these are created equal, and some are better performers than others. In recent tests in comparison between the old North Fork Profiles and the Newer North Fork Profiles I was getting 20% deeper penetration with the Newer North Forks than the older, with the same bullet, just difference in Nose Profile is all.... John at North Fork agrees, and in their work there they were getting more along the lines of 25% deeper penetration. One major thing that I noticed here, the stability at the end of penetration was 100% better. In most all tests here the last 2 inches of penetration of the old style North Forks would be unstable. Now this is and was of no consequence at the very end of penetration. The depth of penetration of these older nose profile bullets was always so deep that it had long accomplished its mission before loss of stability right at the very end. This new NOSE PROFILE of North Forks remains DEAD STRAIGHT to the very last of penetration, and always found NOSE FORWARD........


#3 Construction & Material

Construction of a solid is a major part of its ability to penetrate. To deny this is foolish to say the least. Some of our solids out there, lead core, are very very weak in construction and absolutely do not have the ability to bust through heavy bone and reach their intended targets. I have seen and have in hand failures of these bullets from the field..... A shame as well, as some of these bullets are promoted as Dangerous Game Solids, and some of them flatten out like pancakes when hitting heavy dense material. Some FMJ Have steel inserts, while this solves a problem in one area, it creates problems in other areas.... Brass is harder than Copper... No surprise there, but I have busted elephant heads with both copper and brass, and never had one distort, but, these solids were of a very STRONG NOSE PROFILE as well........ So you see, combinations of different factors work together to strengthen or weaken other factors..... A good strong Nose Profile, can overcome some material deficiencies and in the case of copper solids this is extremely important.

#4 Nose Projection

Nose Projection above the top bands was the last factor discovered. There may be more factors, but currently they remain undiscovered at this point in time.... We found that nose projection above the top of the bands of current CNC monolithic bullets is very important to depth of penetration. Some bullets designed to work through lever actin riflers require a SHORT NOSE PROJECTION in front of the bands so that they can be loaded deep enough to work through the actions of these guns... Nose Projection of these same bullets for bolt guns, single shots, and double rifles are longer, from .600 to .700 in front of the top band. The LONGER NOSE PROJECTION solids will penetrate on average 25% deeper than the shorter nose projection. Now, these bullets already have all the other required factors for stability, nose profile, construction and radius, so it is ONLY DEPTH Of penetration that is effected with properly designed bullets.



#5 Radius Edge of Meplat

We found that the radius edge of the meplat made a difference, small, but a difference none the less. A nicely radius edge penetrates about 5% deeper, and has more stability at the end than a sharp edged radius.... No more to go into here, thats it.......


All the Above Factors Deal with Bullet Design........


#6 Velocity

Velocity is a factor, but it also goes hand in hand with Nose Profile and Construction/Material. If we assume that the Meplat is optimum, the nose projection is optimum, and the bullet has a nice radius then velocity becomes a factor in combination with nose profile and construction/materials. Different Nose Profiles react differently with velocity. Some nose profiles at very low velocity cannot maintain stability, but this would be in the extreme, and other factors may come into play with some of this. In essence with some Nose Profiles, added velocity will equate to added depth of penetration, and of course trauma and destruction of tissue. Some nose profiles react better than others, but if properly designed, then all will get some gain from added velocity, UNTIL you reach the point that you get distortion of the meplat by TOO MUCH VELOCITY. Once you begin to distort that meplat, then all sorts of strange things begin to occur. One is depth of penetration will decrease, stability will decrease as well....... Normally you will only get this at extreme velocities at 2700-2800 fps or more, which in our big bore rifles is somewhat extreme.......... Lead core bullets will be effected in a serious manner at extreme velocities, followed by copper, and then brass........ Nose Profile and Construction & Material are very important for Factor #6.........


#7 Barrel Twist Rate

Barrel twist rate really only becomes a factor when Factor #1 is DEFICIENT....... If the meplat of caliber is undersized, less than 65%, then faster twist rates WILL INCREASE the depth of penetration by increasing the stability of terminal penetration. A 65% Meplat of Caliber can stabilize in slower twist rates of 1:18, or even slower...... I have seen 65% Meplat of Caliber stabilize with ZERO TWIST....... I have seen 50% Meplat of Caliber stability increase with faster twist rates, and have documentation to prove it, several times...... If you are using a properly designed Solid, then twist rate becomes less important, and more important if you are not using a proper designed solid. Fast Twist Rates can also increase stability of even RN Solids of decent design, hardly anything can increase stability of a more pointy RN FMJ.......



#8 Sectional Density

Sectional Density will ONLY BE A FACTOR with two bullets that are exactly the same in every other Factor or aspect. Factors #1 and #2 far outweigh Sectional Density in the terminal performance of Solids. We can take a properly designed 458 caliber 325 gr Solid and far out penetrate in depth and stability a poorly designed 550 gr 458 caliber bullet....... My son recently shot a medium sized elephant at 10 yards, perfectly executed side brain shot, with a 350 gr .474 caliber properly designed solid at 2200 fps. This bullet exited the head on the far side and still may be going for all I know. A 350 gr .474 caliber bullet has a sectional density of .223, and I personally would choose this little 350 gr bullet over the Woodleigh 500 gr RN FMJ at .4725 (ones I have here) any and every day for any mission............




These are undeniable facts, and can be proven over and over and over again in all test work, and these factors have been exercised in the field and have proven themselves in the field, many many times over...... These are the 8 Known Factors of Terminal Penetration of Solid Bullets.................

These are the Solids we designed here............. And they are the best that has ever been to the field.

OK, I lied, it was longer than I intended to post...... But you really need to know these things if you are using "Solids".....

How many of you are using "Solids".......... Yeah, that is what I thought, very few I imagine, but in my world they are the #1 Bullet of choice, even when going after game you would not normally need a solid for. They are always a "Second" round down for any game when using big bores......... We can talk about the use of solids later at another point, but they are all important, and the most important bullet we use in the world I am from.

Now, really the next post, what the 500 MDM is capable of doing...

 

[Michael458]

Now you must remember, the 500 MDM is a very small rifle for its capabilities and the raw power it has.

Today's standard 500 MDM will come with a 20 inch barrel, be around 40 inches overall length and come in at 8-8.5 lbs max, depending on the wood in the stock.

What is it capable of doing at this size?

.500 caliber bullets............

300 gr CEB Brass HP 3020 fps at 59000 PSI
335 gr CEB Brass HP 2910 fps at 60000 PSI

350 gr ESP Raptor from CEB at 2780 fps at 58500 PSI. A personal favorite of mine I have used on everything from plains game, to pigs, to buffalo. This is a hammer. A double ended bullet, hollow point Raptor on one end, and #13 Solid on the other. You can load both ways, HP or Solid...............Quite unique in its design.

We get to the various 375 gr bullets designed for the 50 Super Shorts, they run 2600 to 2750 fps at 52000-58000 PSI, and are very effective.

We start getting very serious with any of the bullets below, designed for Buffalo, hippo, and elephant...

These are matched sets. 410 brass HP Raptor is the same bullet as the 450 #13 Solid, same bearing surface, same length, everything, just one is lighter because it has a big hollow cavity and designed to cause massive trauma. They are designed by purpose, I had a theory that to get the same POI at 50 yards, for dangerous game, that length and bearing surface was more important than weight. I was correct, these two shot with the
same load are in the same hole at 50 yards........

410 Raptor 2670 fps at 58200 PSI
450 #13 Solid 2619 fps at 60800 PSI

450 North Fork expanding CPS (Cup Point Solid) 2620 fps at 62400 PSI
450 North Fork Solid 2620 fps at 63300 PSI

Another Matching Raptor and Solid from CEB

450 Raptor 2518 fps 59000 PSI
500 gr #13 Solid 2440 fps at 62500 PSI

And last, my favorite big solid for elephant and other solid requirements is the 525 gr CEB Solid...

525 #13 Solid CEB 2360 fps at 63200 PSI

I have some 550s but much prefer the 525......

550 at 2260 fps at 61800 PSI.....

This is all in a relatively small package.

OK, this is going to have to be continued later, with some 500 MDM stories, photos and other things over the next few days....................
Thanks for looking.......

Michael

 

[Michael458]

Before leaving, a few early photos of the 500 MDM cartridge and others......

 

[Michael458]

The original 500 MDM had a longer, more tapered neck, much like a 404 Jeffery. The problem with it was personal, nothing to do with the workings of the cartridge. When loading nearly any bullet, I could see a bullet bulge in the case at the base of the seated bullet. It was ugly and driving me insane. I hate ugly ammo. My OCD kicked in, I redesigned the case, shortened the neck so that the base of the seated bullet was below the neck, and ghost shoulder of the cartridge. This solved all my OCD issues with the bullet bulge, and had zero effect on any internal ballistics or performance.

Here are the two versions, and a 458 Lott for comparison........

Here are some .500s loaded with the new CEB bullets......

Next hunt for the 500 MDM was Zimbabwe in 2011.........

 

[Michael458]

It was 2011 before the next big test took place, and it was with that English/Stainless 500 MDM, in Zimbabwe with Andrew and Corris. And, we were now shooting the 450 Safari Raptor and the 500 #13 Safari Solids in this gun. Running the 450 Raptors at 2450 fps and the 500 Solids at 2400 fps. 500 caliber hammers.

Zimbabwe 2011 was also the first hunting trip I had been on with my new GLASSES. I had not become accustomed to the new glasses, and the bi-focals. First time ever. Well, on this first buffalo up, he was standing in the shadows dead broadside, at or around 50 yards. Easy shot, wide open, just in the shadows, and I did not have my new glasses on! On the sticks, I thought I saw the shoulder and busted off one of those 450 Raptors at 2450 fps, he bucked up and took off running? We went to the spot, and there was not much blood, a few spots, but it look like GUT BLOOD!!!!

Crap, I must have gut shot this bugger, we were in for a long long day…….

We started our little tracking mission, and we had not gone a 100 yards yet, and there he stood, ass to us!!!!!! Well, hell, he stood right there, and never moved until I was within 10 yards on his left side! Head down, he did not look so good! Finally he decided to make a break, and broke to his right, I hammered him with another 450 Raptor dead on the shoulder and he took a nose dive in the dirt on the spot! Looking closer, that first shot had been a beautiful dead center gut shot, I could not have done better if I had tried to do that! Both those Raptors exited. And both of them tore the insides all to hell. He was so sick from the gut shot and this bullet, he just could not go. Who ever heard of a gut shot buffalo going less than a 100 yards and did not want to go more until pushed hard? Not me, I figured we were in on this for a day or more! But not, the big .500 Raptor did a number on him……..

 

[Michael458]

We hunted around, I think I might have shot a cow or two the next day or so with the 458 B&M and the new 420 Raptors with great success as well. We had been stopping by in the village with Corris and Andrew speaking to the locals, and they had been complaining about 3 younger bulls being a real pain in the ass. Coming around in the evening, just making a pest out of themselves, and being threatening to the folks there in the village. After some talk with them, Corris came and asked if I wanted to go check out these elephants, and if we found them bust one of them, and run the other two off! Well hell yes, that’s just my Game, Count me In! It was already around 4 pm now, but Corris thought he knew where these buggers might be hanging out during the day, waiting to come in and aggravate folks. So I stoked up the 500 MDM with 3 rounds of 500 #13 Solids at 2400 fps and off we went………………

Well, just at the edge of the village there was a thick with brush area, and this is where Corris thought they might be hanging out during the day. So we disembark the vehicle, and we have quite the entourage, myself, Andrew, Corris, Jaun and Mercedes, and I believe 3 trackers, 8 of us all total as I recall. Sure enough, we had not gone 15-20 yards, and Corris or Andrew spotted the legs of elephants on the other side of some serious thick brush. So everyone went down, and Andrew and I crawled about 10 yards or so on hands and knees right up to and in the edge of the brush, elephant on the other side. We had a small spot, about 1 square foot or so, open, a small window we could look through. On our knees at this point, we saw 3 medium size males, just meandering to and fro. Andrew picked one, he was nearly side on, about 8-10 yards only, and I lined up for a side brain shot, I started to squeeze the trigger and he turned away from me, I dropped the rifle to what I though was the heart and turned a 500 #13 loose on him. He ran right, the other two ran left, he turned and was following them, and I took another shot, which hit too far to the rear, basically a gut shot and off they go.

We recovered, and there was blood everywhere, looked like gallons of it was spewing out in both directions. He had taken a winding path, and the brush was thick as hell. We wound around and around slowly, watching, listening, and maybe went a 100 yards, when one of the trackers spotted him ahead, just his legs facing us, weaving side to side. Andrew, Corris and myself move forward, slowly until we get to a point about 10-11 yards from the elephant, but still all we can see is the legs. There was a small open spot, ground level, 1 yard to my right, Andrew and I decided if I get on hands and knees in that spot, I can get an open shot on him. Down I go, I no sooner got down on hands and knees and this elephant came hard for us…

There was no time, I hit him with the first shot, half ass kneeling position, this shot hit him in the guts again, the recoil and poor position sent me over backwards. As I was falling backwards, the second shot went off to the heavens, as he hit the brush dead in front of me. Now I found myself laying down on my back, elephant trying his best to push himself through the brush in front of me to get at me, and he was only 2 maybe 3 steps above me, and one round left!

Yeah, things go through your mind, crazy, stupid things. I felt, or knew the girls were not in danger, I was vaguely aware of Andrew and Corris, but there was no shooting, I think maybe Corris fired a round through the brush with his 416 Remington, but here I lay, and I thought to myself this “Well damn, I am actually going to get mashed in the ground by this damned elephant, and later after the news gets out, all these guys are going to say what I should have done, or not done, and there would be much discussion about this” Yep, that is what went through my mind in a milli second, the next thing, I could not get the rifle to my shoulder, so I just held it out, pointed it up to and into his chest and fired the last 500 gr #13 Solid I had. He was going to bust through any second, at the shot, he turned to my right, his left, and turned around and fell over right there on the spot. Had he come straight down, it would have hurt. Had either Corris or Andrew brained him, he would have come straight down, and that too would have hurt. Its crazy, but he turned 180 degrees, and fell over on his left side, and it was over. I got up, looked around, they checked me, I loaded the gun back up, went to the elephant, he was still breathing and I put one in the head, or two, or maybe three, hell I don’t remember, but he never got up again.

It was nearly dark at this point, there was no time to study, or start the butchering process. That would have to wait until morning. We were able to snap off a few photos before leaving that evening.

This was how thick the brush was and what he was trying to bust through to get to me……

We talked a lot that evening about this, at the charge, the trackers grabbed the girls and they ran like hell the other way. Andrew backed up a couple of steps, and took a stand behind me, but the brush was so thick he did not get a shot off. Corris had stepped off to my left, and because of the brush had no clear shot either, but turned one loose at the elephants right side through the brush. I believe we found it had hit high behind the shoulder as I recall. My first shot that started this dance did not hit the heart, it hit one lung only, as he was turned at far more of an angle than I thought. The second just as I thought, gut shot too far back. My third shot, when the charge started was another too far back in the gut as well. Of course I was shooting birds or clouds on the one where I was falling backwards, hitting ZERO NOTHING. The final shot, from a matter of a few feet with the rifle just pointed at his chest, hit him dead in the bottom of the heart, exiting the top. This stopped him cold, and caused him with his last efforts to give up and turn away, and going down. This literally saved my bit of bacon. When the heart was removed, we could see just how hard that big Flat Nose solid hit the heart, and how much damage it did right up front, which I am sure caused a lot of shock to the animals system, and I also attribute this to what really saved the day, and my bacon for real! Below is the heart that was hit with a 500 #13 Solid at 2400 fps….. I know it was probably going faster, because my chronographs were set at nearly 20 feet away, this was a hell of a lot closer, more like 5-6 feet…………….. It busted the hell out of the heart…….

Next, more 500 MDM and the very next day a damn buffalo wanted to EAT ME……………………..

 

[Michael458]

We left camp rather early the next morning after the elephant fun.. We were on our way to the elephant to get the process of recovery started, study the shots and what happened and what what what……..

Going along, off to our right we passed a open area, and sure enough there were BUFFALO there! As I recall, we rode just past, Andrew and I jumped out, and did a sneak to the spot. Sure enough, I believe there were 3 bulls standing there about 35 yards out. Andrew set the sticks, I got on the sticks with the 500. Good Bull, and my shot was Point on the shoulder, left side. I turned the 450 Raptor loose, he bucked up, and ran through small gap in the brush, along with the others.

At this point in time, my load out was not the normal Soft followed by Solids. The Raptors had proven so damn good, and with so much penetration, I questioned the standard load out. So on this followup I loaded another Raptor in the rifle, and then two solids behind it.

We approached the gap, it was about 10-12 feet wide or so, slowly. About 7-8 yards on the other side of the gap, our buffalo was laying down, head down as well, on the other side of a fairly large fallen log or tree. Head facing out. Ass was to the brush as well. From our approach there was no clear insurance shot, or approach from the rear. So it was a “Frontal Approach” to finish. Well, hell the buffalo was dead, so it did not look like there was going to be much of an issue with this. I could not see him breathing, he didn’t move. Dead on frontal at roughly 10 feet he came ALIVE, somehow made it to his feet facing me, up with the 500 and I put that 450 Raptor just to the right of his left eye. He was going down when the 500 Solid hit him close to where the the 450 hit. Dropped straight down and over.

SOB, two days in a row, elephant wanted to eat me the evening before, and first thing in the morning a damned buffalo wanted to eat me! Seemed I was way too tasty a morsel, and damn glad we were not hunting Lion!

Those .500s make nice big wadcutter holes, these holes do not close up, body or head, if you have ever shot a Round Nose solid into an animal you have noticed that sometimes its hard to find the hole, entrance or exit if it does not turn around on you. Not so with these, nice big cut out holes, entrance and exits, no closing up with these…….

Now upon further study, the first 450 Raptor on the point of the shoulder had done a number on this old boy. It had busted the shoulder, leg, that whole port side was dangling. I can’t see how in the hell that buffalo got up and on the other 3 legs? That side was broken and busted all to hell, and everything behind that was torn to shreds, lungs and all. I can’t recall the heart on this one, I don’t think it was hit, but both lungs were shredded. That bullet traveled from point of shoulder to midway gut area far side. That’s a long way, especially after busting all that bone up front.

But here is the good one. The 450 Raptor in the head had blown out the back of his head ugly, and made a big hole at entrance. We never found that one. But the 500 Solid was found at the skinning shed with its nose sticking out the ass end of the buffalo. I did not see that, but it would appear that the bullet hit in the head, and traveled all the way dead straight, nose forward, and stuck its nose back out in the ass for some air! That is a lot of buffalo to go through, mind you, head and neck included!

After some more work with the 458 B&M in Zimbabwe, we all made our way back to South Africa where Andrew had 8 more cow buffalo for us to hammer, which we did. Some with 458 B&M and some with the 500 MDM. All were incredibly successful. One of those cows was a DRT on the spot using a 450 North Fork CPS…. These were Expanding Cup Point Solids, that John had worked on for me, and got them just perfectly right. This bullet was running a tad over 2500 fps, of course it blew out the other side of this buffalo and still may be going for all I know, but the reaction of that buffalo taking it was very impressive……….. Like the Hammer of Thor………..

 

[Michael458]

n April 2012 we embarked on another South African trip. This one was more about the 9.3 B&M and its bullets, and that was the focus of the mission, 9.3 B&M on plains game type critters.

However, the secondary objective was taking a 500 MDM with some of the newer CEB light weight ESP. Enhanced System Projectile. #13 Solid on one end, Tipped Raptor on the other. I had not taken to many of these, but the 350 gr ESP was doing extremely well in the 500 MDM at or around 2750 fps. So I wanted to give it a go and just see how wicked it was. It tested very good……..

I was also shooting a NEW GUN, always fun, this 500 MDM I had done with 18 inch barrel, Black Matte GUnkote finish, and it handled great being a few inches shorter than the normal 21 inch 500 MDM. This rifle would end up with our friend Brent Ebling and become rather famous. Brent used it later on buffalo and other critters, but probably one that will stick with Brent is when he STOPPED COLD a serious elephant charge at close range with the gun. This video you can see on the B&M WebSite under the 500 MDM Page. Its outstanding.

Back to 2012, I only shot 5-6 animals with the 500 MDM and the 350 ESP, but it was an extreme success. The first animal was a “Running” wildebeest at or around 35 yards or so. I was never much of a running shot chap, and I screwed the pooch on this one. I hit way too far back, angling through the guts, right side running away, the bullet exited before it touched lungs or anything else vital. CRAP CRAP CRAP, there goes the day! I knew were were in for a long, and frustrating day! Andrew had a nice dog at the time, and we decided turn him loose and lets get at it. We did, dog took off in a run, and we had not gone 25 yards and the dog had found the wildebeest? We looked at each other, and then we took off at a little faster pace. The wildebeest had piled up 250-300 yards away from the shot, and was STONE COLD!

Gut shot, and dead? Back at the shed, sure enough, that bullet had ripped everything in between all to hell, shredded guts, stomach, intestines, everything along its path just utterly destroyed. Inspection of vitals, lungs/heart, not so much as a scratch! The shock and destruction this 350 ESP had done was amazing. I was very impressed.

Sometime later we ran across an oryx, he was close, not that far, and I hit him on the point of the shoulder, and it went down like a sack of bricks, totally destroying bone, shoulders and all the rest, and exited as well…… It was DRT on the spot……

Again, very impressed with this rifle and bullet. I got a chance on a eland, this would be a good test for the bullet I thought. And it was, at 50 yards broadside I busted the 350 through the heart, eland took off running, went exactly 50 yards and piled up stone cold dead. After seeing the heart, I don’t know how that run was even possible, and then all the other destruction the bullet did, it just seems impossible this animal could run. The lungs were totally destroyed, and great big hole through the heart……….

I shot another couple of wildebeest and both were DRT on the spot………….. I was very pleased with this entire setup, and no doubt about the 350 ESP. Like I said, I am not that hot on the ESP line, with the exception of a few of them, and damned I really liked this 350 ESP in .500 caliber for the 500 MDM. It also did very well as a solid too, I felt like plenty good enough to do buffalo, Raptor first, followed by the solid end, and later on did just that in Australia, another story for later………………

 

[MacEntyre]

...one that will stick with Brent is when he STOPPED COLD a serious elephant charge at close range with the gun. This video you can see on the B&M WebSite under the 500 MDM Page. Its outstanding.

Wow! That was close!

Imagine if the elephants ever figured out that they can all charge at once...

 

[Michael458]

Wow! That was close!

Brent is an experienced hunter/shooter. They were not hunting this elephant, it was a cow that was not happy with them being in the area when it charged. Brent did a great job, and the 500 MDM did exactly what it was designed to do, it is a Dangerous Game Stopping rifle..............



After the plains game hunt, my buddy Brent Ebeling made a trip down from “Winchester” VA. Brent wanted a 500 MDM in the worst way. I really did not want him to have one, but he more than proved himself on the range that day. He worked this gun like some kind of magic, handled everything that he put through it slick as butter. FAST as hell on the bolt, and this rifle just fit him absolutely perfectly. After several hours of shooting, getting acquainted and chatting, I had decided I really liked this fellow. While my rifle was not for sale, I liked Brent so good, I asked him if he liked the rifle, that I would let him take it if he wanted. He was all over it like syrup on a pancake! He left with this rifle, and has put it to some kind of wonderful work the last few years. Even stopping a charging elephant at very close range with it! I was happy to see this rifle get a really good home.

Brent is currently in Zambia on a 21 day hunt, and his rifle of choice is once again the 500 MDM. He is very attached to that rifle.

 

[Michael458]

Now I had done a lot of work to the First 500 MDM ever built. Originally 21 inches, hi polish SSK Blue, and the original Myrtle stock was laser engraved, too thick in the forearm and nothing like the new AI Stocks that we were doing for all the B&Ms. I sent Brian at SSK the gun, no stock, and wanted the barrel shortened to 19 inches, new matte black GunKote finish. Same time, I talked to Wes and he took the Myrtle stock and completely refinished it, shortened it, thinned the forearm, and had new checkering done on it. I also had SSK add a forward rail while they had it there, I was experimenting with some different things on 500 MDM and needed a forward rail mounted.

Wow, Was I ever happy with how all this turned out. The gun handled so much better, looked incredibly good, shot great, it was about as perfect as it could be. It was some lighter than all the 500s, at an ounce over 8 lbs. Stock looked and felt incredible. This gun will forever be a favorite of mine, and while it never made it to Africa, it sure has put many a Australian buffalo in the dirt. It’s last trip to Australia was 2009, and it was on its way again in 2013……………

 

[Michael458]

My two field 500 MDMs both were shortened to 19 inch barrels. The English/Stainless gun a tad heavier than the Myrtle Gun by 1/4 lb or so. The Myrtle Gun, Gun#1, went back to Australia in 2013 to hammer buffalo. It accounted for 30+ on that trip, and a 416 B&M accounted for the other 10 or so......

That Myrtle gun Remains a favorite, even today now that I am retired from hunting..............

The English gun never made it back to Africa before I retired and this was the last trip I had with 500 MDM...................

 

[MacEntyre]

For me, being a NC whitetail hunter, this is all incredible and fascinating. I like to think that I will never retire from hunting, but who knows what will come up? Glad you had such good experiences, and successful hunts... and thanks for sharing them with us'n!

 

[Michael458]

For me, being a NC whitetail hunter, this is all incredible and fascinating. I like to think that I will never retire from hunting, but who knows what will come up? Glad you had such good experiences, and successful hunts... and thanks for sharing them with us'n!

I have always been more shooter than hunter. I always had a mission when on a hunt. Testing bullets, rifles, cartridges and learning what was needed. Yes, I loved the hunt, the excitement of hunting things that bite back is hard to give up in many ways. However, the travel and aggravation become such a hassle, no more bullets to test, no more new cartridges and rifles, and it became more than I was willing to give. In 2013 we spent 6 weeks in South Africa and Zimbabwe. We were home for two weeks and off to Australia. That was the straw that finally broke me.

For me it was a really big deal getting ready for one of these hunts. Spending weeks and sometimes months ahead of time getting rifles ready, loads, bullets and all the paper work you needed done. A lot of prep is always involved. Not always a mission, sometimes a lot of fun getting ready, at least until you ran into a problem. But that is why you prep, so you have those problems on the range, and not in the field with an elephant or buffalo, or hippo bearing down on you. Weeks on top of weeks were spent getting ready, hundreds on top of hundreds of rounds fired in the rifles I would be taking. But all worth it in the end and all paid big benefits when you hit the field.

But enough is enough, and with all the bullets we designed tested, tweaked to perfection, all the rifle designs and cartridge designs proven under field conditions, there was not much more to catch my interest. I loved putting bullet to buffalo best of all, but after shooting somewhere around 125+ buffalo, just how much more do you want to do, if you don't have new bullets or rifles or cartridges to test. I love shooting buffalo, but just to repeat the same thing over and over without new discovery involved is just not something I wanted to do.

I have been very satisfied in retirement. My last hunt was 2014 and I don't find I really miss much. I do continue to assist guys that are still going, with advice, loads, rifles and what have you, on a weekly basis. But I really don't miss the hassles of travel at all. I hate to get on a damn airplane, and then add taking rifles along triples the aggravation. Travel inside the US is not so bad, but international travel with firearms leaves much to be desired, and most of the BS is when you get back home to the good ole US of A..................Customs is full of ass wipes...........and traveling hunters are an easy target for them to hassle. I am quite sure many of them go to AssHole School and graduate at the top of their class...........Not all, but enough of them to make it a real nightmare. Now, you have been on a G'Damn airplane for 16+ hours, you get off, go through immigration, go to baggage, grab all that, then go to Customs and hope your rifles come in. Wait in line with other hunters. 10 Customs guys all behind computers, doing nothing, while you wait. Maybe you have a plane to catch? Don't matter, they don't care, and they don't make a move to do anything. You see all the gun cases, see yours back there, and they are all still playing games on the computers.......... You go up to one, very nicely explain you have a plane to catch, and when can you have your guns checked? "Sir, have a seat"......... You wait some more until finally they decide to call your name. Now here is the deal, they check the rifles you are bringing in and compare them to a little Customs form that says those are your rifles..... that is it. To make sure you didn't buy something across the pond and not paid taxes on it! You miss your next plane most of the time, and you best allow 3-4 hours before you have to be on that plane. Anything under 2 hours connect time, you can forget it........... And here is the kick, most of the Customs guys don't know what they are doing. I have had them take my Customs form, which is mine for a lifetime, they cannot keep it. I have had to ask them to get their supervisors to get my form back, or else, everytime I travel with that gun, I would have to get a new form! I have had them go through my stuff and just toss it, throw it around, and beat it against other things, not allowing me to sort it out. I finally got tired of this with one chap, got his badge number, told him there had better not be a scratch on that rifle he was tossing about, as it cost more than he made in 6 months.........and the BS goes on and on, I used to dread like hell having to deal with those people. Finally it just was not worth it anymore.

 

[ronn47]

..... Finally it just was not worth it anymore.

I fully agree, been years since I flew with a gun.
Last fall I helped one of my kids move some stuff from SC to Louisiana.
I flew back with only my clothes and a pin knife, you would have thought I had a 50 cal Barrett.
I'll never fly again unless I own the plane and that ain't going to happen.

 

[Michael458]

I hate traveling, especially when by air. We just returned from a trip to Japan. Just not any fun. I thought I might go berserk in line at Immigration. Just spent 13 hours in the air, and they want to dick around and take two hours until you get out.........

 

[Michael458]

 

[Michael458]

The 500 MDM is a Professional's Rifle Only.

Now, let me clarify that. First, it does have a decent amount of recoil, around 100 ft lbs if you calculate it that way with many loads. It is not for a person that has no big bore experience and how to shoot and handle one properly. And by that token, for anyone that has a bit of big bore experience, it is not as bad as you would think, and it quite manageable when compared to some other insane big bores. Not only that, coming in at 8-8.5 lbs it is a dream to carry in the field, compared to other similar guns that come in from 10-12 lbs and 6+ inches longer.

Tucked in tight against your shoulder, the rifle is very manageable and easy to work. Don't tuck it in or hold it loose, it will teach you a lesson in a hurry.

It is not an easy cartridge to load for. You have to have some experience hand loading big bore rifle cartridges. It is the only B&M cartridge that requires a crimp, and you have to be very careful not to crimp too much, or you set back the ghost shoulder and it won't chamber. This among a few other small things does not make it the easiest to load for.

I keep very tight tabs on who is allowed to have a 500 MDM. I honestly won't let just Joe Whoever off the street have one. They are not for everyone and common use and common shooters.

I have only allowed 12 rifles to be built total. I have 4 of those.

#5 My good Friend Paul Truccolo used to be a Professional Buffalo hunter in Australia. Paul is the one that I have done all my Aussie buffalo hunts with. When Paul saw just how effective the gun is on buffalo, he wanted one as his backup gun in the field. So we built Paul one and he has put it to extreme use on hundreds of buffalo.

#6 My full time Professional Hunter in Africa, Andrew Schoeman, has one as well that he uses as his backup rifle on all his hunts. Andrew and I have hunted together for nearly 20 years in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and Tanzania on multiple hunts. Andrew is a professional hunter/shooter but he is not worth a damn hand loading. But I keep him in ammo, either by sending it via one of my friends that is going over, or myself when I go. I let him get by on the hand loading, but only with me doing the loads for him. Should something happen, he does have dies, and the bullets are imported into RSA, so he would not be left in the cold.

#7 A tiny little Oriental Chap named Stan (Sakda Stan Chittansenee) from Thailand is a professional elephant hunter. He wanted one, but could not hand load. I talked with Stan for nearly a year before I agreed to build one for him. I loaded 300 rounds of ammo for Stan to get him started. Stan don't weigh in but 125 lbs soaking wet and the gun rocks him around a good bit. But he handles it well, and shoots it well. At last count a few years ago Stan had taken over 50 elephant with his 500 MDM, and a few of those have been record breakers. I will show photos later.

#8 The PH that Stan was hunting with decided he had to have a 500 MDM for his backup rifle in Zimbabwe. Fact is, he really could not afford it, but a client of his was going to pay for it. This fellow was an experienced PH and experienced hand loader as well. I built the rifle, and when it was finished the Client refused to pay for it. I really felt bad for the PH, but without funds, I kept it here for a couple of years on the shelf. About 8 months ago a fellow that Paul Truccolo knows ended up with the gun. I basically interviewed him extensively before selling it, and he came up good to go on all counts. I believe he is in Texas, and is hunting in Australia last I heard.

#9 This gun was built for a fellow in Alaska. Again, after much discussion I had Brian build the gun, and sorted it out here for him, as with all the 500 MDMs. Again, he met all the qualifications and last I heard he was loving it.

#10 My good Friend Brent Ebling that is mentioned above. Brent wanted one, he lives in Winchester VA. He made a plan to come visit with me one Friday. Brent and I hit it off very well. I had a 18 inch 500 MDM that I had just got back from Africa with, and Brent fell in love with it. He could shoot the hell out of it too, and handled it like a pro. He was fast with it as well. A real pro. My gun was not for sale, and told him that up front. If he could handle it, liked it, then we would build him one. Well, I took to Brent very well, and ended up asking him if he wanted that gun and of course he did. Brent has used it extensively in Africa on buffalo, hippo, and of course elephant with great success. Right now he is in Zambia on a 21 day hunt with his 500 MDM.

#11 A good friend of mine from New Jersy (yeah, I know, a damned Yankee) Jon Bieber wanted one too. Jon is a very experienced hunter, and big bore shooter. Jon is also a good hand loader. But Jon has a terrible reputation of buying a rifle and selling the damn thing before he even gets to use it. So I told him NO, you cannot have a 500 MDM. This went on for 2 years. About every two months or so he would ask, and I would say NO. Finally one day I asked if he was serious, and what he was going to do with the rifle. He said yes, and he wanted it for Buffalo. I agreed, finally, and we built the rifle. Jon used it on one buffalo hunt. But he did keep it for about a year. Later he sold the gun to another really good friend of mine in Colorado, Rick Taylor. Rick and I have been good friends for many years. Rick is a experienced hunter, big bore shooter, and hand loader as well.

#12 A fellow I became acquainted with, and now friends with in California wanted one, but had a problem, he is left handed. There were no Win M70s RUMs done in left hand. However, Montana Rifle Co makes a RUM action, and I had them do two actions for me, a right hand and just so happened, a left hand action as well. We built the gun, the only left hand 500 MDM ever, and Andy used it on bear in CA, two elephants, and several buffalo with success.

Out of time on this one, will post some photos and more later.....

 

[Michael458]

This is gun #9 built for a fellow in Alaska............

 

[Michael458]

This is the rifle built for the Zimbabwe PH Gun #8.......

 

[MacEntyre]

Those are some nice lookin' rifles!

Finally it just was not worth it anymore.

I flew once after 9/11... it was a domestic flight. All my experience with Customs is from the '80s... wasn't a big deal for those of us without firearms. I hope I never fly commercial again!

 

[ronn47]

I like those open sights on the #8 gun.

 

[Michael458]

Those are some nice lookin' rifles!



I flew once after 9/11... it was a domestic flight. All my experience with Customs is from the '80s... wasn't a big deal for those of us without firearms. I hope I never fly commercial again!

We were taking some big trips every year since 1996, some years we went 3-4 trips. It really started getting hateful from 2005 or so forward. 2013 burned me out, 6 weeks in Africa, then turning right around and going to Australia. Where we went in Australia is around 45 hours travel time from the time we leave, until the time we "almost" reach our destination. MB to Atlanta, then Los Angeles, then Brisbane Australia, to Cairnes Australia, then to Gove Australia and you over night. Then a flight to camp in the Outback the next morning............ it is brutal to say the least..........

 

[Michael458]

I like those open sights on the #8 gun.

Ronn, I set that gun up special at the PH's request with the Ghost Ring rears, that can be removed and put the scope on if needed. That was a real working rifle. The fellow in TX ended up with it now.....

It was very plain. Accurate Innovations stock, but just plain English, no thrills.

 

[Michael458]

Below is the gun I set up for Stan to hunt elephants. He wanted a Trijicon RMR Red Dot on it. I really did not care for that set up, but it was not for me. It did shoot great I have to say and did not give any problems at all. I shot the rifle around 150 rounds before sending it to him.

Stan was hunting that big one, he wanted the 100 pounder. That means 100 lbs of Ivory per side................ He got close with the 500 MDM, the big set of Ivory was 96 and 93 lbs each as I recall..............

I have not heard of Stan in a few years now. I can only assume everything is still good to go..................

 

[MacEntyre]

What do they do with Ivory these days?

 

[Michael458]

What do they do with Ivory these days?

I have not kept up with it, but as far as I know the Obama Ban has been lifted and hunters with CITES permits are allowed to import their ivory.

I have all the ivory from elephants I have shot, but that was all long before the Obama ban............

 

[Michael458]

No one out there loves his 500 MDM better than my Australian pal Paul Truccolo. Paul has used his probably more than anyone on buffalo..........I have some photos, and then some comments direct from Paul on it.

Some Comments From Paul;

"I clearly remember seeing the very first buffalo, in Australia,
being shot with the .500 MDM Ultra mag.
By day two or three I was thinking about what I could sell to get one of these myself."

"I had fairly extensive exposure to all of the common cartridges used on buffalo as well as a few odd-balls but up to this point I had NEVER seen anything that would knock them down so fast and reliably in such a small package of hunting rifle. JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED !!!!"

I was in buffalo hunting Heaven and in a very short period of time became very familiar with my MDM, and even for me ended up shooting very well with it.
I NEVER had anyone injured or touched by buffalo in my time of operating.
The MDM was a dream come true.
Light, fast to handle, fully reliable regardless, accurate and carries the freight of a steam train.

The bull was on alert but waiting the next move.
Well, the next move was a 450gn .50cal Safari Raptor struck him mid-shoulder and took out his feet from under him.

 

[MacEntyre]

Quite a testimonial from Paul Truccolo!

Michael, after meeting you and touring your lab and range, @BatteryOaksBilly let me shoot his rifle back at his range. I forgot what specific B&M caliber it is, but I was amazed at how the well it handled the recoil, just as you described.

 

[Michael458]

Michael, after meeting you and touring your lab and range, @BatteryOaksBilly let me shoot his rifle back at his range. I forgot what specific B&M caliber it is, but I was amazed at how the well it handled the recoil, just as you described.

Heh...... Billy gun is a bastard gun. It was the second 50 B&M Built, it was on the experimental 2 inch case, which is now in the Semi Auto gun. Once I had proper real bullets developed, I had his reamed out to the updated 50 B&M at 2.25 inch RUM case, so it is a full 50 B&M now. But, we whacked that barrel down to 16 inches. It is still capable of 500 gr bullets at 2100 fps however, quite a package in .500 caliber. I loaded him some excellent Downloaded ammo so he could shoot it..... 500 gr at 1300 fps, easy to shoot, big fat slow bullets, but still hammers when they hit things. But I think he lost them somewhere and has not shot them. I would say that he let you shoot some of his heavier loads... HEH........

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

I was given my rifle early in development. It is the Only Lefty in that configuration. Mike is generous to a fault. I have tha ammo he loaded, I just can't find it. It's Not lost. It's here somewhere. If you have seen my gun room you completely understand my malady.
Mike and I Both can No Longer shoot these wonderful machines. I enjoy Other folks shooting it but alas. no more for either of us.

 

[Michael458]

Mike and I Both can No Longer shoot these wonderful machines.

I still shoot them a bit, not like I used to however........But you can shoot those loads I did at 1200-1400 fps...... They don't recoil.......... and won't beat your eyes out.

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

I still shoot them a bit, not like I used to however........But you can shoot those loads I did at 1200-1400 fps...... They don't recoil.......... and won't beat your eyes out.

Says the man who gets shots Regularly In His Eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Michael458]

Says the man who gets shots Regularly In His Eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both eyes thank you very much! Once a month in the right eye, and every two months in the left. On that two month I get both eyes injected! And I can tell you it ain't much fun..............

 

[Michael458]

This is the rifle built for the fellow in New Jersey, that ended up with another friend in Colorado.......

That was a very nice (expensive) Swarovski, but the 500 MDM busted it. Had to replace it with the Nikon 1X4............

 

[Michael458]

Here is the only left hand 500 MDM made with the Montana Action. Montana actions are very nearly an exact copy of Winchester M70. Andy used his rifle for 2 elephants and a bear.

 

[Michael458]

That almost accounts for the 12 500 MDMs that are out there. I don't have photos for some reason of Andrew's rifle that is in Africa.

I Have 4 here. I have the Myrtle gun you have seen and the English gun, both 19 inch barrels. A third bolt gun is used on the range, set up to do all the load data and test work with it.

The real Odd Ball of the 500s is the Ruger #1 I had done..................

Many years ago I was cruising around on GunBroker looking at #1s. I always loved #1s and 1885s, so it was normal I take a look at what was available. I found this #1 in 458 Lott. Plain jane wood, nothing fancy, new gun, had a recoil reduction something or other in the stock, and above all the price was RIGHT. So I bought it. I had plenty of 458 Lott ammo, should fit in nicely with the other guns. This was 10-12 years OR MORE, ago. I never did get around to shooting it, always too busy with other things and then all the B&Ms, so it sit in the racks for years, very much neglected. John from North Fork wanted a #1 to look at and mess with, so I sent it to North Fork. I suppose John kept it a year, got whatever info he needed and sent it back. I had long passed the time I had any need or desires for a 458 Lott on a #1, so I turned around, sent it to Brian and instructed him to turn it into a 500 MDM, 24 inch barrel!

I forget the details, but I must have just told Brian to blue it matte finish, as there is no GunKote charge on the invoice? It has a matte finish, which I am into that for the last few years, but GunKote…. Anyway, I always want a SSK “T’SOB” rail on these guns, far better than the Ruger, and I can use my standard QRW rings as normal. So T’SOB in front the receiver.

Gun comes in at 9 lbs, little heavy. Overall Length with 24 inch barrel is 41 inches, exactly the same overall length as a M70 20 inch 500 MDM.

 

[Michael458]

Some few years ago a fellow contacted me from Germany about a 50 B&M Super Short. Klaus Peter Rasch. Klaus and I become good friends during the process of building his rifle. He and his wife came to the US for an extended visit and during their visit they came by and spent several days with us. Klaus and I hit it off and spent a lot of our time on the range and in the Lab loading, and talking........... Just so happened that my wife and Klaus's wife also hit it off pretty well and managed to keep themselves occupied.

While here, Klaus absolutely took to the 500 MDM on his first visit. I doubt Klaus weighed in much more than a 150-160 lbs, but he handled the 500 MDM very well.

Klaus went home to Germany after his first visit, and we stayed in close contact with the exception of when he was in Africa. Klaus worked for a drilling company in Germany, and he ran a Well Drilling operation for this company in Nigeria. He was in Nigeria normally 3-4 months at a time before coming back home. As soon as he got back in the world he was in contact.

In 2017 Klaus, wife, and daughter all pitched up for about a week or so visit. We were excited to have them. Once again, Klaus and I did the shooting, while the girls do whatever it is girls do, while the "Real Men" shoot...

By now I had that Ruger #1 for Klaus to play with, and he loved it. So much so that he decided he must have it.

Klaus was first class all the way. He not only enjoyed the big bore rifles, but all other types of shooting, including handguns. We went over to the Oaks one day with Billy, and he got some shooting in there too.

We also spent time on the boat and done a lot of other things during their visit. When Klaus returned to Germany he started making a plan to get the Ruger #1 Imported. These kind of things take a lot of time.

In May of 2018 Klaus and I were touching base frequently and he had an importer for the gun. He was headed to Nigeria, and then he was planning to come visit with us again in August of 2018 and make a plan to get the rifle back to Germany at that point. My last contact with Klaus was May 29, 2018. He went to Nigeria.............

Klaus died in Nigeria on 6/16/2018. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in January that year, but had been treated and seemed to have been doing fine.

Of course I will have Klaus's Ruger #1 here with me for safe keeping.

 

[BatteryOaksBilly]

Klaus was a class act. He had a Sig P210 and several nice handguns. He lusted for a Tiny gun. Apparently difficult to own in Germany. He came here to shoot all the tiny guns we had. He shot about 7 or 8 and fell in love with them. He contacted me just a little before his death and was overtly Happy. he had gotten a TPH in .22. I told him I had always lusted after a TPH in .25. I also have a .22. They are fairly common. The .25??? You had better be a dedicated bidder.
Our world is smaller since Klaus crossed the river. Perhaps one day...…………..