12.7X70MM (.500 JEFFERY OR .500 SCHULER)

CARTRIDGE BOARD

- Gil Sengel

This story begins with one Richard Schuler of the gun-making firm August Schuler Waffenfabrik in Suhl, Germany. Richard had interest in big-bore cartridges for African game. He developed the 11.2x60mm (1904), 11.2x72mm (1906) and the 12.7x70mm (mid-1920s). All were intended to use an inexpensive standard length Mauser M98 action with a modified magazine box, action rails, and in the case of the 12.7mm, a larger diameter bolt face recess. All used cases have rebated rims (rim smaller in diameter than case body). Schuler even patented the idea.

The earliest mention of the 12.7x70mm is in a German shooting magazine of March 1927. It gives load data as (English translation), “…bullet weight 530.86 grains, a powder charge of 115.74 grains, flake powder No. 5. Velocity at 25 meters is 2,460.6 feet per second with a result of 7,131.8 foot pounds energy!” All pre-World War II ammunition appears to have been made by G.C. Dornheim in Suhl, Germany, under its trade name GECADO.

Quite surprisingly, the English firm W.J. Jeffery & Co., Ltd., then announced its 1928 Model .500 Magazine Rifle, which was simply a 12.7x70mm renamed .500 Jeffery and built on a magnum size Mauser action, thus eliminating modifications to a standard action. Jeffery, however, was more an assembler and finisher than builder. Records show actions and barrels for the .500s came from Germany, with H. Leonard of Birmingham making 21 rifles and George Gibbs three more.