Two new .500 S&W molds and a correction

Just got two new two-cavity .500 S&W molds from Mountain Molds. They have .700" nose length instead of the .625" length of my "625" grain bullet.

I put the 625 in quotes because I initially told Dan I wanted the bullet to come out 650 in wheelweight alloy. He did the calculations, fired up his CNC and knocked out the original mold but couldn't weigh the resulting bullet since his scale stops at 500. I cast some slugs and weighed them and they were 622 grains, and I told him that was fine. Then I worked up loads and published the data, 1265 FPS with low extreme spread.

Well.

I must have been in a hurry and in bad light when I used the beam-type scale, because I just put a new battery in the electronic one and lubed, these bullets are 652 grains. I re-checked using the beam scale and yes they're 652, not 625. "Put that crowbar down, boy! You don't know nothin' 'bout operatin' machinery!" comes to mind. The new ones with the longer nose are 647 grains. Go here

http://www.mountainmolds.com/XL_blocks.htm

to see a pic of the new big bullet with five thin grease grooves instead of two wide ones. I think at the longer OAL I will be able to get 1350 FPS at the same pressures.

My second new mold also has a .700" nose length but with a much smaller meplat (about .200") and 1.000" total length vs. 1.325" for the 650. It weighs 447 grains. This bullet is fairly "pointy" and should have a good B.C., I estimate .320. I hope to get 1900 FPS out of it at an OAL of 2.320". Will probably need NECO P-wads to prevent leading. No pic of this one yet but it looks much like the old big bore target bullets for BP Schuetzen rifles. If it's accurate this will be my long range plinker.

Cast about 200 of each last night. Chronograph tests happen this weekend and accuracy tests soon thereafter.

JR

447 at 1,900? That's almost 3,600 ft-lbs.

Now that I have my four molds from Dan, I can post how great they are;) No need to shoot myself in the foot with backlogging!

You are shooting these from a handgun? Brave man.

I'm wondering if it would be possible to get a #1 or an 1885 High Wall chambered in 500S&W. Maybe even an 1886 Winchester? S/F...Ken M

Quotes:

"447 at 1,900? That's almost 3,600 ft-lbs."

Yes, and maybe that's a bit optimistic, but that's what Suggest-A-Load says will happen if you load a 447 to an OAL of 2.320", and Suggest-A-Load was dead on with the 650. Cor-Bon is giving up 15 grains of powder space with an OAL under 2.0" with their 440.

"Now that I have my four molds from Dan, I can post how great they are No need to shoot myself in the foot with backlogging!"

He seems pretty good at getting caught up.

"You are shooting these from a handgun? Brave man."

Not really. Those Sorbothane grips are VERY effective. My 650/1265 load is definitely harder-recoiling, but with Sorbothane it is no less tolerable to me than 250/1450 out of a 48-oz. M29 with wood grips. I have shot over 100K of the latter combo over the last 32 years with no ill effects.

"I'm wondering if it would be possible to get a #1 or an 1885 High Wall chambered in 500S&W. Maybe even an 1886 Winchester? "

Bet on it. I hope that whoever makes a lever gun for this cartridge designs it to take ammo with an OAL of 2.320", since the revolver will.

This gun with its bull-strong design and 2.300" cylinder is going to rewrite the book on powerful handguns.

JR