50 Beowulf 400 Grain Data Help Needed

Status
Not open for further replies.
BigBoreBubba

BigBoreBubba

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2021
Messages
184
Hi all,

I have a bunch of 400 grain Win. Platinum Tip HP’s I’m wanting to load up on top of Lil Gun powder. I can find data on 350 and 500 grain bullets for Lil Gun, but not a 400 grain bullet. Hornady lists a starting charge of 28.8 and a max of 35.6 for a 350gr. And a starting charge of 21.8 and a max of 28.1 for the 500gr. My Lyman manual lists a starting load of 26.0 and a max of 28.0 for the 500gr, and a starting load of 34.0 and a max of 35.5 for a 350gr Sierra. That’s quite a difference in starting loads, but very similar max loads. Would I be correct in assuming a starting charge for the 400gr would be in the neighborhood of 24.0gr. with a max in the 28.0-29.0 range?
I also am not sure what the OAL should be.
Hornady lists 2.240 for the 500gr and 2.100 for the 350 XTP.
My Lyman manual lists the same 500gr FP at 2.165 and a 350 Sierra at 2.110.
I know that the actual bullet length of the 400gr. Winchester is 0.904 vs a length of 1.007 for a 500gr XTP FP. That being said, I’m kind of leaning toward an OAL of 2.140 or so. Does this sound even close to correct?
Thanks in advance!
 
I'm not a fan of Lil Gun under the bigger bullets in 50 BW, I stop at 350s for Lil Gun, it works best on the 300 to 350 weight range. I load both the Barne's Buster 400 grain, and the Sierra JSP 400 grain with ~ 47 grains of Reloader 7. It's a good solid load, and with the Barne's, I've taken an Elk with it. Personally, if I was you, I'd find RL7, or find 350's. I really don't think you'll be happy once you work up a LG load, and that's some pretty expensive load development. I should also add, after playing with 50 BW for about 4 years now.......AA's load data is freakin' hot. My experience is that the web between rim and base slowly collapses on the brass, and it starts to actually get shorter. I've started seeing primer flattening, especially with the Lil Gun loads, at about the mid load point on the AA load data sheet.
 
EricBu said:
I'm not a fan of Lil Gun under the bigger bullets in 50 BW, I stop at 350s for Lil Gun, it works best on the 300 to 350 weight range. I load both the Barne's Buster 400 grain, and the Sierra JSP 400 grain with ~ 47 grains of Reloader 7. It's a good solid load, and with the Barne's, I've taken an Elk with it. Personally, if I was you, I'd find RL7, or find 350's. I really don't think you'll be happy once you work up a LG load, and that's some pretty expensive load development. I should also add, after playing with 50 BW for about 4 years now.......AA's load data is freakin' hot. My experience is that the web between rim and base slowly collapses on the brass, and it starts to actually get shorter. I've started seeing primer flattening, especially with the Lil Gun loads, at about the mid load point on the AA load data sheet.
Click to expand...


I wish I could get some RL7. Finding powder around here is rare, to say the least. I don’t usually order powder online, unless it’s in bulk.
At the moment, Lil Gun is really the only suitable powder I have.
 
EricBu said:
I'm not a fan of Lil Gun under the bigger bullets in 50 BW, I stop at 350s for Lil Gun, it works best on the 300 to 350 weight range. I load both the Barne's Buster 400 grain, and the Sierra JSP 400 grain with ~ 47 grains of Reloader 7. It's a good solid load, and with the Barne's, I've taken an Elk with it. Personally, if I was you, I'd find RL7, or find 350's. I really don't think you'll be happy once you work up a LG load, and that's some pretty expensive load development. I should also add, after playing with 50 BW for about 4 years now.......AA's load data is freakin' hot. My experience is that the web between rim and base slowly collapses on the brass, and it starts to actually get shorter. I've started seeing primer flattening, especially with the Lil Gun loads, at about the mid load point on the AA load data sheet.
Click to expand...


I just finished sizing about 75 or 80 once fired cases, and 3 of them had collapsed webs. Enough so that they wouldn’t fit in the shell holder. I sized a mix of AA and Starline brass. Oddly, it was the Starline cases that had collapsed, especially since I have been told by several people that the Starline brass was stronger than the Alexander brass. Al 3 cases showed extreme pressure signs. Primers severely flattened, deep marks from the ejector hole in the bolt face, and of course the collapsed webs. All of my once fired Starline brass was originally loaded by Underwood. I know they tend to load their stuff pretty hot, but dang!
 
Though I’d give this a bump to see if anyone else has any ideas on the Lil Gun. I’ve got a range trip coming up Thursday and was hoping to have some loads worked up by then.
 
Looks like I’ll have to hunt for some RL7. Anybody have any pet loads for this weight, or ideas about OAL?
 
I’ve shot 35.5 gr of LilGun under 350 grain Hornady XTP with decent results but have since moved to 50.7 gr of Reloader 7 for an excellent accurate load with the same bullet. OAL is set at 2.110”. Excellent accuracy out to 100yds with my AR .50 Beowulf build.

97124E86-9287-45E6-A1B2-5FDA4BC77918.jpg
 
Well, my search for RL7 has been frustratingly unsuccessful. However, my buddy scored two pounds of Accurate 1680. I know the burn rate is close to RL7, and I have found data for several different bullet weights using it. But unfortunately, I still haven’t found any data for 1680 and a 400gr bullet. I’ve seen data for lighter and heavier, but not the 400.
Alexander shows a 420 with a max load of 45.2 (does not list a starting load). Would it be a safe assumption to knock 10% off of the 420 max and work up from there? It seems to me like it should be fine, but you never know…..
 
BigBoreBubba said:
Well, my search for RL7 has been frustratingly unsuccessful. However, my buddy scored two pounds of Accurate 1680. I know the burn rate is close to RL7, and I have found data for several different bullet weights using it. But unfortunately, I still haven’t found any data for 1680 and a 400gr bullet. I’ve seen data for lighter and heavier, but not the 400.
Alexander shows a 420 with a max load of 45.2 (does not list a starting load). Would it be a safe assumption to knock 10% off of the 420 max and work up from there? It seems to me like it should be fine, but you never know…..
Click to expand...

I think that's a legit plan, if it was me....knowing that AA is on the hot side with their load data, and that it's not a SAAMI cartridge yet, so chamber uniformity is still not quite there from what I've seen, I'd probably back it down 15% and roll 3. If you can, shoot them over a chrony. Put one in the mag, fire it, and inspect for pressure signs, and see if your bolt locks back. Put the next two in the mag and run them both. If they look good, and everything is functioning, start looking for accuracy and your desired velocity. If you don't get bolt lock back, or it won't pick up the 2nd round..move up to 10% off the listed max. Work up very gradually until you get full function. Be mindful, that Beowulf can be finicky, and it's definitely one of those rounds that suffers from the exponential effect...you can go from no pressure signs, to flowing primers with a very small change in the charge. I love the round, and I've grown more and more attached to it over the years, but it's really a labor of love.
 
Well, my 1680 powder came in yesterday. Loaded up 25 ladder test rounds this morning. Now I just have to find a free day here soon to try them out.
 
Yup, I love em! I also like my little small bore pop guns too, but there’s just something about big bores that calls to me….
 
BigBoreBubba said:
Yup, I love em! I also like my little small bore pop guns too, but there’s just something about big bores that calls to me….
Click to expand...
Are you going to eventually get a .50 BMG. I shot my brothers, and it’s very satisfying
 
Mark_Mark said:
Are you going to eventually get a .50 BMG. I shot my brothers, and it’s very satisfying
Click to expand...


Hopefully some day. I’ve come close to buying one several times. I wanted a Bushmaster BA 50, but they discontinued them after they got bought out. I’ve looked at Armalite AR50’s very seriously. Of course, I’d love to have a Barrett M82, bu I don’t have $10k …. It would be cool to have one though, especially since it’s our official Tennessee State Gun.

The next few on my list are a S&W 686 Performance Center 357, either a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 480 Ruger or a Magnum Research BFR in 475 Linebaugh, a S&W M57 or a Ruger Blackhawk in 41mag, a Magnum Research BFR in 500S&W, an EAA Tanfoglio Witness Poly Match in either 10mm or 40S&W, a CZ 550 Safari in 458 Lott, a straight cylinder bore 12 ga pump or SxS and maybe an M&P 2.0 Performance Center or Canik TPSF Elite in 9mm.
 
Last edited:
BigBoreBubba said:
Hopefully some day. I’ve come close to buying one several times. I wanted a Bushmaster BA 50, but they discontinued them after they got bought out. I’ve looked at Armalite AR50’s very seriously. Of course, I’d love to have a Barrett M82, bu I don’t have $10k …. It would be cool to have one though, especially since it’s our official Tennessee State Gun.

The next few on my list are a S&W 686 Performance Center 357, either a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 480 Ruger or a Magnum Research BFR in 475 Linebaugh, a S&W M57 or a Ruger Blackhawk in 41mag, a Magnum Research BFR in 500S&W, an EAA Tanfoglio Witness Poly Match in either 10mm or 40S&W, a CZ 550 Safari in 458 Lott, a straight cylinder bore 12 ga pump or SxS and maybe an M&P 2.0 Performance Center or Canik TPSF Elite in 9mm.
Click to expand...
My list are:

Ruger #1 458 Lott
Ruger #1 500 nitro express
500 SW 4”
Double rifle just because it would be cool
Colt Anaconda
Colt Python
Double 1911, the one the welded together
10mm RIA double stack
10mm Stock Tangfolio
12g 3.5” 870
and much much much more
 
Well, we finally got to test this out today. The results were amazing! Both mine and my buddy’s rifles produced groups with mostly all rounds touching, with the exception of some flinchers on both our parts. The final load we settled on was 41.8 grains of AA1680, Fed 155 LPM, seated to an OAL of 2.160”. I was expecting to have to do a lot more load development on this, but every incremental increase was about as accurate as the rest. It was very difficult to actually settle on one, but 41.8 seemed to just edge out the others, but not by much. All in all, I’m very satisfied and glad I didn’t waste any more time trying to track down some RL7, or pay the ridiculous price I’m sure someone would want for it on gunbroker.
 
BigBoreBubba said:
Well, we finally got to test this out today. The results were amazing! Both mine and my buddy’s rifles produced groups with mostly all rounds touching, with the exception of some flinchers on both our parts. The final load we settled on was 41.8 grains of AA1680, Fed 155 LPM, seated to an OAL of 2.160”. I was expecting to have to do a lot more load development on this, but every incremental increase was about as accurate as the rest. It was very difficult to actually settle on one, but 41.8 seemed to just edge out the others, but not by much. All in all, I’m very satisfied and glad I didn’t waste any more time trying to track down some RL7, or pay the ridiculous price I’m sure someone would want for it on gunbroker.
Click to expand...
Great day, Until you got shot at by 1/2 blind, 1/2 def, bubba!
 
Sweet! I tried 1680 with 350 Gr Hornady XTP’s but settled with RL7. One day for sh*ts and grins I’ll load up some 500 grainers for fun.

I built mine to deer hunt here in Ohio since we’re a straight walled restricted state.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
.500 S&W numbers
Replies
11
Views
733
tc300mag1
T
5
  • Locked
Sierra Load Data for Smith & Wesson 500
Replies
17
Views
869
__steve__
__steve__
LiveLife
  • Locked
Load data for 40S&W Berry's bullets?
Replies
13
Views
9K
Hondo 60
Hondo 60
A
  • Locked
Wildly inconsistent load data
Replies
13
Views
666
Zendude
Zendude
captain awesome
  • Locked
thoughts on h110 being below starting load
Replies
12
Views
818
Robert Palermo /Penn Bullets
R
Back
Top