Reloading the s&w500

I am of the belief that the FTX bullets have no real advantage over the XTPs to justify their higher price. This is with accuracy and terminal performance.

I found the 300 ftx was the least expensive jacketed option. The 300ftx/296 Hornady book load is a fire breather, nearly 50 grains if I recall. I settled on a full case of 4227 which gives 1550 in my 6.5 inch, quite pleasant.

I would pick the magnum xtp over the ftx. I have had FTX fail miserably at holding together and penetrating large game. granted this was in a 450 marlin and not a 500, but i suspect the bullet construction is the same between calibers.

Unless I am shooting in really cold weather the magnum primers with 296 has worked well for me. That's target shooting in warmer weather loads with cheap jacketed bullets specifically. For those defense loads for emergencies then I use mag primers without question.

I have a John Ross 500 and my go to ammo is 42 grains h110 with a 350 grain xtp. I have molds and other items but this is just the easiest load for general task like hunting and letting others try it on the range.

I doubt an xtp is the most appropriate hollow point for hunting due to its spotty reputation for expanding, it does however leave a minimal of a .500 inch hole through game to encourage blood loss.

I also like that the 350 grain loading as it does not beat your hands into submission. I will often shoot 50 rounds at a time before I call it quits. Anything heavier and a cylinder is all I want.

Also Winchester 296 and H110 are same powder

sharp tooth said:

Ky dan 50 rounds wow… it’s been a long time since I’ve shot my 500 I’ve got 170 ish reloaded currently plus a few factory boxes still. My max was 15 in a day I couldn’t hit my slide release switching back to my 22. Wrist to elbow just gets destroyed I did happen to find some 500 spl and those I could shoot 1 handed so can’t wait to reload those

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I know right now it sucks to do anything reloading wise, BUT if you can find TRAIL BOSS powder and a accurate lead bullet in the 400-500ish grain variety your recoil issues will not be an issue any more. John Ross designed a 400 grain hollow point wadcutter dubbed the "alley cleaner" and a 500 mag case filled to the base of the AC wadcutter is accurate and pleasent and on a chrono it books at 780 fps. Pleasant and powerful and no doubt will penentrate ANY north American game animal.

I like taking my 500 to indoor ranges and messing everyone's day up lol.