500 magnum loads

[dfish1247]

Alright, my right hemisphere is still rattling from today’s trip. I had some 390gr spire point gc, and 440gr wfngc loaded with cfe blk and h110 to try.
The 390gr and h110 is my benchmark load and performed as it should. The cfe blk 390’s were meh, the h110 and blk starting loads performed best with the 440’s. All loads banged a 3” gong at 100yds so it wasn’t utterly atrocious.

The 500 is a 10.5” pc with 2.5-7 Burris on top.

The 440gr that showed hope was at the starting charges for both powders, I’m not dropping below the start charges on either powder. But, this brings us to the subject I’m asking about.

I found a chart on using common fast rifle powders in this cartridge. I have h335, rl7, imr 3031, and h322 on hand to try.

The idea seems sound, fill to base of bullet and have at it, powders used are too slow to over pressure, but still fast enough to work in the ”normal magnum” pressures. Think trail boss but with more arse. I have slower powders, but will not even consider them for this.

I‘d like this idea to work just to spread the powder gobbling around, this and the 460 are equal to feeding two teenage football players.

Well, any experiences or thoughts? Yes, they’ll be dirty and muzzle blast will be stratospheric.

 

[LV Gun]

I don’t load 500 S&W for myself but I do for my brother who is a bear hunter using Hornady XTP Mag bullets and some 330 gr LRNFP from Rim Rock bullets I use Alliant 2400 and Power Pistol for the lead. And yes that thing eats powder like crazy. My brother likes these loads a lot he shot a 300 lbs one last year with the 2400 load and a Hornady 350 grain XTP Mag bullet with just one clean shot. You mentioned Trail Boss and IMR 3031 I use both of them in my Magnum Research 45/70 BFR revolver with a LR primer . I don’t know if I would use IMR 3031 in a pistol case I have heard of it being done but would not risk it I don’t like playing with fire.

 

[Mostly Lead]

Well, any experiences or thoughts?

Not sure how or why this cartridge would deserve any less attention to detail than another. Published loads, follow the manufacturers recommendations, check SAAMI specs, etc..

Load development based on internet commentary exceeds my risk tolerance also.

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Not sure how or why this cartridge would deserve any less attention to detail than another. Published loads, follow the manufacturers recommendations, check SAAMI specs, etc..

Load development based on internet commentary exceeds my risk tolerance also.

Have to agree. Readily available handgun powders will take the 500 from mild to wild safely and with plenty of loading Data to go by. Some rifle powders like 1680 and 5744 are in the charts already, I can't see any good reason for straying significantly from their Min/Max recommendations.

 

[dobedo]

Attached are some of the loads I have used for both pistol and rifle.

 

[dfish1247]

Alright.

 

[eddiememphis]

The idea seems sound, fill to base of bullet and have at it...

Sure, why not? You have two hands and really, you probably only need one.

Think how much you will save on gloves!

 

[dfish1247]

Sure, why not? You have two hands and really, you probably only need one.

Think how much you will save on gloves!

If I filled the case with H1000, maybe. Case full of bullseye, certainly without a doubt.

All this is, is picking up on what IMR4227 does now, the whole urban legend “you can’t put enough 4227 in to blow up” This just picks up on that and goes the next step, by using even slower powders, won’t achieve the highest velocities, but you won’t build the pressure to splatter the gun and yourself all over the range. May even find a more accurate load as well.

People underload all the time, leaving mountains of space in a case without much concern.


I understand where you guys are coming from, this wasn’t done in a lab, by trained professionals, with lawyer oversight. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel, just open up my options in the moderate magnum category without the massive amount of free space unique leaves,

 

[dobedo]

Tightgroup only fills the cases just below 1/2 and that is what design is a minimum load. Max load is 18 grains in a .500 case just about 1/2 full as per design. Having a case full or 1/2 full by design of the recommendations of the manufacturer makes no difference. With over 40 years of loading under my belt I have heard it all. As long as you load per manufacturers design that is all you need Min or Max. All the rest is just fodder and nonsense.