S&W 500

[buck460XVR]

With regard to lubing... I am one of those fellows who gets upset at the idea of lubing cases with carbide dies. "Why did you buy carbide in the first place, then?!?".

The .500 is the single exception, for me. I went for years stubbornly cranking the handle and rocking the bench, and eventually pulled a rim completely off the case. So now the can of Imperial wax comes out whenever it is time to size .500s. There simply is too much surface area, even compared with other Magnum pistol cases.

^^^This is the same for .460. You can go without lube with carbide dies, but it's a struggle. I figure the lube helps with reducing working the brass too.

 

[dobedo]

A good buddy of mine has been under the weather. He owns a S&W 500 with 4" barrel, and it is a blast to shoot. He asked me to reload his empty cases and gave me a lot of Hornady 350 gr XTP bullets. He also gave me a pound of H110 and IMR4227. His dies are Lee but it is a 3 die set. I may order a Lee crimp die. I like crimping in a separate stage and not while seating a bullet.

I have LR primers, and the latest Hornady & Lyman Cast Manuals.

I think I will do all of my loading on my MEC Marksman Press. If it works out well I have a T7 or a 750 to move to. He did purchase a Dillon flaring/powder drop tube. Other than lubing the cases for resizing and crimping do you all have any particular tips or thoughts that I need to be aware of?

I may also buy some different powders and some cast bullets from Roger's Better Bullets in King of Prussia.

What are your pets range loads?

 

[Dane R. Marley]

View attachment 1184831

Thank You!

 

[Dane R. Marley]

My Lee crimping Die arrived yesterday. I may load some of the 500 today.

 

[Dane R. Marley]

4227 is a good powder in the 500, Lyman 49 lists 41.5 max at 47,000psi under a Hornady 350, so the usual back off 10% and work up. 4227 is not touchy about being downloaded like 296/H110.

I guess that is around 37.35 gr.