thoughts on h110 being below starting load

[captain awesome]

So I was reloading for my 500 s&wmag the other day. Using a 350gr bullet with h110. 39gr to 43 grains is starting load to max. I previously was loading 42gr which is pretty stout, so I decided to back it off a bit and load the minimum for some friends to shoot. Well suffice it to say I goofed and accidentally loaded 10 rounds at 37gr, 2 grains below the starting load. So my question is will those be ok or might I end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel? Should I pull them apart and start over? what would you do?

ps I also looked at the pressures of the load and referenced it with a 500 Wyoming express 350 gr load;
500 Wyoming express minimum loads pressure is listed at 34,600 PSI with h110 (it goes much lower with other calibers and bullet weights)
500 mag minimum is 41,500 psi with h110

same exact bullet hornady xtp's
oal is about.2inches longer on the 500 s&w mag

 

[dmazur]

From Hodgdon site -

Reduce H110 and Winchester 296 loads 3% and work up from there. H110 and Winchester 296 if reduced too much will cause inconsistent ignition. In some cases it will lodge a bullet in the barrel, causing a hazardous situation (Barrel Obstruction). This may cause severe personal injury or death to users or bystanders. DO NOT REDUCE H110 LOADS BY MORE THAN 3%.

...So my question is will those be ok or might I end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel? Should I pull them apart and start over? what would you do?

Well, you're 1 gr below the factory caution, which warns of stuck bullets. There are also unconfirmed reports of "pressure spikes" with reduced H110 loads which can be a lot more serious than a squib.

10? That's all? That's won't even get your kinetic bullet puller warmed up...

I try very, very hard to avoid loading errors. When I catch them, I recite a special mantra while I am swinging my kinetic bullet puller -

"I will be more careful with my reloading procedures. I will be more careful with my reloading procedures..."



Regarding cup vs psi, I understand that psi can come from more modern transducer equipment, and cup from older pressure barrel testing with copper slugs. Different. One measures an integrated force (cup) and the other peak pressure (psi), which can be integrated with appropriate software. As the .500 S&W is newer, it's possible they used newer testing equipment. Maybe didn't go back with the .44 Mag and retest all the loads with the newer equipment. (Guessing on this...)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why take a chance and especially since it's only 10 rounds. Personally I would pull them without a second thought and load them up correctly. Again, what take a chance. Like said above, mistakes will happen, don't ignore the ones you catch...

 

[loadedround]

Not a very smart move to shoot them. Pull the bullets and start over again.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Before I would pull them, I would check other sources to see if anyone else has used that load as a starting load. I find many times, just comparing various data sources that the "starting load" can actually vary by as much as 3 to 5 grains! Since you are talking such a large quantity to begin with, it is not like you have them loaded at only HALF of the starting load!

If the gun was a .380 auto or a .25 auto, then by all means, pull the bullets, as one or two grains of powder may be 20 to 40 percent of the entire load!

I tested numerous loads through my 500 Magnum using the exact same bullets and powder (among many others). If I were to look hard enough, I may be able to find the original targets I shot when trying to work up the 350g H110 load!

 

[Mal H]

A couple of things ...

First of all, I tend to agree with those who say don't do it, but that is only a tendency, not an absolute.

Did you use the proper primer for the 500? If so, I would go ahead and fire one myself. As Friendly implied, 37 grains of H110 is still a pretty hefty load and 2 grains isn't the same percentage lower than it would be in a .357 Mag, for example. If you stick a bullet, that's not the end of the world - it's easy to get it out if you carry along the right tools. Then you would only have 9 to pull!


Now, this quote is the main reason I'm posting: "load the minimum for some friends to shoot".

Obviously, I have no clue who your friends are and their shooting experience. However, if you feel the necessity to lighten up the loads for them, I have to think they aren't used to a heavy hitter like a 500 S&W. Will, you be doing them any favors by having them shoot the 500 at all? Maybe you should start them out on something a little lighter. Even a less-than-full-house .44 Magnum would be better than the 500 in that respect. See how they handle the recoil and take it from there.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I also think you are good to go, and I doubt very much that you will get a stuck bullet with that load.

Now, if you were half of the load, or 10 grains below minimum, then I would worry, a bit. Only being two grains lower than minimum isn't going to affect much at all, in fact if you loaded two grains higher and shot both different loads one after the other I bet you would be hard-pressed noticing any difference at all.

Be prepared with a piece of dowel and a mallet, just in case you have to hammer a bullet back out, which I am 99.9999% positive that you WON'T HAVE TO!

 

[D Rudd]

From Hodgdons site:

"For those loads listed where a starting load is not shown, start 10% below the suggested maximum load and then approach maximums carefully, watching for any sign of pressure (difficult extraction, cratered and flattened or blown primers, and unusual recoil). H110 and Winchester 296 loads should not be reduced more than 3%."

3% below the max load. Not the minimum load.

Dana

 

[sonier]

your on the edge, you can fire it probally really safely, and the only thing that would most likely result would be a squib load, fire them and keep a cleaning rod or something to punch out a lodged bullet if you need to.

 

[buck460XVR]

Hornady 7th edition list a recipe for their 350 gr XTP in 500 S&W with a starting load of 35.4 gr of H110 to a max of 43.3. This is with a WLR primer.

 

[captain awesome]

thanks for all the responses,

I ended up pulling them, but after reading many of your recent posts, kind of wishing I had tested one first. for one I have never seen or heard of a blown up 500mag, also apparently it would have been safe since the other reloading data came to light from hornady.

Did you use the proper primer for the 500?

yep, using large rifle primers

Obviously, I have no clue who your friends are and their shooting experience. However, if you feel the necessity to lighten up the loads for them, I have to think they aren't used to a heavy hitter like a 500 S&W. Will, you be doing them any favors by having them shoot the 500 at all? Maybe you should start them out on something a little lighter. Even a less-than-full-house .44 Magnum would be better than the 500 in that respect.

no they have never fired a 500mag before but are familiar with shooting. I know they have all been around the 44 mag plenty; one owns one. Its meant to be a special treat since they have all been wanting to shoot the big bad 500 for quite some time.

I considered using some unique or blue dot loads instead but as I haven't tested them yet I thought it would be irresponsible to let them fire something without even myself knowing what to expect.

 

[rcmodel]

yep, using large rifle primers

Make sure you have brass intended for use with Lg Rifle primers.

The .500 S&W has had a checkered past when it comes to the correct primer for the case in question.

Ones intended for Lg Rifle primers have an R on the headstamp.
Those without are made for Lg Pistol primers.

Lg Pistol in cases with Lg Rifle primer pockets will seat too deep and may misfire.

Lg Rifle in Lg Pistol primer pockets may protrude and drag on the recoil shield.
Not to mention taking the full recoil impact on the primer cup!!!

All .500 S&W cases marked with an "R" on the headstamp are designed for Large Rifle primers, regardless of manufacturer. Cases designed for Large Pistol primers do not have the "R."

rc

 

[Robert Palermo /Penn Bullets]

The best way to determine is that H110 and ww296 must be at the minimum of 80% case capacity for reliable ignition. That is the threshold mark. figure out what total case capacity is and then see where your load figures in at.