Mold for the S&W 500 again

[snowwolfe]

I been hanging around here lurking for awhile now and have accumulated a nice supply of Lyman #2 and wheel weights. Bought a nice lead pot but not yet picked up a sizer/luber.

I own a S&W 500 PC model and want to get into the casting biz for it. I am only interested in doing this for myself and my son.

Looking for a mold that will give me between 380-420 grains. Since I am such a novice I am looking for something that will hopefully work with the min amount of muss and fuss.

Any recommendations?

[Ben]

The Lee Bullet is 20 grs. heavier than the top limit that you've set for your weight range. The price is right at $18.00.

See this link:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=21011

Thanks,
Ben

[snowwolfe]

Thanks,

Can anyone else offer a few good choices?

[RANGER RICK]

You can have Dan at mt molds custom make yo one for about $85.00 for a double cavity .You design your own .
There was a group buy hey lately for a 6 cavity mold .

RR

[snowwolfe]

Well, I am sure he could do anything I wanted, I just dont know to order!
Thats why I am asking you experts:)

I really do not know how to design a bullet. I will be using it in my S&W 500 PC and I want it to weigh about 400 grains. What mold material should I use? I only need a double cavity.

I managed to accummulate about 1,000 pounds of Lyman #2, plus a bunch of wheel weights and maybe 500 pounds of 20-1 during the last year so it is time to start using it.
Any help would certainly be appreciated.

[happy7]

You could ask 475/480 if he could supply you with a drawing of our group buy mold complete with dimensions. Then you could get Lee to make you one for $154, although it would take some time. Or you could use the dimensions to get one made at Mountain Molds.

However, considering the cost, why not just go for the 440 grain Lee mold. It is very reasonably priced, and is a good shooter, and there is a lot of reloading information available for it as this weight is probably the most common for cast bullets in the reloading manuals I have seen.

[475/480]

I sent a PM to snowwolfe about a 2 cavity MM Alum- 501-400gr WFNGC (75% meplate) mould I have for sale.

Sean

[canuck4570]

I have ordered a RCBS mold advertise at 400 gr... and there is the lyman mold at 375 gr and theire is a few made by NEI 325 and up

[wonderwolf]

Who makes a 700gr keith style GC and No GC? I remember seing one around but can't remember. I don't have my .500 yet but getting the mold would not hurt. Can you get away with no GC if you size the bullets right? I really dislike the use of GC if it can be prevented. I cast with WW only.

[475/480]

mountainmolds.com has the heavy boolit molds ,BUT you have to design your own mould.When you get to 500-600-700gr you can go without a gas check usually.

Sean


Who makes a 700gr keith style GC and No GC? I remember seing one around but can't remember. I don't have my .500 yet but getting the mold would not hurt. Can you get away with no GC if you size the bullets right? I really dislike the use of GC if it can be prevented. I cast with WW only.

[wonderwolf]

Whats the best weight In your opinion for a S&W 500 for everything besides casual target shooting. Something like that 500gr Keith would be ideal I believe.

[475/480]

Honestly 400gr + Keith will work for anything in N.America and penetrate completely.


Sean

Whats the best weight In your opinion for a S&W 500 for everything besides casual target shooting. Something like that 500gr Keith would be ideal I believe.

[wonderwolf]

I did a little math after one of my classes when I had an idea and using what many people believe to be the perfect bullet weight for .357 and .44 mag designed by keith I figured the "mathematically ideal" weight for a Keith style cast boolit would be 340gr give or take. I think something heavier would be better but this is just what I came up with. Upper 300 would be better though IMHO. WHEN I get my .500 I plan on having at least 5 molds made for it one of them will be that 340gr just to see how it works

[Willbird]

John Ross has some info on his webpage that leads me to believe 400 grains is about right, he says you can push one nearly 2000 fps from a 5" S&W with a .004" cyl/bbl gap

If you still have the mold 475/480 PM me the details, I have a new Handi-gun in 500 that needs a bullet mold, and I do not care for Lee 2 cavities one little bit.


Bill

[Namerifrats]

I've been loading and casting for my S&W 500 several months now. Had some really good results. I have the Lee 440 GR mold, nice mold that drops good bullets. With my alloy (all wheel weights), after adding a gas check and lube they weight around 458 grains. Prob around 448-452 fresh from the mold. I only had a limited number of gas checks a guy here was nice enough to sell me. I've ran some test loads without a GC though and had good results. I only cast the 440 GR bullet for myself so far but bought a bunch from Ranger Rick that are very nice indeed. I have his 700gr, 500 gr Keith style, and several other extras he tossed in for me to try out. I also received several bullet from another member here that are nice all in the 600gr range. For general purpose plinking, target shooting, and even hunting thought the Lee mold will give you all you need. If you are worried about recoil, the 440 isn't bad at all.