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Thompsoncustom
05-25-2015, 10:31 AM
I just purchased a New 6.5in S&W 500 and before it gets here I need to get some factory ammo and reloading gear. I'm planing on starting with the lee 440gr bullet mold so I was wondering if anyone has load data for that bullet on the softer side just looking to build some plinking rounds for the range right now till I get comfortable with the gun.

JonB_in_Glencoe
05-25-2015, 11:04 AM
In my 4" 500S&W revolver, using a balisti-cast 385gr RF plain base boolit, I worked up a load with Unique. I don't remember where I got the MAX load of 18 grain ? but anyway, I loaded some from 12gr to 18 gr. I started seeing flattened primers at 17gr. I disassembled the 18gr rounds. That 17gr load is where I wanted to be, more kick than a top-end 44 mag load...but not much more.

I've loaded the Lee 440 with GC, but only with H110 (book starting load) and a stout load it was :shock:

Thompsoncustom
05-25-2015, 06:03 PM
Thanks for the info I have a pound of unique and a pound of Power pistol. I'll start at 12gr unique and work up to start.

montanamike
05-26-2015, 12:24 AM
13.5grs of unique or 10grs of trailboss work great.

44man
05-26-2015, 08:15 AM
440 is pretty heavy so are you forgetting twist rate?
I don't know the S&W rate but bet it is slower then the BFR in .500. My JRH is 1 in 15", same as the .500 S&W BFR and it takes about 1350 fps for stability with a 440.
I feel if you want light loads, drop boolit weight.

Thompsoncustom
05-26-2015, 10:23 AM
Indeed I haven't checked bullet stability yet, I believe the 500 has a twist of 1-18.75

tygar
05-26-2015, 01:21 PM
Unique! Pick an easy starting load & go from there. My 6.5 likes it a lot for the 440 & NOE 385. Will be getting the MP one soon so more to play with.

When you want to get manly the H110 is what I use.

Motor
05-27-2015, 12:35 AM
My 8 3/8" 500 shoots the Lee 440gr very accuratly. The starting load is 12gr Unique (Lyman CBM).

I tried 12 to 14 and settled on 13gr Unique. My boolits are 12bhn (lead/linotype) water quenched. The hardness is measured right after cooling. I shoot the 440gr unchecked with this load.

One thing I can tell you is the low velocity and heavy boolit makes for high impacts at 50 yards. My 500 has the tall .310" front sight and I have to have the rear all the way down to get impacts about 4" over the POA at 50 yards. Its pretty much dead on at 100 yards.

If you want an AWSOME powder puff load get a Lee 250gr REAL muzzleloader mold. Tumble lube them, size them to .501" tumble lube again, load them with 12gr Unique.

I am dead serious. This load shoots practically hole in hole at 50 yards with a scoped 8 3/8" 500.

Recoil is mild. It works on whitetail deer too. I love this load but wanted something with more metplat so got the 440gr mold.

As stated the 440 works well. Lee markets the 440 specifically for the 500 S&W so I'd say the twist rate is gtg. Plus Cor Bon loads a boolit that looks very much like the 440gr Lee. You don't want to shoot these. LOL they are brutal.

Now after shooting the 250 REAL and the 440 I am VERY tempted to get the 320gr REAL. It may possibly be the perfect boolit for a low power accurate hunting load.

Motor

tygar
05-27-2015, 09:00 AM
I can second the 13gr in the 440. I shoot 13-15.5 in both the 440 & 385. It's very mild & accurate. Actually just loaded up a some in exactly that range yesterday. I do use the GC on my 440 but have both PB & GC in the NOE & have never had any leading. Mine are 15.4 after air cooled. I just pretty much use Lyman #2 on all mags. That way I don't have to think about it. If it's a hot load water drop for 20.

Motor
05-27-2015, 04:53 PM
Just wanted to add. I load the 250gr REAL at 1.885" OAL and use a sufficient amount of roll crimp to prevent forward movement.

I use standard large pistol primers and have found they work well in my revolver even when seated in the deeper Starline "R" brass.

From my experience shooting Unique in various cast bullet applications I've never noticed a difference between using a standard large pistol primer and a standard large rifle primer in cases that would accept a large rifle primer of course.

Almost forgot. I have also used the Lee hallow base mini ball. Mine were around 360gr. They load into the 500 like a full wadd cutter. I didn't like the diameter of the body which was only about .498" They shot good but I think they leaded a little. I'm still sold on the idea of 320gr REAL for a middle weight boolit.

Motor

Thompsoncustom
05-27-2015, 09:42 PM
Thanks for all the info guys, this will get me started in the right direction. Now just for the gun to show up at my ffl.