Unique in the .500 S&W

[44man]

Friend has one and wants to shoot 325 gr boolits with lighter recoil. I can't find Unique loads. Someone told him 20 gr. Even Alliant does not show.

[DougGuy]

He might be creating a grenade trying to load that behemoth case with Unique. That is MUCH too much lead for a powder as fast as Unique. Plus the larger capacity gives the flame front more powder to ignite even faster than a 44 or 45 would light it off? Scary. Really.

Powder makers and reloading manuals don't list loads that are unsafe and say DO NOT use this, it's pretty much written in stone that if you don't see a certain powder listed with a given boolit style or weight, it is because it is not recommended. That is why you won't find any Unique data for his 500, and you won't find any Unique data for the 300 RF in 45 Colt or the 310 RF in 44 magnum.

[Jeff Michel]

I shoot the 440 grain Lee with 10 Grains of Unique, bit over 1000 fps in a rifle.

[DougGuy]

I shoot the 440 grain Lee with 10 Grains of Unique, bit over 1000 fps in a rifle.

May I ask where this data came from?

[Jeff Michel]

I've seen it referenced in a number of places on this very forum also on the CBA forum. Here's a brief reference in this link http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?275155-440gr-Lee-in-500-S-amp-W And yes it's a pretty mild load. Here's another, http://reloadammo.com/500sw.htmcheck The amplification notes at the bottom of the page. This was my original source.

[375RUGER]

I shoot the 440 grain Lee with 10 Grains of Unique, bit over 1000 fps in a rifle.
I shoot the same 10.0g Unique with the NOE 420SWCHP, at just about 1000fps.

May I ask where this data came from?
People who sell components sell them based on "how hard and fast can you push a bullet", that's why the J-word manuals only list the slow powders, they are advertising that velocity, speed sells powder.
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook has loads for Unique.

[375RUGER]

I shoot the 440 grain Lee with 10 Grains of Unique, bit over 1000 fps in a rifle.

Just noticed you're shooting a rifle, mine is a revolver.

[Jeff Michel]

Yes, a Handi with a 1.5-4 Leupold. And what 10-12 grains of Unique and that Lee does to a deer :mrgreen:

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I hesitate to post this, after DougGuy's warning. So I dug out my notes, so I could include my source.

I worked up a Load for a ballista-cast 385gr RF plain base with Unique (using Win large Rifle primers).
I started at 12gr, and went up...I settled with 17gr.
That's where I started seeing flattened primers in my 4" revolver.

Lyman castbullet handbook 4th Ed. lists the Lyman 501680 (375gr) plain base,
Max Load: 17.5gr Unique, 1361fps, 37.8Kpsi

[runfiverun]

the trick is in how unique burns.
you generally don't burn all of it even in a rifle barrel.
the more case capacity you have the more flat lined unique becomes.
one of my powder dumps is set at 8.5grs and another is set to 9.3 they never change except to go on a different tool head.
from the 41 mag up to the 45-70 either load will work just fine, and is outstanding in several cartridges. [the 9.3 especially in the larger volume cases]
I wouldn't hesitate to start at 10 grs in the 500 and move forward.

[44man]

Thanks Doug, sent him what you said. i don't like the powder at all and a .500 S&W is to be shot like it.

[Moonie]

The lyman cast manual shows 12-17.5gr Unique under the Lee 440. I've shot that boolit over 10gr of Unique, very pleasant to shoot in my 15" Encore pistol.

[fatelk]

Friend has one and wants to shoot 325 gr boolits with lighter recoil. I can't find Unique loads. Someone told him 20 gr. Even Alliant does not show.

The Lyman 4th edition Cast Bullet Handbook has several published loads for Unique in the 500 S&W, using 375gr, 400gr, and 440gr bullets. A friend has a big .500 and wanted me to help him load some lighter loads some day that don't bark so much. I was planning on using the Lee 440 and Unique.


That is MUCH too much lead for a powder as fast as Unique. Plus the larger capacity gives the flame front more powder to ignite even faster than a 44 or 45 would light it off?

I used to use Unique in 12 gauge. I know shotshells are a whole different ballgame, but it's a lot bigger, more area, more powder, more lead, and still safe. Not trying to be contrary, just curious about the limits of really fast powders in really big cases.

[jmort]

Lyman 49th has 14 Unique loads as noted, and John Taffin made up this complicated data list





.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum / .500 S&W Magnum (John Taffin Tests)



https://www.loaddata.com/images/database/500-S&W11.gif


Warning! Notes: Tested in 8 3/8" S&W M500, 10 1/2" BFR and 12" Encore.


Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.







Wt.
Bullet
Powder Manufacturer
Powder
Charge
Velocity (FPS)


370
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
859


Remarks: 8 3/8" S&W M500


370
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
927


Remarks: 10 1/2" BFR


370
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
913


Remarks: 12" Encore


440
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
882


Remarks: 8 3/8" S&W M500


440
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
925


Remarks: 10 1/2" BFR


440
Cast Performance Bullet Co. GC
Alliant
Unique
10.0
862


Remarks: 12" Encore

[Intel6]

I got a Katahdin barrel for my Encore frame in 500 S&W. I cast and already had the big 700 gr. mould but also wanted some lighter bullets so I picked up the Lee 440 mould. I worked up full power type loads with the 440 bullet but also wanted a lighter plinking load. I did 10/12/14 grs of Unique and settled on the 14 grs. with the Lee bullet seated to the top crimp groove to differentiate them from the full power loads seated in the lower groove. I PC my bullets and put a gas check on the 440 bullet and the 14 grs of UNQ is a great load that pushes the bullet out of the 20" barrel at 1,130 fps.

Here is the rifle with a 2x7 scope on it:

234029

In this pic L to R:

Lee 440 bullet plinking load

Lee 440 bullet full power load

NOE 570 gr. Big mouth HP (HP version of the 700 gr. )

NOE 700 gr. bullet


234030

[Gregorious]

http://www.mastercast.net/ftp.mastercast.net/50-330Gr_RN_FP.html

Use this bullet with 12.0 grs. Unique for 1075 fps. out of my S&W .500 8 3/8" revolver. Easy recoil and great accuracy. Starline brass and Winchester LR primers.