500 S&W H&R Rifle

[Johnch]

OK I bought the rifle a number of years back
But I had a problem at work and never even fired it ...( 12-14 hour work days , 6 days a week )

But the other day I was given 500+ 1X fired cases and a set of dies

So I put the rifle together and added a 2X7 Leupold Shotgun Scope I had


Now I need to make a mold or 2 for it

Not looking for hot loads
I have lots of load data to hunt T Rex with .... Just no plinking load data

I also need a idea of a good weight bullet to start with

I am looking to start out with a ( about ) 1000 fps load

Any idea on a load and bullet weight to start with ?

Thanks
John

[NoAngel]

Biggest problem with light loads [that I've seen] is the brass is quite thick and will take some bit of pressure to seal. YMMV.

If it were me I'd calculate seating depth so I could figure out what a case full of Trail Boss would be with NO compression of the powder. That should be a very fun load if accurate and pretty mild on the shoulder and ears.

Lee makes a 440g mold that should be a pretty decent start. Cheap enough anyway.

[Texas by God]

I would use 45-70 Trapdoor data. Pressure is low enough to keep you out of trouble.
By the way, How are your migraines? Feel free to ignore if I'm prying.
That seems like it will be a CB shooter's dream.
Best, Thomas.

[Johnch]

I would use 45-70 Trapdoor data. Pressure is low enough to keep you out of trouble.
By the way, How are your migraines? Feel free to ignore if I'm prying.
That seems like it will be a CB shooter's dream.
Best, Thomas.

Wrong time of the every 3 month per shots
As I am having Migraines 3 or 4 days a week right now

Thanks for asking

John

[Jeff Michel]

Lee 440 grain bullet with 10 grains of Unique. Good plinking load in my H&R.

[CIC]

Good luck finding a load. That is one handi rifle I hesitated getting and then they shut down. I loved handi rifles.

[Johnch]

I will try the Unique load as I have that mold
I also finished 2 ..2 cavity molds today
Both simple smooth sided plain base molds
One should drop a 350 gr bullet and the other a 400 gr plain base bullet

I made them simple and 2 cavity as I will make a 4 cavity mold IF the bullets are accurate

John


Oh
I have had a number of people try to buy the rifle off me over the years
But I felt ..... No I want to play with it first LOL

John

[tdoyka]

http://www.reloadammo.com/500sw.htm

titegroup, trial boss, hs-6 and unique are good ones to try 440gr boolit

[curator]

Try Lyman .50-70 loads for fun shooting with cast boolits. I have a .500 S&W Encore rifle and the Lee 440 grain slug is loooong on recoil and not that accurate. If you anneal the case mouths of your brass they will seal powder gas in the chamber. I have done this with my star-line cases and they work fine with low pressure loads now. I have a custom .502-350 LFN-GC mould made by LBT specifically for this rifle (from a throat cast). I am loading 24 grains of SR4759 or Reloder 7 with this 350 grain slug for great accuracy (clover-leafs at 100 yards off the bench) and fun to shoot. The Encore being quite light does hop about some on the bench so I have to pay attention to holding it down.

[Texas by God]

That's the Handi I wanted since they didn't chamber it in 50-70. But I waited too long. I had a H&R Shikari in 45-70 as a teenager and it was a keeper-oops. I bet a .490 patched RB over 50 grs Pyrodex seated down in the case might be fun.

[Mgderf]

I picked up a Handi Rifle in .500S&W a few years back on a whim.
I got the rifle, a set of dies, around 200 rounds of assorted factory offerings, and 150 brand new bright and shiny Hornady cases, for $300.
Yes, I know I stole it, and I'm o.k. with that.
That was the consignment price the shop had on it.
Bubba had done a home rattle can camo job on it, but other than being ugly...

Yep, it's about time to dig that beast back out and give it some love.
I've shot it a few times, but more or less it's been ignored.
This thread has rekindled some interest.

[Johnch]

I tried the Lee mold bullets and my 2 , not the best groups

I then ( not the way to do it LOL ) checked the bore dia.
Found I needed a .506 dia bullet or slightly larger
So I inlarged the 400 gr mold I made

With Unique , I am getting 1 3/4" groups .... my loads being shot by a friends son ....just over 1" at 50 yards ( same range as me )

The trigger needs some work
So I may play around and use the rifle this fall for deer

John

[Texas by God]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I'm kinda jealous.

[Moonie]

I've used the Unique/Lee load in my 15" Encore pistol, it shoots very well, the full snort W296/H110 ones sting a bit...

[Johnch]

LOL First Blood

A DUMB ground hog wandered in front of the clubs 50 yard backstop this morning
I had already shot a bunch of 308 cast loads out of the FAL

So I got the Handi rifle out and used the 400 gr plain base bullet
Oh well a .50 hole in and out ... IMO it never knew he was dumb
So I proved it to him

John

[EMC45]

Sounds like a fun project however, I thought about your migraines instantly when I opened the thread.

[Texas by God]

Pre drilled for the meat pole!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

[Johnch]

Sounds like a fun project however, I thought about your migraines instantly when I opened the thread.

I am shooting sub 1000 fps loads
Less of a crack and I can shoot a few before I have problems
Where ... like full power 308 loads , I only get 1 shot

John

[Shawn2571]

OK I bought the rifle a number of years back
But I had a problem at work and never even fired it ...( 12-14 hour work days , 6 days a week )

But the other day I was given 500+ 1X fired cases and a set of dies

So I put the rifle together and added a 2X7 Leupold Shotgun Scope I had


Now I need to make a mold or 2 for it

Not looking for hot loads
I have lots of load data to hunt T Rex with .... Just no plinking load data

I also need a idea of a good weight bullet to start with

I am looking to start out with a ( about ) 1000 fps load

Any idea on a load and bullet weight to start with ?

Thanks
John

I just picked up my H&R Handi rifle in .500 S&W. Shame I had to pay $300 used for it when they used to be $169 brand new. Be a while before I can afford the dies, brass and bullets, but I sure am not paying $40 for 20 factory rounds. Lol. I need to find some load data too, let me know if you come up with any good loads? I'm thinking win 296 too as that is what I use in my .44 mag with good results. Dirty powder, but accurate.

[roverboy]

Now that will be a real sledge hammer on deer.