Post your favorite 500 S&W load

[bjeffv]

Mine is a 350gr hornady XTP or 350 gr berry's plated bullet. Loaded over 40 grains of lil-gun, or for light loads 37 grains of lil-gun. Slightly dirty burning but it is very nice and accurate from my 7.5" barrel.

Anyone who has used blue dot in this cartridge especially post the data and how well it worked for you.

[AaronJ]

one of my favorites to plink with is my NOE 375 gr SP over 12gr of trailboss. for full power loads i use a LEE 440 gr over 35gr of H4227.

[stubshaft]

Out of my 12" MGM Encore barrel I use 26.5 Lil Gun for 1450fps with a 460gr boolit (Lee 440 opened up slightly).

Out of my 15" barrel I use the same boolit with 33.5 Lil Gun for 1615fps.

Out of my 24" MGM barrel I use 39.5 Lil Gun behind the 375HP GB for 2012fps.

All with Felix lube and WW rifle primers.

[Andy_P]

Lee 440gr over a full case (58.0grs) of BL-C(2).

[onondaga]

My favorite .500 S&W Mag load:

250 gr. Lee R.E.A.L. cast in wheelweight
sized to .501"
tumble lube before and after sizing.
Powder: WC820
Charge: 35.2 gr.
Filler: BPI Original to rim. Do not substitute.
Brass: Starline, trimmed to 1.620"
Roll crimp in separate die after seating.
COL: 2.005"
NEF Handi-Rifle 22 inch barrel
Velocity: 1885 fps verified
Accuracy: less than 1 inch at 50 yards
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/rhymeswithwhat/09deer.jpg

Flat shooting, serious deer load. I sight in to hit 2 inches high at 50, it also hits 2 inches high at 100 and is dead on at 130 yards.
If you cannot get WC820, substitute 36.5 grains H110 and the same filler for a very similar velocity.

Gary

[bjeffv]

Thats a really nice set up for deer hunting, or elephant hunt too! Nice deer taken as well. They made it illegal in my state to use .500 and bigger projectiles, except in muzzleloaders. So I won't be using it hunting to an alaska trip years from now.

[onondaga]

Read your law carefully. If it is only the projectile size mentioned in the law, there is a solution for you . I also shoot 45 cal pistol bullets with 50 cal muzzle loader sabots in my .500 S&W see loads #303 and #304 these are blazing fast with velocities to 2400 fps with 250 gr .45 cal. pistol bullets, cast or jacketed. :
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage_handgun.asp?CaliberID=61

PM me if you need additional info, I have experimented at length with the sabot loads in the .500 S&W and can give you additional very specific tips for success with sabots in the S&W .500 Mag.

These Sabots will use any .451-.452" bullet in the .500 S&W:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=738785

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/rhymeswithwhat/sabot.jpg
The TC sabot, A Rainier plated 250 gr 45 cal pistol bullet, the .500 S&W cartridge; a magnificent combination at 2400+ fps with 45 gr Lil Gun powder. Caution, this is a MAXIMUM LOAD for my rifle. Start at 37 gr Lil Gun if you try this and work up carefully adjusting seating depths to compress charge 2-4%. The sabot with bullet must be seated on the powder to compress the charge 2-4%. Seating depth is critical for safety and accuracy. Cast bullets are fine also and make no difference in accuracy as the sabot rides the bore, not the bullet..

Sorry for the scruffy looking empty brass, that is the one that killed the deer, and I saved it. All my other brass is loaded. The Hot sabot load is slightly less accurate than a bore riding cast sized .501 R.E.A.L. The sabot load groups 3.125"@100 and the R.E.A.L load groups 2.100" @100 yd. in my NEF SB-2 Ultra Rifle with aftermarket stock and scope. Also, recoil with the sabot load is punishing, so I hunt deer with the R.E.A.L. and bear with the sabot load.

Gary

[onondaga]

Here is a ballistic sheet on my load in answer #5 in this post with the .500 S&W Mag. and the R.E.A.L.:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c338/rhymeswithwhat/500Bal.jpg

Gary

[bootsnthejeep]

I KNEW somebody must have tried this! I noticed the REAL was a great fit in that .500 case, but didn't have the stones to try it just yet. Very cool.

[TomBulls]

Lee 440gr over a full case (58.0grs) of BL-C(2).

:shock: Out of curiosity, how did you come to find that load? Seems like a mismatch for the bullet. BLC2 is commonly used in .223/5.56NATO. I have the same bullet mould, and am curious to know what your results have been.

-thomas

[TomBulls]

Does anyone have a load for a S&W .500 SPECIAL with a 440gr gc-cast bullet?

-thomas

[Andy_P]

:shock: Out of curiosity, how did you come to find that load? Seems like a mismatch for the bullet. BLC2 is commonly used in .223/5.56NATO. I have the same bullet mould, and am curious to know what your results have been.

-thomas

Thomas - look here for a discussion of various powders used with the 440gr bullet.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=98674

Most people use less than a full case of powders such as H110 and Lil'Gun, but slower powders such as BL-C(2) can be used safely and with good effect.

[joatmon]

Andy P do you use a check on that boolit?

Thanks Aaron

[Andy_P]

Andy P do you use a check on that boolit?

Thanks Aaron

Yes - it's a gas check design and I always use a gas check when there's provision for one.

[olafhardt]

6.4 grains Unique and a Lee 50 cal modern minie. You can reverse the minie for a HOLLOW point.

[justingrosche]

NOE 375 GC Spire loaded with 44.5 gr. of Win 296 and a CCI 200 LRP.