powders for a 4" s&w 500?

[happyfast79]

I have a S&w 500 mag with a 4" barrel and noticed when loading 350-400 gr bullets that i was getting a ton of unburned powder with lil gun, so i switched to mag primers and even tried a harder crimp to no avail, so now i have lil gun imbeded in my 30-30:killingpc and my pistol rest and just wondering what you guys are useing in these shorter 500's ive tried enfocer and it seemed alot cleaner but im hitting 5" lower than i am with the lil gun.

[44man]

No matter what, it is the case of too large a round in too short of a barrel. You will wind up with a glorified .45 Colt in the end or should I call it a .50 sub special? :mrgreen:
See if you can find some loads for 4759, it might work. Might need a filler.
The reason you hit higher with Lil Gun is you are pushing more weight of powder that can't burn and that adds to the boolit weight, raising the recoil higher before boolit exit.
Any powder that is more efficient in the barrel will hit lower because you have decreased barrel time.
There is no way to utilize the powder capacity.

[subsonic]

Despite all of that though, you will still get your fastest velocities with the same powders that give fastest velocities in longer barrels.

Try AA9?

[44MAG#1]

I have used more H110/W296 than any other powder in mine. I have also use a 440/450 gr bullets too. I have not observed any unusual amount of unburned powder in mine.

[Frank]

Here's from Steve's pages.

350 grn

H-110 From 39.0 grains to 43.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
H-4227 From 38.0 grains to 42.5 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Lil'Gun From 35.0 grains to 42.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Longshot From 21.0 grains to 23.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Titegroup From 11.0 grains to 18.5 grains

400 grn

H-110 From 34.0 grains to 40.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
H-4227 From 36.5 grains to 39.5 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Lil'Gun From 31.0 grains to 37.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Longshot From 18.0 grains to 22.0 grains

Winchester WLR Primer
Titegroup From 15.0 grains to 17.5 grains

Winchester WLR Primer

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I am new to the 500 S&W...I just got the dies 2 days ago.
I have the 4" bbled Smith as well.

I have done some reading and thinking about this short bbl.
at the last gunshow, I picked up 1 lb of Accurate 4100.
that will be the first I will try...then maybe H110

I bought one box of factory ammo, with 325gr. JHP
I didn't think there was excessive muzzleflash,
and I was looking for that since the short bbl.
Jon

[parisite]

Accurate 4100, H110, and IMR4227 are all excellent powders for the 500. For your short barrel 4100 may perform the best.........let us know.

I think 4100 is the exact same powder as Ramshot Enforcer.

My 500 has a 22" barrel....a single shot Handi-Rifle. I shoot gas check boolits exclusively.

[wellfedirishman]

For full power loads, I use W296 in my ported 6" S&W 500 and have no problems with unburned powder.

How heavy of loads are you looking for? If you are ok with light plinker loads, try Trailboss. I shoot lots of it in a snubbie 44 Mag and it leaves the gun nice and clean. It shoots great in my 6" S&W 500 also but point of impact is high.