Fa 500we

[mellonhead]

I just hit the button on one of these. Its not here yet, but I have been working on ordering brass, dies and all the other goodies. I think I might order the RCBS 50-400-SWC to try. I have been playing on the Mountain Molds site and I'm thinking I'm also gonna order a 450 grain mold from him. I am thinking about trying a truncated cone nose. I have never tried this nose style before. Any opinions about this nose profile?

Toby

[subsonic]

Congrats! I'm looking at a Mtn Molds for my JRH. I'll post up what I've got so far.

My limit is the depth of the brass before the case web starts. I can only put about .530" in the case. FYI, a 450gr boolit is actuall SHORT for this caliber. How much nose length can you have in the .500WE?

[mellonhead]

About .395 is the limit. I have been working with .390 just to save any heartache. A 450 just looks about right for the short cylindered FAs. Of course it will have those huge lube grooves!! You can never have to much lube!! LOL!!!

Toby

[subsonic]

Yes. Lube is good! Post up a screen shot of what you've got and I'll do the same.

I'm shooting for about 1.2-1.4gr of lube.

[mellonhead]

I'm at work and can't get on MM's site from here but I will tonight when I get home.

Toby

[mellonhead]

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv243/mellonhead1973/500-450-truncated-1.jpg

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv243/mellonhead1973/500-450-SWC.jpg

[subsonic]

Nice. Both look familiar.

The top one is very close to 44man's JRH boolit.
The bottom looks like your RCBS copy for your .475

I got derailed with another project, but will post up some ideas here right quick.

[subsonic]

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/dad070d1.jpg

That's an idea for a 440 that I keep tweaking. I can eek out a little more lube by shortening the nose. I don't dare go any thinner on the base band. I could go to only 2 lube grooves, but I'm liking the three.

Having the .530" case depth limit is kind of a drag. I probably would have shortened Hornady .500 s&w cases had I known that, but I already have Starline JRH headstamp brass.

[subsonic]

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/ba1c7ba6.jpg

And that's all the lead that you can stuff into a JRH, if you want an ogive to speak of.

[jwp475]

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/dad070d1.jpg

That's an idea for a 440 that I keep tweaking. I can eek out a little more lube by shortening the nose. I don't dare go any thinner on the base band. I could go to only 2 lube grooves, but I'm liking the three.

Having the .530" case depth limit is kind of a drag. I probably would have shortened Hornady .500 s&w cases had I known that, but I already have Starline JRH headstamp brass.



Would you not have the same problem? The JRH cases are made by Starline the in punch to shape the inside is the same that they use for the 500 S&W so the problem with case wall thickness starts at the same distance from the case head in both the 500 S&W and JRH

[subsonic]

Having the .530" case depth limit is kind of a drag. I probably would have shortened Hornady .500 s&w cases had I known that, but I already have Starline JRH headstamp brass.

Not really complaining, just would like more options.

[jwp475]

Not really complaining, just would like more options.



I understand and was just wondering if the shortened S&W cases would solve the problem. Seating a longer bullet and then turning the bulge in the case would solve the problem for sure

[subsonic]

Hornady .500s&w brass is supposed to be deeper. Need a pc to measure.

[subsonic]

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/465gr.png

I'm liking this lately. I want to cast with my MTN Mold I bought for my .475 before I buy the next one, just in case I don't like it (doubt it).

465gr is an ounce and a sixteenth. If I drop it back to 460gr, it could have a .390" nose.

[mellonhead]

I just ordered one about a week ago for mine. 455 grain, 73% meplat, .390 secant nose and 3 bands and 2 lube grooves. All .1 in length. If it don't work, I'll order another. You just can't put a price on this kind of entertainment!!!!

Toby

[Whitworth]

Hornady .500s&w brass is supposed to be deeper. Need a pc to measure.

I think I have some Hornady .500 Smith brass. If you want, I can send you some.

[freedom475]

I know Frank from Mt. Baldy (http://www.mtbaldybullets.com/) bullets spent a good deal of time perfecting the .500 bullet...I beleive he worked with a lathe and some extreme ranges to find the bullet shape that shot the best in the 500's.

His 450gr Kieth style was the result and he had Ballisti-cast cut the moulds...I would really look into his design and try some of his bullets before you have your mould cut.

Now I'm not sure if they are set up to fit the 500WE cylinder length, but if they are, it would sure be worth checking into.

Frank has already done the footwork on this deal so it is as simple as trying some of his boolits and then getting the mould number from him....he is a great guy and easy to deal with:guntootsmiley:

I got a pile of his 500 keith 450's and shot them to 800 yards and they shoot surprisingly well.

[freedom475]

I think I have some Hornady .500 Smith brass. If you want, I can send you some.


If you need a place to dump a bunch of 500 Smith brass..please keep me in mind[smilie=1::mrgreen:

[subsonic]

$45 + shipping is over half way to a new mould....

[freedom475]

$45 + shipping is over half way to a new mould....

Yeah, but if you order a mould and the shape ends up being a total flop...well you are just out. I have personally seen boolits shaped a lot like the bottom 4 pictured that failed miserably...total waste of funds

[subsonic]

I have owned Keith type SWC that didn't shoot.

It's all a gamble really. What works in one gun, may not work in the next.

I only shoot out to 100yds, so long range really doesn't matter much to me.

[44man]

I have zero experience with the FA WE but am sure my 440 gr would fit.
What must be considered is a twist rate of 1 in 20". The twist might be more at home with a little lighter boolit.
Why the belt???? It does not make sense when you have rims on all other .50's. OK, it does not hurt but makes brass more expensive.
Keith? NO! RNFP, WLN, WFN, truncated cone, YES.

[subsonic]

Mine is going to be feeding the .500JRH BFR.... but it is close to the .500WE

[mellonhead]

That belt does not bother me at all. This gun has measured out to have about perfect dimensions. The barrel measures out to be .5003. The throats measure out to be .5017-.5019.

Toby

[mellonhead]

Well I got My mold the other day. I cast some up and loaded a few to try. Started out with 14 grains of HS6.

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv243/mellonhead1973/000_0004-3.jpg

Toby

[subsonic]

Looks good Toby!

When you have some time, can you weigh one before and after lubing to get actual lube weight vs what the order sheet said?

[mellonhead]

I just checked some. His site said I should have 1.32 grains of lube capacity. I have 1.5 grains difference between lubed and unlubed.

Toby

[subsonic]

What lube are you using?

[mellonhead]

My own version of speed green. 3 parts beeswax to 1 part Husqvarna 2 stroke oil. I have no leading in any of my revolvers with this lube.

Toby

[subsonic]

Thank you! We'll get this revolver boolit design stuff narrowed down a little.

Definitely share your results!

What made you go with the secant ogive?

[mellonhead]

Not real sure why I did the secant. I personally like the looks of it. If that matters. I have not had alot of luck shooting WFL style molds. I kinda wanted to stay away from that whole design.

Toby

[subsonic]

This is what I finally ordered today for the JRH:

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/500jrhboolitfinal.png

The .475 mold from MM casts like a dream!

[AK Caster]

What alloy will you use ?

[subsonic]

WDWW with maybe a small amount of tin added.

My last batch of .475 boolits cast of that alloy and dropped into a bucket measured out at 25bnh, maybe a little higher.

[44man]

Well I got My mold the other day. I cast some up and loaded a few to try. Started out with 14 grains of HS6.

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv243/mellonhead1973/000_0004-3.jpg

Toby
Nice boolit. It should work so post results.

[mellonhead]

I have shot about 200 of these so far. Funny thing is I haven't shot any of them closer than about 300 yards. I have been shooting rocks in the freshly plowed fields here in northwest PA. You can tell a lot about a load at 300-400 yards. I have always been able to get a load that shoots good at long range to shoot good at 50 yards, but not all loads that shoot good at 50 yards shoot good at 350 yards. Soon my targets will be gone as the oats and corn comes up.

Toby

[mellonhead]

I forgot to mention that so far I have been really impressed with this bullet over 14-15 grains of HS6. I was just shooting at about 375 yards yesterday and was getting about a 18" group. Now this is with an iron sighted 6" barreled revolver!! So far I am extremely happy with the results.

Toby

[44man]

I forgot to mention that so far I have been really impressed with this bullet over 14-15 grains of HS6. I was just shooting at about 375 yards yesterday and was getting about a 18" group. Now this is with an iron sighted 6" barreled revolver!! So far I am extremely happy with the results.

Toby
Wonderful, a man that shoots far instead of 20 yards. How I would love to shoot with you! [smilie=s:

[subsonic]

Got my Mtn Mold on Monday.

Quicker this time. Weight shows 447gr. Nose measures .350" and it puts .525" in the case. A little off from what I ordered, but should be OK.

Looks like I need to fudge the noses longer when I order by .030" or so.

[mellonhead]

The weight will be right. I think he uses pure to test them. Every mold I have gotten from him lately has had the weight up on the spec. sheet. They have all cast within a grain or two of what I ordered.

Toby

[subsonic]

I probably won't mess with this one for a couple of weeks minimum. I'm re-financing the house and have plenty of "honey-do's" for the near future.

I will post up actual weight with WW when I get rountuit.

The nose length and amount of boolit in the case was what I was more concerned with, but it should work.

[subsonic]

For the record, Hornady .500 S&W brass is not deeper than the Starline S&W or JRH brass. It's about .030" shallower.

[subsonic]

Comes out to 437.5gr. Exactly one ounce!

[subsonic]

Bumping because I know there are some new .500JRH owners out there.

[MT Chambers]

I'd like to see pics of the F.A. revolvers in play here, I need some drool time!