Shot the .500JRH a little

[subsonic]

Wasn't shooting my best today, but managed to shoot one pretty good group with my 440gr cast from Mountain Molds. I shot the 5 350gr Speers loaded over 33gr of H110 first to "warm up" and then proceded to shoot 5 of my 440gr over 28gr & 29gr of H110 with Fed155 primers in Starline JRH brass. And lastly the 500gr XTPs over 22gr H110 with Fed 155 primers. This was all done across the chrono, and I never shoot as well with the screens in the sight picture.

Chrono data is from my 5.5" (6.25") BFR:

Speer 350gr = 1413,1412,1432,1398,1416
Cast 440gr over 28gr = 1308,1297,1306,1294,1289
Cast 440gr over 29gr = 1353,1358,1343,1328,1323
500gr XTP over 22gr = 1061,1060,1053,1058,1034

All loads fell out of the cylinder and primers were all flat. I don't think there's much room to go up with the 500gr loads, but without good pressure equipment, it's hard to say. I might try going up a little and see if extraction gets difficult.

The 500gr loads didn't shoot very well. I had to put up an extra piece of paper above the target to catch them after the first shot. After I added the paper, I stuck an ink pin through the hole where the first shot went to mark it. It's the hole with ink across it. These shot quite a bit higher than the 440gr loads.

All testing done 25yds with iron sights. That group I'm proud of measures .780" center to center. The 350gr loads were the top right target.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/500s.jpg

[44man]

500 is too heavy, 350 too light. Stay with 440 gr. I use 29.5 gr of 296. But your boolit might be different.
That one group is great with open sights.
The more you shoot it the more you will love it. Is that thing a THUMPER or what?
Don't use the chrono. NO NEED, just find accuracy because nothing on earth can stand up to the gun.
Soon you will get like me, all other guns sit in the safe because I always grab the JRH. Friends go crazy when they shoot plastic bottles of water and cans at 50 yards flying all over.
My friends son was AFRAID at first, took many shoots to get him to try it. Just how big of a grin can you imagine? He want's one now. How crazy is it to have a kid hitting beer cans at 50 yards off hand with a .500?

[subsonic]

Thanks for the compliment on the group!

I use the chrono as a tool to check pressures. You generally don't get velocity without pressure or vice versa. If I saw 1500fps, you bet I'd stop shooting immediately. With no chrono, how do you know?

The 500gr XTPs were sort-of a proof of concept. I think they WILL shoot if I can push them faster, but I don't have any load data to go on. I have 45 more bullets to experiment with....

[ebner glocken]

I'm hoping to joing you all soon. Here's my deal... I have the cylinder made, a ton of .500 smith brass. My trimmer doesn't have a large enough cutter head. I figured "no prob" and bought a 50 AE trim die. The darn case doesn't come up high enough in the press to trim enough off. Yes, RCBS did make an extended shell holder but is now discontinued. My options now are: 1. Buy a larger lathe trimmer. 2. Make a shell holder extension if there isn't one available on the market. It seems a shame to have 700+ smith brass hanging around and no simi effecient way to trim it down to JRH.

What process are you all using to trim yours down or are you buying JRH brass ready to go? I could spin it down on a lathe but that would be a tad time consuming. My fostner cutterhead falls right down a case.

Ebner

[subsonic]

I just bought mine from Jack Huntington. He had some Starline brass made to his specs.

If I was going to cut off a bunch of .500 S&W brass, I'd probably use this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-top-cut-off-saw-42307.html
I have heard it works well. I looked really hard at one the other day at Harbor Freight, just in case.

My RCBS Trimmer head trims .500 brass just fine. Wonder if it would fit your trimmer?

Look in the Sinclair catalog for larger Forster trimmer heads? They trim .50BMG somehow.

[subsonic]

I measured some brass for water capacity by weight in grains to help me get my SWAG a little more Scientific and less Wild *** Guess.

Case brass +h20 h20
Hornady .475LB brass 153.7 203.5 49.8
Starline .500JRH 175.5 229.8 54.3
Starline .500S&W cut 178.4 232.8 54.4
Starline .500S&W 188.7 253.8 65.1

Doing the math, the Starline .500JRH brass has 83.4% of the capacity of the full length .500 S&W Starline brass.

Hodgdon shows the 500gr XTP starting at 31gr H110 @ 34,400psi and a max of 33gr @ 51,900psi

Take both charge weights by 83.4% and you get starting of 25.8gr and a max of 27.5gr. Since the case is getting smaller, pressures will go up quicker, so 27.5gr with everything equal is going to give more than 51,900psi. 26-27gr is probably pushing things in the JRH - if you want to run it at over 50,000psi.... since it's not a SAMMI cartridge, no SAMMI max exists. .500WE data shows a max of 48,800psi. I don't think 51,900psi will hurt a BFR, since the long cylinder guns are chambered in .500 S&W.

Before anyone climbs out on this limb with me, remember that fingers are important and pressure can do bad things to steel. Any interpretation of my loads or duplication are definitely at your own risk.

Anybody on here have quickload?

[44man]

Any trimmer will take forever. Need a hacksaw! :holysheep
My RCBS cutter trims even .500 Linebaugh, I just made pilots for the .475 to .500's.
There must be a faster way to trim S&W brass. It is a shame to have it and not use it. I made a fitting for the RCBS for a battery drill but there is a lot to remove from the large case.
Might be an idea to have one of the die makers make a trim die for you.

[bigboredad]

Harbor Freight makes a cute little chop sawthat might work for you

[jwp475]

I use a tubing cutter to get them close and the a file die for final trimming

[frankenfab]

I'm hoping to joing you all soon. Here's my deal... I have the cylinder made, a ton of .500 smith brass. My trimmer doesn't have a large enough cutter head. I figured "no prob" and bought a 50 AE trim die. The darn case doesn't come up high enough in the press to trim enough off. Yes, RCBS did make an extended shell holder but is now discontinued. My options now are: 1. Buy a larger lathe trimmer. 2. Make a shell holder extension if there isn't one available on the market. It seems a shame to have 700+ smith brass hanging around and no simi effecient way to trim it down to JRH.

What process are you all using to trim yours down or are you buying JRH brass ready to go? I could spin it down on a lathe but that would be a tad time consuming. My fostner cutterhead falls right down a case.

Ebner

I am in the same boat, after getting rid of all my 500 S&W handguns. I decided that for me, the 500 S&W was too much in a DA revolver at the highest loadings, and the guns are too big. Sooo...I have a ton of brass, molds and projectiles, not all of which can be used in my .50AE. (none of the lead stuff can).

I would like to have a 500 JRH, but I already have a 500 Linebaugh, So I decided I am going to get a handi-rifle in 500 S&W. After the horrible incident in Colorado, I decided to get back into an AR in 50 Beowulf, which will provide good use for the molds.

Back to the 500 JRH---nice shooting, subsonic!

[ebner glocken]

Well, I still own a .500 S&W so I guess eventually I may wear out this brass. I have around 700 of it that hasn't even been out of the bag yet +200 that are getting used at a very slow rate. At this rate I may go through all my 500 mag brass in a few lifetimes. Just seems more pratical to trim a couple hundred down.

I already own a couple of AEs and don't plan on trading either off. A BFR and a desert eagle. Both are fine shooters and much easier on you than full tilt S&Ws.

Ebner

[subsonic]

Ebner, did you see the little $30 chop saw? A couple of guys on another forum are using them to make .475 & .500 Linebaugh maximums from .45-70 and .50 Alaskan brass.

[tek4260]

Ebner, did you see the little $30 chop saw? A couple of guys on another forum are using them to make .475 & .500 Linebaugh maximums from .45-70 and .50 Alaskan brass.



I'll have to ask dad how his works. Here in MS there is tons of Hornady 45-70 brass laying around the bridges and turn roads since they are legal for muzzleloader season. They are too short to use regular 45-70 dies so he cuts them down for his BFR 475.

[ebner glocken]

What kind of set up are they using for precision cuts?

Ebner

[dmize]

My Forrester trimmer wouldnt work but Lyman's do.
As far as the mini chop saw,when I get mine I will cut them a bit long and trim them to correct length.

[subsonic]

My RCBS trimmer works fine to trim .500JRH and S&W. Just need a .50 pilot.

[tek4260]

What kind of set up are they using for precision cuts?

Ebner

Take the vise off of it and make up a guide out of 1/2" square tubing for cutting your brass. Basically a 90deg corner with a cut for the rim to sit into so it will be square with the blade. Finish off in RCBS case trimmer.

[ole 5 hole group]

I purchased one of those a couple years ago thinking it would be just the ticket for making 500 max brass from 50 Alaskan and 454 from 460 SW brass, as I was using a pipe cutter for the initial cut on that brass.

I don’t think I saved much time, as I made a jig from 2”X2” wood board, drilled and reamed a hole to exactly fit the brass and had to leave the brass approximately ¼” longer for final finish – the cut is ruff, so you have to chamfer the case prior to final trimming.

I’m thinking a power case trimmer would be a whole lot better for all around trimming and the pipe cutter also does a decent job of getting it close. If I had to do over again, I wouldn’t have purchased it and just kept with the pipe cutter finishing up on the Hornady trimmer.

[44man]

Ever see one of these? I made it to cut shotgun wads or cases. Copy of the one sold.
Use a stud for the brass length. Need a collet to fit a drill so you can give it a twist to lock the rim. Spin the case under the blade. That blade will cut brass.

[DukeInFlorida]

Th guys in the swaging area have already found the best way to use that Harbor Freight cut off saw:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=138620

[ebner glocken]

That seems to be the way to go! Looks like I'm stopping by harbor freight tomorrow. Thanks guys.

Ebner

[ebner glocken]

I picked up that cutoff saw yesterday, used it today. It works extreamly well. With a little freehand work the casings came up pretty close to 1.400". I should be shooting this thing sometime next week. Thanks much.

Ebner

[subsonic]

To yank the wheel back on track, here are some results of testing with the 500gr Hornady XTP.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/500grxtptest.jpg

Shot one of each of the loads shown above. Fed155 primer, 500gr Hornady XTP seated 1.860", H110 with 23,24,25,26,27gr.

23gr = 1126fps
24gr =1044fps
25gr = 1098fps
26gr = 1157fps
27gr = 1208fps

They shot way high. The aiming point is not shown in the pic. Group shot at 25yds with iron sights from the bench.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x386/Dennis_Doza/P82507352.jpg

I think the 26gr load going to the right is my fault.

My chrono was doing weird stuff today too... so I think the 23gr load was a mis-read.

I had a .22lr go 3690fps.....

No signs of excess pressure. Primers were flat (duh) and cases fell out of the chambers.

Bullets were not pulling either at this load level. I actually loaded these to 1.860" and used up the barrel cylinder gap and slight bit that the rims hang out of the recesses in order to allow everything to fit.