,50 Beowulf 440 Lee Cast bullets

[skidder]

Anybody got a place to start for a .50 Beowulf hand load with 440 grain Lee bullets?

[jmort]

This may help - not cast but may be better than nothing

420 DG steel tip Power Belt Alliant RL-7 45.0 1450
444 Power Belt copper coated, flat nosed lead Alliant RL-7 44.0 1450

[Frozone]

Everything you need to know about loading for the Wulf is HERE (http://www.beyond556.com/bboard/forum/ammunition/handloading-reloading/big-bore-loading-data-only), well almost everything anyway.

[Tracy]

I just put a 'Wulf together, and my initial load of 30 grains of 2400 under the Lee 440 cycles the action, doesn't lead noticeably and doesn't display adverse pressure signs in my rifle. YMMV, standard disclaimers apply.

[dhopson]

This Wulf thread is pretty old. Just wondering if anyone has come up with some Lil-Gun or RL-7 loads for the Lee C501-440-RF? I cast boolets for most other cals, but I am just starting for the Wulf. Thanks - Dave.

[Greg S]

Just looked at AA load data and their data stops using LG for anythhing above 350 grains and sticks with RL7 AND 1680 from there and up. Alot of data is available as Frozone points out.

[Jared]

I use RL7 with the Lee bullet in my Beowulf. I don't have my notes handy but I am using 42.0 or 43.0 gr for 1550 out of my 16" barrel. Accuracy runs sub 2" for 5 shots at 100 yards.

[rockrat]

My experience mirrors Jared. My powder charge of Re-7 is just a bit higher and I have a 24" barrel on mine. Accuracy is about the same as Jared, velocity higher of course though

[Henri311]

Just ordered the Lee 440gr mold, and looking for Recent load data all I find on the net is old data.

[altbrewer]

This thread is rather old, as are all others I looked at. Not much data out there on cast bullets for .50 Beowulf. I am a new caster/reloader, although I did quite a bit of reloading with my Dad back in the 60's. Just inherited his equipment and got the bug again.

Anyhow, based on threads I saw, I got the Lee 501-440 die and began casting. Today I just tried my first results. Not looking for accuracy, just safety, considering my load data was from the web. I was pretty pleased.

I used a load found on castboolets.com, RL-7. I used 42 grains rather than the recommended 43. Bullets were unsized, and lubricated by hand with a stick of bullet lube I found in my Dad's stuff (probably 20+ years old). All the brass looked great - no evidence of overpressure. Impact was a little low at 25 yards, but that could well have been me, with my old eyes and generic flip up sights.

One bit of data I could not find on the web was bullet seating depth. I came up with 2.10" OAL, based on taking the difference in the length of the Lee 501-440 boolet from the published length of the 500 grain Hornady FP/XTP and subtracting that from the 2.165 OAL in the Lyman handbook for that load. At any rate, I am alive and my rifle is intact, so I guess I was okay. I will ignore any flames for being stupid, but I thought that was the best data I had.

It was with great trepidation that I shot my first reloads in something like 55 years, especially with no published data from the major manufacturers, but I found the data here on castbullets to be reliable for me. Now to begin getting my skills back and fine tuning this load.

[mehavey]

It isn't the LEE 440, but is it Tom Ellis's ACCURATE 50-440G, Cast #2/Sage gas check.

Last time I messed w/ it was two years ago using Hodgdon's H110, and overloaded
it a bit (40ksi) and so backed off/played with the plated Rainier 335s for awhile/

Your question brought it back to mind though, so I went back to QUICKLOAD
for a 2nd look, calibrated off my 500S&W for burn rate adjustment, and loaded
in the 25,000ksi range just to start. Vihtavuori N-110 gave me best fill/burn/velocity
on balance, so that's what got loaded -- just five rounds for check.

Good enough to stay . . . (LABRADAR velocities -- SD ±2.5fps (I do love V-N110)

https://i.postimg.cc/bJNk8bX5/Beowulf-AA50-440-G-C-2-29gr-V-N110-sm.jpg

[lavenatti]

While the site mentioned by Frozone is long gone, never forget the wayback machine....

http://web.archive.org/web/20161010233753/http://www.beyond556.com/bboard/forum/ammunition/handloading-reloading/big-bore-loading-data-only/3236-50-beowulf%C2%AE-105-data-loads-50-bullets-13-powders

Looks like a lot of the site was saved.

[cwlongshot]

This is the ONLY bullet I was able to make shoot well in my H&R 500 S&W!!! I used 5744 powder, it dumped deer like a Mike Tyson KO!

CW

[TCoggins]

I just shot some of the Lee 440 grain bullets in my Beowulf tonight. Powdercoated then gas checked. 42.0 grains of Reloder-7. 2.100" COAL. Three shot group at just under 1-1/4" at 100 yards. Only shot one group, so I don't know how consistent it is, but I'm pretty pleased with the results so far.

[Al_Bundy]

I just shot some of the Lee 440 grain bullets in my Beowulf tonight. Powdercoated then gas checked. 42.0 grains of Reloder-7. 2.100" COAL. Three shot group at just under 1-1/4" at 100 yards. Only shot one group, so I don't know how consistent it is, but I'm pretty pleased with the results so far.
Man i might have to switch to RL7, how fast were they going? magnum primers? which gas checks did you use?

[TCoggins]

Don't know how fast they were going, don't have a chronograph. I am using large pistol magnum primers. Gas checks are Gator gas checks, from NOE Molds.

Gave my shoulder a good workout. Recoil therapy, as I refer to it.

[lar45]

That's great for cast bullets.
Quickload says 1650fps at 32kpsi. I wonder how close that is.
I've got the Ruger AR in 450 Bushmaster, but haven't had much luck with cast yet.

[Al_Bundy]

Don't know how fast they were going, don't have a chronograph. I am using large pistol magnum primers. Gas checks are Gator gas checks, from NOE Molds.

Gave my shoulder a good workout. Recoil therapy, as I refer to it.
have you tested what the difference in accuracy is with the same load but no gas check? Also are you sizing with the lee die to 501?

[TCoggins]

I have not tested without gas checks. Might be a good test. If I test that, I'll report back.

I use the NOE push through sizing system, as they have a lot more sizes to choose than Lee. Sizing to .501".

Tim

[Al_Bundy]

I have not tested without gas checks. Might be a good test. If I test that, I'll report back.

I use the NOE push through sizing system, as they have a lot more sizes to choose than Lee. Sizing to .501".

Tim
oh man that sizer system would've been a cool thing to invest in, instead i have like 5 lee sizers lol and i opened up the 458 sizer, i'll probably open up the 501 sizer to 502 if i see better results with fatter bullets. Looking forward to your test, ill be back out there this week to continue mine as well.

[Al_Bundy]

I have not tested without gas checks. Might be a good test. If I test that, I'll report back.

I use the NOE push through sizing system, as they have a lot more sizes to choose than Lee. Sizing to .501".

Tim

Did you ever get around to shooting them without gas checks? I went out and tried again with lil gun and rl7 and barely get 2-3" at 30yds. Ive laddered up to 30gr of lil gun 1500fps, 42gr rl7 ~1500 fps. I'm wondering if i can go any higher, if not then Im going to have to give up on this bullet/mold. Im sure i can see better results with gas checks as two of you shown but thats adding another 5-6 cents cost to each load.

[TCoggins]

I haven't tried any without the check. All that I have cast have been powdercoated and checked. I'm afraid if I pull checks off, I might damage the base of the bullet. I'm probably going to cast more in the next week or so, and I'll experiment then.

[Al_Bundy]

I haven't tried any without the check. All that I have cast have been powdercoated and checked. I'm afraid if I pull checks off, I might damage the base of the bullet. I'm probably going to cast more in the next week or so, and I'll experiment then.

I'm planning on experimenting with checks on this bullet soon to compare without one. Ultimately I will go with the non check route to cut cost down, I bought this upper to blow up watermelons and dump full mags cheap cannon fodder so I wont care about nailing dimes at 50yds lol
But it's still interesting to me to experiment with different loads and what others are experiencing.

[Lloyd Smale]

if your doing full mag dumps avoid lil gun like the plague. I shoot mine with 296 or 297 and do a 7 round dump and have a very warm barrel but one you can touch for a second or two. A 7 round dump with lil gun and theres smoke coming off the barrel and you can about light a cigarette close to the chamber.
I'm planning on experimenting with checks on this bullet soon to compare without one. Ultimately I will go with the non check route to cut cost down, I bought this upper to blow up watermelons and dump full mags cheap cannon fodder so I wont care about nailing dimes at 50yds lol
But it's still interesting to me to experiment with different loads and what others are experiencing.

[Al_Bundy]

if your doing full mag dumps avoid lil gun like the plague. I shoot mine with 296 or 297 and do a 7 round dump and have a very warm barrel but one you can touch for a second or two. A 7 round dump with lil gun and theres smoke coming off the barrel and you can about light a cigarette close to the chamber.

yeah im dealing with major powder burns on the brass and its incredibly hot brass. Haven't checked the temp on the barrel but next time ill take a laser therm to check.

[odfairfaxsub]

Buddy of mine uses this boolit w lil gun. Shoots great but real Barrel warmer.

Personally I don’t go above 400 gr in the beo. He’s doing it I do t though. Many like this boolit but it’s a punisher no if’ s and’s or but’s about it

[Al_Bundy]

Buddy of mine uses this boolit w lil gun. Shoots great but real Barrel warmer.

Personally I don’t go above 400 gr in the beo. He’s doing it I do t though. Many like this boolit but it’s a punisher no if’ s and’s or but’s about it

any more info on his load data? I'd really appreciate it what his powder charge is, coal, gas checked? Im hitting the range friday with a new batch of lil gun and rl7 with a few modifications from the last load so i'll report back my findings soon.


I personally went with this size because it was the cheapest mold i could find... all the >400gr molds are fancy ones that run anywhere from 80 to $130.

[VMAX97]

Curious what you guys found out about reloading the Lee 440 Cast bullet without gas check, I bought dies and brass from a guy and he sent about 150 cast and powder coated boolits but about 20 do not have gas checks. I was going to start a load with Lil'Gun at about 26grs. I was basing the COAL off of Hornady's load data for a 500gr FMJ but 2.240 seemed a little long. Sounds like I need to go out and buy some RL7.

What brake do you have installed on the barrels? The one that came with my barrel is not great.

[Al_Bundy]

Curious what you guys found out about reloading the Lee 440 Cast bullet without gas check, I bought dies and brass from a guy and he sent about 150 cast and powder coated boolits but about 20 do not have gas checks. I was going to start a load with Lil'Gun at about 26grs. I was basing the COAL off of Hornady's load data for a 500gr FMJ but 2.240 seemed a little long. Sounds like I need to go out and buy some RL7.

What brake do you have installed on the barrels? The one that came with my barrel is not great.

pretty trash accuracy with both rl7 and lilgun at 50yds from my experience. im using a bca upper with the AA tank brake

[Moonie]

I just put together an upper and the Lee 440 is the only mold I have that will work for this cartridge. Planning to use gas checks and powdercoat (already have a bunch of these cast/checked and PC'd). I do have RL7 and 2400 I was planning to use with it. My other 50 caliber mold just won't work, 700gr solid... Well I guess they might single loaded lol.

[VMAX97]

I just put together an upper and the Lee 440 is the only mold I have that will work for this cartridge. Planning to use gas checks and powdercoat (already have a bunch of these cast/checked and PC'd). I do have RL7 and 2400 I was planning to use with it. My other 50 caliber mold just won't work, 700gr solid... Well I guess they might single loaded lol.Curious about your load data and results of the RL 7. I am using 27 grs of Lil' Gun under the Lee 440. I only tested 5 rounds, i have chrono data i will post later.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Moonie]

Curious about your load data and results of the RL 7. I am using 27 grs of Lil' Gun under the Lee 440. I only tested 5 rounds, i have chrono data i will post later.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

I will certainly report back, the rifle is currently unfired and it will be a little bit before I will be able to acquire brass.

[Al_Bundy]

Curious about your load data and results of the RL 7. I am using 27 grs of Lil' Gun under the Lee 440. I only tested 5 rounds, i have chrono data i will post later.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk


are yours gas checked? does lil gun also leave powder burns on your brass? thats been my experience, i forgot the chrono data but i have another stash ready to go of both lil gun and rl7. i'll consider bumping up the mold to .502-.503 if this ends up sucking too.

[VMAX97]

are yours gas checked? does lil gun also leave powder burns on your brass? thats been my experience, i forgot the chrono data but i have another stash ready to go of both lil gun and rl7. i'll consider bumping up the mold to .502-.503 if this ends up sucking too.Yes, bullets came with gas check. Powder burns are not consistent but are there on some cases. No chrono data on Lee 440 mold bullets yet

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[MrHarmless]

I'm working on a load with the Lee 440. With a gas check they're 450 gr almost on the nugget. Quickload showed the load taps out around 37 grains of H110, so I have a ladder loaded up from 34.5 grains to 36 in half grain increments. I'll try and report how my ladder goes.

[mehavey]

Quickload showed the load taps out around 37 grains of H110QUICKLOAD does not do well with straightwall cartridges.
Do not do a straight-up pressure calculation.

- Go to the 500S&W published load data that has pressure tables.
- Run a QUICKLOAD 500S&W calculation with the same data
- Adjust effective burn rate until you match that published 500S&W pressure.(50ksi+)
- Use that effective burn rate in the 50 Beowulf and see what you get as pressure/load ROMs for 33ksi

[VMAX97]

QUICKLOAD does not do well with straightwall cartridges.
Do not do a straight-up pressure calculation.

- Go to the 500S&W published load data that has pressure tables.
- Run a QUICKLOAD 500S&W calculation with the same data
- Adjust effective burn rate until you match that published 500S&W pressure.(50ksi+)
- Use that effective burn rate in the 50 Beowulf and see what you get as pressure/load ROMs for 33ksi

Question, is it as straightforward as using 500S&W load data? Hornady loading manual shows 42.3 gr. of Lil'Gun for 350gr XTP. My thought was to use that load on the Beowulf with the same bullet. Alexander Arms load data maxes out at 35.4 of Lil'Gun for that XTP bullet. Thoughts?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[mehavey]

Notwithstanding case differencesL
- The 500S&W is a 62,000psi cartridge, fully-supported stem-to-stern in a revolver cylinder
- The BeoWoof is -- by design* -- 33,000 psi, with the rear web section left at least partially unsupported in a normal rimless-case rifle chamber.

Apricots & grapefruit as far as straight load translation goes.



*Among other reasons, so as to function with a normal 5.56 carbine spring/buffer system

[Moonie]

Question, is it as straightforward as using 500S&W load data? Hornady loading manual shows 42.3 gr. of Lil'Gun for 350gr XTP. My thought was to use that load on the Beowulf with the same bullet. Alexander Arms load data maxes out at 35.4 of Lil'Gun for that XTP bullet. Thoughts?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Yes, I have thoughts, DO NOT DO THAT... Unless of course your life insurance is paid up and you need your SO to collect.

The 50 Beowulf is NOT in ANY way comparable to the 500 S&W.

[Moonie]

I have a report. The 30 grains of 2400 with the Lee 440gr seems to cycle my upper just fine. First round stove piped but after that they have all run just fine. I do have some 440gr boolits loaded with RL 7 but haven't shot them yet.

No accuracy testing yet, just for function so far. It does kick like a 12 guage though lol.

[cainttype]

I’ve used surplus powder from GI brass that was described as a flake version of 4759. In previous tests it appeared about 10% faster than regular IMR 4759 velocities.

Range test 03-21-19
Alexander Arms upper
MP 400 solid FNGC PC
CCI 350 Mag Pistol
26.0 flake surplus 4759...1631 fps.
COAL 2.00”
Bullet diameter .501”, PCed and Hornady GCs

Groups at 50 yards easily attained 1” and less.

[lar45]

Notwithstanding case differencesL
- The 500S&W is a 62,000psi cartridge, fully-supported stem-to-stern in a revolver cylinder
- The BeoWoof is -- by design* -- 33,000 psi, with the rear web section left at least partially unsupported in a normal rimless-case rifle chamber.

Apricots & grapefruit as far as straight load translation goes.



*Among other reasons, so as to function with a normal 5.56 carbine spring/buffer system

As I understand it, he is not saying to use 500 S&W load data. What he is saying is that in quickload you can adjust variables with the powder burn rate... So adjust quickload to give an output that matches known data, then use that variable when doing your Beo calculations. This may hold or not as the pressures are very different.

Again, he is not saying to get your load data from 500 S&W, it is just that they both have the same bore dimensions and similar expansion ratios...

FWIW

[mehavey]

See Post #36 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?221485-50-Beowulf-440-Lee-Cast-bullets&p=4738112&viewfull=1#post4738112), and then
Read Post #37 (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?221485-50-Beowulf-440-Lee-Cast-bullets&p=4749431&viewfull=1#post4749431)

I fear that was an apples and apples comparison as to why the Alexander Arms difference in loadout between what 'appeared' to be similar 500S&W & the 50Woooof

[lar45]

Mehavey, I apologize for the misquote. My post was meant to support your Quickload comments, but in reading, I lost track of who said what.

Back when WC820 was avalible, I was using alot of it in my 454 and other cartridges. I adjusted the burn rate curve of a powder profile to match what my actual chronograph readings were in the 454. I saved that profile as WC820.pro, then used that profile for 30-06, 30-30, 45Colt... and the Quickload predictions were very close to the actual velocities.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/powder/wc820.jpg

[mehavey]

Not to worry. I'm having the same QL fun with the 350 Legend and cast in an AR15 -- no published data at all.

Chronograph, QL, and burn rate adjust/calibration/pressure curves off first-shot/mid-pressure trials 'R Us.
:coffeecom

[castblast]

I started a new thread on something similar to this. Probably should have posted here first.


I’m shooting an mp 502-385 hp pc no gas check behind 39 grains of imr 4227. I worked the load up, can’t see any pressure signs, but am concerned as I have found no load data. AA upper, 16 inch bbl. 1600 FPS. Good accuracy and clean barrel. Gotta be somebody here using the same combination. Thanks.

[Al_Bundy]

This thread sure got off topic from the LEE 440....

[mehavey]

https://i.postimg.cc/HkxjTVRL/Beowulf-AA50-440-G-C-2-29gr-V-N110-sm.jpg

[RedDogForge]

hey folks, whats a good hardness for the rounds if casting? im using the lee 440 mold, current alloy is dropping in cold water at 17.9
too soft? too hard?

[mehavey]

Get rid of the cold water.
Air cool them and report the BHN.

Nothing over 15, maybe 13/14.

[Dixon700]

Looks like I need to get some v-n110. I was going to try some loads around the 30gr of 2400. I also have some accurate 1680 I was going to try to find a load for. There is still very limited data for anything casg and . 50 beo.

[Gone_rabid]

Last weekend I tried out the 440’s with 13.5 and 14gr of green dot searching for a subsonic load. The brass ejected but itS on the verge of the bolt locking back on an empty mag. Pressures looked good but no chronograph data yet. The gun is a suppressed 10.5” barrel and had an h2 buffer in it so that will get changed out for a standard one next time.



Slightly off topic, I bought a 600gr mold from here and with 18.5gr lil gun It’s at 1040 fps. Best part is that it cycles.

[Tonto]

Tried a function test on a new upper build today, LEE 440, powder coated and sized to 501 without a gas check. The load was 40gr R-7, the gun wouldn't feed from the magazine, a mag 20 rounder with a new follower for the big rounds and the front relieved to feed. Bullet hanging up on the ramp in the barrel extension. A BCA barrel. Seems the meplat on this bullet is tricky in the AR but nobody here had that problem. Advice?

[Al_Bundy]

Tried a function test on a new upper build today, LEE 440, powder coated and sized to 501 without a gas check. The load was 40gr R-7, the gun wouldn't feed from the magazine, a mag 20 rounder with a new follower for the big rounds and the front relieved to feed. Bullet hanging up on the ramp in the barrel extension. A BCA barrel. Seems the meplat on this bullet is tricky in the AR but nobody here had that problem. Advice?

i have the same barrel and had to polish the feed ramp. not saying this will fix everything, it could also be the mags or how deep you seated the bullet.

[Tonto]

So, I did some feed ramp work and some mag work and it appears to have solved the problem. Using a dummy round I could see where and how it was hanging up and about five installments of light dremel work, trying the dummy round in between solved my problem, at least when feeding that single round from a magazine. A good cleaning and a live fire test is next. Was tempted to figure out a way to make that bullet int a spire point too but I like the factory design. I enlarged the top face of the mag, moved the feed lips slightly back and installed a single-stack follower (in a 20-rd Magpul magazine.)