500BPE loads

[AGB-1]

Anyone with any favorite load data for this caliber. Rifle is a Greener Double gun. Have already checked COTW data. Thanks , AGB-1 ( 500X3)

[Bullshop]

Is not the 500 BPE nearly identical to the 50/140, 50 3 1/4" ?
For some reason I am thinking the only real differance is the rim thickness.
We have done a couple custom designs for owners of 500 BPE rifles so if you run into a need situation we likely have something

[BerdanIII]

There's an article in fairly recent (I think) Handloader about this round in a double rifle; I'll see what's in it and post any data.

[JRW]

having some experience with this cartridge in a henry double, you will need to try different loads, and work up the right load for you and the gun. you body weight will make it shoot to different points, than will mine. this is because of the way you and someone else would react and hold the gun during recoil.

somewhere on the gun is usually some sort of load information, sometimes under the butt plate, sometimes under the forend.

there are some resources via the web, a site you might consider is double guns. alot of information re; doubles of all sorts.

good luck and have a load of fun, we do,

[BerdanIII]

Loading the .500 Express - Extreme Black Powder Performance, Ross Seyfried, Handloader #219, October 2002.
This article has so much information that it would be a good idea to order a copy of the issue on DVD from Wolfe Publishing, 800-899-7810, $5.95 plus $3.25 S&H, if you're going to reload the cartridge. (I am NOT an employee of Wolfe Publishing, nor do I have any financial interest in the company other than my annual subscription to Handloader.)
A side bar in the article:
"Step by Step.
Because the process is a bit complicated, let's sum it all up.
1. For nitro-for-black loads, use 40 to 46 percent of the black-powder weight of 4198, filled with 13 grains of Dacron and standard primers.
2. Bullets for nitro should be groove diameter plus .002 inch.
3. The best bullet alloy is one part tin to 20 parts lead.
4. Black-powder charge should be KIK FFg to match the original load or GOEX FFFg to bring the barrels together. Ignite black powder with Magnum primers.
5. Compressing powder seems of little benefit and detrimental with KIK. Seat the wads on the powder and try not to compress more than .100 inch.
6. Use two .060-inch Walters vegetable fiber wads over the powder (.520 or .530 inch) with a 2.5-grain "pea" of SPG between the wads and the paper patched bullet.
7. Lubricate grooved bullets with SPG or one part bee's wax to three parts SPG, patched bullets with Rooster Jacket.
8. Bullets for black powder loads may need to be larger diameter. Do not exceed the dimension that will slip into a fired but unsized case.
9. Some .500s were made for bullets as light as 300 grains, few used heavier than 400 grains; 340 grains is the most likely to work.
10. Seat the bullets close to the throat, touching if possible.
11. Do not crimp.
12. Normally a double rifle will be "wide" left and right if the bullets and/or recoil are too heavy. The barrels will usually cross if the bullets and/or recoil are too light"

Note: Slugging the barrel is recommended. Groove diameters run between .510" and .512" with the bore at .500". Early British and some Continental rifles have .500" groove and .490" bore diameters.

Load and Performance Table
Bullets from NEI Moulds

Bullet (grs) - Powder - Charge Weight (grs) - Velocity (fps) - Comments
300 hollowpoint - No. 6* - 137 - 1950+(est.) - 1884 Kynoch
340 hollowpoint - No. 6* - 136 - 1925 - Eley 1910-11
340 hollowpoint - No. 6* - 135 - 1880 - Kynoch 1902-3
380 hollowpoint - No. 6* - 136 - 1850 - ICI, circa 1915
405 paper patch - 4198 - 57 - 1534 - 4 inches, cross shooting, Dickson
405 paper patch - 4198 - 52 - 1442 - 4 inches, Dickson
340 hollowpoint - KIK FFg - 136 - 1813 - 4 inches, A.H.**
340 hollowpoint - Swiss 1½ - 150 - 1737 - 10 inches, wide shooting, A.H.**
405 paper patch - KIK FFG - 120 - 1750 - 2 inches, Dickson
405 paper patch - GOEX FFFg - 130 - 1680 - 4 inches, Dickson
380 paper patch - KIK FFg - 128 - 1729 - 6 inches, wide shooting, A.H.**
325 paper patch - KIK FFg - 128 - 1810 - 2 inches, A.H.**
325 paper patch - KIK FFg - 136 - 1893 - 3 inches, A.H. 1874***
405 cast lubed - 4198 - 57 - 1580 - 4 inches, Winchester 1885 High-Wall

*Details as printed in original British catalogs, No. 6 grain Curtis and Harvey or Kynoch black powder. Accuracy from double rifles at 100 yards, two shots from clean barrels, two shots fouled.
** Alexander Henry Hammerless rifle, 1881
*** Alexander Henry 1874 hammer rifle
Notes: All powder by weight in grains. All black-powder loads with Federal 215 primer and two .060-inch Walters vegetable fiber wads. Barrels are Damascus, except the High-Wall.

.500 3-Inch Black Powder Express, Gil Sengel, Handloader #208, December 2000.

Not as useful as the article above. The author was loading for an unmarked double rifle sold by the Army and Navy Co-operative Society, Limited, a sort of 1860's PX system for officers. Some of the author's statements are contradicted in the article above. The article reads like the author got paid by the word.

NEI moulds for bullets weighing 450, 360 and 295 grains were tested. The best load was a 360-grain bullet, 17.0 grs. of SR4759 as a priming charge and 100 grains of Elephant FFg black. The powder charge was compressed by inserting a steel plug .001" or .002" smaller in diameter than the case neck into the charged case and tapping the case on a hard surface until a shoulder on the upper end of the plug touched the case mouth. The shoulder on the plug prevents compressing the powder past seating depth of the bullet plus the thickness of the grease cookie. A waxed paper wad was placed on top of the powder charge and a 6.5-gr. grease cookie made from SPG lube was placed in the case and flattened with a plug 1/8" shorter than the one referred to above. The bullet was lubed by hand with SPG lube, seated in the case and crimped into place.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

"ask and ye shall receive...".

Rich

[Ernest]

Do not use duplex loads. Another great source is shooting the British double rifle. The very simplest way to get it working is to use the 4198 with Dacron recipes. They will get you adequate velocity with less that black powder pressures.

You have a treasure by the way.

You have to have a chronograph by the way. That is the only way to know if you are at the spected Velocity.

[Ammosmith]

Here's a video of my 500 BPE at the range.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csAN0KNt_Zc

[stubshaft]

Good looking weapon ammosmith. Nice video!

[Ammosmith]

I am now loading for it. It seems that 50-140 loads are pretty close.

[AkMike]

Before you go much or any further I strongly suggest that you pick up a fresh copy(3rd edition) of Graeme Wrights "Shooting the British Double Rifle".
It's got everything that you need in there to get that old girl shooing and shooting safely. The loads were tested at the Birmingham Proof Hous to be sure that they're safe fo old iron.
You can find this anywhere that gun books are sold.

[Ammosmith]

The rifle shoots fine with 110grs of Pyrodex RS and a 425gr boolit. As soon as the weather is better I'll video the handloads being shot.

[Ammosmith]

Here's apic of my 500 BPE.