Ideal 500 sw hunting pb?

[lamina1982]

Gramps trying to find me a mould for my 500 sw. I currently have some 535 ranger ricks. What is the ideal 500 sw style/weight. Kinda like the 44mag had the 255 keith. So whats the 500 got? I dont cast or reload yet but trying to spend more time with gramps and learn. I would think a gas check. I have a 15" encore and a 4" sw revolver

[stubshaft]

The Lee 440gr boolit is a good one. I use that in all 3 of my Encores it weights about 475gr sized and loobed. I load it ahead of 26.5 - 33.0 Lil Gun (1650fps - 1975fps). There was a recent GB of a .502HP boolit. Am no longer a big fan of the Keith design boolits although they will definitely do the job and I still cast them and shoot them. I prefer the LBT designs or a boolit with a large meplat for most hunting chores.

[captain-03]

I, too, use the Lee 440gr mould and it cast out to 475gr dressed ... (glad to see mine is not the only one that cast out heavy) .. You can load 'em up or down depending on what you want. 11.0gr of Unique will get you about 850fps (light pleasant load) -- I have used Lil'Gun also but did not get the fps as detailed above --- 30.0 gr Lil'Gun will got me around 1430fps -- nice mild load. These were shot from a S&W 500Mag with an 8 3/8 barrel ...

[lamina1982]

Ya I saw that one-but apparently gramps is not a fan of lee moulds, and wanted something better?

[wilddog45]

I would try and get one of the .502 HP molds from Miha http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=56760 I have one and i am getting good results with what minimal tests I have done.