My new favorite 500 S&W load

[bdutro]

I had previously loaded 465 gr GC boolits from LeadHead over 31 grains of H110 and found them a bit sharp and snappy, bordering on unpleasant.

The same projectile over 37 grains of Ramshot X-Terminator was a powerful but pleasant load to shoot and seemed quite accurate as well. 37 grains was 100% load density, H322 should give almost identical performance.

[wilddog45]

I haven't tried that powder. Is it very clean burning? How does it meter? H110 is kind of my go to powder for the 500. I have tried others but not Ramshot Xterminator

[Porterhouse]

With regards to H322, I've used lots of them with 500 because it gives really uniform velocity, mild recoil with 100% density, and meters well. Having said that, I feel like there are better powder for around same veloity with better accuracy. I haven't found it yet but I guess I give a try this Ramshot X-Terminator.

[stubshaft]

I am partial to Lil Gun. H110/296 leaves too much unburned powder in my barrels and doesn't give me the same velocity as LG. I have tried H322 also and was not too impressed with it but may try it again in my rifle barrel.

[bdutro]

It is a double base ball powder and flows very freely. I wipe down my powder measures hopper and metering chamber with downy fabric softener sheets and it throws static-free and very accurate charges.

[ole 5 hole group]

In my experience, H110 is always a little "snappier" than most other powders relative to felt recoil. With 31 grains of H110 you were probably sending that 465 grain pill downrange at 1,200fps or thereabouts. If you would have been using 30 grains of IMR-4227 with Tommies 465 grain you would be doing 1,130fps and the felt recoil wouldn't be as "noticeable". IMR-4227 is a great powder for the 500 Smith and if you stay around 28 grains the recoil is mild using Leadhead's 440 grain slug, which goes down range a little under 1,000fps. I've found VV N120 to also be a good powder for the 500. Lil'Gun seems to shoot well but does cause a little more barrel heat in my revolvers and since Freedom Arms doesn't recommend using Lil'Gun powder for any of their revolvers I'm keeping an eye out for what others are saying about what Lil'Gun does to their forcing cones and barrels.