500 s&w

[dale2242]

I am going to start casting and loading for the 500 S&W. There seems to be few molds available for it at this time. What boolit are you people using? Any load suggestions?
If I were to buy the Lee mold, what is the proper top punch for my RCBS luber?
Thanks...dale

[475/480]

I have a NIB- Lee 6 cavity .502-400 LFNGC (75% meplat) GB mould if you are interested.I ran this GB about 1.5 years ago,cost is $70 shipped UPS to you.
Any top punch will do, just grind the punch flat and you are ready to go :D: .
I have a ton of load data for the SW 500,email me if you want it .
I am shooting the Lee 400gr in my SW 500 8 3/8" and Ballisticast 485gr WFN in my SW 500 6.5"


Sean

[TDC]

There are tons of data available for hot loaded 500 ammo. Shooting can be a punishing experience with the hottest loads and the noise report can be truly damaging to ineffectively protected ears. I have a 6 1/2" 500.

The interesting data is in the light to moderate loads utilizing boolits in the 400 gr range with powders like Unique, 231 and Trail Boss.

A 400 gr boolit in the 900 to 1100 fps range is a projectile capable of taking just about any animal on this continent and they are an absolute pleasure to shoot in a heavy 500.. I have the Lee 440 gr mold and the Miha 385/400 mold with the three different HP cavity size options. When you get a chance try 11 or 12 grains of Unique with the boolits mentioned.

Save your hot loads for Cape Buffalo, Bengal Tigers, Grizzles and impressing your friends with muzzle flash, noise report and heavy recoil. Your hands and ears will thank you and you'll love your 500......

[Markbo]

Just a pure FWIW - feel free to ignore. I feel there is no reason to hot load the already brutish .500 S&W. I got some hot loads for mine a while back and that handgun remains the only one I have ever shot in all my years that physically bruised my hand. 500gr bullets at silly speeds would put down any animal on the planet... none of which live in Texas.

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE big bore handguns and normally eat up recoil very well, but the combination of that grip shape and heavy bullet/high velocity was much less than fun.

[Dill45]

Save your hot loads for Cape Buffalo, Bengal Tigers, Grizzles and impressing your friends with muzzle flash, noise report and heavy recoil. Your hands and ears will thank you and you'll love your 500......

To be honest with you, I have the 8 3/8's model and the muzzle flash and noise aren't that bad. The noise in particular isn't that bad, I have a snub noise 357 that makes a ton more noise than the 500 and muzzle flash now that I think about it.

On the other hand I have a 5" barreled 460 mag. The noise and muzzle flash of that are truly something to be witnessed.

I bet it has more to do with barrel length than anything when it comes to noise and muzzle flash. Though I do agree with the recoil, it can get pretty wearing after a while.

And to the OP...
How hot do you want it? I've found a pretty pleasant load with a 400gr LRNPB boolit. 11.5gr's of TB feels like a light 44. Accuracy is superb, and clocks around 900 FPS. I've also loaded up some 600gr LFNGC boolits that have some monster recoil and clock around 1300 FPS. So you can get a lot of load data out there, everything from cute and cuddly to mean and nasty.

[Paulinski]

700gr cast boolit from Mountain Molds

27.5gr or Lil'Gun :)

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50iso_qclsE)

[69daytona]

If you want a good load for the 500 that can go from mild to wild anything in the 350-440gr will work. The deal 475/480 gave you on the 400gr LFNGC is a good choice and if MiHec has any more of the 385/400gr cramer molds left is an excellant choice.
You still have time to get in on the 440gr Keith Cramer if your interested.
I enjoy the recoil so I likethe bigger 500-700gr bullets but after 100 or so you will get a little sore in the hand. A lot of it has to do with how you hold the gun, your arm position and stance, once you master that you will be good to go.
Like TDC said the lighter bullets with loads od Unique, 231 and trailboss work very good and you could shoot all day one handed if you want and they are accurate, you will want something a little stronger if you want distance with power but start low and slow and work up to the hot loads.

[CARode99705]

Check out John Ross's web site. He's done a lot of playing with the 500's since they first came out. Click on the Gun Culture link for a decent load data list. He also recommends Mountain Molds, give suggestions as to what to get and why.
I bought one of his custom 500's and I love it.