Picked up a lovely old S&W 500 Mag with 8-3/8 inch barrel. Older model. (I wish I could find its date of mfg based on serial number CYM5xxx. No luck, so far.)
I think the former owner passed on, because the gun, a bunch of fired 500 S&W brass ($0.60 each), a set of used carbide RCBS 500 dies ($30) and a bunch of other stuff suddenly appeared at my local gun shop.
So I bought the gun (fair price), the dies, the brass, and a 50-cal bronze cleaning brush designed for black powder guns. Still awaiting a shell plate for the press. Also ordered a Lee Factory Crimp die (I love those things -- elegant simplicity and adjustability.)
Some 325-gr and some 350-gr jacketed bullets, and some 440-gr cast gascheck bullets also on the way.
Already have a selection of Hodgdon and Winchester powders and some Large Rifle primers to load these babies up.
Deprimed the brass using my Frankfort Arsenal hand deprime tool, then wet-tumbled the brass with stainless steel media in 125-degree warm water, with a squirt of Dawn and a 9mm shell's worth of Lemi Shine, this morning. Came out as if brand new.
Brass is a mix of Hornady (probably from the factory ammo) and Starline, for reloading.
Any of you guys see an appreciable difference between Hornady and Starline brass for the 500 Mag?
I will not be reloading on my Dillon 550 press. Not worth the conversion cost. Won't be doing that much 500 reloading. So it's back to my faithful old original RCBS Rock Chucker single-stage press and careful weighing of the charges. And a firm crimp.
I don't plan on loading anywhere near max loads -- those don't look like fun at all -- and factory ammo is impossible to get and stupid expensive.
But it's simply fun to have this cannon, even unfired, if only to show friends.
Any reloading wisdom from you guys is appreciated.
What I've picked up so far:
1. Do not fire it with my hand near the cylinder/barrel gap.
2. For first-time shooters, load only a single round into the cylinder.
3. Wear serious hearing protection.
4. ?
The picture is off the internet, but looks very much like my 500, with ports on the top front.
Thanks.