Picked up a box of Barnes Buster 400 gr FNFB and have been looking for load data with no success. Wanting to use either the H-110 OR Lil Gun FOR powder. Any one have data or use them? Shooting a S&W 4 inch. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Also Thanks for letting me join!!!!

First a disclaimer that this is the data I used in my guns, use at your own risk.

Cartridge OAL 2.3"
Starline brass
Winchester LRP
H110

tested 4" barrel S&W revolver (cartridge pressure testing was done in TC 12" barrel)

Start 90% case fill 44.50 grains --- 1250 fps
final 95% case fill 47.50 grains --- 1350 fps

44.50 load pressure tested (MAP) 47500 PSI
did not record 47.5 but it is below my personal ceiling of 57K for 500 S&W

I don't load H110 below 90% case fill per Hodgon recommendation.

In my testing with this bullet Lil'Gun produced highest velocity but H110 was close and produced most consistent grouping.

Use 2400 if want to reduce load further (I start with 80% case fill or 35.5 grains roughly) this produce about 1100 fps

good luck and be safe
Ruggy

Thank you for the reply and info. Was about ready to give up on these. I agree with the use of the H110. It should not be under or over in loading. Again Thank you!!!

Data can be found here;

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

Your COL will be a little different depending on loading to the cannelure or crimp groove, but really doesn't matter if only a few thousandths.

Even with H110 begin at the start load, there is not much leeway.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Note the Sierra bullet Hodgdon data is for is very different from the Barnes Buster he is using.

good luck and be safe
Ruggy

The 400gr Barnes Buster appears to have (2) cannelures. I'm guessing with a 2.30" COAL that's crimped in the lower cannelure?

Buster | Barnes Bullets

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Waiting for the break of day

Yes bottom cannelure

I did test loads at both locations and grouping was better on bottom one. My notes are not what they should of been- but I have .262" for seating depth for the Barnes.

On the Sierra mentioned by Rule3 I have a seating depth of .512" in my loading note. I did not do much with the Sierra bullet - did not get them to group to my liking at the time out of my 5" John Ross which was strange to me because almost every other bullet I tried worked well. The Sierra bullet is shorter than the Barnes but not as short as some of the lighter jacket bullets, just never found the magic powder for that combo.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

It is the same weight. Where is your data from? I specified the CO will be different.
If we spent all our time looking for specific tests for specific bullets we would be no where.

Every test is going to be different anyway.
No I do not own a Barnes manual as I do not use any of their bullets

The Hodgdon 3% "rule" is one of the most misunderstood statements out there. Heck in their own data you will find loads that vary much more than 3% as well as in other manuals.

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Still Running Against the Wind

There is big difference in bore riding surface area and substantial difference in OAL between these the two bullets so weight is of less concern in the comparison.

With a cross section area of the 500 and about quarter of an inch difference in seating depth equals about 12.5 grains difference in case volume - very substantial.

The load data is mine as well as actual pressure test data (yes I have actual pressure test tools).

Barnes does not have any published data in their current manual for the 400 grain buster, but an email or call usually gets responded to in less than 7 days most of the time.

I agree that when the bullets are similar in weight and construction it would be ok to use the data as a starting point.

I also agree with your assessment of the Hodgdon 3% rule.

When i did my original load testing the intent was to use the Barnes Buster on a Bison Hunt out of the 500.
In the end I only used the Buster (.452 version) in the 460 and used the 375 Barnes XPB in the 500. Both were used with success on the 1600-1700 bison we harvested.

Hope I have scratched your itch.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I have a 500 S&W magnum and have .501 poly coated 500 gr lead Bullets from T&B Bullets. They are endpoint Bullets and I am trying to find load date for the round and have not found anything yet. Most books are just showing jacked rounds infor or less that 500 gr info. Anyone able to help me out with some load infor