500 Smith with wheel weights?

Nard · Feb 19, 2010

I am ordering a two cavity Lee mold for the 500 S&W, 440 grain gas check type. I plan to use straight wheel weights, is there a velocity range that I should try to stay below? And what powders should I be using? I have Unique and 2400, maybe some H110.

J.B.

MMA10mm · Feb 19, 2010

Straight WW with proper lube (soft - like 50/50) can easily go 1300 fps without problems. Adding the gas check will probably add another 100-200fps. Just an FYI, I've cast a LOT of boolits out of straight WWs, but I like to add 1-2% tin now, as it fills out better and hardens the boolit a little more.

I've never loaded the 500, so I can't help you with powder assistance. I know a lot of guys use H-110/W296 for top-performance. I imagine a very fast rifle powder that has a good reputation for working with lead bullets, like 5744, would be a good powder to try, but that's just me thinking out loud.

Nard · Feb 19, 2010

Thanks, that's just what I needed to know. I will not likley push these 440's over 1,300fps.

J.B.

fredj338 · Feb 20, 2010

It's not so much vel as it is pressures. You want enough pressure to obturate the base but not so much as to strip the bullet. This is good reading for lead bullet shooters.
Cast bullet reference on lead alloy's, min / max pressure, lube, shrinkage,
Straight ww will get you to about 25Kpsi, you can water drop to get you higher.

MMA10mm · Feb 20, 2010

Great point, Fred. Whenever I think of cast boolits in handguns, I think of standard-pressure cartridges, but these big X-frame cartridges are a different kind of animal.

That said, just as the alloy/pressure relationship can make you feel limited (at the top-end of performance), you can also look at it as a benefit, if you are looking for milder loads where the pressure/alloy relationship "fit" perfectly.

Nard · Feb 21, 2010

Thanks for the site Fred! I didn't know droping from the mold into water made that much diffrence.

J.B.

kritter · Feb 21, 2010

I've been using lyman #501680, SWC at 375 grs. cast from straight wheel weights,,, using unique @ 12.5 grains for 1065fps up to 17.5 for 1360 fps with out a problem of leading...and it seems to be working well for me ,( I have a bunch of unique powder ) but lilgun power seems to be more popular for cast loads,, at least theres more loading data out there.
you might want to check here, theres a lot of info on the 500 loads..
LEVER ACTION SHOOTERS SOCIETY - 500 S&W CASTING AND RELOADING

Nard · Feb 21, 2010

Thanks kritter!

J.B.

wilddog45 · Feb 22, 2010

I use H110 (meters well), Longshot(a little dirty but accurate),Unique and Trailboss(for reduced loads) and Littlegun works well also. Waterdropping or heat treating works well to harden the alloy although I usually just water drop and use lars carnuba red for lube and have never had any problem with leading in my gun.

Nard · Feb 22, 2010

My wife was at Bass Pro yesterday and said the H110 was $27 a pound, I told her to leave it sitting on the shelf! I can find it cheaper when I get back home, besides I think I have some already.

J.B.

7P's · Feb 23, 2010

VihtaVuori powders work good with the 500 - N110 & N120. I also use a lot of IMR-4227. I prefer to use the large pistol primer (WLP) instead of the rifle primer. Lil'Gun might give you the highest velocity by a couple fps but it seems to burn hot and Freedom Arms doesn't recommend it. I have found it to heat the barrel more so than the other powders, so I'm leaning toward not using it in large cases. H-110 seems to me to be "snappier" than the other powders, so if you want to tame the snap just a little you can use the same weight charge in IMR-4227 as you do with H-110 and it'll be a little softer and you'll only lose 100 fps on average.

Nard · Feb 24, 2010

I even have some IMR-4227, but it's old as the hills. My plan is to shoot the cast 440's and not with max charges, I'll get some jacketed bullets for that maybe some 350's?

J.B.

500 Smith with wheel weights?

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