I have been looking at the S & W 500 mag. Shot 8 3/8" and 4". Great guns and alot of recoil. Would like to have a lighter load for range time. Anyone willing to share some pet light loads?

I made up some lighter loads that I enjoy shooting. I have a 4" model 500. I use 11 grains of Titegroup with a 325 or 350 grain jacketed bullet. Much less punishing than the factory loads I have used. YMMV

The only 500S&W Mag anything that I have ever owned was a Handi-Rifle in that caliber. Punishing is not the word for full factory loads in that thing. Probably why it isn't around anymore!

At any rate, I chose to use Trail Boss in this enormous case. I couldn't find any loads so I called Hodgdon. Here is what they told me: "Mark the case where the base of the bullet will sit when seated properly and fill the case up to there with Trail Boss, that is the maximum load. Reduce by 10% to get a minimum load."

I found out that I didn't need a minimum load! Cream puff is the operative word here!

BARNES No. 4 has 11 gr. Titegroup with their 275 gr. XPB. Should be a relatively light load.

Two lighter loads I have tried in my 8 3/8" S&W are the following;
400gr Sierra JSP - 35.8 LilGun @ 1502 fps
325gr Speer JHP - 37.5 AA-5744 @ 1447 fps (light recoil)

I found the recoil to be noticeable around 1700 fps and up