500 Magnum Reloading Question

[bmdaniel92]

Just picked up a Model 500 from a local cop in town. It's a blast to shoot and I've already done some reloading for it. My question is, can I use .50 cal muzzle-loader JHP slugs in my gun? I've seen some TC copper slugs at sporting goods stores and they seem almost identical to some of the Hornady and Barnes bullets I've been using, just alot cheaper. Any advice and opinions welcome.

Brandon

 

[Uraldriver]

Most of the Muzzleloader bullets lack a canelure to crimp the bullet in the case. They my jump during recoil and lock up the gun. I am not sure what kind of velocity they are rated at but they may hold up well to .500 velocities.

Good luck, Dan

 

[Skip Sackett]

Well, yes and no.

When I loaded for the 500, it was for a Handi-Rifle. I even used sabots with 44 caliber cast bullets inside of them. The powder was Trail Boss and the load was the same as other loads using this powder. Fill the case up to the bottom of the bullet, in this case sabot, and go from there.

As for the "slugs" you are talking about, and only shotguns shoot those, are you talking about lead bullets designed for the 50 caliber muzzle loaders? If so, then the answer is no, don't use them unless they are held to under 1000fps. You will not like the lead that they leave behind if you try to send them out of the muzzle any faster than that with smokeless powder. They are much softer than a hard cast bullet.

The whole sabot thing is something that I worked up all on my own. I don't think I would try it in a handgun with a cylinder gap, no matter how small.

The principle is the same for some 30/06 accelerators though. They use a 22 caliber bullet in a sabot inside the neck of the 308 caliber sabot.

FWIW

 

[ohiococonut]

The b/c gap is not the problem, the compensator is.
Many years ago I used to shoot .357 dia bullets in sabots out of my .44Mag New Model SuperBlackhawk with dismal results at anything past 25yds. The major difference was the sabots were harder (delrin) and the pedals didn't protrude past the straight shank of the bullet. They were tapered and streamlined somewhat like the old Remington Accelerators.

Anyway, if your S&W 500 revolver has a compensator on the end of the barrel I wouldn't advise shooting sabots out of it for fear of the pedals catching with possibly catastrophic results, if they make it into the barrel at all. The difference now is the sabot is much softer and it does protrude past the straight shank of the bullet allowing it to catch wind as soon as it's fired. It may "flower" out just trying to enter the barrel. I've loaded many, many different types of bullets for my 500's over the years but never had the sack to try them for that particular reason. Don't know anyone that has either.

The bullet/sabot combination for the 54cal muzzle loader will work provided the bullets are .50cal BUT, you'll need a Lee factory crimp die since most of the bullets don't have a cannelure. When the Winchester 400gr Platinum Tip Silver Point first came out they weren't available to hand loaders (don't know if they are yet) and I wanted to shoot them in my 500. I had to buy them with the sabots for 54cal muzzleloader. At around $17 for 20 they were Not cheap but I wanted them anyway just because. I have a cannelure tool so making them useable wasn't a problem, the price was.

If you're just starting out loading for the 500 I'd suggest you stick with bullets designed specifically for it.