500 Reloading Question

[jbouwens]

I have picked up my 6 1/2" Model 500 and started to shoot a few rounds of factory through her (at least until my brass gets here from Midway--backordered.

I am working with H110 and Seirra 350 gr JHP with a few of the peices of brss that I have shot. I am working off the Hodgdeon site and loaded a couple of rounds at the start load -- 39 grains. My question is would you work up at .5 grains or 1 grain incriments. Any other advise would be great. I have been reloading for many years, I load one at a time with magnum calibers, use Federal primers (at least for now), and track how many times I load a round. And don't usaually load to max for any of my sweety pies. I have read a bunch of past posts about the 500 reloading issues-- H110 problems/being picky about crimp and fullness of the case--etc. Just looking for advise from those who load the cannon shells.

 

[jbouwens]

I have picked up my 6 1/2" Model 500 and started to shoot a few rounds of factory through her (at least until my brass gets here from Midway--backordered.

I am working with H110 and Seirra 350 gr JHP with a few of the peices of brss that I have shot. I am working off the Hodgdeon site and loaded a couple of rounds at the start load -- 39 grains. My question is would you work up at .5 grains or 1 grain incriments. Any other advise would be great. I have been reloading for many years, I load one at a time with magnum calibers, use Federal primers (at least for now), and track how many times I load a round. And don't usaually load to max for any of my sweety pies. I have read a bunch of past posts about the 500 reloading issues-- H110 problems/being picky about crimp and fullness of the case--etc. Just looking for advise from those who load the cannon shells.

 

[yellowf4]

I use 38 grains of H110 for the 440gr lead that I get from Lead head bullets. Owner is great guy and helped develop the original load for Corbon, which is what this load is. I have not loaded a lot of 350's but had good sucess with 39.8gr of H110 and a Hornady XTP. I prefer the lead 440s. I also have found that Hodgen TrailBoss powder is the best thing since sliced bread. I load 10 grains of if with the 440's and have a giant 38 spl that I now can't get back from my wife....

Good roll crimp is needed on hot loads as this little jewel has so much rearward recoil you will definately unseat light crimps and lock you up.

 

[jbouwens]

Hey thanks for the reply. I will get some trailboss or Lilgun and give those a try too. I read alot of good things about those powders. I will probable load some lead to get that 38 special effect from the 357 mag gun thing. The 440 sounds like a good weight. Thanks again.

 

[7P's]

Lilgun is an excellent powder. I have also found VihtaVuori N120 to be excellent for 440 grain to 600 grain hardcast bullets.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Lilgun

Notice the terminology in my following statement.
I have loaded the 500 S&W.

In case you missed it, I don't anymore!

I had a Handi-Rifle in that caliber and I will be as honest as possible here; with factory "leveroution" ammo it was impossible to shoot well. I have never had anything hurt me as bad as that when shooting it, never.

I was pleasantly surprised when I switched to some handloads using Lil' Gun with 300gr Gold Dots. The velocity was up there in the 2000fps + area and were much more tolerable to shoot. Accurate too. No fireball either. I dislike H110 for that reason alone.

Either AA#9, 2400 or Lil' Gun is going to end up being the two main powders for my magnum loads for the foreseeable future.

If I were you, I'd make a switch, but that is just me!

 

[John R]

Originally posted by smith crazy:
Accurate too. No fireball either. I dislike H110 for that reason alone.

Either AA#9, 2400 or Lil' Gun is going to end up being the two main powders for my magnum loads for the foreseeable future.

If I were you, I'd make a switch, but that is just me!

Fireball is right, but if you want to really see a big fireball, try some Blue Dot.

 

[jbouwens]

Thanks to all, I will pick up some Lilgun after the "grind that they call work" tomorrow.

I like the idea of the fireball at the range but at first light and dusk---not so much. I want to load both a hunting load and a target load. Plan to take my cannon with me on the next hunt (got a while for that) for porky and bambi. Should be a BLAST, so-to-speak.

 

[Ohio-Don]

My best results have been with 14 gr Titegroup, Winchester cases, lg rifle primers and Hornady 350 gr xtp bullets. Last month @ 25 yds my best 3 shot group was 3/8" and best 5 shot group was 1 3/8". Done by resting forearms on suport. My suggestion is .5gr increments since a small change in powder weight can make a big change in group size. I have ordered some 400 gr Sierra bullets and plan to start with 15 gr Titegroup. I recommend if you use this powder to pick up each case individually, drop the powder, visually check it, then place a bullet on top and then move on to the next case. Now it's time to seat the bullets. It could be easy and disasterous to double charge, so don't multitask. There isn't room for error with Titegroup. Good luck.

 

[DonD]

Just a FYI. Looked at a link to what I think was handloads.com or similar. Load data for the .500 Mag showed up and one poster showed a starting load for a 440gr slug that was less than a half grain lower than the MAX load in Hodgdon's site.

The load data then went WAY beyond Hodgdon's MAX. To me that shows the danger of freelancing without paying attention to reputable sources who use industrial pressure testing rigs. You might get away with that using a rugged Model 500 but it isn't in my opinion prudent. Don

 

[JD 500]

I've had good luck with Hornady bullets in my 500. 350 and 500 gr. I load them both just under max (After working up loads in .5gr increments), and really don't notice any difference in recoil. I know a forum member here who's told me the most accurate bullet in his 500 is a Sierra 400gr.

If you want full power loads, I think you will want to stick to Lil Gun, H110, or 4227.

Don't know what you ordered from Midway, I have been very happy with Starline Brass.

If hunting is in the agenda, I do not think you will want to load titegroup.

Good luck !

 

[ohiococonut]

Originally posted by JD 500:
I know a forum member here who's told me the most accurate bullet in his 500 is a Sierra 400gr.

That was probably me and it hasn't changed

38grs of H4227 behind that bullet still produces the tightest groups thus far in my standard 8 3/8" model. 5 shots about 2-2 1/2" @100yds. Other models shoot different bullets/powder just as good if not better.

 

[sonny]

Originally posted by jbouwens:
loaded a couple of rounds at the start load -- 39 grains. My question is would you work up at .5 grains or 1 grain incriments.

With 39 grains, makes sense to do one grain at a time. That's about a 2% change. Also, use a Redding Profile Crimp die; every smart guy recommends that. I have it and it stops the bullet from creeping forward under heavy recoil.
sonny