500 S&W hunting loads

[A.O.]

So what are you guys that are hunting with these guns using for hunting loads? I'm thinking for pigs, deer, and elk.

I got a deal and picked up 400 350gr XTP's, but I'm not sure about hunting with that type of bullet. I did get a box of 50 500 gr XTP soft flat points and think that would be better, but probably not optimal.

So what are you using and how are your results?

Thanks, Scott

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't load for the 500 Magnum so I'm talking about handgun hunting ammo in general. The Hornady XTP bullet is a tough bullet meant for hunting so it should work well. I can't tell you if the XTP soft points will work better than the XTP/HP but I can tell you those XTP/HP bullets are made specifically for the 500 S&W Magnum.

Sierra also makes a good handgun hunting bullet and they have a HP and SP bullet for the .500 Magnum.

 

[fredj338]

I keep thinking I want a 500, just because, certainly not needed for hunting deer & pigs, even elk are readily handled by heavy 44mag & 45 colt. If I did have a 500, it would get fed nothing but lead bullets, as all my magnums get. A 50cal, 400gr lead fp will kill anything that walks this planet.

 

[A.O.]

I keep thinking I want a 500, just because, certainly not needed for hunting deer & pigs, even elk are readily handled by heavy 44mag & 45 colt. If I did have a 500, it would get fed nothing but lead bullets, as all my magnums get. A 50cal, 400gr lead fp will kill anything that walks this planet.

I've been shooting/reloading for many many years, never got into the lead bullets cause all I ever hear about is slugging the barrel, and leading in the barrel..crimeny, just seems like so much more to worry about... and how do you tell if a barrel is leaded anyhow?

 

[fredj338]

Oh you see leading when you clean it. Honestly, never slugged a bbl unless I get weird leading with bullets 0.001" larger than jacketed. Measuring cyl throat is wise though, pin gages are great for this or you can slug & measure with calipers. Too small a throat can cause leading & ruin accuracy. Consider the cost of feeding even a 44mag, lead bullets work just fine. Need it to expand, lead bullets can do that too. With a 500 though you dont need expansion. A moderately soft lead FP will kill very well @ 1200fps & no animal is stopping that short of an elephant.

 

[ruggyh]

We have used the 350 XTP with good result. Typically over 42 to 42.8 grains of H110 or 2400.
I use Load data from Hornady manual.

Also used Barnes XPB successfully, on the same powders.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

 

[A.O.]

We have used the 350 XTP with good result. Typically over 42 to 42.8 grains of H110 or 2400.
I use Load data from Hornady manual.

Also used Barnes XPB successfully, on the same powders.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

One of the loads I'm working with is the 350gr XTP over 42gr H-110, looks promising. I'm using standard large rifle primers, you?

 

[ruggyh]

WLR and just testing Federal 210.

I tried CCI primers and had poor results, IMO I believe they are to hard for use in the 500 S&W.

I see people recommending Magnum primers but don't believe they are required.

If you want reduced loads use don't do it with Magnum powders.

Read John Ross's loading recommendations which are on his web site. They are relevant to all 500's not just his model.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

 

[A.O.]

So what problems did you have with the CCI's, I use them almost exclusively and have never had a problem.

I also have some Win's, might try them and see if I notice a difference.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

WLR and just testing Federal 210.

I tried CCI primers and had poor results, IMO I believe they are to hard for use in the 500 S&W.

I see people recommending Magnum primers but don't believe they are required.

If you want reduced loads use don't do it with Magnum powders.

Read John Ross's loading recommendations which are on his web site. They are relevant to all 500's not just his model.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I have to disagree with a lot of what you said. CCI primers have a slightly thicker cup than Federal primers but there is no way they are too hard for any revolver in good operating condition. As for magnum primers, if you are using hard to ignite ball powders like W296/H110 a magnum primer is highly recommended. you get a much better burn and the SD numbers shrink when using a magnum primer over a standard primer. Your feelings have nothing to do with facts. Add to that the Hodgdon load data calls for a Large Magnum Rifle primer, suggestion a standard primer is probably a bad idea if you believe you should follow the reloading data.

 

[ruggyh]

I use CCI in other cartridges with out issue.

Early 500s used pistol primers and were found to pierce to easily, hence the change to rifle primers which can handle the pressures the 500 operates at. I was told they also changed the firing pin, slightly shorter and more rounded end to ensure primers would not be pierced.

You can browse the forums and find a number of 500s have been sent back to S&W for fail to fire from light primer sticks, I sent one back one myself. The gun was returned and the firing pin was replaced with one .001" longer.

I had an unusual number of fail to fires with CCI primers with my 500s, none with WLR. I use that same batch of CCI in 45-70's with no issue at all.

 

[A.O.]

I have to disagree with a lot of what you said. CCI primers have a slightly thicker cup than Federal primers but there is no way they are too hard for any revolver in good operating condition. As for magnum primers, if you are using hard to ignite ball powders like W296/H110 a magnum primer is highly recommended. you get a much better burn and the SD numbers shrink when using a magnum primer over a standard primer. Your feelings have nothing to do with facts. Add to that the Hodgdon load data calls for a Large Magnum Rifle primer, suggestion a standard primer is probably a bad idea if you believe you should follow the reloading data.

The three current books I have, Lee, Lyman , and Hornady ALL stipulate standard large rifle primers... THATS the data I am following.

 

[fredj338]

WLR and just testing Federal 210.

I tried CCI primers and had poor results, IMO I believe they are to hard for use in the 500 S&W.

I see people recommending Magnum primers but don't believe they are required.

If you want reduced loads use don't do it with Magnum powders.

Read John Ross's loading recommendations which are on his web site. They are relevant to all 500's not just his model.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

If you are shooting 40+gr of slow powder, you are better served with mag pistol primers or std LR primers. Most LR primers are quite a bit hotter than mag pistol primers.

 

[bluetopper]

I shoot the mighty 500 out of a single shot Handi-Rifle. Cast lead gas check bullets are all I ever shoot. Barrel stays shiney clean. Great performance.
Really for hunting, it doesn't matter what bullet you use in the 500. They are going down, whatever it is.

 

[bluetopper]

I've been shooting/reloading for many many years, never got into the lead bullets cause all I ever hear about is slugging the barrel, and leading in the barrel..crimeny, just seems like so much more to worry about... and how do you tell if a barrel is leaded anyhow?

Commercial mail order lead bullets are all I ever shoot. Never slugged a barrel in my life. My barrels stay mirror bright and polished. Lots of internet lore and apprehension about lead bullets.

 

[A.O.]

Commercial mail order lead bullets are all I ever shoot. Never slugged a barrel in my life. My barrels stay mirror bright and polished. Lots of internet lore and apprehension about lead bullets.

So for hunting, soft??... hard?? And how do you tell them apart?

 

[venomballistics]

I've been shooting/reloading for many many years, never got into the lead bullets cause all I ever hear about is slugging the barrel, and leading in the barrel..crimeny, just seems like so much more to worry about... and how do you tell if a barrel is leaded anyhow?

Coated lead looks to have changed this song and dance.
I'm playing hard with the powder coated variant. It's far less finicky than old school slug and lube.

But you ask how to tell.
Slight leading shows its hand when you run a reasonably tight patch through the bore. It has a kind of rough gritty feel.
Heavy leading shows up as globs in the grooves on up to a complete conversation to smooth bore.
When firing, when a good solid performing loads groups suddenly fall apart, you can be sure you will get acquainted with your bore brush and copper chore boy pads.
But really, coated bullets seems to have defeated the leading enemy.
I am testing it in a 30 06 rifle. I pushed powder coat till it failed, which was right around 2500 fps, no gas check, and straight wheel weight lead.
Even then, the leading was slight.

 

[rwsmith]

It's not cut and dried.....

I agree with those saying to use the primer the data was developed with. You can't just say "Magnum primers for Magnum powders'. EACH powder and load has it's own characteristics. In one book it will say to use magnum primers and in others there may be some powders that they don't recommend magnum primers. In my Lyman any cartridge with the word 'magnum' in it uses magnum primers. My Speer #14 says that Blue Dot and 2400 do better with standard primers.

 

[A.O.]

In my Lyman any cartridge with the word 'magnum' in it uses magnum primers.

Interesting, I just went and looked at my Lyman manual#49 and it does not. Which edition do you have?

Mine shows 357 mag use mag primers,41 mag use standard primers,44 mag use standard & magnum primers, 500 S&W mag use standard primers. Might be others but that's the ones I saw.

 

[ruggyh]

As for magnum primers, if you are using hard to ignite ball powders like W296/H110 a magnum primer is highly recommended.

ArchAngelCD

Recommended by whom? None of my reloading manuals state this, numerous loads can be found to the contrary. On the other hand the Internet is filled with opinion being presented as fact.
Hornady loads their factory 460 ammo with WLR primer and H110 powder.

I have not found it hard to ignite ball powders with the WLR primer in the 20,000+ rounds of X-frame I have reloaded (no the 20K rounds is not a typo). The only ignition problem I have witnessed was by an inexperienced reloader whom tried to use H110 to make reduced recoil loads and used about 60% of the recommend minimum starting weight. I disassembled nine of the ten rounds and the primer had ignited and failed to ignited the powder.

If you are shooting 40+gr of slow powder, you are better served with mag pistol primers or std LR primers. Most LR primers are quite a bit hotter than mag pistol primers.

fredj338

Why would you use a pistol primer where a rifle primer was intended by the design? light primer strikes and fail to fail would result.

I wish people would quite trying to project/compare their reloading experience with the 44s and 45s on this cartridge. The 460 and 500 operate at considerable higher pressure and the internal ballistics are more akin to rifles than any pistol cartridge. They are nothing like there smaller brothers.

The 500 can shoot jacketed or lead with fatal results, this has been demonstrated without question. Remember that local hunting laws are different depending on where you plan to hunt. Pick that the one that best suits you and develop away.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy