500 s&w magnum

[kennyb]

i own the 2.5"snubby 460 and the 7.5"pc hunter 500...both are a blast to shoot!i recently took down a large boar with the scoped 500...LOL yep,you do get a LOT of attention at the range with these boys...fun to shoot and amazingly accurate....reloading them with h-110 is the way to go...sooooo much cheaper!

 

[7P's]

reloading them with h-110 is the way to go

I've found the H110 to produce the most "felt" recoil. IMR4227 is slightly better while N120 is better yet. Keep the 440 grainers under 1100fps and it's all good.

 

[DonD]

Originally posted by 7P's:

reloading them with h-110 is the way to go

I've found the H110 to produce the most "felt" recoil. IMR4227 is slightly better while N120 is better yet. Keep the 440 grainers under 1100fps and it's all good.

While I think most folks who enjoy the .500 Mag at least occasionally crank the power up, a 440gr hard cast at 1100fps will penetrate anything in N. America end to end. Don

 

[martyj]

I use my 460 for deer hunting and works very well for me but not so well for the deer. It will drop them right now. Not sure if its the sound or the bullet that makes the hole but does it well.
Take care of your ears and your opposing hand. They will eat meat if either are in the wrong area
Accuracy is great trigger pull is superb

 

[mcshot]

I have an 8 3/8" and have yet to fire it although I've owned it a few years. I'd like to load up some mild plinking loads like I use in the .38 special. I have all the stuff for reloading but need a good pumpkin, CAS, type load. Any load suggestions or links appreciated.
I bought the beast to bail out a friend and want to tame it for fun.
Thanks,
Mc

 

[DonD]

Originally posted by mcshot:
I have an 8 3/8" and have yet to fire it although I've owned it a few years. I'd like to load up some mild plinking loads like I use in the .38 special. I have all the stuff for reloading but need a good pumpkin, CAS, type load. Any load suggestions or links appreciated.
Mc

Had it for years and haven't fired it??????????????? You have to shoot it.

I have the perfect load for you, 11 gr of Trail Boss behind a 370-400 gr slug. It is just like an overgrown .38 Special but it has about 600 ft lbs and you hardly know you're shooting it in the heavy gun. Don

 

[mcshot]

Don, thanks for lightning response. I'll look for some Trail Boss as that is one of the few powders I don't have. I use Unique frequently for indoor shooting.
As far as not shooting it I once thought of keeping it as a safe queen as it's an early gun. Now I've decided to shoot em all and enjoy them in case someone decides to collect them for destruction.

 

[DonD]

Mcshot, my vote is definitely for shooting them.

As I said,the load I suggested is at the bottom of the 500s power range, it still makes big craters in the sand berms at the range. Still gratifying although nothing like the heavy duty stuff.

Trail Boss is also a very economical powder and because of its very low density, usually makes it impossible to double charge a case. Don

 

[martyj]

Id like to take one to a cowboy shoot once but they told me I couldnt. Something to do with the gongs and people going deaf

 

[DonD]

Martyj, as I said above, the 11 gr of Trail Boss would be a great CAS round other than for the weight of the gun itself. It might be a little hard on the metal targets but it wouldn't be noisy. Don