500 S&W with 350 grain berry bullets?

[midminnesota]

Hello,
I was wondering if any of you have tried the berry's plated bullets for the 500 S&W, in the 350 grain variety. They can be driven to 2000 FPS.

 

[PattonTime]

Berry's Bullets

I shoot these all the time.
I have a 4" 500 magnum so I load with 23 grains of Power Pistol.
It makes for a great range load, plenty of power but well under factory, I call it 44magnum on steroids !!

 

[RobsTV]

Hello,
I was wondering if any of you have tried the berry's plated bullets for the 500 S&W, in the 350 grain variety. They can be driven to 2000 FPS.

Have gone through a couple hundred in an 8 3/8" compensated 500. Been fighting for the right formula since the beginning.

Best part is cost. At around 20 cents each, cheaper than lead GC. (grafs C&R discounted)

I have no doubt the plating is good for 2000fps.
However, much like shooting lead at higher velocity, there is more to a bullet holding up than fps. Pressure. Above 1500fps, the Berry's plated are spitting plating, as well as leaving plating in forcing cone. Have had the 500 serviced by S&W, who recut the forcing cone, yet issues still exist. Accuracy has not been great, probably due to too high of pressures that I was running these at. Not giving up, and will reduce loads to less than 1500fps, (not reduced loads though, as still within specs), and work on powder for best accuracy. Also just started the path toward casting, which should allow better performance at higher pressures.

Best results so far to get close to factory power from the 350gr Berrys, (yet had plating issues):
A4100 41.8gr, 1644 fps, pf=575, 2100 ft/lbs, ES-32, SD-13
That is equal to some factory loads.

And before someone mentions use reduced loads, the 500 magnum is not a hot 44. It is a 500. Personally if you need to shoot reduced loads than the 500 is not the right choice. It is what it is. Not made for "plinking". The occasional reduced load for the wife or others that only want to test it is even a poor idea, since it would not be a true test. But even I make some of these rounds for them so they can say they shot a 500.

The following works out to be about the same as a 44mag, but with less kick in my 500 than a 44mag would have, due to the 8 3/8" compensated extra weight.
BP 350gr, AA5744 38gr, 1264 fps, pf=442, 1242 ft/lbs, ES-85, SD-34

BTW, also use Berrys Plated in 32acp, 9x18 (mak), and 40 S&W, all with pretty good accuracy.

 

[Arthury]

I am in the process of determining if the 350gr Berry's is the way to go. Have gone thru box of 150 using H110, SR4759 and Ramshot Enforcer.
My loads were all under the Max Loads.

My take is that the bullet is still a little softer than the jacketed ones. Neck tension and crimps must be adjusted well so that the bullet does not jump crimp too much due to the large recoil.
And yes, Berry's confirmed for me that their thick plating can take speeds up to 2,000 fps.

Still looking for a decent cost-effective jacketed bullet. If you find anything new, do let us know.

The next thing for me is to try out the heavier bare leads.

 

[CGT80]

And before someone mentions use reduced loads, the 500 magnum is not a hot 44. It is a 500. Personally if you need to shoot reduced loads than the 500 is not the right choice. It is what it is. Not made for "plinking". The occasional reduced load for the wife or others that only want to test it is even a poor idea, since it would not be a true test. But even I make some of these rounds for them so they can say they shot a 500.

That sounds like a pretty simple minded statement, unless you have some technical reasons as to why no one should download a 500.

I have the 460xvr and enjoy the hot loads with hornady xtp mag bullets and win296, jacketed, plated, and cast with A5744, and cast with trail boss. I also shoot 45LC through my 460 at low to medium velocities. No the world has not come to an end from the carbon build up. My loads range from 700 fps to 1932 fps (45lc to 460).

For some people a hand cannon is a fun plinker, including myself. I shoot the 460 after competing with a 30 ounce plastic XD at a power factor of 120.28 in steel competitions. A 70+ ounce 5 shooter with a power factor of 463.68 is a nice contrast to my limited race gun. I am getting better with the hot loads, but I only want to shoot so many at once and my wallet takes a bit of a hit on those 70 cent reloads.

The 460 is also my first and only revolver. I have shot and borrowed a few other revolvers. I have also loaded for 38 spl., 44 spl., and 44 mag. revolvers. I have shot a 500 a few times. For my own first revolver I wanted something that was very nice and had a wow factor. A 629 stainless 44 would have been great, but I really liked the 460, and I already had gear and supplies for the 45lc. The 460 is quite versatile. I chose the 460 over the 500 due to the more common 45 cal components, but I don't see a reason to not run a lighter load through a 500 when the mood strikes.

I could respect the fact that some people may not want to bother with light loads in their hand cannons. To each their own. Some people may just shoot a smaller revolver that they already own. But, I wouldn't advise anyone to not try it. You can drive a Corvette at 200 mph, but it doesn't mean that you have to.

I have used berrys plated bullets for 40 S&W and 9mm and had good results. I haven't tried the 50 cal bullets. I have run some rainier plated bullets to about 1100 fps in the 460 with no problems. If berry's had a 45 bullet that would go to 2000 fps, I would give them a shot.

I have found win 296 to be great for full power loads in 460 and A5744 covers mild to almost full power loads. Of course trail boss is great for very mild loads. Accurate does list loads for lead, plated, and jacketed bullets in the 500 as well.

 

[RobsTV]

That sounds like a pretty simple minded statement, unless you have some technical reasons as to why no one should download a 500.

(snip)
I could respect the fact that some people may not want to bother with light loads in their hand cannons. To each their own. Some people may just shoot a smaller revolver that they already own. But, I wouldn't advise anyone to not try it. You can drive a Corvette at 200 mph, but it doesn't mean that you have to.
(snip)
I have found win 296 to be great for full power loads in 460 and A5744 covers mild to almost full power loads. Of course trail boss is great for very mild loads. Accurate does list loads for lead, plated, and jacketed bullets in the 500 as well.

For the technical aspect:
Reduced loads to many means to use a powder at less than the load data specifies. Or use a powder with no official load data. That can be dangerous, probably more so with a heavy 500 and it's heavy projectiles. 296 is one of those powders that can be dangerous when used for light loads with the 500. I also do use A5744 for slower loads that are within load data specs (lowest A5744 loading data still pushes 350gr around 1300fps+), and are at the lower end of the 500's power scale, which this powder is fine for, but since the loads are officially listed by powder manufacturer, I do not consider that to be a reduced load. Seeing posts say they use xx grains of Tightgroup in the 500 for reduced loads is the sort of example I am referring to. This has lead to guns being destroyed (search these forums). Other issues with reduced load are case filling, and way too easy to double or even triple charge when using reduced loads. Also, many powders are very case sensitive, with the lower volume creating much more concern.

The 500 S&W starts out around a 325 grain bullet, and goes up to 700 grain bullets. Buyers should know this going into it. Seems to me that by using reduced loads that fall below loading data would be like buying a 200 mph Corvette and never leave stop and go traffic of NYC. I see many posts say they tried one shot from the 500, then put it away or sold it. I guess this would be similar to someone buying a fully loaded and tricked out for offroad usage 4x4, then replacing the shocks with cushy ride shocks, and the wheels with some double dubs, since they will never take it out on a rainy day, let alone ever see any mud or offroad use. I just don't see the sense of getting a 500 with the intent on treating it like a 44. The 500 is at the extreme end of current things. If using reduced loads is to be able to brag that they shoot a 500 all the time, that is a half lie if they never shoot it at even minimum load specs. But, as you said, to each their own.

 

[CGT80]

You have some valid points. I researched quite a bit before buying the 460. I don't download 296 powder, as you said, 5744 has listed load data, and trail boss for light loads is safe even at 100% case capacity as long as it isn't compressed. I looked at components for the 500 and decided it was meant for heavier bullets and didn't fit my wants.

I also don't claim to shoot 100 full power 460 loads at the range, but rather specify 10 hot loads and a bunch of mild-medium loads. I know a guy that snickered when I told him I bought a 460 instead of a 500. It wasn't good enough for his ego. I was ok with the fact that his 500 was punishing to my hand (don't know which load it was) and I didn't need the biggest gun to throw 700 grain bullets.

I have been quite cautious about choosing loads and powders. My opinion was that anything less than a factory load of 2000+fps with a 200-240 grain bullet was a reduced load. The 5744 loads from Accurate's data are still quite powerful and compare to a hot 44 load. My grandfather's single action ruger 44 mag is more punishing to my hand (with factory ammo) than the hottest load I have run in the 460. Your warning to others is a great idea.

I am probably a little different than other hand cannon shooters since I jumped in the deep end with my first revolver. I have been reloading for 20 years though. My last trip out was probably the 6th time I have used the 460. I am starting to like and handle the higher end loads more and more.

Enjoy your 500. I might end up needing.........wanting one, some day.

 

[bluetopper]

I have shot a lot of 335gr Rainier plated bullets in my 500 Handi-Rifle to 2200fps with good performance and accuracy. I've read where people think they won't hold up to those velocities, but mine did.
Now all I shoot out of it is hard cast gas check bullets, all at max loadings. Good performance and my barrel stays shiney clean.