JOHN ROSS 500! I need help putting your bullets and revolver together

500 S&W

Before I heard of John Ross I bought a 500 S&W Handirifle for the express purpose of loading slow moving large boolits. Brian Pierce had published some data using Tightgroup powder which he said he picked because it was reputed to not be position sensitive. I have used it and Unique behind various slugs. They did what I wanted to do. When I posted some loads on another forum John Ross came on and somewhat scathingly told me if I wanted to download the 500S&W I should use Trailboss. I had never heard of him and ignored his post. I used the pistol powders to load light recoiling loads for the 500S&W that seemed to knock the snot out of rocks, stumps, and water bottles. I like a load of 6.4 grains of Unique behind the 365 grain Lee modern improved miniball which is a huge hollow based wadcutter. This is less than half of the max recommended for Unique so I don't worry about double charging. I am not real sure why you are worried about under charging. You might want to look at different powders, 2400 comes to mind. I bought a pound of 4198 but haven't tried it. A basic load of 16 grains of 2400 is recommended to make any gun go "bang". Speer shows 38 grains as a minimum with a 350 grain Hotcore. Somewhere between these two numbers should be a load for you. It is my experience that if you like to research and fool around the 500S&W can be a really fun toy. If you are a boolit caster the Lee 50 caliber muzzle loader projectiles cast from alloys make it interesting.
 
I am not real sure why you are worried about under charging
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There have been a number of reports of detonation when using slow rifle powders under reduced loads conditions.

Note: all John's recommendations using slow powders are at or near 100% case fill.

Trailboss is no brainier here - it what the powder was designed to do.

It is my experience that if you like to research and fool around the 500S&W can be a really fun toy.
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I have seen a few x-frames in pieces because the owners were "fooling around".

The 500 and 460 are great guns for the handloader.
Reloading is safe when we follow the recipe.
When we don't the consequences can be life impacting.

The case volume and cross section capacity makes the 500 some what forgiving for reloading.
Some powder choices do work but are far from best choices yet often recommend because someone used them without a kaboom. Fast pistol powder may seem like a good solution but peak pressure is typically very high even in reduced loads and the cases easy to remove after firing. Most handloaders would conclude that these are safe because they did not see any of those magic "pressure signs" that seem to so touted.
If you do not use a pressure barrel or pressure test tool you don't know what is really happening.

Chose your load data from sources developed by ballistions
Some load data manuals are are compiled with no reference as to source. I believe the most reliable data is that published by the major bullet manufactures.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy
 
thibaultfelix40 said:
Before I heard of John Ross I bought a 500 S&W Handirifle for the express purpose of loading slow moving large boolits. Brian Pierce had published some data using Tightgroup powder which he said he picked because it was reputed to not be position sensitive. I have used it and Unique behind various slugs. They did what I wanted to do. When I posted some loads on another forum John Ross came on and somewhat scathingly told me if I wanted to download the 500S&W I should use Trailboss. I had never heard of him and ignored his post. I used the pistol powders to load light recoiling loads for the 500S&W that seemed to knock the snot out of rocks, stumps, and water bottles. I like a load of 6.4 grains of Unique behind the 365 grain Lee modern improved miniball which is a huge hollow based wadcutter. This is less than half of the max recommended for Unique so I don't worry about double charging. I am not real sure why you are worried about under charging. You might want to look at different powders, 2400 comes to mind. I bought a pound of 4198 but haven't tried it. A basic load of 16 grains of 2400 is recommended to make any gun go "bang". Speer shows 38 grains as a minimum with a 350 grain Hotcore. Somewhere between these two numbers should be a load for you. It is my experience that if you like to research and fool around the 500S&W can be a really fun toy. If you are a boolit caster the Lee 50 caliber muzzle loader projectiles cast from alloys make it interesting.
Click to expand...
Unless, I miss my guess, John is saying he prefers powders that fill the case more than others that will do the same job? Filling the case fuller prevents over charging more easily, IMHO.
Steve
 
Unfortunately John Ross's website has been down for some time. A review of his 500 S&W can be found here The John  Ross S&W Performance Center 5" .500 Magnum and provides some back ground on him and the development fo the 500S&W. He provided insight to S&W on early issues with the 500 which brought a few changes to the initial design. He also did a tremendous amount of bullet and load development with the help of several prominent balisticians.

When i return states side I will see if we can get permission to post his history and load development suggestion document here. A signed copy was included with each John Ross Performance Center Revolver. 500 guns were produce, half with two tones finish and half stainless finish.

I consider it a must read for all 500 S&W owners and handloaders.
 
After thumbing through my bookmarks I found this page that has loading info for various sized bullets available for the 500. Nothing there for the 565gr round but info all the way to the 700gr round! Hope this helps out!

Reloading 500 S&W Magnum Page
 
roscoepc said:
After thumbing through my bookmarks I found this page that has loading info for various sized bullets available for the 500. Nothing there for the 565gr round but info all the way to the 700gr round! Hope this helps out!

Reloading 500 S&W Magnum Page
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That website was definitely helpful for figuring out my problem here. I've updated my initial post.
 
surfgun said:
Let us see a photo of that Ross .500 already!
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Ross-08.jpg

Steve
 
Sorry, can't help with the 565 gr., but Veral Smith has an section on load development without any data in his book "Jacketed Performance with Cast Bullets." I've used his methods with success for many calibers, including a 500 gr. load for my own John Ross 500.
 
I've found a lot of data for my JRC 500 with 500 grain bullets even a custom mold one(that I designed with Mountain Molds)?
Steve
 
I'm going to go some time this weekend with some slightly hotter loads to see if I can find a maximum for this 565 gr bullet with 4227. I've got two cases set aside for each flavor: 27.5, 28, 28.5, and 29. Remember, I've calculated a maximum load to be 30 +/- 1 gr of 4227, and I'll report in.
 
trowe2 said:
I'm going to go some time this weekend with some slightly hotter loads to see if I can find a maximum for this 565 gr bullet with 4227. I've got two cases set aside for each flavor: 27.5, 28, 28.5, and 29. Remember, I've calculated a maximum load to be 30 +/- 1 gr of 4227, and I'll report in.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a wise decision. IIRC they advise to go up .3 grains at a time(if I'm wrong someone correct this, please)?
Steve
 
I see no sign of John replying, I sure hope he's not fallen on hard times(or health issues)? He's usually around here.
Steve
 
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