Light load for 500 magnum

[rat107]

Although Precision Cartridge Inc. gets a lot of flak for quality these 350 grain .500 S&W Magnums are a good plinking load. Recoil is similar to a .44 Magnum as you can see from the video. Could shoot them all day.
Out of 30 rounds fired, I did have 2 rounds that didn't fire on the first hammer strike but fired on the 2nd. I wouldn't buy them again though because if I'm shooting my 500 I want full house loads, haha.

YouTube

 

[Wee Hooker]

Why go through the expense of making and shooting light 500 loads?? Just break out a 38/357 and get the results you want at 1/3 the cost. Even a down loaded 44 mag (to 44 special specs) will be cheaper and more cooperative.
FWIW, IF you insist on going there, TrailBoss is going to be a good powder. It was designed to fill big cases and produce light recoil for cowboy action shooting.
Beware of slow powders in small doses . That combination is how allot of guns get blown up!

 

[jb28]

Here is some info from Cast Boollits web site.
.500 S&W Magnum with small recoil

 

[CH4]

My fun/plinking loads consist of Berry’s 350 gr plated bullets over Trail Boss. Doesn't get any milder.

 

[cowboy4evr]

When my sister broke her wrist , she still wanted to shoot her 41 magnum . I loaded her some 210 cast bullet loads using trail boss powder . She still talks about those loads . They were mild recoil , yet accurate and enjoyable for her to shoot . Regards, Paul

 

[Gregor]

Low Recoil Fun

50-330Gr RN/FP

This bullet with 12.0 grs. Unique is my light load out of my .500 S&W Magnum. It goes 1075 fps. out of my 8 3/8" Smith according to my Oehler 35P. Easy shooting with great accuracy.

Amazing how versatile the cartridge is.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Since my last post, in this Zombie thread, I've tried many different bullets & powders in reduced loads for my 500ES.

You can find more in this thread:

Range Fodder for the 500 S&W : ACME, HSM & RAINIER bullets

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[Corpsegrinder88]

Matts bullets does a 440gr with 10grs trail boss. 980fps he said.

 

[coatessey]

Just ordered a 4” 500 magnum, can’t wait for it to come in.

I am not seeing much for reloading on it other than this thread, I dislike the Tapatalk search function.

What dies are best? Do these cases need to be trimmed? Do you folks reload on a progressive or a single stage for the 500?

 

[Corpsegrinder88]

I have data for everything just about. Worked up for the 10.5 inch though. I use hornady 5th series dies. It does every bullet I load for. Including the 390 extreme spire. All the way to the 700gr

You'll love it. I've got 600+ rounds loaded and 400pcs of new brass. Just ran outta powder lol

 

[BLUEDOT37]

- What dies are best?
- Do these cases need to be trimmed?
- Do you folks reload on a progressive or a single stage for the 500?

I have a mix of dies I found I prefer to use on the 500: Lee TC sizer/decapping die, a Lyman M-2 expander die, & a Hornady seating die. I also bought a Hornady taper crimp die (for reduced loads with non-cannelure bullets & plated bullets) and a Lee collet crimp die for extra power crimp needs.

With reduced loads I doubt you'll run into case length issues requiring trimming very often.

I prime everything on my RCBS JR3 press using a universal priming arm. I load on a Lyman T-Mag II turret (non-indexing) press & use a RCBS Charge Master 1500 for dispensing powder.

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Always double (triple) check the powder level in the case before seating a bullet in it when using medium speed powders for reduced loads as a double charge would be disastrous !

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I hope you enjoy your 4" 500.

Reloading is the only way to go with the 500.

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[jack the toad]

I realize this a somewhat resurrected thread but being so, I hope it has updated info on what's currently available.
As a former reloader (years ago) and hoping to get back into on certain calibers (500 mag included) some of the lightest factory loads I've found to plink with and acquire brass, is the Ultramax 330 gr. lead RNFP at 1400 FPS.

 

[huthike]

I've done a 440 grain gas check lead bullet with 10 grains of Trail Boss or Unique - both very fun and easy shooting.

 

[Road_Clam]

A did some experimenting with light cowboy loads in my 12" 460XVR just for some knowledge and I tried the 255 Keith SWC with 11.5 gr of WST super mild load that shot about 1125 fps. Felt like shooting 22LR from my heavy 12" 460. I really don't bother downloading my 460, I have plenty of other handguns to fill the "mild" niche

 

[Nevada Ed]

back injury ..........

I know the 500 can be down loaded but

with the injury, I would use a 38 or 357 for plinking and also save
a little on powder, while getting well enough to get back in the saddle.

If the 500 is all that you have, go for it.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Another bullet to consider is the 330 grain RNFP from Badman.

50 Caliber Hard Cast Lead Bullets for Reloading | Badman Bullets

I have 100 each of these in plain lead and polymer coated. Planning to use Trail Boss for them in my John Ross 500. It’s all a pipe dream at the moment, back problems here have me shooting a lot of 22 lately.

 

[coatessey]

Thanks to all. I have ordered some badmans coated 500. I typically only use acme coated for my 45, these 500’s from badman look as good as acme imho and I believe are cheaper. Badman is veteran owned which is nice, not sure about acme.

So I should keep an eye on the brass length? Anyone know where to find a solid compensator? Is trailboss or 4227 the best bet?

 

[ruggyh]

Thanks to all. I have ordered some badmans coated 500. I typically only use acme coated for my 45, these 500’s from badman look as good as acme imho and I believe are cheaper. Badman is veteran owned which is nice, not sure about acme.

So I should keep an eye on the brass length? Anyone know where to find a solid compensator? Is trailboss or 4227 the best bet?

Trail Boss and TinStar are safe bets for reduced loads in all strait wall pistol cartridges.

While 4227 can be down loaded in 500 S&W it won't produce the very mild loads produced by Trail Boss.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[reddog81]

So I should keep an eye on the brass length? Anyone know where to find a solid compensator? Is trailboss or 4227 the best bet?

You should be fine not trimming unless the brass starts to have varying lengths and crimping becomes a problems. I usually check revolver brass after about 10 reloads. With something like 500 S&W it might happen sooner.

I didn't have any luck finding a solid compensator for my .460.

Trail Boss and 4227 are both good powders. Trail Boss will work the best for real light loads in the sub 900 FPS range. 4227 is also good for light loads in the 1,200 FPS range.

 

[Corpsegrinder88]

Accurate has a bunch of popcorn loads listed in the reloading section. I did up a few of the 440gr with 10gr if trail boss. Sub 1000fps. Like shooting a 380 lol.