S&W 500 Reloading Ranier

[BLUEDOT37]

I use Hornady's TC die too & it does a fine job.

Yes, deep seating gives you more bullet-case tension & with plated bullets that's welcome.

If you don't deep seat to roughly my OAL", above, the taper crimp won't be forward of the ogive to give you the benefit you want.

2400 is a slow powder that's good for downloading. Slower powders, with plated bullets, don't burn well because you can't get enough of a crimp. Moderate speed powders like Power Pistol, Unique, LongShot or BlueDot do better in reduced loads with plated bullets, IMO. I save my 2400 powder for my 41 & 44 Mag loads.

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[rpollard01]

@BlueDot87,

Good info again. When you look at the labels one the powders I have yet to see them rate themselves as fast/slow/moderate burning. Is there a way to tell?
Also, I almost bought Longshot as it seemed to be more efficient since you use less powder for similar velocity. Less powder means more fun before going back to the reloading store. Unfortunately, Ranier did not have data for Longshot.

Thanks for all the knowledge and wisdom!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Hodgdon Reloading on-line has LongShot data for the 500 S&W. They don't list Rainier's bullet but they have L-S load data for the Hornady 350gr XTP which is the probably the closest, most relatable manufacturer's reference you'll find.

Since you have the short barrel (3.5") revolver too you won't come close to their 10" bbl. velocity but I've never loaded over their starting load (21.0gr) for my max. with this bullet considering it's velocity limited plus you're deep seating it (1.965") a tad more than their COAL" of 1.985" listed.

I started at 17grs with this bullet & worked up in .5gr increments till I found a load I liked the most.

I began using L-S when you couldn't find Power Pistol, back during the powder shortage days. My only complaint with it is it leaves stubborn powder burn stains on the outside case mouth. It's less flashy than P-P. I've gone back to using P-P now that it's available.

Alliant/Speer has similar load data for P-P & a 350gr bullet.

Just a reminder, always DOUBLE CHECK the case fill before seating the bullet on reduced loads in large capacity cases like this. A double charge of these won't overfill the case (~75-90% fill) so you don't want to be careless & create a dangerous situation!
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For me, using Alliant powders as a reference, anything below Unique (Bullseye thru Green Dot) on their burn chart is fast. Unique to Blue Dot is moderate speed powder. 2400 & above is slow powder. That's the way I categorize them anyway.

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[SuperMan]

Didn't read all the posts but if you want to stop crimp creep send a 500 dummy round to Lee and for $29.00 they will send you back a Collet Factory Crimp Die.

I use the 350 grain Berry's Plated bullet along with the Speer, Sierra and Hornady 350s and even with H110 loads get no bullet creep...

As to fracturing the plating on plated bullets, I use a lot of .41 and 500 bullets from Berry's and crimp them very heavily and have zero problems at all. Also if you are only using a three die set and seating and crimping in the same stage, get a separate crimp die...

Bob

 

[ruggyh]

@BlueDot87,

Good info again. When you look at the labels one the powders I have yet to see them rate themselves as fast/slow/moderate burning. Is there a way to tell?
Also, I almost bought Longshot as it seemed to be more efficient since you use less powder for similar velocity. Less powder means more fun before going back to the reloading store. Unfortunately, Ranier did not have data for Longshot.

Thanks for all the knowledge and wisdom!

Burn rate is just one of many properties of powder, it is NOT a guide to powder suitability or performance in a cartridge.

While learning stick with powders promoted and tested for your cartridge. Choose one that fills the case more than 50%- more case fill generally produces more consistent results.

It is not just double charges you want to avoid, it overcharging period, with the cross sectional area of the 500 it is near impossible to discern a 2 grain mistake by visual inspection and 2 grains of a fast powder can have disastrous results.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[rpollard01]

@ruggyh,

Good advice. I have heard from many sources about when to use fast versus slow. It is one of the variables but appears to be something to consider depending on which bullet you use. At least according to Ranier and some other sources I've talked to about it.

I have caught 1 - 9mm double charge but haven't had an issue with overcharge. I could see overcharging if you don't pay attention to the scale and don't double and triple check it. Don't know other methods of overcharging unless something goes wrong with the powder measure.

The only way I reload after 2 years at it is following approved data. I'll either call, use the Hornady reloading books or get recipes from the manufacturer's web sites.
The only time I can say I will not follow either one of those 3 methods is the advice given from BlueDot37 and knowing the overall length recommended by Ranier was 2.070 and BlueDot37's recommendation of taper crimping to the ogive which seats it pretty deep, it make a whole lot of sense.
I assume the deeper you seat, given all other variables the same, it would increase the pressure a bit, but not sure???

Thanks!

 

[rpollard01]

@SuperMan,
I thought about that but at first thought that would be crazy to do if I decided to change bullets. Then, I would have to send them another seated bullet for another $30.
Then, thinking about it a bit, there's not much more choices than Berry's and Ranier for plinking and that would be at most 2 Lee Precision custom dies.

Thanks!

 

[rpollard01]

@BlueDot37,

I may could figure out some mathematical method to come up with load data for the 335 gr. bullet but as Ruggyh pointed out, I have only been reloading for 2 years and don't know if I'm experienced enough to come close enough. I could look at cases, primers and target to see if they were operating normal but still not 100% sure of myself.

Also, what you suggest with Longshot makes sense as well. I'm assuming Longshot is similar to 2400 in that it can be under charged???

Thanks!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

All of the powders I mentioned can be downloaded to the point of sticking the bullet in the barrel because it's going too slow, unlike powders like H110/W296 which should be reserved for magnum loads, not reduced loads.

The deep seating will add a little more pressure than at a nominal length but these are big case & it has less affect than if you deep seated in a 9mm, 40S&W, or 45ACP, with these reduced charges.

Hodgon's LongShot data, & Alliant's/Speer's Power Pistol load data was obtained using a 350gr bullet. You're using a lighter 335gr bullet, so no real need to become a mathematician.

Hodgdon's starting L-S load (21.0gr) is listed at 41.4K psi. You're starting "reduced" load will be far below that. All the primers in my reduced loads have rounded corners & rounded firing pin strikes. All you have to do is compare a fired factory load's primer to the reduced load to see the difference.

Even when using Large Pistol primers, with these reduced loads of moderate speed powders, they will be rounded too.

If you start seeing something different you're doing something wrong with your reduced loads. Stop & resolve the issue.

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[rpollard01]

@BlueDot37,

Sounds like reading primers like a pro comes with experience. I can read them some but don't know all the things to look for to tell whether what I'm doing is good or bad. I know that if I get powder burn leaks through the primer, it's over charged, or if the firing pin hits the primer and makes a oblong shape it may be a little hot. Also, of course a protruding primer is over charged.
May be off on some of those assessments but I got a feeling that's not all.
One of the things I recently learned in addition to the primers telling some information about the charge, is if the case has burn marks down the case, the charge may not be sufficient to expand the case and keep the powder from burning down the case.

Thanks!

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

well, to prevent bullet jump and increase pressure on the 460SW I use heavy taper then side crimp with a modified 45/70 side crimp die.
You can probably get one from Lee, special order,

and yes, I shoot 405g hard cast at just a hair over 1700fps .

at a $1 per round, I call my loads buck shot