Target loads for 500 S&W Magnum?

[Marmon]

I recently acquired a 500 S&W Mag. I want to tame it down for target shooting. I am an older guy and full house loads are far too much for me. Just punching paper at 50yds to 100yds.

I read that the newer brass uses large rifle primers. I already reload rifles and am familiar with the process. What loading data can I use to shoot targets?

Powder? Gr?
Bullet wt?
Recommendations?

 

[venomballistics]

As I recall, it always used large rifle primers due to it's operating pressures.
There is a load on the Hodgdon site using titegroup under a 350g Hornady XTP.
The starting load is still 1050+ fps.
It likely could be tamed further, much like the 45-70 was through history, but they're sure not trying very hard

 

[Imissedagain]

Trail Boss powder is great for light loads.
Not available except from multitudes of scammers on the web.
Don't be fooled.
Hopefully it may return.
Unique works but you have to triple check to make sure you don't
put an overload in the case. Kabooms do happen.
Check the forum's archives, and the pros will chime in shortly.
Only 460s at our home.
Starline Brass is all we use.
We scoop and then weigh all powders on a beam scale, and do not use any other method, for all calibers.

 

[Marmon]

Thanks for your response. I will try using your inputs. I was thinking about using reduced loads for 44 mag. I am also tempted to load with FFG black powder. I have a lot of this from my muzzleloading.

 

[rwsmith]

What bullet......

What bullet do you want to use? The .500 has a BIG range of weights. The construction and material are important, too. I'd sure think about using cast lead bullets for targets, if you are going to be shooting any quantity.

 

[Imissedagain]

Not sure what load data for the 44Mag and 500 S&W Mag, have in common, except that the bullets are best launched with a Smith & Wesson revolver.
Research John Ross 500 S&W Magnum load data.

 

[SuperMan]

18.0 grains of Unique with a Berry's plated bullet runs 1050 from a 4"...very manageable recoil...

A double charge fills the case to the neck so would be hard to miss that.

Bob

 

[Marmon]

What bullet do you want to use? The .500 has a BIG range of weights. The construction and material are important, too. I'd sure think about using cast lead bullets for targets, if you are going to be shooting any quantity.

Cast lead bullets should be the cheaper way to plink. Should I be looking at bullets in .50 cal? What weight for target/plinking?

 

[Marmon]

18.0 grains of Unique with a Berry's plated bullet runs 1050 from a 4"...very manageable recoil...

A double charge fills the case to the neck so would be hard to miss that.

Bob

Good. I do have some Unique. Just need to figure the bullet weight?

I also have some FFG Black Powder. I have loaded 50gr for a Colt Walker pistol. 40gr is the usual load I use. It was made to kill a mounted man or take out his horse. Effective at 100yds. It was the most powerful production handgun from 1847 to 1935 when the .357 mag came out.

I like the smell and smoke of BP!

 

[Funflyer]

Titegroup behind a Lee 440gn casting does great in my 500. Easy on the wrists and very accurate.

 

[Sevens]

I am generally not a fan of Titegroup, mostly due to the extreme heat of this powder which distinguishes itself above & beyond most any other.

However, for reduced loads, Titegroup is one of the best choices ever for small charge weights in cavernous cartridge cases. Titegroup is miraculous in it's ability to ignore huge empty spaces inside brass, quite possibly better than any powder on the market.

However, BE WELL WARNED! There also exists no better powder on the market for absolutely grenading a firearm if you screw up and double/triple/quadruple charge the case. I'll say it again. If your end goal was to blow up a firearm on purpose, I don't think you have a better available propellant than Titegroup.

So yes, very good choice for the task but you damn well better know your charge and make no errors. A double charge with Titegroup can/will throw metal. And for a reduced charge in a huge case, there is enough room for -FAR- more than a double charge.

 

[Marmon]

will be super-careful! I load slowly and methodically. Weigh a powder amount. Weigh it again. Load ten bullets. Repeat again. NO distractions!

Thanks for the info!

 

[DWalt]

It is good practice to charge all sized and primed brass at once, then to use a flashlight to visually inspect the charged cases in a loading block to ensure that the propellant level in every case is the same before seating the bullet. That will also catch any uncharged cases.

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

You might want to check out 500 special loads. Star line makes brass or you could trim some 500sw brass.

I shoot 460 and hit primer ignition limits on downloading the magnum powders. Never tried fast pistol powders as I have always wondered about deflagration to detonation in significantly undercharged cartridges. I thought about 45LC or 454Cas but never went that route.
If I wanted to shoot Reduced recoil magnums is what the full house 44 is for.

 

[rwsmith]

Do not wonder......

You might want to check out 500 special loads. Star line makes brass or you could trim some 500sw brass.

I shoot 460 and hit primer ignition limits on downloading the magnum powders. Never tried fast pistol powders as I have always wondered about deflagration to detonation in significantly undercharged cartridges. I thought about 45LC or 454Cas but never went that route.
If I wanted to shoot Reduced recoil magnums is what the full house 44 is for.

There is no danger of detonation in significantly undercharged cartridges. What does happen is 1) double charging or 2) A squib load with a follow up shot on top of the stuck bullet. The deal about undercharging has been proven not to be so. It has never been duplicated by a powder/ammo concern or by me who experiments with very light loads. BUT I make sure that the bullets clears the barrel.

 

[CH4]

Another vote for Trail Boss, if you can find it.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I recently acquired a 500 S&W Mag. I want to tame it down for target shooting.

I read that the newer brass uses large rifle primers.

In reduced S&W 500 loads LPPs will work fine with medium speed powders like Unique, Power Pistol, LongShot & BlueDot.

Here's a thread that might be helpful:

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

.

 

[Sevens]

Hmmm, I would certainly worry about a LP primer in a LR primer pocket as it would sit extra deep and S&W revolvers, especially those with frame mount firing pins are notoriously short.

Unlike small pistol/small rifle primers which have the same exterior physical dimensions, large pistol primers are shorter than large rifle primers.

Could work — or could give misfires.

 

[David Sinko]

Trail Boss was the best thing going. I loaded some with 383 gr. cast bullets and had a kid who had never fired a handgun previously hitting bowling pins on his second shot. The fact that this powder is no longer available is one of the greatest tragedies to handloading.

That said, I now use Accurate XMP5744 for the reduced loads. This powder is hit or miss (usually miss) with reduced rifle loads but it works well enough in the .500 and I'm happy just to be able to get rid of it.

 

[Sevens]

The fact that this powder is no longer available is one of the greatest tragedies to handloading.

Hodgdon currently shows Trail Boss as again in their product lineup. They do show out of stock on it currently (better get used to seeing "out of stock") but it is now packaged in 9 ounce or 2 pound containers only, which is a change as it appears the 5-pound jug is no longer in the product line.

Additionally, both Graf & Sons and Powder Valley also shows it as a product they carry, and in exactly those two 9 ounce/2-pound sizes, although it is also out of stock. Midway shows the same thing and in the Q&A section, one user/reviewer said that he e-mailed Hodgdon to ask if Trail Boss was discontinued and Hodgdon replied that a run was being produced and would be available in 2024.

But in theory, Trail Boss is back on the market, obviously no longer under the IMR brand, but with the Hodgdon labeling on it.