I am searching for current data for the 500 3". There is plenty for 3031 and 4831. I'm looking for newer data with modern powders.
Thanks.

Reloader 15 is the only way to go.

I was told one of the VV powders produces less recoil for similar vehicles as others. Anyone know if this is true?

R 15 produces the least amount of recoil of any propellant I have tried in the .500 NE and I have spent a fair amount of time behind one.

The only way I can see that recoil can really be reduced at similar velocities is to use a faster-burning powder where less is required, thus reducing the weight of total ejecta.

Would you feel the difference from five or 10 grains in 600-plus? I doubt it but people swear they can.

Load some 570s to 2150 fps with IMR 4350 and some with R-15 shoot them and tell me your verdict.

“Perceived” recoil is noticeably less with R-15. Pretty much universally recognized by .500 NE shooters.

That would take me a little while - finding the rifle (plus money for another safari ) and powders quite rare here at the moment, then working up the loads.

So, tell us, what's the difference in weight of the powder and any fillers?

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
The only way I can see that recoil can really be reduced at similar velocities is to use a faster-burning powder where less is required, thus reducing the weight of total ejecta.

Would you feel the difference from five or 10 grains in 600-plus? I doubt it but people swear they can.

Sambarman your first sentence is true but missing in the equation is the powder ejecta velocity which is taken into account in the recoil calculation.
This velocity is standardised at 4700 fps and while a few grains of powder more or less in the recoil calculation to give the recoil velocity of the gun may only make a few points difference in fps recoil, when the recoil energy of the gun is calculated it adds up to a few more or less ftlbs of energy.
Recoil energy of the gun is more likely what is felt thumping back into your shoulder hence a few grains less of the faster burning RL15 powder compared with IMR4350 (RL17) will likely translate through to some noticeable felt recoil reduction.

Similarly with IMR4831 powder, one of the best for the 404 Jeffery cartridge, but producing noticeably more recoil than RL15 and other faster burners.

Thanks Lindsay, so you're saying that because the powder/gas ejecta's velocity is much more than the bullet's, the mass of the powder should incur much greater 'weight' in the equation? If so, I guess we might indeed expect to notice some difference in recoil between fast and slow powders - but the weight of it would remain the determinant.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:
Thanks Lindsay, so you're saying that because the powder/gas ejecta's velocity is much more than the bullet's, the mass of the powder should incur much greater 'weight' in the equation? If so, I guess we might indeed expect to notice some difference in recoil between fast and slow powders - but the weight of it would remain the determinant.

Yes correct. The gun recoil formula does not just add the weight of powder (ejecta) to the weight of bullet and multiplies this by the bullet velocity, it takes the weight of the bullet by it's velocity and adds to the weight of ejecta multiplied by it's own velocity of 4700fps. Changing to a lighter powder charge doesn't change the recoil velocity figure much but this velocity is squared when calculating the recoil energy so another few lbs of energy hitting your shoulder may be noticeable.

When I came across the written gun recoil formula I spread-sheeted it so I could just drop in the various changing values and pop out the recoil velocity and energy for any combination of guns and loads. Just for this exercise with values in the formula when I last used it, a fairly light gun with a 550gr bullet, dropping the powder charge by 4.0grs dropped the recoil energy nearly 3.0ftlbs. May not seem much when the gun recoil energy in this particular case is 118ftlbs but I suppose every bit counts especially off the bench or sticks.