I have a new 500-A2, if some one would give me a starting load to test with. I will be using 647gr pulled bullets. I have seen the reloading data on this site, but there has been some doubt to it being correct? If one of you old professionals could shed some light on the subject. Also how do you test fire one of these monsters safely.

Dan P.

SBB,
With 647 to 750 grain bullets: start at 100 grains of IMR 4350 and work up to 110 grains.

With the 647 grain bullets I was getting 2200 fps with 110 grains of IMR 4350, 460 Weatherby brass, F215 primer. There was only 0.001" expansion ahead of the belt, at the "pressure ring." I use this as a standard fireforming load to make 500 A2 brass from 460 Wby brass. The 750 grain Hornady A-Max bullets with the same loading of 110 grains of IMR 4350 gave 2150 fps in the same rifle. Pressure ring expansion was only 0.002" above the resized measurement with these.

With 570 to 600 grain hunting bullets, use 105 to 115 grains of RL-15 or IMR 4064, and you will get 2400 to 2450 fps with top loads.

I am guessing that my hottest loads are around 50,000 psi. They shoot fast enough for me to do what I want from a 500 A2. Mine is the .510 JAB with 0.300" freebore, and I have a 500 A2 with freebore lengthenrd to about 0.588". The standard 500 A2 freebore is 0.400".

The max loads I have given above should surely be safe in any of these 500 A2 equivalents.

Do you fear a problem with your rifle? I am not going to tell you to tie it to an old tire, butt inside tire, tire lying on the ground, and get behind a tree and pull the string attached to the trigger! No! I would never do that!

Thank you Dag for your help. I don't see any problem with this gun, but I was wondering if the tire thing works or is this thing going to do back flips and beat itself all to crap. Also I have asked this 2 time before with no answers about bedding. I bedded this tinng myself,. ahve bedded a lot of rifles, but nothing this powerful before. I used carbon fiber insted of steel in the bedding. I routed out the stock and used corbon fiber from the forearm to past the recoil lug on the action. It has 2 recoil lugs, one on the barrel. They are all bedded with carbon fiber and should be stronger than a standard bedding job as it is all tied togeather. Do you think this is ok or have I messed up.

Dan P.

Dan,
I don't know anything about carbon fiber bedding materials. Epoxy bedding of any commonly used sort with the action lug and a barrel lug reinforced with cross bolts, and the tang relieved and bedded, ought to be O.K. This is with a wood or laminated wood stock, and the crowning touches are an axial bolt in the grip AND a crossbolt behind the tang. Of course all rifles should be pillar bedded, or at least have the Mauser spacers properly fitted with proper bedding throughout.

If you really do want to do the remote test fire with a tire, then tie that tire down too. Stake it down with ropes. Some padding like a wool blanket to protect the rifle finish and some ropes and or duct tape to secure the rifle to the tire ought to do it. Again, I would never suggest you do such a thing.

Cheers!

[ 04-06-2003, 03:13: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

Daggaron, what were you cartridge overall lengths with those BMG bullets? I have been considering them, but they are so long I figured I wouldn't have any room left for poweder after seating them.

The load I have decided upon is 118 gr of IMR4350. This load is with a Barnes 570 X bullet and is heavily compressed. Brass is reworked Weatherby with Fed 215 primers. Muzzle velocity is around 2300 fps. I find this load to be an excellent compromise between power and recoil. It also doesn't override the crimp due to the heavy powder compression.

Lucs

Lucs,
That is a good load you got there, a full case of slow powder slightly compressed?

You can get away from the compression and get higher velocities with a faster powder. I always like to use RL-15 if I can. It is superb with the 570 grainers (GSC FN, Barnes XLC).

The milsurp bullets are 4.430" in the .510 JAB with 700 grain black tip AP, crimped on the cannelure.

The 750 grain Hornady A-Max goes 4.760" in the 500 A2, with no crimp, and will do so in the standard 0.400" freebore if concentricities are all good.

In the 0.300" freebored .510 JAB, the A-Max loads will fit 4.722".

The long loads are fired single shot fashion in either the magazine rifle or the single shot. The 570 grainers work great through the magazine.

Daggaron, thanks for the COL information. I figured you had those bullets sticking WAY out there. BTW, I would hardly call my hunting load of 118g IMR4350 "slightly compressed! The powder charge fills the case about 1/3 of the way up the neck and those Barnes 570 X bullets are over .625" to the cannelure! Believe me, there is a whole lotta powder crunching goin' on when I seat the bullet. I figure that load is right at the 110% compressed powder column limit prescribed by reloading manuals.

Lucs

SBB,
best of luck. I have no experience with CF for bedding, and it's only as strong as your epoxy/resin that's with it, in flocking.

My 500 jeffe, DESTROYED acra-steelbed... and it was perfectly mixed....

tire, rope, 3 bags of sand.....

jeffe