I've been developing some loads for my 4" 500S&W, and I seem to be getting odd results. Here's what I've been doing... I'm following Hodgdon's recipe to the "T", Starline Cases, WLR primers, 385gr Rem CLHP. Hodgdon suggests a starting load of 38.0gr of Lil Gun, and a max load of 41.0gr. I loaded up from 38gr to 41gr and found that 40.0gr produced acceptable accuracy at 25yards. No problem, right?!? Well, I chrono'd 5 rounds this evening, and here's the velocities: 1493, 1535, 1594, 1555, 1545. That seems like quite a bit of excessive spread between high and low, and the velocities are quite a bit more than I had expected (each charge is carefully weighed out). Primers are somewhat flattened out, but not excessively. Cases extracted very easily, and primer pockets are still nice and tight. These velocities were taken 15ft back from the chrono. All loads have a heavy crimp. Do you think I've got an extra hot batch of Lil Gun and pressures are to the point were velocity is becoming erratic? Any experience or insight as to what I may be missing would be appreciated.

I have absolutely no experience with the 500 so I can't help you there. But I have played with Lil Gun in the 357.

-- it is worthless in a 2 5/8" barrel. Don't know about 4". It's more at home in a rifle barrel.

-- I don't trust Hodgdon's Lil Gun data for the 357. It appears to be dead wrong. Some of their 357 velocity data seems to be a mile off, too, e.g., some of their 357 loads show higher velocities from a pistol barrel than from a rifle barrel. Don't know if that has any relevance to the 500, except to say that Hodgdon seems to have some issues.

-- the first time I tried Lil Gun, I thought maybe I'd received a weird batch because it didn't perform anything like what Hodgdon data suggested. See previous comment about questionable Hodgdon data.

-- I've gotten more consistent velocities with magnum primers (CCI or Fed). Don't know about Winchester.

-- it doesn't like to be compressed -- I doubt if your load is anywhere near compressed.

To evaluate ES or SD, you need to shoot at least 10 rounds. I'd suggest using SD instead of ES. The ES only looks at two data points -- the high and low -- and ignores the rest. A single "bad" shot will make the ES look bad no matter how consistent the other shots were. If your chrono doesn't calculate SD, it is easy enough to plug the data into a spreadsheet.

1.5% SD is a reasonable goal for a short barreled revolver. That would be about 23 fps at your velocity. You might find that you are already there.

Again, I have no experience with the 500, but can say that 100+ fps ES is not at all unusual from a short barreled revolver.

When I first aquired a chrono and started paying attention to the ES, I was shocked to learn that my pet revolver load had 100+ fps ES. And yet I had been using that load with perfect satisfaction for nearly 20 years.

Excellent information!! Keep it coming!!

In my Lyman 3rd Ed. Revolver manual the loads for the .500 seem to be much more conservative. For example, Hodgdon shows 42 gr. of Lil'Gun with the 350 gr. XTP for 48,100 psi and Lyman shows 37 gr. of Lil'Gun for 47,700 psi. That's a big spread in powder charges for 400 psi difference.

I loaded up a few rounds with 42 gr. of Lil'Gun and a 350 XTP and chrony'd them at 1770 fps out of an 8 3/8". Nasty! I think your 41 gr. load is probably very warm.

I will give you my experience loading big bore revolvers such as the 454 Casul,475 and 500 Linebaughs as well as the 500 JRH ( I have not loaded the 500 Smith) I find it easier to close the extreme spread with heaver bullets and I do not and do intend to use Little Gun,because 296 works perfectly in the 454,475 and 500 JRH and for the 525 grainers that I shoot in the 500 Linebaugh 4227 is the go to powder. I have also heard of too many reports of sudden and unexplained pressure spikes with Little Gun and see no need to go that route when 296 is so steady and dependable. I would also think that a 440 grain bullet and 296 would be a perfect match in the 500 Smith with a much closer exstreme spread than the 101 fps that you are presently getting

Hi MC:

First a 100 fps spread is not that unusual. I do have a 4in. 500 S&W and do handload for it.

I am using H110 with Cast Performance 370 grain bullets and Barnes XBP 275 grain bullets. I use a VERY HEAVY CRIMP..

Past my Chrony, 44 grains of H110 with the CP 370 is going 1525 FPS. By the way this is the MOST consistant velocity handload I had ever shot. For four shots it was 1527, 1526, 1528, 1525.... scary huh... LOL

Regards... Jim P

I'm more concerned with accuracy than velocity spread, so if the groups are good, don't get hung up on the numbers.

I agree that the slower pistol powders tend to burn more consistantly with the heavier bullets. Also crimp strength and neck tension have an effect, the tighter the bullet is gripped the more consistant the ignition.

I have a .500 S&W, 8 3/8" and have experienced some similar problems. Using Hornady brass, CCI 350 primers, any of the heavier bullets cast & jacketed, with heavy loads of H 110. On occasion a round would go off but there was evidence of a 'fair' amount of unburnt powder. After some 'inquiries' I changed to Starline brass & CCI 200 primers for better ignition, no unburnt problems since. I use the Hornady brass & CCI 350 primers for lighter loads and one that works well is 14gr of Unique and the cast 440gr GC. I've just 'cranked up' some loads using the Hornady 500gr JFP's, Starline brass, CCI 200 primers & 32gr of H 100. I'll try them out any day now. I haven't decided on a load yet but my 'hopeful' plan is to go to Alaska about 2009 for Moose with the 500.

Of the powders I've tried in my 500 S&W Lil'gun has actually turned out to be the best one for me. It's all I use now, with all of the bullets that I shoot. However in the case of the 385 gr. Remingtons it shoots very well. As for the size of the spread, I look at it no different from a rifle, if it shoots good, I don't care.