Hi all, I got to the range today in the light. I picked up a box of Magtech 400gn JSP ammo. The box lists it at 1600fps. Across the chrony it was in the 1200fps range from my 4" bbl, which is actually only a 3" bbl with 1" comp.
I loaded some light plinkers, the Lee 440 with 13gns Unique and got 890fps out of them. I shot 10 at the same target at 25yds, 6 went into about a 1.25" long hole, the other 4 were out abit. It does show potential though.
The Magtech ammo wasn't bad to shoot at all. I had some of the Lee 440's loaded with Ramshot Enforcer and the recoil was definately heavier than the factory ammo. I didn't chrono any of them to see what the velocity was though.

Yeah, them short barrels really take away power. It will still be plenty for any purpose though.

Thanks for posting the chrono data, Lar45. Keep it coming.

I knew the velocity would be down and didn't really want 1600fps out of it. I'm trying to be abit more moderate. I'm thinking that a 440 at 900-1100 should be pleanty for anything I'm likely to run into. The gun really isn't that heavy and balances fairly well, plus it was cheaper than the custom shop 500 JRH BFR that I was looking at. I'm thinking about machineing a no port replacement for the comp.

That was 10 shots at 25yds. I'll have to work on those extras out there. The 6 shots looks pretty good though.
I got an email from Impact guns and they are shipping my backordered Galco Holster.

Hi Lar45:

How many grains of Unique would you suggest for a plinker load for the 370 grain Cast performance bullets for the 500.... to get around 1000 FPS..

Regards... Jim P.

500 S&W

10gr Unique 370 gr cast 859 fps


Barstooler

Hi Barstooler:

Thanks for the info.... but remember I to am shooting a 4in S&W 500... I do want to try Unique powder though.

What do you think the lightest load I could use for the Cast Performance 370 grain bullet using H110...??? I see loads ranging from 44 to 47 grains of H110 on the Hodgon web site ...Handloads.com suggest starting load 34.5 grain with a 375 JHP bullet. Duh......

44 grains of H110 is still a hand full with 370 Cast performance. Not as bad as the 440 grain factory Ultramax though.

Is the old rule of loosing about 100 fps per inch of barrel correct? If this is the case a
8 3/8 in barrel shooting 1700 fps would shoot around 1300 fps in a 4in revolver.

Regards... Jim P.

This is the load data I have gathered on the 500 S&W from an 8 3/8in.

I hear that H110 and Win296 are actually the same powder under different labels. I believe it.

I have not fired very many lead bullets from my 500. Mostly been shooting 350 gr Sierras and Hornady's.


370 WFNGC (BALLISTI-CAST)
POWDER PRI CHARGE VEL. C.O.L

BLUE DOT 20 1,200 2.02
21 1,220 2.02
21.5 1,275 2.02
22 1,288 2.02
23 1,321 2.02
AA1680 40 2.02
42 1,255 2.02
44 1,315 2.02
46 1,386 2.02
48 2.02
LiL Gun LR 30 1,375 2.02
LR 32 1,432 2.02
LR 34 1,538 2.02
Win LR 39 1,675 2.02
Win LR 40 1,740 2.02
Win LR 41 1,831 2.02
Win LR 42 2.02
Win LR 43 2.02
Win LR 44.5 1,949 2.02
Win 296 Win LR 44.5 1,801 2.02
Win LR 47 1,900 2.02
Titegroup Win LR 16 1,326 2.02
Win LR 18.5 1,431 2.02
Longshot Win LR 21.5 1,476 2.02
Win LR 23.3 1,576 2.02
H 110 LR 34 1,480 2.02
LR 36 1,575 2.02
LR 38 1,604 2.02
Win LR 44.5 1,801 2.02
Win LR 47 1,909 2.02
H 4227 LR 34 1,463 2.02
LR 36 1,489 2.02
LR 38 1,523 2.02
Win LR 40 1,688 2.02
Win LR 42 1,784 2.02
Win 231 Win LR 10 882
Unique LR 10 859
HS 6 LR 15 1,001
AA 4100 CCI 200 37.8 1,650
CCI 200 41.5 1,775

Boy, that doesn't appear on screen, the way it did when I posted it! ;-(

Barstooler

Most straightwall revolver cases loose 25-30 fps per inch, not 100 fps. Even bottlenecked rifle cases in short barrel pistols only loose 50 fps/inch. Me thinks the manufacturers speed listing was overly optomistic. Let's say the long 500 is effectively a 7 1/2" barrel, and the 4" effectively a 3", I would expect at most a 150 fps reduction in velocity, not 400 fps.

I haven't loaded for the 500, so take this as a general approach, not a recomendation per se. Do not download H-110!!! It is a full power only powder, works great for that practice, is dangerous if you want to go milder. That said, Unique is good for mild loads, but too fast for midrange loads.

If you want something between Unique and H-110, I'd try either blue dot or 2400. I know they are critized as being dirty powders, but I figure a gun will get dirty when I shoot it. They do provide excellent accuracy with mid range cast revolver and rifle loads though, so I find them useful.

Hi Paul:

Is 34 to 36 grains of H110 to mild according to the chart above with a 370 grain cast bullet?

Lar45.... Sorry for hijacking your thread.

Regards.. Jim P.

According the Hodgdon's data http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/500swmag.php

The minimum load of H-110 with a 370 gr cast bullet is 44.5 gr of powder. Again I stress, H-110 should not be used at loads less than the starting level loads. If you want a powder that can be downloaded, use a different powder.

No problem on the thread, it isn't mine, but all here.

Looking at quickload then the 370 will take 16gns Unique for about 1013fps and 26,000 psi
That's just guessing on the bullet length and seating depth.

I am useing a 4.7" bbl for the Quickload simulations.

I think I want one of them .500 'Smiths with that 4" barrel!

This is my chrono'ed 500 SW data.

500 S&W – 4 inch barrel
Con Bon hunting 325 XPB /98oF 1569 [1774 ft.#]
Con Bon hunting 385 (?Rem) /98oF 1543 [2033 ft.#]

LilGn… 34.0 375 XPB/98oF 1350
LilGn… 35.0 375 XPB/98oF 1363
LilGn… 36.0 375 XPB/98oF 1386
LilGn… 37.0 375 XPB/98oF 1429 [1700 ft.#]
LilGn… 40.0 375 XPB/98oF 1513 [1904 ft.#]

LilGn… 39.0 350 Sierra /98oF 1418
LilGn… 40.0 350 Sierra /98oF 1471
LilGn… 41.0 350 Sierra /98oF 1518 [1789 ft.#]
LilGn… 42.0 350 Sierra /98oF 1480 [1700 ft.#]
LilGn… 43.0 350 Sierra /98oF 1515 [1782 ft.#]

That is some serious velocity from the short barrel. What is the loaded length? Which primer are you useing?
TIA

For reduced plinking loads in the 8 3/8" S&W .500 I use 14 gr. of Unique under a 350 gr. Berry plated bullet. My velocity averages 925 fps and accuracy is good.

PAHunter

The Lyman 3rd edition Pistol and Revolver handbook has loads listed using Unique powder with a variety of bullets.