I was thinking this combo of a 500 S&W case necked to 410 and 1.4" long would be incredibly versitile with 200 to 400 grain bullets. In a maximum frame you could shoot 405 win and 400 rifle bullets or regular pistol bullet from a normal size frame.

Twist rate? A .41 caliber 400 grain bullet would be VERY long, eating a lot of case capacity. You wouldn't be able to get a whole lot of velocity out of that combo to stabilize that long a bullet...... What is wrong with the versatility of the .500 Smith? I prefer big holes over small ones myself.......

Yes it would probably need a 1 in 10 twist right? maybe 1200 fps with 400 grainers in a maximum?

I think this case would be great for 250 to 300 grain bullets. The only things this idea would have as a niche is a higher BC and SD or velocity. And a supermag for those 410 aficionados.

Oregon trail 265 grain casts



300 grain Beartooth bullets



these 300 grainers would be great

boom stick

A few years ago I was also thinking along the same lines. Initially I wanted to load smaller bullets in my S&W 500 using sabots, I had done it with the 44mag using .357 bullets back in the 80's. The problem was I couldn't find any suitable sabots, the pedals were too soft and protruded out past the ogive causing me to be very concerned, at least shooting them out of a revolver.
Then I started thinking about neck sizing the case smaller to accept a .429 bullet. Sounded douable.

In the first picture starting from the left is a loaded round with a sabot. The second case is the first shoulder angle I tried. Keeping in mind some of the problems with the Bains/Davis round the third is what I ended up with. The fourth round is a .440 Corbon. I made two sizing dies because I was unsure of the shoulder angle I wanted, and what's surprising is I made these before even seeing a .440 Corbon round.
My load uses a 265gr Hornady.



In the second photo from left to right is a parent S&W 500 case. Next is it's offspring, aptly named using my initials just because I'm not very imaginative. Third, for comparison purposes only is a 50AE, the parent case of the .440 Corbon.



The .440 Corbon was only chambered in the Desert Eagle and quickly discontinued because of high chamber pressure. To the inexperienced handloader it was a bomb waiting to go off. I remember running some numbers back when I first started this project and had a brief chat with JD Jones and soon found out chamber pressures could easily exceed 65K so I shelved the project. As it stands I can still push 300gr slugs out of my S&W 500 around 2200fps so I didn't see the need to neck it down even though the thought still intrigues me. Maybe someday.....

What's this lead up to? I'm not so sure you wouldn't encounter the same problems regardless of the shoulder angle.

Dec, nice work you did. But myself, a 500 Mag by itself is an great round. Shooting a 370 gr. .501 bullet well over 1900 fps is not a bad thing within itself.

Being able to achieve that kind of velocity does not justify to me to use a smaller diameter bullet. JMO

Alex I have to agree with you.

Keep in mind I did this when I was obsessed with stuffing everything and anything I could into the big case, I was in a "zone"

And after loading slugs weighing 223gr to 700gr, I think I've finally run it through the gauntlet. It IS the most versatile handgun round I've ever loaded.

quote:

Originally posted by DEC:
Alex I have to agree with you.

Keep in mind I did this when I was obsessed with stuffing everything and anything I could into the big case, I was in a "zone"

And after loading slugs weighing 223gr to 700gr, I think I've finally run it through the gauntlet. It IS the most versatile handgun round I've ever loaded.

How right you are, I have found some great loads using 370 and 440 gr. hard cast bullets.
I would never feel under gunned with the 500 Mag.

It would be a neet idea to turn a 44 mag into a 440 cor bon-rimmed

Use 500 S&W cases and 440 cor-bon reamer and dies.

44 Remington Ultra Mag.