Anyone have a good load (or starting point) for a the .500 A-Square using 570 grain bullets and IMR4350 powder? I seem to be "long" IMR4350 at the moment and trying to find something that would be a good place to start for ~2300 fps. Thanks.

Looks like something between 125-130 would be right . . . if you can even get that much powder in the case.

Mike, I don't have any real world experience with the 500 A2, just my 500 Jeffery. But I do have Art Alphin's "Any Shot You Want" book, so if you want his load data using IMR 4350 out of that for the 500 A2 I can try and find my book, look it up and post it.

Mike, Looking at Alpin's loads for the 500 A2, he uses a 600gr Dead Tough, and lists loads for H4895, IMR4064, IMR4320, and Rel 12 and 15. Velocities range from 2,316 to 2,527 fps. If you email me, I can take a photo of the page and email it to you.

Thanks, I have Alpin's book. There are actually some IMR4350 loads listed on the reloading page of AR. I loaded up some with 124 grains and 570 grain Woodie softs and solids and we will see how they do. Thanks for input and offers to help.

Now there's an Elephant caliber.

As I recall, you can use as much as you can stuff in the case, but I'll look up my exact test loads when I get home on Sunday afternoon. I seem to remember that 4350 is too slow for peak velocity (2500 fps), but works perfectly to 2300 fps.

Your basically limited to the position of the crimping groove on the bullet. Basically as much powder as you can stick on the case. I liked RL 15 in my 500a2. A truly excellent cartridge btw.-Rob

Range report. The load with 124 grains of IMR4350 and a 570 Woodleigh SN was getting just under 2400 fps in my rifle. I deplore muzzle breaks and this rifle does not have one. I must say that a 570 bullet at 2400 fps in a non-muzzle break bolt action rifle is just about all the enjoyment at the range I wish to tolerate. The rifle is an A-Square Hannibal.

[Small consolation, it did make the .470 Capstick at 2200 fps with a 500 grain Woodleigh SN feel quite pleasant to shoot though. ]

Rob has given good advice

I started off with the 500A2 about 15 years ago with IMR-4350 and 750-grain Hornady A-Max bullets.

Start with 100 grains and work up to 105 or 110 grains for 2150 to 2250 fps depending on barrel length and your recoil tolerance.

My favorite load with 570-grainer in a 23"-barreled 500A2 was 110 grains of RL-15.
The old Barnes XLC 570-grainer gave 2405 fps at 15 feet from the muzzle.
GSC FN 570-grainer generates less pressure and is a few feet per second slower, but will still be about 2400 fps MV with that load.
That load (GSC FN) will go stem to stern on a buffalo and exit, reliably, scientifically repeatable on a buffalo while alive and again after death.
The Barnes XLC (or TSX) will stop under the offside hide on a chest shot.


If you just have a bunch of IMR-4350 to shoot, then you have found a good load, but there are better,
and you will get the same velocity with less recoil by using RL-15, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Range report. The load with 124 grains of IMR4350 and a 570 Woodleigh SN was getting just under 2400 fps in my rifle. I deplore muzzle breaks and this rifle does not have one. I must say that a 570 bullet at 2400 fps in a non-muzzle break bolt action rifle is just about all the enjoyment at the range I wish to tolerate. The rifle is an A-Square Hannibal.

[Small consolation, it did make the .470 Capstick at 2200 fps with a 500 grain Woodleigh SN feel quite pleasant to shoot though. ]

That is the truth isn't it? I've backed to 2300 fps with a 570g TSX in my 500 Jeffery. At 2400 fps it was a bit too much of a good thing ...

I have only used RL-15 and H4350 in my .500 A-Square. RL-15 is very efficient in that cartridge. I can easily get to 2,500 fps, which is the velocity I want.

126 grains of H4350 (which is a compressed charge) got me only about 2,300 fps with 600 grain Woodleighs.

From your experience, Mike, it seems that IMR4350 may be somewhat more efficient in the .500 A2 than H4350.

I thought that I had more IMR 4350 data than I do. My single test load was 120.0 grains of powder behind the 600 grain Woodleigh softpoint for 2220 fps. My rifle has a 23" mag-na-ported barrel. I have more 4350 data from the posts of others, but the velocity of your own load is very informative. According to a previous post the computer model of a "600 grain round nose pushed by 124 grains of IMR4350 to 2450 fps produces 57,000 psi". What that means in the real world, is, of course, open to interpretation.

In would have started at about 115 gr of IMR4350. You should have adequate date though now that you have shot a load and chronographed it. Have fun, more boom than I like though.