.500 3-inch black powder express

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22 March 2012, 19:51

Bill/Oregon

.500 3-inch black powder express

Anyone out there shooting a rifle in this caliber? What kind of velocities and energy and are you getting?

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

22 March 2012, 19:56

srose

Bill,

Michael and I did some BPE loads in our 500 nitro exploration. You can see the data on that thread or on Michael's B&M site.

Sam

22 March 2012, 19:59

Biebs

Bill, Graeme Wright's book "Shooting the British Double Rifle" is the authority on BP DRs. He shows about 1,850 to 1,925 fps with a 340gr bullet out of 28" barrels. There are also conversions to smokeless available. Not for dangerous game at these power levels, but fun for Hogs and Deer.

22 March 2012, 20:04

jens poulsen

quote:
Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Anyone out there shooting a rifle in this caliber? What kind of velocities and energy and are you getting?

A friend of mine has a one. 540 M/sec with a 28gram bullet...Paperpatched as using woodleigh bullets.
http://forums.nitroexpress.com...=0&page=0#Post187010

DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway

22 March 2012, 21:47

50 Calshtr

Bill,
Get a copy of the Oct/Nov 2002, issue # 219, of "Handloader" for Ross Seyfrieds article
"Loading the 500 Express". Everything you need to know, the NFB loads he mentions are within 1-2 grains of those that work in both my 500 and 577/500. If you can't get the magazine PM me and I'll send you a copy.
Best

22 March 2012, 22:58

Bill/Oregon

Thanks guys. I think I might have that issue of Handloader, and I also have Wright's book. Biebs, agree it would not be quite up to snuff for Cape buffalo. For buff, it would seem a sensible minimum in a BP double would be the .577 3-inch.

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

23 March 2012, 01:37

50 Calshtr

Bill,
Just got back to my log book. In my 500 I'm getting an average of 1803 FPS and the 577/500 is getting 1790 FPS. Both using a 370 gr HP from a modified Lyman 515141 mould and NFB loads very similar to those in the Handloader article. No idea what the foot pounds works out to. Both loads group well in my rifles. These velocities are at (577/500) or slightly below (500) the old published velocities. I wouldn't think twice about using them on any North American game except prehaps the biggest bears in tight cover. They absolutley flatten feral pigs

.
Best.

23 March 2012, 02:05

Bill/Oregon

50 Calshtr: Wow, you have a rifle in each flavor! I found and re-read the Seyfried article, and one that Jens was kind enough to send about a Cape buffalo hunt by the guy that married Finn Aagaard's widow.
I think a .500 would be wonderful to play with, but I remain unconvinced that it is powerful enough in its black powder loadings to be reliable for Cape buffalo -- adequate under the right circumstances, maybe.
So I think I'll keep daydreaming about having Ellis Brown build me a .577 BPE ...

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

23 March 2012, 04:06

cal pappas

Bill:
For nearly 25 years this is the best I have come up with: 55 grains IMR 4198, a square of toilet tissue to hold the powder on the primer, a 440-grain cast bullet. MV is 1850 fps.
Cheers,
Cal

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23 March 2012, 10:54

jens poulsen

As I have shot a .500BPE too, I also look for a for one. I believe it´s a good entrance to English DR shooting with all components available. It´s a delight to carry and I believe it will actually get me to shoot more DR because I am not alway up to cast bullets for the 10, where the .500BPE I can always find ready made bullets.

DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway

23 March 2012, 15:35

Rusty

Bill,

Here is a picture of Bill and Berit Pace at one of our Hoot & Shoots. They always brighten our events!

Bill shooting his double.

Berit shooting Finn's 375. Can that woman work that right handed rifle and shoot!

Rusty
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