My 500NE is arriving this week from Deutschland. I got my die set and I am ready to go, just curious what those with experience would suggest for a starting load.

I am a very experienced handloader, however this caliber is a new one for me. I thought this might be a great place to ask for some assistance.

Thanks.

Subject to the normal caveats regarding starting low and working up, my load is 96 grains of RL15 behind a 570 Woodleigh soft or solid with a Federal 215M primer. I also use 1/2 of a Knoch foam wad between the powder and the bullet. Velocity is approximately 2050 to 2070 fps depending on the case used. I used this load this summer on five elephant and it is plenty adequate.

114g H4831 with a 570 Woodleigh and a Fed 215 for about 2050fps. This load is right at 100%load density, no fillers. I have backed this load down to 106g and also used the 600g Woodleigh, but not chrono'ed it.

Thanks Mike.

Where can I order some of the foam you referred to? Is there a particular purpose to the foam?

Wow, 5 elephants sounds good. Some claim the 500 at those velocities is not ideal for a frontal brain shot and that I should use my 416 instead. What was your experience? The whole point of me going to the 500 was to hunt the jumbos with a real stopper!

TJB

Thanks SWD. That sure sounds like a lot of powder! I put about 78 grains in my 416.

TJB

quote:

my load is 96 grains of RL15 behind a 570 Woodleigh soft or solid with a Federal 215M primer.

When I had my .500 NE, I used the exact same load, except I used about 2 grains of dacron (pillow stuffing) bought at Wal-Mart for $3.00 - it should last about 9,000 years.

But be careful; you can get different velocities from different lots of the SAME powder. I would suggest backing off the grains a bit for your first few shots, chrono them and and work up until you find a load that shoots well.

Shootin' hot loads out of a double is bad (and expensive!) ju-ju, if you ask me.

I have had a 500 NE for quite a few years now. I use the 96g RL15 as well but I have never used a filler. Have I been doing someting wrong and or jeprodizing my rifle this whole time?

Mine is 112gr of H4831 and a 570 gr FN solid I make. Chrono is 2025 and no filler. Deadly accurate load in a Merkel 500NE.-Rob

TJB,

Here is a link to a hunt report that I did on the elephant hunt. Five shots on five elephant and all five went down, four were one shot kills only the first required a finishing shot. The first elephant I clearly missed the brain, shot was high and to the right. Despite that fact, the elephant dropped to the shot. J.A. Hunter was a believer in the .500 NE; I am too.

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/782106388

Forgot about the foam wads, I order mine from Trader Keith, they advertise in the SCI monthly newsletter. They come 100 in a package, you cut them in half. A couple of hundred will last a long time.

http://www.traderkeith.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Tim Burkhart:
Some claim the 500 at those velocities is not ideal for a frontal brain shot and that I should use my 416 instead. The whole point of me going to the 500 was to hunt the jumbos with a real stopper! TJB

Tim,
Your 500 with 570 grain Woodies at 2150 fps will penetrate more than enough on most ele bulls (there is a big difference in a Botswana bull and a Zambezi valley bull when it comes to size), My Heym in the 500 regulates at 25 yds with a velocity of 2200+fps. If your concerned about penetration try some 600 grain Woodie solids at 2100 fps. If you cannot find any foam wads let me know and I'll supply you some.

Dirk

Thanks everyone! My rifle should arrive by Monday...can't wait to pull the trigger on "THOR"!

It's here and it shoots like a dream!