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brigettecuneo
Hello folks, I had a question I needed some help with. For those that have purchased molds that do not support reloading data, how do you start finding a safe minimum and maximum load?
For instance, I purchased the 502-600 grain mold for my 500 magnum. I cannot find any reloading data other than using lil gun which I do not have. I really like the ramshot enforcer and A5744 I’ve been using and was hoping to find a safe load using either or both.
I did send a message to the manufacturer of the powders I was using for the 500 and hopefully they had some suggestions for me, but it got me to thinking and wondered what others are using to set up their loads when no data is online or printed.
Any help would be appreciated.
brigettecuneo-
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Full.Lead.Taco
I have used this site to get some load data for my 500 mag.
http://www.reloadammo.com/500sw.htm
I guess that only has the lilgun load for the 600 gr bullet.
As a side note, I think my bullets cast out of that 600 gr mold weigh closer to 565 (from my load notes) How much do your’s weigh? Also, what kind of load are you wanting? like a knock the socks off load or mild load or what?
RD has some QL data for this bullet I believe: http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/data/NOE/PDF/50/502600RF_500S&W.pdf
micaelnetz
You could ask “the Dog” for data
http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php/topic,1453.0.htmlAlvinYork
Yes, Quickload is pretty good. But I still don’t start with whatever Quickload says is a good load. Drop it down 10% to be on the safe side and work it up from there.
A more “old fashioned way” to do it is to start at some ridiculously small charge and work your way up from there. However, you do seem to have some information to work with in that you said you have Lil’ Gun data. Both Lil’ Gun and Enforcer are spherical powders and relatively close on the burn chart (out of 150 Enforcer is 56 and Lil’ Gun is 63). So you could take those Lil Gun numbers and knock them down a bit to account for the quicker burn. Then knock them down 10% again to be on the safe side and work them up from there.
Happy shootin’!k7sparky
I got an email response back from western powders within 12 hours. I thought that was pretty impressive customer service. Below is the info they sent me in case anyone else was curious for the information as I was.
Thank you again everyone for your quick help.Michael,
500 S&W
Barrel: 8.37″ ¦ Twist: 1-18″ ¦ Primer: WLR ¦ Bullet Diameter: : 0.500″
Case: HORN ¦ Max Case Length: 1.620″ ¦ Trim Length: 1.615″
Powder: Accurate – 5744®.
Bullet weight: 600 grains.
Start load: 25.0 grains (ca 1150 Fps)
Maximum load: 28.0 grains (ca 1325 Fps)Powder: Ramshot — ENFORCER®.
HEAVY BULLETS:
Bullet weight: 600grains.
Start load: 26.5 grains (1200 Fps)
Maximum load: 29.6 grains (1350 Fps).Don W.
CSRI have used this site to get some load data for my 500 mag.
http://www.reloadammo.com/500sw.htm
I guess that only has the lilgun load for the 600 gr bullet.
As a side note, I think my bullets cast out of that 600 gr mold weigh closer to 565 (from my load notes) How much do your’s weigh? Also, what kind of load are you wanting? like a knock the socks off load or mild load or what?
RD has some QL data for this bullet I believe: http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/data/NOE/PDF/50/502600RF_500S&W.pdf
I really appreciate your help my friend. I actually have not cast any from the mold yet, but I was getting all my ducks in a row so I could. Just looking for some safe variety with this load.
I do enjoy the trail boss with some the lighter stuff, but still have not tried the unique in any of the 500 reloads.
The end of October we are going to take your water jug duel into effect here with some overstock garden items. Good times ahead for sure. Take care Sir.You could ask “the Dog” for data
http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index.php/topic,1453.0.htmlI was not aware of such a great resource. Thank you for that. I’ll make sure to keep that in case I have an issue again. Very helpful.
I like the Lee factory crimp dies and saw only the collet type no carbide for the 500 S&W.
Finally got around to emailing Lee customer service and answer is – final cartridge is too big. Guess that translates to carbide ring would be too thin to not shatterHaven’t gotten a 500 S&W yet but am starting to collect the support group.
One of a few cartridges that require a Dillon extra large powder die for the tool head.
I like the Lee factory crimp dies and saw only the collet type no carbide for the 500 S&W.
Finally got around to emailing Lee customer service and answer is – final cartridge is too big. Guess that translates to carbide ring would be too thin to not shatterHaven’t gotten a 500 S&W yet but am starting to collect the support group.
One of a few cartridges that require a Dillon extra large powder die for the tool head.
I also like Lee dies. There are fantastic for the price. I purchased my set from midway. I went with the Lee 3 die carbide set. Includes the sizing and decapper die, powder through expanding die and seater die.
I’m also a big fan of the Lee factory crimp dies when needed for a certain application, and found the same issue your having. I went with the Redding taper crimp die for the 500 magnum as the best substitute. Gives a nice good solid crimp and I’ve had no bullet slide in hotter loads.
Good luck in your search.Full.Lead.Taco
500 S&W is a great cartridge. A few years back, a local gun shop was clearancing out all of their single shot Handi-rifles (I think the era of the cheap bolt guns has killed the demand for single shot rifles). I was able to score a Handi-Rifle in 500 S&W for about $175. That sure packs a punch! Anyways, I decided to have some fun with the rifle and took the barrel to a shop and had them cut it down to 16.5″ and thread it. I purchased one of those mini-tank brakes and threw that on for now. It is a fun little carbine now! I am just waiting now for my Tax Stamp to be approved so I can throw my 50 cal suppressor on it and test some big subsonic loads with it.
The Lee dies work just fine. I think I bought two Lee die sets as well as an RCBS set. I wish Lee made the classic style Factory Crimp Die for the 500–sure do miss it.
500 S&W is a great cartridge. A few years back, a local gun shop was clearancing out all of their single shot Handi-rifles (I think the era of the cheap bolt guns has killed the demand for single shot rifles). I was able to score a Handi-Rifle in 500 S&W for about $175. That sure packs a punch! Anyways, I decided to have some fun with the rifle and took the barrel to a shop and had them cut it down to 16.5″ and thread it. I purchased one of those mini-tank brakes and threw that on for now. It is a fun little carbine now! I am just waiting now for my Tax Stamp to be approved so I can throw my 50 cal suppressor on it and test some big subsonic loads with it.
The Lee dies work just fine. I think I bought two Lee die sets as well as an RCBS set. I wish Lee made the classic style Factory Crimp Die for the 500–sure do miss it.
A can with a 500 magnum. Wow, I’m jealous. That would be rather interesting.
we live in CA and even just having a 50 caliber revolver alone is pretty scare.
I have never tried a handi rifle, but I do enjoy my Thompson pro hunter single shot. Great shooter in the ruger .204. I will agree though, those types of rifles are not as common as they once were.The other day I was cracking off a few rounds and our closest neighbor which is a good 1/8 mile away, drove over and first thing he said was, “what was that, and I want one. ” once I showed him the actually cartridges he was sold. There is something about having a big bore caliber that just makes you grin, if you know what I mean.
It is a fun little carbine now! I am just waiting now for my Tax Stamp to be approved so I can throw my 50 cal suppressor on it and test some big subsonic loads with it.
Guess you could call it a 500 whisper
The Lee collet is the regular factory crimp same as on a bottle neck. Just missing the carbide ring to iron out the finished cartridge like the other straight wall cases.
My problem with the 454 and HEAVY 357 in a Ruger Red Hawk is bullets pulling out and jamming the cylinder unless I heavy crimp. Have gotten hooked on the Lee collets
Here in TN out in the country gun fire is common. Getting closer to deer season it will get daily.
I shoot off a bench under my shop deck. Longest I have is about 385 yd. Any longer and I need to set up in a field when there no crops in.
Full.Lead.Taco
I’m jealous of you guys who can shoot in your backyards and such. Load development would be so much faster and efficient if I could just step outside to test my loads. On the flipside, in just a 10 mile radius, it feels like there are just as many gun shops as there are grocery stores here in Utah.
We just purchased our property last year. Been a long time coming for us. Went through a few terrible wild forest fires right after we moved in. Still rattles us up this year since all the fires. The most significant fire burnt around our property and nearly took our home, within 5 foot actually. Destroyed a private bridge we had that was made from an old railroad car frame. Really cool and unique property. Got so hot it melted and warped the steel frame.
Even after all that though, I still love my dirt and the mountain we live on. We are up at just under 3000 feet above sea level. We have a fresh creek, are the only house on the road, amoung some great turkey nests and deer locations. One of the perks for me was having the ability to have my own pistol and rifle range. We made a pistol area, a nice sight in spot for the scopes and the longest we can go safely into the mountain side is 500 yards on the nose.
I’m not a golfer, and have nothing against folks that enjoy the sport, however, I do get a chuckle when it’s range day and the nearby golfer hole by the edge of the property always clears out.lol.Cal is GREAT country if you could clear the libs out. Specially love N cal
I got crowded out of Long Beach around 79. Weather is great and it took awhile to crowd out a Montana boy arriving in a spring to find out below zero is not a way of life.Back when I was working a friend in the SF area taught me about Golf. A scaled 2″ BP cannon will shoot golf balls a LONG way. Best use I’ve seen for golf balls.
Will admit I like Golf courses. I relax, drive a cart, drink beer and watch interesting people whack at little white balls with all kinds of clubs. If I was a shrink – but then OH Well :
cornmastah – I was at the ROSE show in Layton a few months back and drove down to have an eye ball with AL. It’s been around 30 years since I was in SLC. Only things I recognized were an oil refinery and Lagoon. 70 miles and the HOV lane never ended. On the way in the morning traffic rarely slowed to 70.
Back to the subsonic 500. Have you ever shot (I’m guessing 50 yd min and out) with the sun directly behind you about 10 or so degrees off the horizon and watched the back of the bullets in flight? Mighty easy to walk them to the target. Wouldn’t be surprised to find out Elmer did that to learn his long shots
micaelnetz
AlvinYork
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