(HP = Hollow Point, RN = Round Nose, FMC = Full Metal Case, FMJ = Full Metal Jacket, JHP = Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for 500 S&W Magnum:
It was published that the 500 S&W would produce about 2600 ft/lbs of energy at full maximum load with a heavy lead bullet. I have never shot a load like that in my S&W 500, and hope I never do, but if you wanted it for big game, I guess it's good to know the gun will handle it. My lighter loads recoil about the same or less as a .44 magnum and are good to shoot for target practice.
If you look below, you will see several loads with the 440 gr. lead GC bullet (from LeadHeads Bullets (Tommy) of St. John, KS) that come out at just above 1100 FPS, that calculates to around 1200 foot/pounds of energy (and recoil). That's less than half the maximum loads with big bullets. Not bad for plinking with this Magnum caliber. You'd have to push this same bullet to 1,635 FPS to get 2600 ft/lbs of energy. A .44 mag load of 250 grain jacketed moving at 1,430 FPS will generate 1135 ft/lbs, almost the same as the .500 load above. Further, a 325 gr. .501 moving at 1,200 fps only generates 1040 ft/lbs, making it less recoil than the .44 mag AND this is from a heavier gun with top port (the S&W 500 with 8 3/8" bbl).
(Note: Shown on this page are START and MAXIMUM loads. Do NOT reduce below START or exceed MAX except at your own risk.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet size is .500" (jacketed) in diameter. Cast bullets with Gas Checks for 500 S&W (like Lead RN-GC) are usually .500" diameter. There are some Lead .501" cast bullets available, and that is what I have used for some loads below. If not indicated (.501) then it's probably .500" lead. Use LARGE RIFLE primers in cases. Make sure primer does not protrude from case head since early cases were for Large Pistol primers (not as deep a pocket). New cases for large rifle should have "LR" on the case. If not, they may have been made for the large pistol primers. It DOES make a difference which you use.
Due to different barrel lengths,
type of bullet, seating depth, primer brand and other factors,
you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start 10% under these charges and work up.
SOME ARE MAXIMUM LOADS! - NOTE, powder companies sometimes reduced some of these hot and maximum loads after these figures were posted. You might check current loads from powder company before loading maximum loads. The loads that produce velocities below 950 fps, are very nice, mild shooting, lower recoil rounds.
BTW, I got 1815 FPS from the commercial CorBon 275 Grain Barnes Bullet that comes 12 to a pack for about $36 per pack ($3 per round).
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275 Grain Barnes XPB (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
Titegroup 11.0 gr. 1,170 FPS
Longshot 20.0 gr. 1,594
Lil'Gun 40.5 gr. 1,965
H110 42.0 gr. 1,380
H4227 40.0 gr. 1,891
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275 Grain Barnes XPB (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
Titegroup 20.0 gr. 1,707 FPS
Longshot 24.5 gr. 1,824
Lil'Gun 44.0 gr. 2,137
H110 45.0 gr. 2,082
H4227 44.0 gr. 2,047
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325 Grain BARNES XPB
Ramshot Enforcer Start 38.3gr. 1,654; Max 42.5 gr. 1,838
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325 grain LFP (lead flat point) (Cowboy load)
Trail Boss 12.0 gr. 948 FPS
Trail Boss 15.0 gr. 1,044
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325 grain Speer JHP (START loads)(~ = approx. FPS)
AA 4100 38.7 gr. 1,710 FPS
AA 1680 44.0 gr. ~1,350
AA 5744 35.0 gr. ~1,200
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325 grain Speer JHP (MAXIMUM loads)(~ = approx. FPS)
AA 4100 43.0 gr. 1,862 FPS
AA 1680 51.0 gr. ~1,650 (compressed 105% to 108%)
AA 5744 40.0 gr. ~1,450 (compressed 107%)
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335 grain Plated RNFP
Lil'Gun 40.0 gr. 1,767 fps Avg. Hi=1814, Lo=1729, Spread 85, Hot Load
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350 grain Sierra JSP & JHP (START loads)
PowerPistol 23.0 gr. 1,446 FPS
2400 38.0 gr. 1,565 FPS
AA 4100 36.7 gr. 1,661 FPS
AA 5744 34.0 gr. 1,377 FPS (actual in 8 5/8" bbl.)107 fps spread
AA 5744 35.0 gr. 1,382 FPS (Hornady bullet)(in 8 5/8" bbl.) 27 fps spread
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350 SIE JHP
Ramshot Enforcer Start 36.0 gr. 1,557; MAX 40.0 gr. 1,730
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350 grain Sierra JSP (MAXIMUM loads)
PowerPistol 27.0 gr. 1,564 FPS
2400 42.0 gr. 1,642 FPS
AA 4100 40.8 gr. 1,783 FPS
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350 grain Hornady XTP bullet (personal loads)on mild side (Hornady Brass)
AA 5744 31.0 gr. 1,290 FPS avg.
AA 5744 33.0 gr. 1,306 FPS avg.
AA 5744 35.0 gr. 1,404 FPS avg.
Titegroup 11.0 gr. 1,032 FPS as a START Mild (Hodgdon Tech Support suggest)
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370 grain lead cast Cowboy loads
Trail Boss 8.0 gr. 746 FPS minimum
Trail Boss 12.0 gr. 926 FPS MAXIMUM
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370 Lead (GC) (mild loads)
WW 231 10.0 gr. 889 FPS
Unique 10.0 gr. 851 FPS
Unique 10.1 gr. 886 FPS in 8 5/8" bbl, spread 81 fps.
Titegroup 16.0 gr. (start from Hodgdon) 1,326 FPS
Titegroup 18.5 gr. (MAX) from Hodgdon) 1,431 FPS
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375 Grain BAR XPB
Ramshot Enforcer - Start 32.4 gr. 1,491 ; MAX 36.0 gr. 1,657
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400 grain Sierra JSP (START loads)
AA 4100 33.5 gr. 1,465 FPS
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400 grain Sierra JSP (MAXIMUM loads)
AA 4100 37.2 gr. 1,633 FPS
IMR4227 36.0 gr. 1,391 fps Spread=133.4 fps (personal load-not very good-MDS)
Hi=1489 & Lo=1355 & hot load.
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440 grain lead cast Cowboy loads
Trail Boss 7.0 gr. 643 FPS minimum (This is VERY light, be careful)
Trail Boss 10.0 gr. 799 FPS MAXIMUM
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440-445 Lead (GC)(START loads)(~ = approx. FPS)
AA 1680 35.0 gr. ~1,250 FPS (from powder company)
AA 5744 30.0 gr. ~ 950 (from powder company)
AA 5744 30.0 gr. 1,217 Personal in 8 5/8" bbl.(.501)
AA 5744 28.0 gr. 1,105 Personal in 8 5/8" bbl.(.501)
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440-445 Lead (GC)(MAXIMUM loads)(~ = approx. FPS)
AA 1680 40.0 gr. ~1,450 FPS (compressed 106%)
AA 5744 34.0 gr. ~1,175 (compressed 107%)
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440 Grain CPB Lead-GC (.501) (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
Titegroup 14.5 gr. 1,191 FPS (from powder company)
Titegroup 14.5 gr. 1,195 Personal in 8 5/8" bbl.(Starline Brass)(.501)
Titegroup 13.0 gr. 1,114 Personal in 8 5/8" bbl. (.501)
Titegroup 15.2 gr. 1,231 Personal Hi=1242 Lo=1215 Spread=26.6 *good hot load
Titegroup 15.7 gr. 1,213 personal Hi=1235 Lo=1198 Spread=37.2
IMR 4227 34.0 gr. 1,345 Personal Hi=1383 Lo=1219 Spread=164 hot load
Trail Boss 7.0 gr. 643 14,600 PSI (very mild)
Trail Boss 10.0 gr. 799 21,200 PSI (Maximum load)
Longshot 18.5 gr. 1,300 FPS
Lil'Gun 30.0 gr. 1,485 FPS
H110 34.0 gr. 1,509 FPS
H4227 34.0 gr. 1,496 FPS
(below NOT from Hodgdon, actual in 8 5/8" bbl.)
(these bullets are from Leadhead. Tommy sells great bullets at a very reasonable price)
(http://www.proshootpro.com/ is his website. Also 465 gr & 500 gr bullets)
WW 231 10.0 gr. 936 FPS (mild)
Unique 10.0 gr. 957 FPS (mild)
Unique 10.1 gr. 1,256 FPS (medium)(Leadhead bullet, .501)spread 17 fps.
HS6 15.0 gr. 1,122 FPS (mild)
Ramshot Enforcer 29.7 gr. 1,386 (from company)
Lil'Gun 34.0.gr. 1,554 fps Avg. Hi=1561, Lo=1527, Spread=33.3 Hot load.
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440 Grain CPB Lead-GC (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
Titegroup 16.5 gr. 1,278 FPS
Longshot 20.7 gr. 1,393
Lil'Gun 35.0 gr. 1,653
H110 38.0 gr. 1,654
H4227 37.0 gr. 1,609
Ramshot Enforcer 33.0 gr. 1,540 (from Ramshot)
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500 GR. HDY SP .500 (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 30.0 gr, 1,360 42,300 PSI
H110 31.0 gr. 1,400 34,400 PSI
LIL'GUN 27.0 gr. 1,356 41,700 PSI
Longshot 16.0 gr. 1,115 39,200 PSI
Titegroup 13.0 gr. 1,020 40,200 PSI
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500 GR. HDY SP .500 (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 32.2 gr. 1,436 49,300 PSI
H110 32.5 gr. 1,302 (Hornady load)(Max)
H110 33.0 gr. 1,482 51,900 PSI (Absolute Max-Max)
LIL'GUN 30.0 gr. 1,463 50,100 PSI
Longshot 18.5 gr. 1,222 50,400 PSI
Titegroup 15.0 gr. 1,111 50,000 PSI
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500 GR. Lead FP+GC .501 (good hot Load)
Lil'Gun 28.5 gr. 1,359 fps Avg. Hi=1389, Lo=1296, Spread=92.3
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600 GR. Lead Flat-nose .501 (MAXIMUM Loads) (Hang on)(other shooter contributed)
Lil'Gun 30.5 gr. 1,391 fps (I personally think 29 grains is enough)
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700 GR. Lead Flat-nose .501 (MAXIMUM Loads) (Monster recoil)
Lil'Gun 27.2 gr. 1,294 fps
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700 GR. Lead Flat-nose GC .501 (MAXIMUM Loads)(Monster recoil)
(Ranger Rick Bullet http://www.lsstuff.com/ranger-rick/ )
Lil'Gun 27.5 gr. ~1,200 fps (max, start lower)
Lil'Gun 27.0 gr. 1,126 fps personal, Hi=1152 Lo=1093 Spread=58.6
damn this mule kicks, had to use gloves, both on my right hand
to stand the recoil. Good spread & accuracy. You won't shoot many of these
Lil'Gun 28.0 gr. 1,232 fps (this is a contributed load, careful)
H110 24.5 gr. 1,200 ~ fps (24.0 to 25.0 gr. are used)
H110 25.0 gr. 1,036 fps Hi=1042 Lo=1022, spread=20.1 Great load from
Bill Bramlett of Ballistic Supply
IMR 4759 22.2 gr. 982 fps.
I have also recently (June 2004) used Titegroup and I like it a lot. It is a very light powder for its bulk, so it fills the case about 3/4 when seating a big 440 gr. lead GC bullet. Velocity spreads were very good (only about 20 fps difference)and recoil with lighter loads was not bad.
Many shooters, like me, are looking for a less punishing load to just target practice with and Hodgdon Tech Support recommends Titegroup 11.0 gr. for 1032 FPS as a START with a 350 GR. HDY XTP. Pushing this bullet only a bit over 1,000 fps is far milder than most loads on their web site. Even though this amount of powder is quite a bit less than other loads of different powders, Hodgdon says it's the least case position sensitive of the types they recommend.
UNIQUE - Using around 10 grains for bullets from 370 grain thru 440 grain (lead, gas check), were mild loads and the spread was quite good for loads tested above. Quite a difference in velocity with bullet weight (see tables above).
Currently new cases are available from Hornady and Starline. Others may follow soon (5-25-04).
*
AA(XMP)5744, AA 1680, AA 4100 are products of Accurate Arms Company
Tightgroup, Longshot, Lil'Gun, H110, H4227 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR Trail Boss (formerly DuPont) Powder Company, Winchester, Components Div.
Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders: Unique
References: Accurate Arms Co. (loads faxed to me on 5-26-04) - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996)- - Hodgdon Tech Support-May '04 - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine, Ramshot Powders on-line reloading guide 2007 articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.