Author Topic: Hot 500 S&W (Read 977 times)

fatherof4 · « **on:** December 02, 2009, 02:19:38 PM »

Hello Everybody! I just traded for a sweet little Handi in the 500 and I would like to get your opinons on what is the hottest commercial load out there. Not into hand loading yet, but i think I might just have too soon. Until then though I would like to have some fun with rifle. Thanks Ahead of time and Merry Christmas

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2009, 02:29:13 PM »

Welcome! Read the John Taffin article on the 500S&W Handi in the FAQs and Help sticky, a great place to start learning about H&Rs, the article has velocities of factory ammo on page 3.

Tim

BMKindoll · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2009, 02:39:36 PM »

Just ordered some 700 Grain Rounds that should come out of the Handi at around 1500 fps. That's the stoutest I have heard of.

Brandon

Squib · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2009, 09:30:34 PM »

I know a guy that helped develop the 500 S&W brass... only use rifle primers and expect a lot of pain if you ever max those cases out. the brass is built to stand way more psi than is actually sensible to generate.. your body will hurt and your gun will wear out quick if you screw up.. do not use max loads. max loads are about 60,000 psi. it's advisable to stay under 50,000psi to avoid loosening primer pockets, squishing the heads, and drastically reducing case life. it's thick brass but just the same as the rest on a molecular level- it can only take so much stress. also remember that such heavy bullets backed by slow powders will "push" you more than hit you, it'll move you a bit (same force but more follow-through)

use protection for your face, and your dominant hand, and check the brass after you fire.. I read that you do not handload. at least take the time to thoroughly study case-life and stress features. if you don't like the maximum power offered, please consifer handloading. handloading will offer you anything from 200ish to 700grs bullets and any speed you want under 2k is attainable with the light to mid weight bullets.

Spanky · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2009, 02:31:30 AM »

Great post Squib.

Like Squib says... keep things sensible with the 500.
No need to push things too far... it's already pretty darn hot.

Spanky

Squib · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2009, 03:00:23 AM »

I picked my source's brain about the 500 for about 15mins one time... he told me he fired about 40 full power loads one day (500grs bullets I think) and he had a lump in his palm for six months.. calcification/scarring/cyst- he never got it checked out because it slowly went away but the point is that it messed him up for awhile

and when people first started loading it the primer pockets were different- if rifle primers won't fit then stop- throw that brass away. pistol primers don't put out enough gas volume and pressure to ignite a light powder charge in that monster case- a big charge half lit will jump the crimp of the brass, push the bullet into the rifling grooves and leave it there until pressure spike two that will get it going again if the action doesn't split on you. also be advised that this is a rare occurence with H-110 powder as well (any bullets- that powder has to be compressed to work well if at all). You'll soon come to love H-110 and W-296 if you keep loading because those two are the best for velocity and gas volume (if you don't screw up and blow up your gun).

I think that covers it.

wreckhog · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2009, 08:10:49 AM »

PM dinny or search his last posts for a month. He was selling quite a variety of factory ammo.

guns-o-fun · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2009, 10:58:19 AM »

Unless you are "well-to-do," you will find that the factory ammo will cost your favorite limb, to say the least. Handloading is the way to go, and you will find that moderate loads hit with some authority. I use a moderate load of H110 and 385 grainers, and even though they are hollow points that mushroom up to about 3/4 to 1 inch, they still manage to bury themselves several inches into my pressure-treated 4 X 6 backstop at 50 yards. You won't have any problem with penetration on game, unless maybe you hit a grizzly in the wrong place (if you are crazy enough to shoot at one with a single shot)

.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2009, 11:59:53 AM »

Re: Hot 500 S&W

the 500 is hot

i hadn't reloaded in 10 years
then i got a used 500 smith
priced the ammo and doug out the reloading stuff

i am so glad i rediscovered reloading
the 500 smith has more power than i need.........but i like it
i also got a 440 grain mould.......not shot any home cast yet

Squib · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2009, 07:53:01 PM »

this is a rhetorical question that I know the answer to but I'll ask you anyways GOV, for the benefit of the thread starter

do you know why the last guy sold it? because he was too dumb or lazy to load and just fired off a few monster rounds (probably hit himself in the face too) and sold it off. speaking of, good videos of that on you tube (really assinine guys having their g/fs hold it one handed gunslinger style and with full power loads- those guys are probably single now)

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2009, 02:14:14 AM »

I hate to site mine in with factory rounds because of the recoil. The 350gr hornady xtp's are murder on both ends and they tend to shoot pretty good out of mine.

petemi · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2009, 02:36:34 AM »

All the above just makes me love my .45-70 more. I don't believe the .500 can do anything it can not. Range, recoil, accuracy, cost to shoot, diversity of loads, etc. No, I don't believe I need a .500.

Pete

PASingleshot · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:20:54 AM »

For a hot factory load, I like the Buffalo Bore 440gr. When I was sighting in the 500 I started with 325gr hollowpoints. I don't recall the brand. They were cheaper than the BB. When I put in the BB 440gr, WOW what a difference in recoil and "pop". The BB definitely hit the target in a different spot, so I needed to shoot more of them anyway. I have a Cabela's about 25min from home. They had the BB on sale for $56. When I went to checkout, they rang up @ $48. I also had a $10 off coupon, so I got the box for $38 plus tax. That wasn't too bad then. I really want to start reloading next year when funds are hopefully more prevalent.

Squib · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2009, 05:29:15 AM »

yeah you think that's not bad till you start loading your own.... after you get started up you'll see that buying a few bullets and primers is no more inconvenient than putting gas in your car

however the actual loading is a complete pain once you've got your loads tailored. like making a special brownie mix or barbecue sauce- it's likely to make you feel good when you find your recipe EUREKA but then you're not going to really enjoy mixing it all up meticulously anymore either. I'm proud of my brownies but I felt it quite a chore to mix them earlier actually (I'll like eating them though).

I'm done rambling now... on this thread

guns-o-fun · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2009, 10:43:25 AM »

Get a GOOD bullet seater - not one of those cheapo Lees with no locking ring. That makes a huge difference in making loading a bunch of cartridges not such a chore. With a good seater, the only variations arise with consistent case lengths and even bullet length, if you buy the bulk ones. Get into it - a lot more economical than the factory, and you really can fine tune the loads to your gun. Now, have I sufficiently POed all the Lee fans?

45-70.gov · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2009, 02:40:08 PM »

Quote from: Squib on December 03, 2009, 07:53:01 PM

this is a rhetorical question that I know the answer to but I'll ask you anyways GOV, for the benefit of the thread starter

do you know why the last guy sold it? because he was too dumb or lazy to load and just fired off a few monster rounds (probably hit himself in the face too) and sold it off. speaking of, good videos of that on you tube (really assinine guys having their g/fs hold it one handed gunslinger style and with full power loads- those guys are probably single now)

he said he played guitar for a living and it might put him out of work
his wife didnt want him to sell it she shot it so well

she carries a scantium centeniel in 357MAG!! a 12 oz gun

Squib · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2009, 06:33:36 PM »

WHAT??!!

really, is she on juice/roids? I shot a snubbie .357 before, not pleasant (though the factory stuff is usually weak compared to handloads)... I think 454 Casull is more recoil than I'll ever master in light revolver.. 44 magnum I really gotta try hard but can manage. a woman using a 500 and a scandium .357.. I need to go to the gym, often, motivated.......

he got a good wife

45-70.gov · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2009, 05:07:21 AM »

Quote from: Squib on December 04, 2009, 06:33:36 PM

WHAT??!!

really, is she on juice/roids? I shot a snubbie .357 before, not pleasant (though the factory stuff is usually weak compared to handloads)... I think 454 Casull is more recoil than I'll ever master in light revolver.. 44 magnum I really gotta try hard but can manage. a woman using a 500 and a scandium .357.. I need to go to the gym, often, motivated.......

he got a good wife

when she was in high school
and i was in my 20s [prime]

no one out shot me with a hand gun

BUT HER some folks are just a natureal

Squib · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2009, 05:31:27 AM »

a viking in a shrimp body? it happens

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2009, 07:11:27 PM »

The only thing I will tell you is, the 500 mag is a round you need to reload for. You can tailor your load to be very accurate. The standard 500 Mag loads are hot, not need to find the hottest out there, they may not shoot well and will punish the hell out of you.

NickSS · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2009, 09:32:14 PM »

I have fired three different 500 S&W loads in a S&W revolver. They were hard kickers in the pistol and really rang the gong at 200 yards with ease. However, I have a 45-70 handy rifle and have zero desire for one in 500 S&W for the simple reason that it will not do any more than with a 45-70 in a handy. I also know that the Handy is too light for a lot of shooting with potent rounds like a hot loaded 45-70 or 500 S&W. I am old enough not to like pain anymore. So I load mine to trapdoor ballistics and have fun shooting it.