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Author Topic: 500 S&W Accuracy  (Read 906 times)

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Offline jhoff86

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500 S&W Accuracy
« on: November 12, 2012, 06:40:50 AM »
First time poster, long time lurker. A search didn't turn up much relevant but if I missed it somewhere, my apologies.


I picked up a 500 S&W for deer hunting in Indiana and am having some issues with grouping shots. I did notice a pretty significant difference between factory 400 gr hollow points and the hand loads that I will use from here on out. Below is every relevant that I can think of to include.


Bullet: Hornaday 300 gr FTX LEVERevolution
Powder:  48 gr H110 @ ~1900 fps muzzle (51.4 max)
Optics: Simmons 1.5x-5x Simmons Shotgun Scope, Weaver Quad lock rings


Weather: 70 degrees with minimal wind


When sighting it  in the target was slightly below my shooting spot. I was laying prone with a rest right at the forearm screw. At 75 yards I was only able to put a group of 3 in a 6 inch diameter circle. Things that came to mind.


- Laying prone the recoil wasn't able to push back much and it sure seemed to jump up more that I wasn't gripping it at the forearm screen
- Maybe my loads are a touch too hot?
- Should my rifle be a candidate for floating the barrel?


Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Granted a 6 inch circle gives me the kill zone of a deer but I was definitely expecting a bit better performance out of this setup.

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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2012, 07:25:51 AM »
Welcome! I've shot a lot of hot loads thru my 500S&W Handi, best jacketed accuracy was with 385gr Rems/Lil'gun at 2-2½" at 100yds. Lots of 500 Handi shooters here love low velocity cast loads, very accurate and easy on the shooter.  ;)

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,267855.msg1099602460.html#msg1099602460

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2010/09/23/longgun_reviews_st_hr500sandwmag/
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Offline jhoff86

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2012, 09:19:27 AM »
Went back and double checked and it's actually shooting 50 gr of H110. Maybe I just need to tone it down a bit.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2012, 09:52:28 AM »
I didn't have very good luck with H110 with the 350gr XTP, Lil'gun seemed to work better.

Tim
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Offline twoshooter

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2012, 10:08:17 AM »
You can look at the success 2013 and check out Mo-Bio's nice Kentucky buck. He is using 5744 powder I think, we are both using the 440 gr Lee cast. I use 20 gr of Blue Dot, I get 1320 fps. 1.5" groups @ 75 Yards. First- a 5 shot group is useless with a handi. You are not be going to shooting 5 times with a handi. It is the first shot from a cold barrel that makes a difference . I do shoot 3, that usually  does not heat the barrel up very quick. Read the FAQ's, they have a bunch of tips.
    There is no reason whatsoever that you can't get a 2-3 " group @ 100 yards at worst. You do NOT need 3000 ft lbs of energy to kill a whitetail. A 440 gr bullet at 1000 fps will go clean through 3 or 4 whitetails.  It is not a 500 yard gun, but 1300-1500 fps is completely adequate for anything except dangerous game. You can win medals for withstanding recoil , or you can find the most accurate load and go with it, and put game in the freezer.  ;)
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Offline Rustyinfla

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2012, 10:18:23 AM »

   Welcome to the forum jhoff.

    I've been thinking about one of those .500's the bullets seem to come pre-expanded.

   I think for now though I'll stick with my .44 mag.

   Good luck! ;D
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2012, 11:40:09 AM »
WELCOME!!

 As the guys mentioned 2-3"are pretty easy to attain with heavy loadings. Mine was best with mid and lo vel lead bullets.
I also shot some heavy weights, I specfically wanted to shoot the Hornady 500g XTP SP bullet.  I got it going better then 1700 fps...  :o



Recoil was stout but shootable.

A better loading in my gun, was a 440g WFNGC bullet with XMP5744 powder at 1500 fps.



CW
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Offline mo_bio

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2012, 11:55:13 AM »
I have tried 6 loads with the 440 grain lee bullets. My rifle likes 36 g of H110.  Lil gun was also ok. Shot the buck at 65 yrds. Awesome performance. This will be my go to short range gun.
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Offline jhoff86

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2012, 04:57:45 AM »
cwlongshot, Are you by chance on the bigger side. I just look at the ft/lbs of free recoil on the 500gr bullet your shooting... and unless you've really weighed down your handi that is some massive recoil. I thought mine was punishing... sheesh

mo_bio, do you run into any issue with on 36 gr of H110? I've heard issues with not full house H110 loads. Those issues are more the reason why my loads are so hot. H110 was the powder available and I didn't want ignition issues.

After some looking around I may switch to 40 ish grains of Alliant 2400. Not quite the punch but still should be a pretty flat shooter.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2012, 06:26:29 AM »
I am 6' and 230#, I am a bigger guy and don't shy from recoil.  ;)   I did not find it too bad. About on par with my 2000 fps 400g 45/70 loads.

CW
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Offline twoshooter

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2012, 04:24:16 PM »
CW is just a brute..... ::)


I have him by an inch, 5 pounds, and a dozen years...... and it offends my delicate sensibilities to hear talk like that. If it were not for his 32/20 ....... :-\ ???

Your thoughts on the 2400 are chosen.......wisely.

Start down in the 25 gr range and work up until it is accurate, the 500 will never be a BMG. Any load will kill a deer, black bear, or hog.

When you can shoot the pebble from my hand Grasshopper ........ ;) ...... 8)
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2012, 04:36:21 AM »
LOL,

Yea you certainly dont "need" to push it that hard. I actually found med vel loadings where core consistently accurate from my gun.

Good luck,
CW

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Offline mo_bio

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2012, 05:43:02 AM »
Quote from: jhoff86 on November 14, 2012, 04:57:45 AM
mo_bio, do you run into any issue with on 36 gr of H110? I've heard issues with not full house H110 loads. Those issues are more the reason why my loads are so hot. H110 was the powder available and I didn't want ignition issues.

After some looking around I may switch to 40 ish grains of Alliant 2400. Not quite the punch but still should be a pretty flat shooter.

No issues with that load.  36 gr is dead center of what is in my reloading manual.  It has enogh recoil to know you just shot a .501 gr bullet out but not enough to really make you stop and go "wow".  It had AWESOME terminal performance on the buck I shot last weekend.  Just awesome.
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Handis: .17 mach2 (x2), .22 lr, 22 hornet, .22 jet, .223, .243, .270, .280, .357 max (x2), 35 remington, 35 whelen, 45-70, 445sm, 30-30, 410, 500 S&W, 50 AK



"The most important rule in a gunfight is: Always win and cheat if
necessary."-- Clint Smith, Director of Thunder Ranch

Offline gcrank1

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Re: 500 S&W Accuracy
« Reply #13 on: November 16, 2012, 12:23:58 PM »
If you must shoot heavies as speed consider shooting offhand and you will likely be surprised how well you do.
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