Author Topic: 500 Smith Whitetail load! (Read 2559 times)

Handgun Hunter · « **on:** February 01, 2009, 04:30:09 AM »

I had a long wait and today I will find out if it was worth it. I've been after Hornady to make availible their 50 cal. 300gr. pointed bullet for over a year now and they finaly did. I got my first box of FTX bullets yesterday from Midway. I loaded up 25 rounds this morning and my son and I are going to the farm to try them out.

I've been useing a 350gr. JHP, but it seems a bit much for Whitetail. I got a small 9 pointer this year. With the extra 100fps. or so, the lighter weight and the better BC, this load should kick less and shoot flater as well. We are bringing the chrony so we should find out. Does anyone else here have a Whitetail load for the 500? We'll let you know how this one performs.

Tim.

Mohawk · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2009, 10:49:00 AM »

For sure, Tim. Let us know how you do. I was thinking of getting a .500 4" next year that will also be used for black bear if I can ever afford to go.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 02, 2009, 08:47:02 AM »

I have tried 275 gr. Barnes bullets in my 500 Mag, and they work great on deer.

I have switched to hard cast bullets only in my 500 Mags. I have a 370 gr. load I shoot in my 6 inch BFR 500 Mag. It works great on deer, hogs and black bear.

My 4 inch S&W 500 mag is shooting 440 gr. hard cast bullets.

Once you step up to the 500 Mag, the bullet weight does not make much difference, they all make big holes, and there is no such thing as overkill.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:15:17 PM »

Hey Redhawk.

I was going to try the Barnes bullets, until I saw the price. $1 per is a little steep for me with the amount of shooting I like to do, but I bet there great bullets though.

Mohawk.

I loaded up the 300gr. FXT's, 10 @ 43gr. H110, 10@ 44gr. H110 and 5@ 44.5gr. and these things are awesome!! I thought I was a pretty good pistol shot till I bought this cannon. Every time I think I'm getting great groups, I settle in and consentrate more and shoot a better one. I think this gun will shoot better then I ever will. I just ordered 2 more boxes of these bullets before they go on backorder to stash them.

JW/OK · « **Reply #4 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:46:24 PM »

Are you guys using irons on these hand cannons? If not what optics? What kind of accuracy are you getting on the BFR? I seen a new 10" BFR in 500 S&W and was surprised at how well it handled. Just about "flung a cravin' on me".

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:55:33 PM »

Iron sights at 25 yards with my 4 inch 500 Mag, I get 2 inch groups with 440 gr. hard cast bullets. It is my up close gun.

My BFR custom 6 inch 500 Mag is my longer distance 500 Mag. I have a Ultra-dot red-dot on it. At 50 yards I get 2 inch groups using 370 gr. bullets. At 75 yards I am getting 3 inch groups. I don't expect tight groups using a red-dot. When I was using a scope on my 500 mag, I got much smaller groups, but for hunting, I found the Ultra-dot the best choice for me.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2009, 11:27:45 AM »

I have an old Trophy Class Tasco, 30mm tube and fixed 2 power. The gun is the 8 3/8" version.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2009, 12:15:31 PM »

Quote from: Handgun Hunter on February 03, 2009, 11:27:45 AM

I have an old Trophy Class Tasco, 30mm tube and fixed 2 power. The gun is the 8 3/8" version.

Give it a try, I don't know if it will hold up to the 500 Mag though.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:43:10 AM »

Hey redhawk,

I have about 450 rounds through this combo. and I was skeptic as well. I had this scope on my Lone Eagle for about 3 years on a 444 Marlin barrel now on the 500, it seems to be fine, today that is.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:08:14 PM »

Well keep shooing it, glad to hear it is holding up.

S.B. · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2009, 01:19:27 AM »

Just got my S&W 500, haven't shot it enough to figure out what I'm going to use, yet.
Steve

jy951 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2009, 03:43:09 PM »

I use 325 gr Barnes with around 43 grs Lil-gun out of a sigle shot carbine. I'm not sure if the overall length will fit in the revolver.

sharkhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2009, 02:39:03 PM »

I have settled on the Remington 385 grain pointed core lockt in my Handi Rifle. Should work fine in the handguns also. As far as scopes, buy Burris and never look back.

Good shooting,
Dave

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2009, 12:13:43 PM »

Hey Sharkhunter.

Thanks for the reply. I appoligize, after reading my post, I never mentioned that I was loading it for a revolver. I did consider the Rem. bullets when I first saw them at Midway USA, but I read the reviews, or heard it on a forum, that they were not made for the revolver because it does not have a crimp groove. Sure enough, it says this on Midways' site. With out the crimp groove, I'll have bullet jump for sure and can't use it. This sucks because it's probably a good bullet at a decent price.

But, with a single shot like the Handi, we can use it, as long as there are no powder ignition problems with the powder beeing used. Not to get off subject, but I have 2 Handis' and was thinking about getting a 500 barrel. How do you like yours? I've heard recoil is any where from horrendous to, not too bad. I would think it would not kick any more than mid range 45/70 loads for the same gun?

Thanks Dave, Good shooting.

jar-wv · « **Reply #14 on:** June 04, 2009, 02:26:09 AM »

Handgun Hunter,

Did you have to trim brass shorter than usual to use the FTX bullets? I have been seeing on another forum that there are length issues with these bullets in other calibers in rifles. 444 Marlin i'm thinking.
I'm currently using 350 gr XTP's and Lil Gun.

jar

sidecarbill · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2009, 10:24:11 AM »

I use the 385 Rem. bullet without the channelure. I crimp with the Lee collet type die, it stays in place.

teddy12b · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2009, 10:40:39 AM »

Quote from: Handgun Hunter on February 01, 2009, 04:30:09 AM

Does anyone else here have a Whitetail load for the 500? We'll let you know how this one performs.

Tim.

Doesn't pretty much anything work with that cannon? I'd think the trick would be finding a bullet that doesn't blow that deer in half. Any animal on the recieving end of a 500 definately drew the short straw that day.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2009, 04:53:48 AM »

Jar,

I loaded the FTX's and they cycled fine through my smith.

Sidecar,

I will have to get a die like that, I realy would like to try the Rem. bullets, thanks.

Teddy,

I thought the same thing as you. I originaly wanted to get the 460, but the guy would only make me the deal on the 500. Thats why I started out useing the 370gr. LBT design, way too much for me. Then I found an acurate load with the Siera jhp. and thought it would put the deers lungs all over the forest. the small 9 pointer I shot last year was quartering away from me when I took the shot and he ran off just out of sight and dropped. I have the perfect mushroom found on the far side. Seems with this load, it acts just like a 12ga. sabo round, 50cal. around 1800fps, nearly the same.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2009, 05:00:02 AM »

Actualy, I have a freind that rode me prety hard about hunting white tail with a rino gun, and when I compaired the 1oz. 12ga. sabo he was useing from his 870, he stoped harassing me about it. It was cool to show him how he realy has the advantage with his shouldered gun over me. All in good fun though. But, I do enjoy the chalenge.

Dill45 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 28, 2009, 02:58:10 PM »

I loaded up those Hornady FTX for my revolver (8 3/8) and I was getting great groups at 25 yards with iron sights. Same load didn't shoot worth a damn in my Handi, but worked well in the revolver.

I've used those FTX bullets for a couple of guns I have and they always seem to shoot very well, and finding a load seems to be very easy.

SwampThing762 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2009, 03:01:13 PM »

I only have the Handi Rifle. friend of mine loaded me a box of 440 gr bullets with 27 grains of H4227 (replicating one of John Taffin's loads) for hunting season 2 years ago when I got my Handi. I have only used half the box and gotten two pigs -- one at 93 lbs and the other at around 130. Both complete pass throughs with ni significant recoil.

ST762

stubshaft · « **Reply #21 on:** July 16, 2009, 07:03:13 PM »

This is what I use in my Encore. I weighs in at 375gr and sits on 28.0gr 2400.

Handgun Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** July 18, 2009, 11:33:07 AM »

Hey Subshaft.

Those bullets look very interesting. Did you cast them your self, there is no lube on them yet? I've never seen a .50 cast like that. it looks like a real devistateing white tail bullet. I'd like to get my hands on a few of them to test but I'm not set up for casting yet. How do they work for you?