Author Topic: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?  (Read 371 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline M1Garandfather

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« on: August 26, 2009, 02:59:57 PM »
Hello!.. I'm still acquiring equipment for reloading my new H&R 500 S&W Handi-rifle... My question is , "Which Die sets do you fella's like?"...  I have a chance to buy either the Lee Carbide set , or an RCBS non-carbide set... Any thoughts on the matter to help me decide?...I don't mind lubing cases , in fact I have never used a set of Carbide Dies!... I am more interested in actually in hearing how these Die sets seat bullets and crimp... Some Dies are just plain easier to get along with and thats what I'm asking here...

Also , does the Lee reloading manual have good data on the 500 S&W?.. Worth picking up , or is similar to the Hodgdon data pretty much the same?

Right now I am thinking of going first with H4227 powder for the 500...I am not after top velocities , just a nice accurate load , and one that can be bumped up a bit for deer hunting... Most likely I will be shooting cast bullets in the Handi-rifle mostly , I did buy the Lee .501 440 gr FPGC mold first off to try.... I have been reading on several websites fella's like 32 to 34 grs of H4227 with the 440 gr cast bullet , am I on the right track here?... Thats from a handgun data site , and it supposedly gives around 1300 - 1400 fps.

Ay tips on powders and charges for a medium power load with the Le 440 gr cast bullet around the 1300-1400 fps range would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

All the best

Bob 

Offline Datil

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (17)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1822
  • Gender: Male
Re: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2009, 03:11:45 PM »
 I don't know any thing about 50 S&W, but straight wall cases I would say carbide dies,
 I some lee dies I like them. Just my 2 cents.  Marv.

Offline MSP Ret

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (173)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8940
  • Gender: Male
Re: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2009, 03:16:36 PM »
get the carbide if you can...<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2009, 03:25:15 PM »
I have the RCBS steel die set, it works fine, you just have to lube the cases which you don't need to do with carbide dies. I use Hodgdon data for Lil'gun, crimped with the Lyman taper crimp die,  500 accuracy seems to benefit from a good crimp.  ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline michaelt454

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 77
  • Gender: Male
Re: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2009, 08:18:26 AM »
The carbide dies are less hassle I would get those.  I use the RCBS carbide I like them.  H110 and Lil' gun work well after I figured out how IMPORTANT A CLEAN AND DRY LATCH MECHANISM WAS TO ACCURACY!!!I have done lots of loading with almost every jacketed bullet available for the 500 I really enjoy my rifle its a blast!  I can help you with data if you e mail or message me.  Michael T.

Offline cwlongshot

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (158)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9907
  • Gender: Male
  • Shooting, Hunting, the Outdoors & ATVs
Re: Which Die set for the 500 S&W H&R?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2009, 11:03:36 AM »
  Get your self a quality set of dies. (NOT LEE)  RCBS, LYMAN, REDDInG and HORNADY are MUCH better. Most here know I don't care for LEE products as a whole. But I did buy a set of lee dies for my 500 as when I got it it was all that was available and I needed to load for this EXPENSIVE caliber!!  Well, they lasted me only a couple years and not THAT many loadings. I have probably 40+ die sets I haven't had one single die failure until this one. This is the first and last LEE die set I'll ever buy.







CW
"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

NRA LIFE Member 
Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.