.500 S&W rifle Bear Load development

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  • Last Post 06 February 2013
onondaga posted this 24 January 2013

    I still want to get another New York State Black Bear. 62 years old and every year I get more respectful of how these animals will hang on to life and fight for their own life till their last breath. My 2 bear rifles are a Colt Sauer .458 WM Grand African and an NEF Ultra Handi-Rifle in .500 S&W. I have been gravitating to heavier bullets in the .500 S&W. Two loads I have previously worked up for the .500 group 1 inch at 50 yards are:   My first load with the .500 uses a 250 gr. Lee R.E.A.L muzzle loading bullet sized to .502” and shoots at a clocked 1885 fps with 35.2 grains WC820 and BPI Original ballistic filler to case mouth rim before seating the bullet to a 2.005” OAL. Recoil is mild; accuracy great and this essentially SWC design delivers 1,016 foot-pounds at 100 yards. This energy makes the load a 100-yard deer load.   My second load with the .500 uses a RCBS 50-340-SWC plain base bullets un-sized at .502” at a clocked 1700 fps with 30.2 grains  .H. LilGun and again with the BPI filler. Recoil is more than mild but shoot able with the 9.5 pound weighted stock Handi-Rifle. This load delivers 1,037 foot-pounds at 160 yards and 1,344 foot pounds at 100 yards making it a reasonable 100-yard Bear load.       My new mold on the way is the Lee C501-440-RF. I have gas checks for the bullets and will try near the Lyman starting pistol load for this bullet, 27.4 grains H. LilGun with a velocity for pistols projected at 1456 fps. I generally get an additional 100 fps above pistol velocity projections so I calculated for 1556 fps from my rifle. That velocity yields 1,013 foot-pounds at 390 yards. Yes, 390 yards! This is way more energy than I need for anything and likely have abusive, flinch inducing recoil. Link to info on this mold: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/266944/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c501-440-rf-500-s-and-w-magnum-501-diameter-440-grain-flat-nose-gas-check>http://www.midwayusa.com/product/266944/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c501-440-rf-500-s-and-w-magnum-501-diameter-440-grain-flat-nose-gas-check

  So I have calculated for an energy level of 1,500 foot-pounds at 100 yards making a 100-yard Bear load. A muzzle velocity of 1,413 fps will yield 1,502 foot-pounds at 100 yards. Charge reduction software says 26.4 grains will achieve the 1,413 fps I desire for a 100 yard, 1,500 foot-pound Bear load for the .500 S&W in my Handi-Rifle.   This load with 1,500 foot pounds at 100 yards should not have substantially more recoil that my 340-grain RCBS bullet that has 1,500 foot pounds at 65 yards.   So, my usual practice is to clock a load slightly higher than I want and get chronograph numbers very close, but high so I can then use charge reduction software to get near to as exact as the 1413 fps muzzle velocity that I'm targeting for the Lee 440 gr GC bullet in my rifle.   Has anyone tried the .501” Lee 440 grain gas checked SWC in a rifle?   Gary

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Jeff Michel posted this 25 January 2013

I have the same rifle as you. I have not shot it extensively. I got my mould when winter was just setting in. What I've found so far is that with modest Unique loads (lyman data) no GC, 50/50 lube. It's right on the money at 50 yards. I haven't chronographed it yet, but I'm guessing 1100-1200.

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onondaga posted this 25 January 2013

Jeff, That sounds like a good light load with Unique, Thanks,  I have seen the data on Unique for the .500. I have H. LilGun, WC820, and H. Titegroup pistol powders. I may try some of the Titegroup as light loads for the .500 are published for that, But my other 2 powders are both capable of factory like full pressure loads.

The big question ahead is if I will get the 1 inch groups at 50 yards I like for hunting with the Handi-rifle using a gas checked 440 gr bullet. The other 2 lighter bullets I shoot at hunting load levels do that for me. It would be terrific if the new heavy bullet is just as accurate at the velocity I need for a 100 yard bear load.

Gary

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Jeff Michel posted this 25 January 2013

The plan is to round up some gas checks between now and spring. I have a pound of LiL' Gun set back for just such a a task. The plan for me is deer, not many bears in Ohio. I'm sure I'll be throttling up my loads to somewhere near factory speeds/pressures. What is your expections with TiteGroup? Isn't that a bit fast for something like a .500? Thanks for your thoughts Jeff

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onondaga posted this 25 January 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2222>Jeff Michel: The Hodgdon site has .500 S&W H. Titegroup loads for every bullet weight 275- 500 grain. I gotta say that they are the lowest velocity loads with the highest pressures and don't go past them.

http://data.hodgdon.com/mainmenu.asp

It is well worth it to learn how to navigate the Hodgdon site. The site has very complete data for Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders for every practical caliber and bullet weight and the site is free.

If you haven't used the site or have difficulty navigating to where you want data, just ask.

Gary

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delmarskid1 posted this 26 January 2013

The Hodgdon sight is nice. Thanks for the reminder. Is the 500 SW the same diameter as the 50-70?

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onondaga posted this 26 January 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=348>delmarskid1"

50-70 bullets are .515” by the books, the .500 S&W takes .501” in jacketed bullets, I size cast bullets for my .500 S&W rifle at .502", any smaller and the rifle will lead and shoot inaccurately.

Gary

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onondaga posted this 26 January 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2222>Jeff Michel:

I get my 50 cal. checks at Sage's Outdoors online he sells quantities as low as 100 for $6 in 50 caliber: http://www.sagesoutdoors.com/index.php?id_product=24&controller=product>http://www.sagesoutdoors.com/index.php?idproduct=24&controller=product

Gary

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Jeff Michel posted this 26 January 2013

Gary, Thanks for the tips, I haven't been to the Hodgdon sight before, that will certainly help. Jeff

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Jeff Michel posted this 31 January 2013

Gary, thanks for the reference to Sage's Outdoors. I got some .500 and some 7mm gas checks delivered this morning. They look pretty good, Maybe I'm too traditional, I've always been a bit wary of aluminun gas checks. Guess I'll find out how they compare, I know alot of people are using them.

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onondaga posted this 31 January 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2222>Jeff Michel: The only negative I've ever heard about aluminum checks  I disproved for myself. I read on another board that they foul chrome lined bores with aluminum. After 500 rounds of aluminum checked ammo through the chrome lined bore of my Remington Spartan in 7.62X39, I can say there is no aluminum fouling at all.

I'm glad you tried James checks, i'm  sure you will be pleased. I just ordered some more too for these 14 pounds of 440 gr. .500 bullets I cast yesterday:

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Jeff Michel posted this 31 January 2013

Didn't know about chromed bores and aluminium fouling. I have the same rifle as you do and I guess I'll have to keep an eye on it because depending how this inital order of gas checks turn out, I was going to get .30 checks next. Still, 500 rounds is a lot of rounds without fouling.....

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onondaga posted this 04 February 2013

Great news on the Lee 440 grain bullets. This is the 3rd cast bullet I am trying in the .500 S&W Mag. Ultra Handi-Rifle  and it is the first bullet that is actually long enough to be seated to engage the lands of the chamber leade.

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onondaga posted this 05 February 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2222>Jeff Michel:

It is only fair to mention my bore condition and maintenance regarding “no fouling". The bores of the .500 Handi and the Spartan X39 have both been polished to a slick shine that loves cast bullets. I pull a clean, dry Hoppe's Bore Snake through once every 5 rounds routinely at the bench and seasonally use a conventional clean and lube before storage.

Gary

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Jeff Michel posted this 06 February 2013

I've followed your “bore polishing” thread with interest thoughI haven't had any problems with fouling with my bores “as is". The checks from Sage Outdoors....... The .500 are just fine. The 7mm are pretty oversized, will not under any circumstances stay on the shank of the bullet (7mm “soup can")I decided to try gluing them on. I've heard where people have done it. I used hot melt glue with what seems to be adaquate holding properties. I've shot about twenty five rounds and even though I haven't found any bullets I haven't had any unexplained fliers either. Hopefully I'm not doing anything too stupid:)

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onondaga posted this 06 February 2013

http://www.castbulletassoc.org/view_user.php?id=2222>Jeff Michel:

The gluing can work for check fit but consider some alternatives. Do copper checks fit? Then, I'd use them. The shank area of the mold can also be honed to bring up the diameter of the shank to fit the checks. James Sage  is a guy that does care to satisfy his customers. Tell him about your fit problem with 7mm and your particular bullet. He may very well be able to make you some 7mm checks with a thicker aluminum stock or provide very useful advise beyond my knowledge and skill level with gas checks.

One way to see if gas checks are coming off during bullet flight is to shoot at a large target at close range, maybe 10-15 yards. Checks coming off the bullets will leave separate holes in a large target at close range.

Re: bore polishing, If your rifle is shooting clean with your bullets and your groups are good without the cold fliers....congratulations! You have a good barrel already and don't need to polish it.

The .500 checks I got from Sage's are the best fitting checks of any caliber I shoot. They are cut and formed from .020” stock for .500 S&W. and fit is very tight with my bullet checking/sizing of .5018-.502” where I have honed my sizing die to drop bullets for my rifle.

Gary

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