Thread: My new toy: a .500 S&W

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

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Don't use trail boss if you are loading subsonic loads. It gives too wide a velocity spread. What this means is if you do use it your 'average load' velocity will need to be quite low as if not you will be living in the constant fear of one going trans or supersonic and creating a frightening Bang!! I raised this in another thread and one of the other forum members explained that this is because TB was NOT designed to be used as a powder for subs, but for use in cowboy action shooting etc. So use it if you will, but know that if you are not bald now you will be at the end of load development.

Thanks for the advice Moa Hunter, what powder would you suggest I use for subs?

unique is popular in the US, AP70 has the same burning finding load data for 500 grain cast is near impossible some one with Quickload could probably
sort out some data,
Trail Boss is usable just don't compress it, That really upsets it,Try 2205 start load with a 500 gr jacket bullet is 25.2 gr for 1000fps cast bullets will go faster
go careful and back off .5 gr steps until it is subsonic.

Originally Posted by Rich007

Thanks for the advice Moa Hunter, what powder would you suggest I use for subs?

I would suggest AS-50N. This works very well in straight walled 44 mag cases, giving a velocity spread of only 1 to 2 fps with a mean velocity of 1020 fps . 7.4 grn x 300grn projectile.

If your case has a similar bore to powder charge capacity / case fill as the 44 it should work otherwise as shooternz suggests.

Thanks @shooternz and @Moahunter

I got hold of some AS-50N and loaded up some test loads to see what velocities I would get with @shooternz 's 500ge cast bullets

Velocities were as follows: 11.5gr:999fps, 11.7gr: 1015fps, 12gr:990fps, 12.3gr: 1043fps

I then loaded up 5X 11.7gr and 5X 12gr to so accuracy and ES testing. This is when things started turning to crap.....

11.7gr Velocities: 1016, 979, 943, 974, 1011 - with a grouping of approx. 1m at 50 yards (not all shots hit the target)

12gr Velocities: 1026, 992, 961, 1033, 1007 - with a similar grouping

Now, there are better shots than me, but WHAT THE HELL!!!

I talked to a mate who used to reload and shoot cast bullets and he thought I might have issues around not filling the case enough and suggested I 'pack' the case with dacron and/or try another powder.


Thoughts ???????...…….

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I would suggest AS-50N. This works very well in straight walled 44 mag cases, giving a velocity spread of only 1 to 2 fps with a mean velocity of 1020 fps . 7.4 grn x 300grn projectile.

If your case has a similar bore to powder charge capacity / case fill as the 44 it should work otherwise as shooternz suggests.