.500 SW & .44 Mag Load Development

[bug_eyedmonster]

Happy New Years Fellow Reloaders!

I am getting into the world of reloading revolver rounds after seeing the prices of copper ammo for my side arms. The two calibers I'm gearing up for are .44 magnum and .500 SW. Both guns are with four inch barrels, and I noticed all the recommended powders are slower burning. I've read in the past, especially with the .500 that the shorter barrels are not making full use of powder charges, so I wanted to see if there were any recommendations to better prepare for this. The copper bullets I'll be loading are from Lehigh Defense, for the .44 mag, it's the 220 grain, and with the .500, it's the 325 and 420 grain bullets. I carry both guns interchangeably when hunting as a side arm depending on where I'm hunting.

For the sake of not having a vast variety of powders, I was hoping to use Hodgdon H110 for both calibers. The minimum Lehigh recommends on their site is 19 gr for .44 with 220 gr bullet, 33 gr for 325 gr bullet, and 30 gr for the 420 gr bullet in .500 SW. The .44 is tested with a 5.5 inch barrel, and the .500 is tested with a 6.5 inch barrel. Is this a good place to start? I have Federal and CCI primers to use, and I'll be loading with RCBS carbide dies on a Forster Co-Ax press if that makes a difference.


Jerry

[Whiterabbit]

Press and dies don't make a difference. I like RCBS carbide too though, good choice.

The cases are just too big for the barrel length you have. There is no realistic advantage you can gain by going to a fast powder, loaded to max pressure, in an effort to improve the terminal ballistics of your cartridges.

That said, I wouldn't let any of that bother me at all. In fact, I don't (I load 460S&W, also a big case). H110 is a fine choice for you if you are pursuing max loads for your guns. The cost will be enormous muzzle flash since, as you've already identified, H110 is going to be on the slower end of the spectrum. The truth is, even through a 10" barrel the fireball extends out the barrel by several feet. So forget about your concerns, go ahead with H110, use Lehigh's recommended charge ranges, and get to your development.

No need to shoot over a chrono IMO or go whole hog on load development SD's can be huge and not change your group size at all for the max ranges you can reliably hit with a 4" handgun. Load ladders and shoot for groups, and settle on the best shooting load. H110 under each of those three bullets will make a fine load in your 4" guns, give you plenty of power. Add a scope on top of each gun and you don't need to take them as your side arm, you can take them as your main arm.

Happy shooting

[McGuiver]

[richone1]

My load is with Winchester 296 on my 357,44,454,50ae, and my 500sw. It’s all online and on the books. I like the high kick on 300gr projectile both on the 50ae and the 500sw on the 500 I also use large Rifle Magnum primers due to the powder. I tried using recommended large rifle primers and got a round stuck in the chamber twice. Learn from my mistake and FYI I was using federal primers. I hope that helps

[Abenaki]

The cost will be enormous muzzle flash

He will be able to see that muzzle flash at high noon!

I do like H110 in my 41mag.



Take care
Abenaki