625 Grain .500 S&W loads chronographed

[John Ross]

Yesterday I got the chance to chronograph my heavy bullet .500 loads with the Oehler 35P. The results were better than I expected.

26/WC680/625 Cast, CCI 350, OAL 2.210" 1192FPS.

27.8/WC680/625 Cast, CCI 350, OAL 2.210" 1265FPS

Second load above but with CCI magnum rifle primers, 12FPS faster but more shot-to-shot variation. No misfires.

Load #2 14FPS extreme spread over 10 shots.

Bullets were wheelweight alloy quenched in icewater, .5004" as-cast and sized .4997", can be pushed through a chamber throat with a finger.

All loads used Starline brass, loaded in RCBS dies. All loads if you hold the gun muzzle vertical and push the ejector rod halfway the cases fall out of the cylinder.

Am going to make a .500" punch and make some NECO PVC P-wads to eliminate leading near the muzzle.

Haven't put this gun on paper yet from sandbags but it shoots flatter and more accurately at long range (200-500 yds.)than any other revolver I've ever owned.

To see this bullet/load go to

http://www.john-ross.net/photogallery/500S&W.jpg

JR

 

[Fiveshooter]

625 gr. .500 Bullets

I am not sure what job a 625 gr. bullet at 1265 fps would do that a 440 gr. at 1650 would not.
I do have to ask about recoil with bullets that heavy. Does it come back slow enough to let you get your head out of the way?
I have one of the .500s on order but it looks like it may be a while before S&W gets caught up on orders.
I shoot nothing but cast bullets from all my revolvers and was wondering how bad that compensator gets coated with lead from the bullet bases.
I am shure gas checks would cure the compensator leading but I am not a big fan of gas checks. I don't like the extra cost and extra steps of using them.

Best Regards,
Billy

 

[Gordon]

Have a Encore barrel on order and that looks like a good load. Whose mold?

 

[John Ross]

Fiveshooter: "I am not sure what job a 625 gr. bullet at 1265 fps would do that a 440 gr. at 1650 would not."

Me either. I wanted to experiment with a long bullet with a bore-riding nose section. I thought this might give GREAT accuracy. Preliminary tests are very encouraging.

"I do have to ask about recoil with bullets that heavy. Does it come back slow enough to let you get your head out of the way?"

Gun gets nowhere near my head. With a mild grip it twists and goes vertical, but not near my head at all.

Gordon: "Whose mold?"

To my specs by Mountainmolds.com. This is the "MKI" version, with .625" nose length. The S&W cylinder will take a .700" nose length, and I have such a 625 grain mold coming in a week as well as a 450 with .700" nose that I think I can get 1800 FPS out of with an OAL of 2.295".

I LOVE this gun. It is the best long range sixgun I have ever fired.

JR

 

[Jim March]

Uhhh...John? I'm a BIG fan of yours, but..."sixgun"?

Count again .

 

[4v50 Gary]

625 grain bullet? Geez. That's heavier than a minie ball.

 

[P95Carry]

27.8/WC680/625 Cast, CCI 350, OAL 2.210" 1265FPS

Hell, I make that 2220 foot pounds!!!

Bear hunting maybe!? Hmmm .....

 

[J Miller]

OK John, what was that little bitty round to the left of those five cannon shells in you hand?

 

[John Ross]

Miller: "OK John, what was that little bitty round to the left of those five cannon shells in you hand?"

.44 Mag w/250 Keith.

JR

 

[Fiveshooter]

John Ross, You did not answer my question ..

about lead fouling in the compensator.
I finally located a S&W 500 and made the purchase today. The gun is coming from PA and I am in Texas so it will be next week by the time my dealer's FFL gets there and the gun gets back to me.
I have had brass, bullets and dies for the .500 S&W for a while now but was having a hard time finding the gun for a good price.
As I mentioned earlier I shoot cast bullets exclusively in all my revolvers and was wondering about lead build-up in the compensator.
Also you mentioned that your mold was made by Mountain Molds.
Dan did a .512" WFN 430gr. for my .500 Linebaugh in Magma blocks for me.
I have to say he does a first rate job. I will be having him make a mold for the .500 S&W at about 450 gr. and one for my .50 AE FA revolver at 400 gr.
Please keep me updated on you ultra heavy bullet load development.
If you ever get a chance at an elephant you have the right load
There are not many elephants in Texas and the won't let you shoot the few that are here

 

[John Ross]

"about lead fouling in the compensator."

I have not experienced noticeable lead fouling in the compensator, but my gun has less than 500 rounds through it. That said, I dislike it as it makes bore inspection more difficult I will probably machine it off one of these days, along with the ugly full underlug. I do not believe a comp makes much difference in recoil in a gun with powder weight 5% of bullet weight.

" I will be having him make a mold for the .500 S&W at about 450 gr. and one for my .50 AE FA revolver at 400 gr."

I just got a 450 grain bore-rider block from him with a .700" nose length and 1.000" bullet length (small meplat for better BC for long range). LOTS of powder room with only .300" inside the case. I expect to get close to 1800 FPS with this bullet at less than 50K CUP at an OAL of 2.295". Also got the "JR Mark II" heavy mold at 640 grs. and .700" nose length, same bullet length of 1.325" as the 625 but five little grease grooves instead of two big ones. Load development starts this weekend. Looking for 1300 FPS with cases falling from the cylinder.

Am making a punch to make .500" Neco PVC P-wads. These should help with leading and accuracy, and maybe velocity.

"Please keep me updated on your ultra heavy bullet load development.
If you ever get a chance at an elephant you have the right load."

Probably won't go back to Africa as it seems to be all high fence hunting now. Will satisfy myself turning rocks into smaller rocks at the quarry. There is no better handgun for that than this one.

I think you are going to love this gun.

JR

 

[Fiveshooter]

Thanks John

Thanks for your answers to my question. I look forward to more about this gun and your load development.
I will report if I get any of the cylinder unlatching problem with the full throttle 440s.

Best Regards,
Billy