Could I fire the 500 magnum with a CCI BR2 rather than the typical rifle primers? Winchester large rifle primers are what I usually use, but I couldn't find any. I took a few BR2 and fired three rounds with them using a 440 grain bullet and 35 grains of little gun; they seemed to have a little bit more spice (maybe) than my usual priming load, but there were no signs of excessive pressure on the case or anything.
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buck460XVR
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They're just Bench Rest standard large rifle primers....if the recipe calls for standard large rifle, there's no problemo. Bench Rest primers are not hotter than standard primers(like magnum primers), just supposed to be more consistent. That's a pretty stout load, how was extraction?
Shooterbob
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Work up your load .Do you have a chronograph? Check them against your normal load . is the correct answer but I wouldn't think there will be a huge difference. If your load isn't max . Bob
It stuck abit more then my normal primers for the same load other then that was perfect
I do have one but at the time I was short on time so I forgot to bring it out
Cheesemaker
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As said, BR2 should not be an issue. The Hodgdon site says 35gr is the max for a 440gr CPP LGC - with a WLRM
I have always used a LRM in my 460 and only a LR in my 500 - based on manual specs. There is no reason a BR2 would not qualify as a LR - just like @buck460XVR said
Edit add: I have not used Lil'Gun in my 460 or 500. I did try it for the first time in one of my 454 Casull's this past weekend. Fast yes, hot yes, not a fan. Not sure I will use it again, I have enough other powders.
I have always used a LRM in my 460 and only a LR in my 500 - based on manual specs. There is no reason a BR2 would not qualify as a LR - just like @buck460XVR said
Edit add: I have not used Lil'Gun in my 460 or 500. I did try it for the first time in one of my 454 Casull's this past weekend. Fast yes, hot yes, not a fan. Not sure I will use it again, I have enough other powders.
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Lilgun the easiest to get atm for me I also have H110 but really no loads for it. And I think im actually running 34 grains on it instead of 35. Also is the 35 grains max for lil gun or something else?
Cheesemaker
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I totally understand the availability thing. The max I mentioned was for Lil'Gun - straight from Hodgdon's website: https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center
buck460XVR
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....I am in total agreement here. The amount of heat produced and the evidence of premature and excessive forcing cone erosion it produces, has made me disregard Lil' Gun in any of my revolvers.
Yes, in any load book I have, it is max. Hope this was not your start load. Where did you get your recipe? Both the loads for .460 and .500 S&W magnum have been reduced after the guns were introduced because of sticky extraction. Some of this(at least with the .460) was because of tight throats. While the guns themselves could handle the pressure, the cases are the problem. With my .460, once the cases get hard to extract, I know it's time to back down. The .500 is more than enough gum out there for everything but elephants and water Buffalo at much less than max loads. Shooting the gun is more fun and cases last longer when one stays more to the middle of the road in published recipes.
Tons of loads out there for H110 and W296(same powder). Try the Hodgdon webpage. Also consider IMR4227 when using heavy bullets. IMHO, many better alternatives to Lil' Gun.
This is why I stated that the OP's load was "pretty stout" and asked about extraction. Pretty much "max" in any load book I have. Surprised the OP did not know this.
The extraction only became sticky when I used THE BR2 primers never had that issue with the winchester primers. Both with the same bullet and powder amounts. Powder was 34 grains not 35. I did one bullet at 35 and left it at that. My start load was 22 grains and worked up from there. I've been looking for IMR 4227 but I just can't find any. I did know my load was near max but had no problems with it
buck460XVR
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Again, the BR primers should not have been that much hotter than the Winchester. But sometimes a small amount of difference in components makes for a much larger difference in performance.
Your OP stated you shot more than one and it was only later on in the thread you claim it "might" be only 34. Your start load was way below min, again, where did you get the published recipe you are using?
Then why did you ask this?
Sometimes........ some of the things I read on reloading forums scares me......this is one of them. I ain't trying to dis you, but your vague recollections, the changing of your story as the thread goes along, plus the lack of what legitimate min and max loads are for a large handcannon, along with the statement that there are no loads out there for the .500 using H110/W296, is just that.
When I posted this I was pretty tired from jumping on 3 planes. I fired 3 BR-2 primers. I fired 1 35 grain load which was a winchester primer no stuck case etc...
The 3 BR-2 loads were all 34 grains of powder. When I was looking for loads with H110 all I found was for horandy bullets. I used the Hodgdon site and all they had listed when I looked was plated bullets or equivalent to them I must of missed the lead ones when I was looking but found them for LILgun And went with that sorry if it seem a little confusing.
Also I asked about the 35 grains being max for lil gun because he didnt specify it was for LIL gun and I was making sure
Cheesemaker
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Hodgdon has some H110 info on lead too - LGC = Lead Gas Check. Very similar pressures and velocities.
Yeah I saw that. I was ****ing blind when I first looked for it that and I also got my information from shooters reference and they have load data for it all the way from 275 to 500
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