Todays S&W 500 chronograped loads

[sugarmaker]

Got to shoot my 6.5" 500 today. I bought it as an ingot launcher, 450 gr at 1100 FPS ish, just because...

All loads:

Montana 450 LFN-GC
CCI-250 LRM
Hornady case (MAN are the primers tight in these things!!)

40.0 IMR3031 870FPS (full case, bullet bumps powder) 57FPS ES, mild
30.0 IMR4227 970FPS
33.0 IMR4227 1120FPS 80 FPS ES
34.0 IMR4227 1170FPS
35.0 IMR4227 1200FPS Feels like 4" 629 shooting the "Keith" standard load
34.0 WW296 1216FPS Pretty clean burn, a little sharp for plinking
32.0 WW296 1150FPS Case getting emptier than I'd like

My FPS figures are well below the Lee manual for 34.0 grains of 296, I was a bit surprised. I'd like to load the case at 100% density (40 grs plus or minus) with something that gives about 1100FPS with good ES. Anyone with direct experience out there?

 

[Walkalong]

just because...

One of the best reasons.

I do not load the .500, but if I was looking for a more case filling load, I would look at IMR 4227, AA 5744, SR 4759, and see if they would be appropriate. They will definitely be bulkier than AA #9, H-110, W-296, 2400, etc.

 

[Jaxondog]

i have loaded everything but a 450gr in mine. I enjoy shooting 335gr JHP with 36gr H110 and is very accurate @ 100yd's. I just don't like punishing my gun with the heavy load's

 

[ClemY]

I confess to being a wimp. I like to load my .500s with fairly mild loads. I don’t see beating up myself or my guns with hot loads. The comp on the 4” really exacerbates the noise and tends to clear the line if hotter loads are used.