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I figured I would make a thread just because of how ridiculous some of these loads are. I've been casting 440gr projectiles for handloads and this caliber is like another dimension. There is no caliber even close to this and after a while you actually tend to lose perspective on energy delivery.
I found myself today loading a 440gr to 1,700fps. Just contemplate that for a second. That's a mind blowing 2,822ft/lbs of energy. From a power factor, that load is more than twice as powerful as a standard 7.62x51 NATO rifle round. But, it really beats the hell out of you. For instance, I fired 2 rounds on a Sunday and my palm was still a little tender on Wednesday. Really cool for exhibition, but a little too powerful without shooting gloves. So I decided to load some "low power rounds" I can load 30gr of lil'gun and just get a paltry 1,400fps. But that's about as low of a velocity as I can go with this powder. S&W says the 500 can take a 100% overcharge indefinitely, That is fucking ridiculous. It would tear your thumb off and blow straight through your chest - 440gr @ 3,400fps out of a pistol.
So, once I stepped back I realized that if I only fire a 440gr @ 600fps I'm doing the same energy delivery as my hot 44 magnum loads. The recoil is like a squib round out of the 500. Now, a of people view the 500 as a clown shoe gun. That's kind of how I looked at it also, but the cartridge itself is just incredible, as is the gun. You can replicate a hot 44 magnum load with zero recoil and a bigger entry/exit would, you can replicate a 12 gauge slug if you like, you can even replicate a 10 gauge slug. There really is nothing out there that can do this, and for that it's probably the most versatile pistol I've ever loaded for. You can work up loads right to the maximum you can endure, as hot as you want to go it will go, and then you can dial it back down. And yes it's huge and gigantic, blah blah blah, but the real gem is in the details.
I found myself today loading a 440gr to 1,700fps. Just contemplate that for a second. That's a mind blowing 2,822ft/lbs of energy. From a power factor, that load is more than twice as powerful as a standard 7.62x51 NATO rifle round. But, it really beats the hell out of you. For instance, I fired 2 rounds on a Sunday and my palm was still a little tender on Wednesday. Really cool for exhibition, but a little too powerful without shooting gloves. So I decided to load some "low power rounds" I can load 30gr of lil'gun and just get a paltry 1,400fps. But that's about as low of a velocity as I can go with this powder. S&W says the 500 can take a 100% overcharge indefinitely, That is fucking ridiculous. It would tear your thumb off and blow straight through your chest - 440gr @ 3,400fps out of a pistol.
So, once I stepped back I realized that if I only fire a 440gr @ 600fps I'm doing the same energy delivery as my hot 44 magnum loads. The recoil is like a squib round out of the 500. Now, a of people view the 500 as a clown shoe gun. That's kind of how I looked at it also, but the cartridge itself is just incredible, as is the gun. You can replicate a hot 44 magnum load with zero recoil and a bigger entry/exit would, you can replicate a 12 gauge slug if you like, you can even replicate a 10 gauge slug. There really is nothing out there that can do this, and for that it's probably the most versatile pistol I've ever loaded for. You can work up loads right to the maximum you can endure, as hot as you want to go it will go, and then you can dial it back down. And yes it's huge and gigantic, blah blah blah, but the real gem is in the details.
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