.501 WFN preference?

[HHI 812]

Hi Veral,
Montana Bullets has a 410 WFN GC and a 350 WFN GC listed at their site. How would you compare them in performance in a 4" revolver? What are their best uses? Trying to decide between the two? Thanks, Dennis e-mail at dennis.madriaga@gmail.com

[Veral]

  I'd say use the 350 gr if you want minimum recoil.  350 gr is a heavy weight in all smaller calibers, and making it 50 caliber doesn't make it a light bullet so far as game performance goes.  It will kill superbly on very large game.  However if you want maximum accuracy potential and power, the heavier bullet would be best, and 450 + grains even better.

  I have made some 700 gr moulds for the 500 S&W, and the customers are happy, because that's what they wanted and they shoot accurately.  Personally I would consider weights over 500 gr as overkill, which the cartridge and revolver are anyhow.  Whoever developed it didn't realize how well large caliber LBT bullets kill at velocities easily obtainable with the standard factory cartridges, or I don't believe they would have spent the time developing it.

[HHI 812]

Veral,
This is not for the 500 S&W, but for the 500 JRH, which is like a 500 5S&W case, but cut shorter to 1.4". like the .500 Linebaugh case, and uses .501" diameter bullets. Buffaloe Bore makes 2 types of ammo. One is a 425 @ 1400 fps, and the mild load is a 440 @ 1000 fps.I want to get one mold and stick to one bullet weight/design for all my shooting and hunting in this gun, as well as one load for everything. This will make it better for consistency all around, and no sight changes for hunting and practicing. Not looking at long range shooting, but want a hunting bullet and good enough for close encounters of the big bear kind if they happen to be around. It will be a custom gun, and should have a good smooth barrel. If you think a gas check design will get me better accuracy, I'll go for it and gas check cost is not a consideration. Would you suggest a WFN, because I've read on other calibers you said it would be a better stopper? Would going to a heavier weight give me better stopping power because of my low velocities, or is there such thing as being to heavy for a certain velocity? How important is having the band above the crimp groove to diameter? At times, I've had some WFN really tight in chambering(in different FA 454's), and wondering if I had it made about .001" less, if it would affect accuracy? Appreciate your advise, Dennis

[HHI 812]

Veral,
Was looking through the Montana .500 bullets, and he has a WLN 440, with a .345 nose length? Wasn't the advantage of a WLN to have a long nose to take advantage of a long cylinder? Which would be better based off my earlier post requirements? The WLN 440 with .345 nose length, or the WFN 410 GC with .370 nose length?
Thanks,
Dennis

[Veral]

  Yes the WLN was designed for heavy bullets to allow seating out for maximum powder capacity and power potential.  However, I cut it to customer request with shorter nose lengths, if the bullet weight requested is heavy enough to carry the long nose.  This doesn't degrade performance if maximum loads aren't wanted, and it does allow easy chambering in any gun, whereas long noses with heavy driving bands outside the case which extend out into the cylinder throats MUST be sized for the particular gun.  Montana Bullet Works has ordered most of their moulds with shorter noses, which allows more freedom in sizing.  When ordering any of their short nose bullets I suggest getting the maxim diameter they offer so they fill the chambers close as possible.  The exception being if you are certain your gun has very tight chambers, which isn't common except for freedom arms revolvers.

  The rest of your questions I answered personally by phone and aren't of common interest to the public so I won't answer them here.