.500 S&W Question

[bullet8542]

I am thinking hard about getting a barrel for my H&R rifle frame, Question is I intend to reload for the rifle I was wondering if anyone out there reloads this cal. and how inexpensive have they gotten the cost down too ?

Factory ammo is outrageous and reloading is the only option or going with a different calibur.

Thanks in advance.

[necchi]

Do you currently reload? If so here is a handy calculator, just enter componant costs;

http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

[bullet8542]

Yes I had to start reloading due to the fact I shoot 1000 rounds of .45ACP a month and buying new ammo my wife would kill me, Thanks for the link.

[grizz]

I reload for one.. The biggest cost is the brass.. allthough bullets aint that cheap either about 23 buck for 50(sierra 400jsp) hornday xtp's are about 34 bucks..  but it is deffinatly better then spending 53 bucks a box of 20 loaded....

[kynardsj]

Jacketed bullets and brass are what they are. Kinda high. If you want some plinking loads, that still out of the 500 are tough, check the cast bullet links on this website and go to Western Bullets. They're advertised as 340 grain SWC's but the average weight for mine was 367 grains. These over a load of Titegroup or as I do, 15.0 grains of Unique are great. Approx 1250 fps from my revolver. Western bullets are great quality and the price is right. Good luck with your loads.

[quickdtoo]

One of the best buys in bonded bullets for the 500S&W Rifle is the Rem 385gr CL bonded, Cabelas has em on sale right now, they shoot good in my Handi on top of Lil'gun in Starline brass.

Tim

Remington 385gr CLHP

And in case you haven't read it...

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_1_53/ai_n16866654/

[manatee1947]

I just started working on 500 reloads, have reloaded others for many years. I could not find brass available, so ordered magtech brass from midway, thought they were for pistol primers only, but they now are R stamped and for rifle primers. I am not going to shoot full power loads or jacketed bullets in my handi, only cast. I got the Lee 440 gr mold, and it cast them so close that the sizer I bought is not really needed. The bullets average 432 gr for me with my alloy. SO..... primers 3 cents, cases 60 cents, powder 10 cents, bullets 20 cents, that makes 93 cents per load for the 1 st reload. Given expected case life and the cost of the mold, I expect the final cost of cases to drop to about 4 cents per load, and .2 cents per bullet, or say, below 20 cents per load, $4.00 per box of 20. Given the penetration and diameter of a 500 S&W cast at say 1000 fps up to 1400 fps, I see no reason to go to anything more powerful. And basically for the price of a 22 magnum cartridge.