Reloading the 500 S&W, deer hunting loads, 275 grain Barnes XPB advice needed

[pastorbuck]

I'm new to reloading pistol and rifle cartridges (I have reloaded shot gun shells for quite a few years).  I just loaded up some 500 S&W, starline brass, Remington large rifle primers, Hogdon Lil'Gun powder, Barnes XPB 275 grain HP.  The rifle I'm shooting is the TC Encore 500 S&W in Katahdin barell, Muzzle break.  I have a Leupold 2x7 scope on it.  At the moment, I'm using starting loads of Lil'Gun powder, 40.6 grains (Hogdon's chart starts at 40.5 grains).  At 50 yards the groups are great (bench shooting).  I did a simple bullet expansion test the other day, shooting through approximately 15 to 16 inches of water in plastic containers.  The expansion was fantastic at that range and that much water.  My question is, "How should I go about finding the sweet load for this TC set up to possibly take deer out to 100 yards?"  Realistically, hunting in NH, my average shot at deer is 50 yards or much less (Mostly, because also being a bow hunter, I tend to set up close on possible shots and also hunt close cover).  I'm assuming going up gradually in grains is the answer.  What I don't want to do, is make the loads so uncomfortable to shoot that I don't spend time putting rounds through this gun.  Any advice and guidance would be greatly appreciated.  Once again my main objective is to hunt deer and the occasional bear.

Scott b.

[stimpylu32]

Scott

Welcome aboard , the first thing I would do is to shoot the loads @ 100 to see what they group like , you may already have the load your looking for . The next thing I would do is to make up some loads ( maybe 5 each ) going up .05 grains per loading and check them for groups .

This will also let you see what recoil level is most comfortable to shoot at , if this fails to give you the results your looking for the next thing would be to try another powder like H4227 or even H110 .

stimpy

[pastorbuck]

  Thanks for the information.  I’m going to try that process you mentioned.  I’m curious about different powders and their qualities, burn rate, etc.  How can I find out about powder characteristics?  Is there a web site that explains that.  For instance, I know I’m shooting a handgun cartridge out of a carbine style rifle (20 inch barrel).  So if I go to Hogdon’s site where the loads are shot out of a 10” barrel, I’m assuming they’ve picked a burn rate to be most effective with that 10” barrel.  Is this correct?  Before joining this reloading forum, I just loaded up 15 rounds of the 500 S&W at 41.5 grains.  My last loads were only 40.6 grains.  If the 41.5 is not too punishing  , I’ll work with this load for awhile.  I’ll also try some loads as you suggested, going up or down .05 grains (5 rounds).  I’m pretty sure I’m not going above 41.5.  I’ll post again and let you know how I made out.
Thanks again,

Scott b.

[stimpylu32]

Scott

Try this link , there is a ton of info here that will answer a lot of your ??s .

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,134906.0.html

stimpy

[Grumulkin]

The most accurate load I've tried for a 500 S&W Encore handgun utilizes H110/Win. 296 and 400 grain Sierra Sportsmaster bullets.  Three shot groups go into 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards off the bench.  These bullets should be adequate for deer and bear.

[moosie]

Dang, How big are them deer in New Hampshire.  Concussion  might near knock one down at 25 yds.
Moosie