500 sw loading questions

[joshco84]

I am just starting to reload, and the 204 and 500 sw are my first two.  (kind of opposite ends of the line huh)  anyways i am going to be using hornady brass since it is the cheapest (only one arm and leg, not both sets)  and am looking to use Rainier Leadsafe bullets 335 grain hollow point plated bullets.  These are by far the cheapest of the bunch, and i am currently just looking to punch paper for now and am not real worried about how well they will hold together.  Anyone using these bullets??  i cant find any load data for them anywhere.  Thanks a lot guys.

josh

[KN]

When loading with Rainier bullets you are supposed to use cast bullet data. A word of caution, if you push them too fast you will have leading problems. Keep them reasonable and they work pretty well. I just started using them for my 45acp loads and they work great. Just as accurate as jacketed and a third cheaper.   KN

[cbourbeau32]

Thanks for posting this question Josh. I just got my 500 S&W in yesterday and have been looking at the same 335 gr lead safe bullets you are talking about and can't find any data on that grain bullet in either cast or jacketed. Maybe someone will post some load data. I like you am looking for something fun (not painful) to shoot which is why I am waiting to shoot the gun until I can afford the reloading components instead of buying factory ammo. I read in my Lee manual that it is safe to use data from a heavier bullet on a ligter bullet. So maybe someone can tell me (us) if it would be ok to use 350 gr data for the 335. Thanks, Charlie

[simplicity]

The hogdon powder site has data for a 335 I beleive.

[Grumulkin]

I tried plated bullets in a 460 S&W and was not impressed with their accuracy.  I'm not tempted to try them in my 500 S&W.

It is safe to substitute loading data for a heavier bullet when using a lighter bullet in most cases.  An exception would be something like a  458 Lott which is a high volume case.  If you used a low end load for 500 grain bullet with 350 grain bullets, you could have problems with hang fires.

As for cheap .500 caliber bullets with real jackets, consider the Remington 385 grain Core-Lokt bullets.

[quickdtoo]

Here's the Hodgdon data, they don't show 335gr cast data tho.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load_1.asp

Another less expensive bullet is the Berry's plated, $26 for a box of 150 for the 350gr .500, I got a box, but haven't shot em yet, anyone tried em?

Tim

http://www.berrysmfg.com/categories/40-0.php

[joshco84]

i already ordered the 335s, they had nothing but great reviews on midway so i bought em.  I am still looking for loads though, should i use data for 350s?

[quickdtoo]

I would think going by their advice, I'd use the 350gr jacketed data reduced by 10%, or better yet, give em a call or email!!

http://www.rainierballistics.com/contactus.htm

Tim

Q6. What if I can't find load data for your bullets?
A. If you have a load for a cast lead bullet, that will transfer across the board as far as our bullets go. We recommend that you reduce a load for a jacketed bullet by 10%. 

http://www.rainierballistics.com/faq.htm