Mountain Molds

from the old forum:

I was asked about a Ross-style 510 gr. GC bullet for the 500 S&W.

John Ross really likes the long nose design because it frees up more powder space. It makes sense for the very heavy bullets. However, the 510 gr. version as shown below has very little full diameter bearing length and carries little lube. Some people have good luck with them, but I have to ask, what is the point, since the big case has gobs of powder capacity?


If it were me, I'd think about shortening the nose to give 100% loading density with H110/WW296. That would increase the bearing length, lube capacity, and give up almost no velocity. Here's one example:


As for load data, I have had good luck using Quickload for wheelgun cartridges and H110/WW296, and of course, using a chronograph for a sanity check.

Here some examples of QL predictions for H110 at 50 ksi:

Ross design with 0.700" long nose: 44.5 gr., 1594 fps, 87% load density

0.500" long nose shown above: 39.0 gr, 1534 fps, 93% load density

I guess it depends on how badly you want that extra 50 fps;

As you know I have many of your SW 500 and 475 moulds and I prefer 2 lube grooves ,3 would be even better especially at the pressure generated by the SW 500 and 475 Linebaugh and 475 Maximums.Leading begins when I have 2 small grooves or less.

I have a 495gr mould noselength .389,and I have a 515gr mould noselength .550,max velocity is for all practical purposes the same 1540 fps,so the noselength did not increase max velocity even though powder capacity was increased.

Sean

Some people have good luck with them [long nose bullets], but I have to ask, what is the point, since the big case has gobs of powder capacity?

The long nose wrings the absolute max case capacity out of the gun. For people who only want to load with H110/296 and standard bullets, that may seem unnecessary. However, those of use who use other powders and bullet weights have a different view.

The .500 is unusual in its combination of case size, potential bullet shank length, operating pressure, and powder availability. There's not much available that's SLOWER than 296 but FASTER than 4198. This is the one area of the powder burning rate spectrum where the pickings are mighty slim. Further, what if you want to load a milder load with decent punch? The ball powders give squibs if loaded down too much. Fast pistol powders like Titegroup permit double charges. Most of the TrailBoss loads (max is to the base of the bullet) won't give anywhere near 1000 FPS. Maximizing case capacity helps. Same deal if you have a bunch of cheap surplus .223-speed powder that is "too slow" for the .500 but can give over 1000 FPS with long-nose bullets of 400-550 grains. With long-nose, short-shank bullets, 4759 becomes THE .500 powder for the shooter who wants to load up and down the spectrum.

Maximizing case capacity of the .500 greatly increases the handloader's options to create the loads he wants.

JR

There are several 50 caliber Whispers tossing slugs up to 750 grains suppressed and they work well. We have a 45-70 and have shot up to near 600 grains suppressed but the 520-550 range were more accurate and quite impressive.


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