What am I doing wrong (misfires in 500S&W handloads)

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TheJuggernaut

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I'm fairly new to reloading, having started late last year sometime but I've been quite prolific at it. I've loaded at least a few thousand 40s, hundreds of 50AE, 308s, 9mm. Now I'm trying to load for my new 500 revolver and I'm screwing the pooch.

The vitals: Winchester brass, 300gr 50 cal Berry bullets (suspect #1), WLP (suspect #2), 42gr of H110 (suspect #3). RCBS carbide dies with a separate Hornady roll crimp die.

The first batch was all me. I seated the bullet way too shallow and didn't crimp it nearly enough. The first shot was a hangfire but it went off. I should have stopped here and checked things but it fired hard enough that it left no doubt that there was no squib. The second shot went poof. I tried to open the gun to see what's going on and it was locked up. Long story short, the projectile moved out of the cylinder and jammed between the cylinder and barrel, none of the powder ignited.

I regrouped, seated the bullet to an appropriate depth (about 2" COL) and gave it a good solid crimp.

On the left is how I loaded it initially, on the right is the 2nd attempt:

7h01HG9.jpg


Went to the range last night, first shot, poof. This time it lodged the bullet about an inch into the barrel so it was easier to remove. But the powder again didn't ignite. It all poured out, yellow/green colored. The powder is definitely not bad because the same powder throw was used back to back to load 50 rounds of 50AE which ran flawlessly yesterday.

Now to get all Columbo on it.

I was worried maybe the non-cannelured bullets wouldn't crimp but looking at the extracted projectile, it had a good, deep dent ring all around from the crimp so I'm somewhat comfortable that that is not the cause but you guys with big power revolver reloading experience tell me.

What else could cause the powder not to ignite? I realized after I loaded the rounds that I should have used my WLR primers as the book calls for, not the WLP which I use for 50AE. Could this be the problem?

Finally, could it be the amount of powder? 42gr of H110 seems to be a sane starting load by the Hodgdon site (they list 42 as the starting load for 275 and 325gr so I figure it should be fine for the 300).

Sanity check my plan:
-use WLR primers
-bump the load a bit to 43 grains

I've also got a few hundred 500S&W 350gr Berry coming (with cannelures) but I am shooting again on Friday so I'd like to try something by then.
 
Magnum primers are marked 'magnum'. Is it possible that the primers or powder were subjected to moisture? Possibly left overnight in the cold and then brought inside? If the primers and powder are good and the load is right, it should go bang. I only ever had iffy ignition problems with a light loading of IMR4227 in a .357. Perhaps a faster powder like TITEGROUP would help.
 
No the powder is definitely good, I only loaded them a day or two ago and the same powder was used to load 50AEs which worked great as usual.

Thanks guys, I'll try a few rounds with WLR and a few with magnum large pistol primers I have. I'll keep the load at 42 as the primers should bump the pressure.
 
Go to
http://john-ross.net/sw500.php

and do some reading
also
http://john-ross.net/loading.htm

He is a member at http://castboolits.gunloads.com
and has done some posts on the 500 --> lots of reading there

Some of the primer pockets for the 500 are LP and some of the pockets are LRifle ie the Lyman cast book uses data and uses Large rifle Starline brass
if you have cases that have a R after the mag ie 500 S&W Mag R they are for rifle primers (from what I have read)
 
Thanks for the links! I tried searching for related info as well and there seems to be conflicting info (some say LR is only for cases with an R, others say the LP brass was only in 2003). But I found the SAAMI spec for pocket depth, and I'll measure the casings tonight and base the decision on this:

Large Rifle .128" to .132".
Large Pistol .118" to .122"

EDIT: also found a guy with the same brass I have, reported back he had no issues with LR. I've got a chrono too so I'll see how it's running (well, if it fires for a change, that'll be progress)
 
How hot/light is your load.

H110 has a reputation for improper ignition if you fail to fill the case.

If you are loading on the lighter side that combined with a standard primer in place of a magnum could be your issue.

I started using 2400 in my .44 mag because of this reason, as I didn't need to be shooting top of the chart loads constantly.
 
42 grain which is on the light side but still within range. The case is definitely not full. But I've loaded my 50AE on the light range with oodles of case room and never had an issue there
 
Hi
I shoot lots of 500 and 460 all the time. Your issue is with the primer. Use large rifle magnum primers and your problems will be gone. It is that simple unless your powder is no good but you state that it works fine in the 50AE so it has to be the primer. It will help you if you can put a real good crimp on the bullet as well.

Graydog
 
I had the same issue with my 500 but the primer wouldn't go off at all., using the same powder. the other issue i had was the large pistol magnum primers couldn't hold the pressure with the hotter loads, as a result i etched my firing pin.


I had to drill out my winchester brass to accept large rifle magnum primers, After that the issues went away. If you need some brass rouge river arms has hornady for a good price.
 
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The issue is not the primer. I have solved this issue and its the bullet. The crimp grove is not up high enough on the bullet to get a proper grip on the bullet. I have been pushing the bullet in farther and crimping over the Ogive of the bullet. This fills the case better and holds them tight. If you don't believe me put 5 rounds in the gun crimped on the groove then shoot 4 then remove the 5th round and you will be able to remove it with your fingers.
Make it look like this and it will work perfectly


Here is the issue. Look at where the groove is compared to a XTP.

Its easy to see how much more grip your going to get.
 
Measured the primer pockets, exactly 0.129" so my brass is definitely LR. I think my crimp is sufficient now but if not I'll try with the cannelured bullets I have coming
 
TheJuggernaut said:
Measured the primer pockets, exactly 0.129" so my brass is definitely LR. I think my crimp is sufficient now but if not I'll try with the cannelured bullets I have coming
Click to expand...
Try the rifle magnum primers...I have the same problem with mine S&W 500 mag before, using the rmp should fix the problem... and keep us posted.
 
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