This thread has good timing to it actually. Since I did the big bullet organization a few weeks ago, I found 100s, if not 1000s of bullets that I had put aside over the years. Most of those in .500 caliber. This started me thinking I really need to get some of these rifles up and running, and some ammo on the shelf. Since I retired from hunting, I have neglected to keep all rifles ready, sighted in, and ammo on the shelf for them. A few are set up, maybe 1/2, but the other half are set on whatever the last mission was, which may not be conducive to the mission at hand.
Today, the new mission is to set up the big bore rifles, with the big solids at the Primary. Anything else that happens to fall within the POI of the Primary Solid can also be loaded, but has to be tested first. Second, for this mission, I don't have to have the hottest, fastest, highest pressure loads, I can do very well with far less. I have been trying to match Case size and capacity with the overstock of various bullets in each caliber.
The last couple of weeks I have been working with 3 cartridges. 500 B&M--2.5 inch RUM case, Winchester M70 RUM bolt guns. 50 B&M--2.25 inch RUM case, Winchester M70 WSM bolt guns. And the one and only 458 B&M EX 2.5 inch RUM case, Winchester M70 RUM bolt gun.
I settled the primary load for 50 B&M with a 425 Copper #13 Solid at 2320 fps. There are several other bullets and loads that will work, and they are documented. I loaded about 100 pieces of ammo for the 50s, and have been busy getting all available 50 B&M brass prepped, sized, trimmed and primed RTL (ready to load). Once brass is RTL, then its simple to put powder and bullet, and fast as well.......
I finished the 458 B&M EX settling on three bullets. Primary 480 #13 Solids at 2325 fps, followed by 450 Raptors at 2385 fps and 425 SSK/Lehigh Brass HP's at 2520 fps. All same or close POI at 50 yards......
I have been working to prep the 500 B&M brass, I have 250 pieces, and ready to load today, or tomorrow. As primary load I am going to choose the 525 gr #13 Solids at 2150 fps. This is a hammer of a bullet and load. Also at the same POI at 50 yards is the 450 Raptors at 2260 fps and the 500 #13 Solids at 2210 fps. All these are less than Max pressures at or around 55000 psi instead of 62000+. At these velocities these solids will drive through anything I ask of them, for the most part. 12 inch trees pose no issues with these.
Once these are done, I will work on 458, 416, 9.3 B&M, then the Super Shorts 50, 475, 458 SS, then the big 500 MDM. Then I will turn my attention to the lever guns in both .500 and .458........ I will be very busy the coming months........
Clint says "Don't Mess with Buffalo Hunters"........... HEH HEH......................... He might be on to something......................