Due to the outrageous cost of 500 JRH brass, my plan is to starting out loading 500 Special brass and use RCBS dies designed for 500 special/500 S&W Magnum.

Reloading data for the 480 Ruger will be utilized with equal bullets from 350 to 420 grains.

Once data is completed, I will publish my information for all to see.

Will the rim need trimmed down a little to work in a 500 JRH?

Bob R

Bob R,

Magnum Research machines the cylinder to accept the wider case rim of 500 S&W Magnum brass. So you can either cut down 500 Magnum brass to 1.4 inches or purchase really expensive Starline 500 JRH brass.

500 Special brass made by Starline, is 500 Magnum brass cut to SAAMI specification of 1.278 inches.

Corbon ammo company made factory loaded 500 Special ammo for a brief period of time for those who didn?t want the recoil of full powered 500 Magnum loads.

Anyway, Starline makes 500 Special brass that?s half the cost of 500 JRH brass and I don?t need to spend precious time cutting down 500 Magnum brass.

Velocity difference between 500 Special and 500 JRH won?t be anything I?m going to lose sleep over. Anything the 480 Ruger can do, the 500 Special can do with less recoil given bullets of equal weight.

Plenty of medicine for any deer in my neck of the woods and all kinds of 480 Ruger load data.

If I ever need the full power of the 500 JRH, I?ll cut down some 500 Magnum brass and use 475 Linebaugh data and bullets of equal weight.

To me the 500 Special is a win win in my book. BFR just made it possible when they decided to machine the cylinder to accept either brass.

RCBS makes 500 S&W Magnum/500 Special dies for those who want to reload 500 Special brass. All is good.

The .475 load data is on the conservative side. If you really want to make the .500 JRH run, you need to step it up more.

Max,

No doubt the 500 JRH has way more potential than what I personally need or want.

My lifetime hunting plans don?t warrant going after any critters bigger than a Nebraska whitetail deer or pronghorn. Still have 12 years till retirement and 2 kids in college. Maybe someday a hog hunt down south.

For me it?s about being practical. Time is precious in my life and the less time I spend trimming brass, the more time I have to shoot.

I?m also a tightwad when it comes to shooting. I?ll develop a hunting load and shoot 10 rounds every month. However, the rest of shooting is dedicated to low pressure, mild recoil, bunny loads no matter what gun I?m shooting.

Plan on casting my own bullets this winter for both the 475 Linebaugh and 500 JRH/500 Special. Great winter time project when the weather won?t cooperate.

Shooting technique is more important than developing a love hate relationship with a revolver.

MR. B: I SHOT MY 7 1/2 INCH BFR 500 JRH BISLEY TODAY, EVEN BUFFALO BORE'S BAD ASS 400gr DANGEROUS GAME LOAD WAS NOT UNPLEASANT TO SHOOT, STOUT BUT SHOOTABLE. BUT MY EVERYDAY LOAD WITH IT WILL BE A 400gr SIERRA JSP OVER 25grs OF VVN-110, HAVE NOT CHRONO'ed IT YET BUT AM GUESSING AROUND 1,200fps. SHOOTABLE 500 SPECIAL LOADS SHUD EASILY GER 'ER DONE FOR WHAT YOU WANT.