Reloading Help Needed.
 

I bought some Starline Brass for my 500 S&W. On the site and they said:

Initial run of 500 S&W mag cases was built to use large pistol primer per Smith & Wesson and Cor-bon specifications. On July 28, 2003, Smith & Wesson and Cor-bon changed specification of primer pocket to be large rifle. Rifle primers are same diameter as pistol except they are approximately .006 taller. This was done to prevent primer from being pierced by firing pin when loaded with max loads and heavy bullets (bullets over 400 grains). It was determined that hole in primer allowed pressure to damage firing pin and bushing, kind of like a cutting torch and the harder cup of a rifle primer will prevent occurrence. All cases sold by Starline, Inc. after July 28, 2003, will contain a large rifle primer pocket to accept a large rifle primer. Hodgdon Powder has generated load data which recommends using Win. Large Rifle Primers. Click here to view. Cor-bon has also tested and recommends CCI 250 primers (Large Mag Rifle). Our new cases will have an "R" after the "Mag" on head stamp to signify rifle pocket. If you have previously purchased 500 cases without "R" on head stamp and wish to modify, you can use a large rifle pocket uniformer to deepen primer pocket to accept large rifle primers by deepening pocket approx. .006. This will not affect integrity of case. For concerns regarding situation contact Smith & Wesson or Cor-bon as they designed case and subsequently changed it.

Is there a difference between using Winchester Large Rifle Primer and Winchester Large Rifle for Magnum Rifle Loads primer?

call winchester
 

Suggest you call the manufacturer. They'll know.

I will. Just wondered since I loaded it with Large Rifle Magnum primers already.

Connerm's advice is golden.

As a general rule, use the loads exactly as recommended until you've been reloading and shooting enough to experiment.

IIRC, the magnum primers produce more flame to get more dispersion of the flame for ignition so that burning bits of powder don't fly out of the muzzle, which is both a waste and a fire hazard. But I haven't reloaded in almost 35 years.

A friend & fellow reloader used to make his own sabots for his .30/06 to shoot a sub .22 cal bullet. He used light loaded pistol powder and rifle primers. Pistol powder burns very fast and with a rifle primer he got very fast ignition. Because he used a very light load he didn't build excessive pressure nor did he develop great muzzle velocity. He fiddled with the powder load (very minutely) to get good accuracy to 50 yds or so. He used the combination for squirrel hunting. His theory was that he would become a better marksman for deer if he learned how to shoot squirrels with his .30/06, but he didn't want to obliterate them. I think it's illegal now as I do not believe it is legal in my state to hunt squirrels with a centerfire rifle.

500 S&W is a scary cartridge to start with, tread gingerly with that monster!

If you loads are at or very near max, I would be pulling.

If they are not, you should be fine.

I would consider anything 5% below max as ok with the hotter primer.

Caveat - I've loaded 10's of thousands of rounds for several dozen different cartridges over the past 35 years...but not for the 500 S&W.

How hot are your loads?


Tim

Well, after reading this and consulting with them I decided to pull the primers.

Bullet Weight (Gr.) 350 GR. HDY XTP
Powder Lil'Gun
Bullet Diam. .500"
C.O.L. 1.985"
Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
35.0 1697 41,500 PSI

Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
42.0 1912 48,100 PSI