Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .5 | 380gr | Rim Rock RNFP bullet and 80 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon H110 and Alliant Power Pro 300-MP.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 8.38"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 1749 fps | 99% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,924 psi | 84% | 1749 fps | 94.5% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,707 psi | 85% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,649 psi | 85% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,403 psi | 86% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,953 psi | 86% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,388 psi | 85% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,780 psi | 87% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,824 psi | 89% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,098 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,910 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,042 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,606 psi | 87% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,589 psi | 82% | 1726 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,042 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 55,550 psi | 90% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,185 psi | 86% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,504 psi | 85% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 54,665 psi | 88% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,052 psi | 79% | 1749 fps | 97% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,882 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,416 psi | 83% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,013 psi | 89% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,506 psi | 90% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,577 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,866 psi | 85% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,534 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,604 psi | 82% | 1768 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 55,506 psi | 90% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,285 psi | 83% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,135 psi | 41% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,608 psi | 90% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,375 psi | 88% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,853 psi | 89% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,765 psi | 85% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,331 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,199 psi | 84% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,764 psi | 84% | 1739 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,678 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,025 psi | 84% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,989 psi | 39% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,767 psi | 90% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,316 psi | 86% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,247 psi | 62% | 1640 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,984 psi | 89% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,779 psi | 84% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,143 psi | 89% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,084 psi | 86% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,113 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,260 psi | 59% | 1535 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,431 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,417 psi | 85% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,547 psi | 85% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,718 psi | 79% | 1677 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,460 psi | 85% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,679 psi | 87% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,978 psi | 76% | 1696 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,330 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,236 psi | 70% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,692 psi | 85% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,315 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,229 psi | 86% | 1827 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,663 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 8.38"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4100*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 33% | 1237 fps | 85.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 49% | 1453 fps | 85.9% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,782 psi | 59% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,907 psi | 48% | 1417 fps | 97% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,881 psi | 55% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,966 psi | 52% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,052 psi | 49% | 1411 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 38% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,367 psi | 72% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,069 psi | 53% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,401 psi | 52% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,098 psi | 53% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,869 psi | 60% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 38% | 1302 fps | 90.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,996 psi | 53% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 36% | 1257 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,654 psi | 66% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,866 psi | 55% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,598 psi | 40% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,374 psi | 56% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | 35.9 gr | 68% | 24,395 psi | 39% | 1365 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,503 psi | 52% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,759 psi | 74% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,359 psi | 54% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,982 psi | 55% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 38% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,739 psi | 61% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,607 psi | 57% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,881 psi | 55% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | 35.9 gr | 68% | 25,237 psi | 41% | 1381 fps | 85.9% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 48,776 psi | 79% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 32.7 gr | 64% | 18,130 psi | 29% | 1257 fps | 87.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,734 psi | 19% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,275 psi | 60% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,516 psi | 49% | 1427 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,714 psi | 71% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,885 psi | 63% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,211 psi | 49% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,968 psi | 55% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,040 psi | 53% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,635 psi | 56% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,492 psi | 59% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 36% | 1296 fps | 91.6% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,311 psi | 75% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,163 psi | 68% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,255 psi | 18% | 791 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,793 psi | 53% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,068 psi | 52% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,364 psi | 34% | 1309 fps | 85.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,121 psi | 73% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,414 psi | 49% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,516 psi | 49% | 1427 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,429 psi | 49% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,694 psi | 58% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,331 psi | 57% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,766 psi | 58% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,547 psi | 23% | 1089 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 44% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,056 psi | 57% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,379 psi | 65% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,884 psi | 61% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,852 psi | 55% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,643 psi | 74% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,644 psi | 45% | 1368 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,967 psi | 53% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 38% | 1263 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 35% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,158 psi | 28% | 1188 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,790 psi | 77% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,594 psi | 61% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 32% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,783 psi | 63% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,011 psi | 55% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,921 psi | 47% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,804 psi | 76% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,327 psi | 49% | 1503 fps | 86.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,778 psi | 51% | 1217 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 29 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .5 | 380gr | Rim Rock RNFP. Winchester 296 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,827 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,030 fps to 1,827 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 29 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, ReloadSwiss RS 30 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon H110, Alliant Power Pro 300-MP rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .5 | 380gr | Rim Rock RNFP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 11 FS burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.