Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 325gr | Speer HP 50AE bullet and 80 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant 2400, Hodgdon LilGun and Accurate 4100.
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% | 49,821 psi | 80% | 1864 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,114 psi | 89% | 1936 fps | 93.2% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 50,256 psi | 81% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,139 psi | 79% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 49,472 psi | 80% | 1837 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,185 psi | 84% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 76% | 49,168 psi | 79% | 1824 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,358 psi | 83% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,040 psi | 86% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,518 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,880 psi | 84% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,316 psi | 86% | 1919 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,185 psi | 86% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,750 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,258 psi | 86% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,388 psi | 85% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,127 psi | 84% | 1939 fps | 96% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,243 psi | 84% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,143 psi | 89% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,764 psi | 84% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,111 psi | 83% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 87% | 1962 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 53,142 psi | 86% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,925 psi | 87% | 1995 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,149 psi | 39% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,751 psi | 87% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,139 psi | 79% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,952 psi | 82% | 1857 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,663 psi | 85% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,953 psi | 86% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,910 psi | 85% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,535 psi | 90% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,910 psi | 85% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,027 psi | 89% | 1936 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,473 psi | 81% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 55,448 psi | 90% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,916 psi | 37% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,301 psi | 86% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,430 psi | 81% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 1729 fps | 93.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,606 psi | 87% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,056 psi | 89% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,952 psi | 82% | 1857 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,139 psi | 79% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,387 psi | 83% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,271 psi | 83% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,925 psi | 87% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,707 psi | 54% | 1637 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,955 psi | 89% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 49,472 psi | 80% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,809 psi | 87% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 49,603 psi | 80% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,788 psi | 74% | 1785 fps | 92.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,056 psi | 89% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,207 psi | 70% | 1808 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,648 psi | 83% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 54,273 psi | 88% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,322 psi | 68% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,561 psi | 83% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,085 psi | 87% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,863 psi | 79% | 1929 fps | 92.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,666 psi | 90% | 1611 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 | 36.7 gr | 68% | 25,092 psi | 41% | 1463 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,796 psi | 59% | 1693 fps | 86.7% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,070 psi | 57% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 1654 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,992 psi | 45% | 1509 fps | 94.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,069 psi | 53% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,676 psi | 50% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,152 psi | 45% | 1506 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 35% | 1312 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,728 psi | 69% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,489 psi | 52% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,792 psi | 51% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,314 psi | 52% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,781 psi | 58% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | 29.7 gr | 60% | 21,567 psi | 35% | 1381 fps | 87% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,749 psi | 51% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 34% | 1342 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,972 psi | 63% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,373 psi | 54% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 38% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,634 psi | 53% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,820 psi | 48% | 1598 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,502 psi | 51% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,135 psi | 71% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,908 psi | 52% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,793 psi | 53% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 36% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,982 psi | 55% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 43% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,850 psi | 50% | 1621 fps | 87% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,470 psi | 75% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 36.9 gr | 68% | 19,160 psi | 31% | 1394 fps | 85.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,371 psi | 18% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,940 psi | 58% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 1654 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 46% | 1522 fps | 94.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,467 psi | 69% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,289 psi | 60% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,022 psi | 47% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,518 psi | 53% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,981 psi | 52% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,373 psi | 54% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,520 psi | 57% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 33% | 1371 fps | 87.5% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,701 psi | 72% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,872 psi | 66% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,849 psi | 18% | 866 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,111 psi | 50% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,298 psi | 49% | 1529 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 88% | 25,135 psi | 41% | 1512 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,801 psi | 71% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,311 psi | 46% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 46% | 1522 fps | 94.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 1654 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,182 psi | 47% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,243 psi | 55% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,765 psi | 55% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,940 psi | 56% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,187 psi | 28% | 1273 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,092 psi | 42% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,750 psi | 54% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,290 psi | 62% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,390 psi | 59% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,430 psi | 52% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,163 psi | 70% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,547 psi | 53% | 1581 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,169 psi | 50% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 36% | 1352 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 32% | 1335 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 20,552 psi | 33% | 1388 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,673 psi | 75% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,289 psi | 59% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 31% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,028 psi | 60% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,401 psi | 52% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 44% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,252 psi | 73% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,912 psi | 60% | 1752 fps | 87.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,443 psi | 49% | 1329 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 32 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .500 | 325gr | Speer HP 50AE. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,995 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,125 fps to 1,995 fps. Accurate No. 11 FS gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 32 of the 32 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 37–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate No. 11 FS, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. Alliant 2400, Hodgdon LilGun, Accurate 4100 rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 325gr | Speer HP 50AE they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 11 FS, ReloadSwiss RS 30, Somchem S265 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.