Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 350gr | Sierra Sports Master 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, Accurate 4100 and Alliant BLUE DOT.
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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Max Load - Barrel Length: 8.38"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,315 psi | 84% | 1824 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,966 psi | 82% | 1824 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,866 psi | 84% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,213 psi | 83% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,750 psi | 84% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,200 psi | 86% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,634 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,329 psi | 83% | 1778 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,214 psi | 86% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,447 psi | 88% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,069 psi | 86% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,852 psi | 85% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,563 psi | 88% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,968 psi | 86% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 1877 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,375 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,114 psi | 89% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,909 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,143 psi | 89% | 1903 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,156 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,734 psi | 82% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,229 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,084 psi | 86% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,476 psi | 88% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,719 psi | 80% | 1847 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 54,940 psi | 89% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,009 psi | 81% | 1877 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,685 psi | 40% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,172 psi | 89% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,213 psi | 83% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,316 psi | 86% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,882 psi | 87% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,230 psi | 88% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,055 psi | 86% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,404 psi | 88% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,301 psi | 84% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,967 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 1818 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,851 psi | 84% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,714 psi | 38% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,591 psi | 85% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,449 psi | 60% | 1706 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,691 psi | 82% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,316 psi | 86% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,213 psi | 83% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,549 psi | 88% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,736 psi | 85% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,707 psi | 85% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,665 psi | 58% | 1604 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,619 psi | 83% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,648 psi | 83% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,430 psi | 83% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,040 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,013 psi | 89% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,906 psi | 77% | 1749 fps | 94.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,938 psi | 84% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,750 psi | 85% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,416 psi | 83% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,876 psi | 74% | 1772 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,344 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,521 psi | 90% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,946 psi | 69% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,098 psi | 86% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,967 psi | 84% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,982 psi | 84% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,851 psi | 84% | 1896 fps | 94.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,272 psi | 84% | 1512 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 | 34.2 gr | 64% | 22,887 psi | 37% | 1362 fps | 86.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,982 psi | 55% | 1588 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,143 psi | 58% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,392 psi | 62% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,211 psi | 47% | 1473 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,678 psi | 54% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,763 psi | 51% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,501 psi | 48% | 1473 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 37% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,859 psi | 71% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,140 psi | 52% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,808 psi | 53% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,477 psi | 59% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 37% | 1358 fps | 89.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,634 psi | 53% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | 25.3 gr | 60% | 22,176 psi | 36% | 1316 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,030 psi | 65% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,634 psi | 54% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,323 psi | 39% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,750 psi | 54% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,499 psi | 44% | 1493 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,300 psi | 52% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,411 psi | 73% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,823 psi | 55% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 37% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,449 psi | 60% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,969 psi | 56% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,852 psi | 55% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 46% | 1516 fps | 86.9% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 48,008 psi | 78% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 36.6 gr | 68% | 20,581 psi | 33% | 1385 fps | 88.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,705 psi | 19% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,869 psi | 60% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,392 psi | 62% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 1490 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,453 psi | 70% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,450 psi | 62% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,805 psi | 48% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,417 psi | 54% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,692 psi | 53% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,316 psi | 55% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,390 psi | 59% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 35% | 1348 fps | 90% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,919 psi | 74% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,887 psi | 68% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,197 psi | 18% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,184 psi | 52% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,517 psi | 51% | 1490 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,583 psi | 38% | 1424 fps | 86.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,744 psi | 72% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,921 psi | 48% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 1490 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,392 psi | 62% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,037 psi | 49% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,099 psi | 57% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,693 psi | 56% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,636 psi | 58% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,114 psi | 26% | 1194 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,064 psi | 44% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,650 psi | 56% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,769 psi | 64% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,565 psi | 61% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,359 psi | 54% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,846 psi | 72% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,414 psi | 49% | 1486 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,416 psi | 52% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,032 psi | 37% | 1316 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 34% | 1306 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,174 psi | 31% | 1299 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,282 psi | 76% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 31% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,116 psi | 62% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,431 psi | 54% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,442 psi | 46% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,398 psi | 75% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 55% | 1647 fps | 87.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,357 psi | 51% | 1283 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 30 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .500 | 350gr | Sierra Sports Master. Alliant Power Pro 300-MP delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,903 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,083 fps to 1,903 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 30 of the 30 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 38–90 %, 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, Accurate 4100, Alliant BLUE DOT rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 350gr | Sierra Sports Master they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 11 FS, Somchem S265, Winchester 296 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.