Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 375gr | CutEdge DGBR 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 Ramshot Enforcer.
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>> | 92% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 1716 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,388 psi | 85% | 1713 fps | 92.9% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,969 psi | 89% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,665 psi | 88% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,649 psi | 85% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,040 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,622 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,387 psi | 83% | 1699 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,344 psi | 85% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,198 psi | 83% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,620 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,666 psi | 90% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,635 psi | 87% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,039 psi | 82% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,487 psi | 80% | 1716 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,214 psi | 84% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,200 psi | 86% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,579 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,811 psi | 90% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,155 psi | 83% | 1739 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,025 psi | 84% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 1768 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,395 psi | 39% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,026 psi | 86% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 48,936 psi | 79% | 1640 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,967 psi | 84% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,054 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,463 psi | 90% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,591 psi | 85% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,955 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,431 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,695 psi | 90% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 55,056 psi | 89% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,148 psi | 37% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,330 psi | 84% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,158 psi | 89% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,127 psi | 55% | 1535 fps | 93.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,055 psi | 86% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,577 psi | 87% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 48,936 psi | 79% | 1640 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,040 psi | 84% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,608 psi | 90% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,492 psi | 90% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,430 psi | 52% | 1453 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,853 psi | 87% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,824 psi | 89% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,158 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,881 psi | 85% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,158 psi | 89% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,382 psi | 72% | 1585 fps | 92.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,824 psi | 89% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,229 psi | 86% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,336 psi | 67% | 1601 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,097 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,853 psi | 87% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,061 psi | 68% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 50,952 psi | 82% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,533 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,782 psi | 90% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,214 psi | 86% | 1788 fps | 93.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,940 psi | 89% | 1424 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 | 30.1 gr | 68% | 24,584 psi | 40% | 1306 fps | 87.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,288 psi | 57% | 1503 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,664 psi | 56% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,650 psi | 58% | 1467 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,412 psi | 44% | 1345 fps | 94.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,880 psi | 53% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,618 psi | 49% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,615 psi | 45% | 1342 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,973 psi | 35% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,380 psi | 68% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,300 psi | 52% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,401 psi | 51% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,242 psi | 52% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,505 psi | 57% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 35% | 1237 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,502 psi | 51% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 34% | 1201 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,508 psi | 62% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,967 psi | 53% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 38% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,995 psi | 52% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,237 psi | 41% | 1355 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,444 psi | 51% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,236 psi | 70% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,778 psi | 51% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,706 psi | 53% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 36% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,230 psi | 59% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,692 psi | 54% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,040 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 49% | 1447 fps | 87.6% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,629 psi | 74% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 30.3 gr | 68% | 18,913 psi | 31% | 1257 fps | 86.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,792 psi | 19% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,781 psi | 58% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,650 psi | 58% | 1467 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,094 psi | 45% | 1355 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,003 psi | 68% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,912 psi | 60% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,631 psi | 46% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,532 psi | 53% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,560 psi | 51% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,520 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | 26.3 gr | 60% | 20,566 psi | 33% | 1230 fps | 88.7% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,874 psi | 71% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,567 psi | 66% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,226 psi | 18% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,966 psi | 50% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,892 psi | 48% | 1358 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,424 psi | 39% | 1348 fps | 86.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,381 psi | 70% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,224 psi | 46% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,094 psi | 45% | 1355 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,650 psi | 58% | 1467 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 47% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,837 psi | 55% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 54% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,838 psi | 56% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,287 psi | 25% | 1089 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 42% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,257 psi | 54% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,449 psi | 60% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,766 psi | 58% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,010 psi | 52% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,496 psi | 69% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,631 psi | 46% | 1352 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,734 psi | 50% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,973 psi | 35% | 1204 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 32% | 1194 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,970 psi | 29% | 1188 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,528 psi | 75% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,245 psi | 59% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 31% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,564 psi | 59% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,024 psi | 52% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,137 psi | 44% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,067 psi | 50% | 1486 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,197 psi | 49% | 1175 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 35 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .500 | 375gr | CutEdge DGBR. Winchester 296 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,788 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 994 fps to 1,788 fps. Accurate No. 11 FS gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 35 of the 35 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, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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, Ramshot Enforcer rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 375gr | CutEdge DGBR 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, 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.