Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 385gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing bullet and 84 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant 2400, Ramshot Enforcer and Hodgdon LilGun.
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>> | 96% | 50,473 psi | 81% | 1572 fps | 96% |
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,637 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,069 psi | 86% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,185 psi | 84% | 1572 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,040 psi | 84% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,880 psi | 84% | 1558 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,475 psi | 85% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,997 psi | 86% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,737 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,185 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,982 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 1621 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,547 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOTᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,621 psi | 87% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,547 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,750 psi | 84% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,431 psi | 85% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,897 psi | 89% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 1631 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,692 psi | 85% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,677 psi | 83% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,691 psi | 82% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,404 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 1654 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,938 psi | 84% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGunᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,831 psi | 72% | 1614 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,082 psi | 81% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,046 psi | 36% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,997 psi | 86% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 64% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,069 psi | 86% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,215 psi | 88% | 1588 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,142 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,779 psi | 84% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,824 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,431 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,750 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,738 psi | 90% | 1637 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 55,579 psi | 90% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,909 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 55,608 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,492 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,118 psi | 34% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,358 psi | 83% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,763 psi | 82% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,215 psi | 88% | 1588 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,069 psi | 86% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,796 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,687 psi | 43% | 1280 fps | 93.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,446 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,331 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,098 psi | 86% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,926 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,446 psi | 85% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,115 psi | 60% | 1391 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,272 psi | 84% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,156 psi | 54% | 1407 fps | 94.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,968 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,215 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,928 psi | 63% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,184 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,418 psi | 88% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,227 psi | 83% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,242 psi | 83% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,718 psi | 77% | 1621 fps | 90.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,259 psi | 88% | 1332 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>> | 76% | 26,324 psi | 43% | 1263 fps | 86.7% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,864 psi | 50% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,210 psi | 76% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,342 psi | 49% | 1309 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 37% | 1188 fps | 90.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,327 psi | 49% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,644 psi | 45% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 38% | 1184 fps | 91.8% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 31% | 1050 fps | 99% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,653 psi | 62% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,574 psi | 49% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,631 psi | 48% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,936 psi | 48% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | 20.6 gr | 64% | 20,566 psi | 33% | 1148 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,529 psi | 46% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 29% | 1066 fps | 90.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,650 psi | 56% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,400 psi | 49% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 34% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,108 psi | 45% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP* | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 49% | 1368 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 47% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,349 psi | 64% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 46% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,965 psi | 48% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 33% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,837 psi | 53% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,501 psi | 49% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 40% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110* | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,357 psi | 51% | 1388 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,958 psi | 65% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 26.8 gr | 76% | 19,798 psi | 32% | 1214 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,150 psi | 71% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 17% | 689 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,663 psi | 53% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,152 psi | 76% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,342 psi | 49% | 1309 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 38% | 1194 fps | 90.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,305 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,127 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 42% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,167 psi | 47% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,747 psi | 46% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,501 psi | 49% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,243 psi | 54% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | 22.2 gr | 64% | 19,334 psi | 31% | 1142 fps | 85.8% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,073 psi | 63% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,281 psi | 73% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,912 psi | 60% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,240 psi | 17% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,354 psi | 44% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,744 psi | 42% | 1214 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,263 psi | 65% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 38% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,152 psi | 76% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 38% | 1194 fps | 90.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,342 psi | 49% | 1309 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,034 psi | 42% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,937 psi | 50% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,255 psi | 49% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,996 psi | 53% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,666 psi | 29% | 1093 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 37% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,400 psi | 49% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,126 psi | 52% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,169 psi | 52% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 47% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,738 psi | 59% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,185 psi | 54% | 1335 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,861 psi | 43% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 31% | 1073 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 26% | 1056 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,653 psi | 33% | 1188 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,772 psi | 71% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,156 psi | 54% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 28% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,837 psi | 53% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,587 psi | 46% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 38% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,901 psi | 66% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,419 psi | 59% | 1483 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,079 psi | 44% | 1066 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 52 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .500 | 385gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing. Hodgdon H110 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,654 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 902 fps to 1,654 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 52 of the 52 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 34–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant BLUE DOT, Alliant Herco 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, Ramshot Enforcer, Hodgdon LilGun rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 385gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Power Pro 300-MP, Hodgdon H110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. ADI APS 350, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays 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.