Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 400gr | Barnes Buster FN FB 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 Power Pro 300-MP, Hodgdon LilGun and Alliant 2400.
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% | 51,358 psi | 83% | 1654 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,792 psi | 80% | 1657 fps | 94% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,634 psi | 83% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,039 psi | 82% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,997 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,040 psi | 84% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,546 psi | 82% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,649 psi | 85% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,011 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,576 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,491 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,678 psi | 85% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,114 psi | 89% | 1699 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,157 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,288 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,563 psi | 88% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,736 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,695 psi | 90% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,693 psi | 87% | 1726 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,055 psi | 86% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,953 psi | 86% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,069 psi | 84% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,576 psi | 85% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,506 psi | 90% | 1749 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 54,331 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,588 psi | 78% | 1703 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,729 psi | 40% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 54,882 psi | 89% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,722 psi | 87% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,737 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,605 psi | 85% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,706 psi | 83% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,750 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 1647 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,300 psi | 83% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,227 psi | 83% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,627 psi | 38% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,389 psi | 88% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,982 psi | 84% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,535 psi | 59% | 1549 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 49,980 psi | 81% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,911 psi | 87% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,228 psi | 84% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,201 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,809 psi | 56% | 1457 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,024 psi | 82% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,372 psi | 83% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 50,966 psi | 82% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,547 psi | 83% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,676 psi | 82% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,036 psi | 76% | 1588 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,547 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,879 psi | 82% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,831 psi | 72% | 1608 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,909 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,085 psi | 89% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,670 psi | 69% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,634 psi | 85% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 51,416 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,590 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,807 psi | 82% | 1729 fps | 94.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,953 psi | 84% | 1365 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>> | 64% | 22,466 psi | 36% | 1240 fps | 87.7% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 47% | 1378 fps | 85.3% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,882 psi | 58% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,797 psi | 61% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,776 psi | 46% | 1342 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,692 psi | 54% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,343 psi | 51% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,080 psi | 47% | 1339 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 37% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,569 psi | 70% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,779 psi | 53% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,111 psi | 52% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,648 psi | 53% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,201 psi | 58% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | 25.6 gr | 60% | 22,394 psi | 36% | 1237 fps | 90.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,474 psi | 52% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 35% | 1194 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,784 psi | 64% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,678 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 39% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,431 psi | 54% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | 32.8 gr | 68% | 23,221 psi | 37% | 1289 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,894 psi | 51% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,121 psi | 73% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,721 psi | 53% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,417 psi | 54% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 37% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,238 psi | 44% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,047 psi | 39% | 1306 fps | 85.3% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,558 psi | 77% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 29.9 gr | 64% | 17,216 psi | 28% | 1188 fps | 86.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,603 psi | 19% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,651 psi | 59% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,797 psi | 61% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,472 psi | 48% | 1352 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,033 psi | 69% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,261 psi | 62% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,646 psi | 48% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,112 psi | 53% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,663 psi | 53% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,156 psi | 55% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,289 psi | 59% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 35% | 1230 fps | 91.2% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,643 psi | 74% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,742 psi | 67% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,124 psi | 18% | 755 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,010 psi | 52% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,256 psi | 50% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,177 psi | 37% | 1302 fps | 87.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,353 psi | 72% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,428 psi | 48% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,472 psi | 48% | 1352 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,797 psi | 61% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,834 psi | 48% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,896 psi | 56% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,505 psi | 56% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,418 psi | 57% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,054 psi | 23% | 1033 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,774 psi | 43% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,519 psi | 56% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,552 psi | 64% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,011 psi | 53% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,483 psi | 72% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,774 psi | 43% | 1296 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,039 psi | 52% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 37% | 1198 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 33% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,476 psi | 27% | 1125 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,007 psi | 76% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,985 psi | 60% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 31% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,985 psi | 61% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 54% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,195 psi | 46% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,021 psi | 74% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 47% | 1421 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,053 psi | 50% | 1155 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 | 400gr | Barnes Buster FN FB. Hodgdon H110 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,749 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 978 fps to 1,749 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. Alliant Power Pro 300-MP, Hodgdon LilGun, Alliant 2400 rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 400gr | Barnes Buster FN FB 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, 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.