Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 405gr | 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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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>> | 92% | 53,708 psi | 87% | 1617 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,837 psi | 84% | 1614 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,129 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,666 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,839 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,592 psi | 87% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,563 psi | 88% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 52,185 psi | 84% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,695 psi | 90% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,390 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,287 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,097 psi | 83% | 1604 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,054 psi | 84% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,506 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,592 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 50,502 psi | 82% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,550 psi | 90% | 1683 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,214 psi | 84% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,214 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,782 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,709 psi | 90% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,676 psi | 82% | 1644 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,096 psi | 81% | 1667 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,178 psi | 39% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,156 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,692 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,895 psi | 84% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,172 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,228 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,520 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,011 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,897 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,127 psi | 84% | 1614 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,071 psi | 89% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,221 psi | 37% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,460 psi | 54% | 1447 fps | 93.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,040 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,156 psi | 86% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,025 psi | 84% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,068 psi | 52% | 1371 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,577 psi | 87% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,244 psi | 88% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 54,259 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 54,969 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,562 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 68% | 54,839 psi | 89% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,714 psi | 71% | 1490 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,259 psi | 88% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,288 psi | 88% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,562 psi | 85% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,930 psi | 66% | 1509 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,898 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,771 psi | 67% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 50,546 psi | 82% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,460 psi | 85% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,547 psi | 85% | 1686 fps | 94.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 1339 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 | 26.1 gr | 64% | 21,277 psi | 34% | 1171 fps | 85.6% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS* | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,867 psi | 56% | 1417 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,330 psi | 55% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,389 psi | 57% | 1381 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,122 psi | 44% | 1266 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,518 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,589 psi | 49% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,456 psi | 44% | 1266 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 35% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,453 psi | 69% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,184 psi | 52% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,589 psi | 51% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,010 psi | 52% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 35% | 1171 fps | 88.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,444 psi | 51% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 34% | 1135 fps | 95% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,174 psi | 62% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,663 psi | 53% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 38% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,865 psi | 51% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,990 psi | 40% | 1283 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,415 psi | 51% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,091 psi | 70% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,691 psi | 51% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,706 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 36% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,042 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,634 psi | 54% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,672 psi | 43% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,831 psi | 42% | 1299 fps | 85.6% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 45,049 psi | 73% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | 27.9 gr | 68% | 18,681 psi | 30% | 1191 fps | 87.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,734 psi | 19% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,679 psi | 58% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,389 psi | 57% | 1381 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,847 psi | 45% | 1280 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,829 psi | 68% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,869 psi | 60% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,558 psi | 46% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,213 psi | 52% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,343 psi | 51% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,156 psi | 54% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,491 psi | 57% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | 24.2 gr | 60% | 20,349 psi | 33% | 1161 fps | 89.3% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,584 psi | 70% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,712 psi | 66% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,197 psi | 18% | 722 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,734 psi | 50% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,472 psi | 48% | 1280 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,279 psi | 39% | 1276 fps | 87.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,410 psi | 70% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,050 psi | 45% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,847 psi | 45% | 1280 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,389 psi | 57% | 1381 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,776 psi | 46% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,765 psi | 55% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,243 psi | 54% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,940 psi | 56% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,171 psi | 24% | 1030 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 42% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,185 psi | 54% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,159 psi | 60% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,636 psi | 58% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,039 psi | 52% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,047 psi | 68% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S265* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,224 psi | 46% | 1273 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,560 psi | 49% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 35% | 1135 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 31% | 1125 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,637 psi | 28% | 1119 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,180 psi | 75% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,245 psi | 59% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 31% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,738 psi | 59% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,126 psi | 52% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 43% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 44,498 psi | 72% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 49% | 1404 fps | 85.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,182 psi | 49% | 1106 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 | 405gr | CutEdge DGBR. Winchester 296 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,686 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 932 fps to 1,686 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 | 405gr | 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. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.