Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 S&W Mag. with .500 | 500gr | Hornady FP XTP bullet and 84 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon H110 and Alliant Power Pro 300-MP.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
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 4100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,242 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,576 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,256 psi | 81% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,925 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,418 psi | 88% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 78% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,695 psi | 90% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,622 psi | 90% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 99% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOTᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,820 psi | 79% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,839 psi | 89% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,171 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,762 psi | 79% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,155 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,222 psi | 71% | 1260 fps | 93.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,766 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,198 psi | 83% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,866 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,587 psi | 77% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,853 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,475 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,948 psi | 74% | 1276 fps | 93.2% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 64% | 53,505 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 72% | 55,172 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGunᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 1243 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,349 psi | 33% | 702 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,227 psi | 81% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 55,753 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,287 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,098 psi | 84% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,839 psi | 89% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,795 psi | 87% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcerᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 1319 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 52,446 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 68% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 52,837 psi | 85% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 52,344 psi | 85% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,160 psi | 31% | 715 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,605 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,476 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 51,764 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,908 psi | 82% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 50,227 psi | 81% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,040 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,504 psi | 85% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 948 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,380 psi | 38% | 991 fps | 92.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,867 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,634 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,462 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,532 psi | 83% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,505 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 72% | 50,183 psi | 81% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,027 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,417 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,269 psi | 80% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,253 psi | 46% | 1086 fps | 93.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 51,532 psi | 83% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,416 psi | 83% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,666 psi | 59% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,127 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,749 psi | 82% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,576 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 72% | 53,621 psi | 87% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,234 psi | 67% | 1257 fps | 89.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,869 psi | 90% | 1066 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% | 22,858 psi | 37% | 978 fps | 85.7% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,790 psi | 46% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,729 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,919 psi | 43% | 1017 fps | 98% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 33% | 919 fps | 89.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,601 psi | 46% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,353 psi | 41% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 33% | 919 fps | 91.2% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 28% | 817 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,129 psi | 58% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,588 psi | 48% | 745 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 46% | 761 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 46% | 784 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 50% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,320 psi | 33% | 935 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 43% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,172 psi | 26% | 827 fps | 90.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,561 psi | 53% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,587 psi | 46% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 31% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 41% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP* | 21.7 gr | 84% | 25,614 psi | 41% | 1056 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 44% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,811 psi | 59% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 42% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,717 psi | 45% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 30% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,719 psi | 50% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,833 psi | 76% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 39% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H110* | 22.7 gr | 88% | 30,458 psi | 49% | 1122 fps | 87.3% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 47,601 psi | 77% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,985 psi | 60% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | 20 gr | 80% | 19,145 psi | 31% | 984 fps | 86.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,538 psi | 65% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,544 psi | 15% | 535 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,284 psi | 49% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,685 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,919 psi | 43% | 1017 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 34% | 928 fps | 90.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,260 psi | 59% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,719 psi | 50% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 39% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 43% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 43% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,906 psi | 47% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,734 psi | 51% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,913 psi | 31% | 928 fps | 87.3% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,550 psi | 59% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 42,061 psi | 68% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 46,992 psi | 76% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,476 psi | 56% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,036 psi | 15% | 541 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,845 psi | 40% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 37% | 945 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,434 psi | 60% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 33% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 43,685 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 34% | 928 fps | 90.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,919 psi | 43% | 1017 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 39% | 830 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,022 psi | 47% | 846 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 46% | 853 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,807 psi | 51% | 794 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 17,085 psi | 28% | 879 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 34% | 840 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,949 psi | 45% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,080 psi | 47% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,515 psi | 48% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,585 psi | 43% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,620 psi | 54% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,468 psi | 40% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 27% | 830 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 22% | 817 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,680 psi | 29% | 915 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,945 psi | 68% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 50% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,969 psi | 26% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,211 psi | 49% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 42% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 35% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,334 psi | 62% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 296* | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,549 psi | 57% | 1198 fps | 86.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 41% | 833 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 84 powders for .500 S&W Mag. loaded with the .500 | 500gr | Hornady FP XTP. Ramshot Enforcer delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,319 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 702 fps to 1,319 fps. Accurate 4100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 66 of the 84 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 31–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 4100, ADI AP 100, Alliant 2400 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, Hodgdon H110, Alliant Power Pro 300-MP rank at the top here: for .500 S&W Mag. with the .500 | 500gr | Hornady FP XTP 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. Accurate 4100, Accurate No. 2, Accurate No. 5 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.