Loading 500 JRH and WE on a Dillon XL650

[Alaskan454]

First, I wanted to thank everyone for the advice you gave me earlier this year on loading for the 500 JRH.  It was my first time cutting down cases and loading for the big .500s.  The cases were relatively quick and easy using a Dremel drill press stand for the rough cut and then the final turns on a manual case trimmer.  I ended up loading the first couple hundred rounds on a single stage with 500 S&W dies.  However, one issue I kept having was a slight buckle in my cases using the RCBS expander die, even hand lubing the case mouths didn't seem to help. I ended up running a Dillon 50 AE powder funnel and manually resetting the powder dispenser each time, works very well and didn't give me any troubles with case buckling.

Having loaded up a decent quantity on the single stage I've decided it is time to get the XL650 up and running. I have to give you guys credit who still use a single stage, I learned on a progressive and have grown to fully appreciate what they do for me! I also recently came into possession of a 500 WE and believe I can load both JRH and WE with the same dies and set-up on an XL650. The only thing I should have to change is the locator buttons, #4 for the WE and #7 for the JRH. I'm too cheap to buy the $104.95 casefeed kit so I'll be loading cases one at a time into the sizing die for now.  So far I've only burned Trail Boss and Longshot in the 500 and both are quite pleasant to shoot.  Maybe I'll stuff some 296 or 4227 in those cases before too long.

[Alaskan454]

I'm very glad I got the Dillon up and running, 120 rounds of 500 loaded for tomorrow!  Only adjustment that needs to be made when switching between them is belling for the case mouth as JRH cases are a touch longer than the WE.  I didn't mess with the seat or crimp settings and they all chambered just fine.

[dougader]

Looks great! Have a blast!

[Alaskan454]

Oh I did! I'll post some pictures and video when I get a chance.

[Alaskan454]

I got the FA sighted in at 100 yards and figured out my holds with the Clements Bisquero, time to load more ammo again.  I'll edit some video and upload it when I can.  Since I didn't adjust the crimp at all I was a little concerned that the bullets might jump a touch under recoil but I didn't have any problems today.  If I were loading heavier I'd probably adjust the crimp to make sure everything was good to go.

[dougader]

There's a couple real lookers! Love that shortie Vaquero especially!

[Alaskan454]

They're a great pair of 500s.  Here's a clip of the short one in action, YouTube finally dropped the online editor so I'm trying to figure out how to post the rest:

[Rimfire69]

Those both look great, not sure if I could choose one over the other. The shorty Vaquero possibly, but what a nice pair of revolvers.

[benny123]

Not sure if you remember but I'm the guy who sent you a sight for your freedom arms and some sample bullets a few years back.

I bought my Dillon 650 from them and set it up for my .500WE. As you found out, you just gotta get the larger case feed assembly parts to accomodate the larger case diameter

I now use a 1050 for the same caliber--plus 500S&W--but the 650 worked smoothly. Dillon thought I was nuts not going with the the 550 and couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be problems with the operation but I have been pleased,

Oh, there was one issue. It's been a while since I shot the WE and almost forgot. The 500WE cases are undersized and I used a 475 expander to bell--unless the cases are fired. The S&W gets the AE expander, not sure why they don't produce one specific to the longer case of the S&W



I quote author="Alaskan454" source="/post/253151/thread" timestamp="1505833710"]First, I wanted to thank everyone for the advice you gave me earlier this year on loading for the 500 JRH.  It was my first time cutting down cases and loading for the big .500s.  The cases were relatively quick and easy using a Dremel drill press stand for the rough cut and then the final turns on a manual case trimmer.  I ended up loading the first couple hundred rounds on a single stage with 500 S&W dies.  However, one issue I kept having was a slight buckle in my cases using the RCBS expander die, even hand lubing the case mouths didn't seem to help. I ended up running a Dillon 50 AE powder funnel and manually resetting the powder dispenser each time, works very well and didn't give me any troubles with case buckling.

Having loaded up a decent quantity on the single stage I've decided it is time to get the XL650 up and running. I have to give you guys credit who still use a single stage, I learned on a progressive and have grown to fully appreciate what they do for me! I also recently came into possession of a 500 WE and believe I can load both JRH and WE with the same dies and set-up on an XL650. The only thing I should have to change is the locator buttons, #4 for the WE and #7 for the JRH. I'm too cheap to buy the $104.95 casefeed kit so I'll be loading cases one at a time into the sizing die for now.  So far I've only burned Trail Boss and Longshot in the 500 and both are quite pleasant to shoot.  Maybe I'll stuff some 296 or 4227 in those cases before too long.[/quote]

[Alaskan454]

Oct 5, 2017 0:25:28 GMT -5 benny123 said:

Not sure if you remember but I'm the guy who sent you a sight for your freedom arms and some sample bullets a few years back.

I bought my Dillon 650 from them and set it up for my .500WE. As you found out, you just gotta get the larger case feed assembly parts to accomodate the larger case diameter

I now use a 1050 for the same caliber--plus 500S&W--but the 650 worked smoothly. Dillon thought I was nuts not going with the the 550 and couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be problems with the operation but I have been pleased,

Oh, there was one issue. It's been a while since I shot the WE and almost forgot. The 500WE cases are undersized and I used a 475 expander to bell--unless the cases are fired. The S&W gets the AE expander, not sure why they don't produce one specific to the longer case of the S&W

I most definitely remember your kind gesture!  Every time I pick up the revolver I think of how nice it was for you to send and truly appreciate it.  Before then I had never experienced an undercut sight and have grown to like them quite a bit.  For target shooting it is hands down my favorite.  I've actually started shaping my own for pin in Rugers from the Bowen sight blank.  As an aside, your generosity with the FA sight and bullets inspired me to pay it forward and help out other shooters in need of parts, brass, and even a tumbler when I had the opportunity.  Our small circle of revolver enthusiasts is one of the nicest groups of people I've had the pleasure of knowing thus far in life.

As to your comment about the .475 expander I am going to try that next time I load fresh cases.  The cut down 500 S&W brass and 500 WE brass are some of the toughest I've encountered when unfired.  I had to heavily lubricate them near the case mouth for smooth operation, it was legitimate work to bell them.  As you said, once fired they are much easier to run through the press.