WB
It’s been a while since I’ve shot a thumper…
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 06:47

The Reeder Custom Encore .500 Nitro. Actually it makes a very handy and trim single shot stopping rifle. It took ONE shot to “jog” my memory and remind me I had forgot I was going to silicone some lead weight into the forend and butt to perfectly balance. I need about 2-2.5 lbs added for more comfortable shooting. Factory loads are 570 gr. bullet at 2150 fps. The load was a starting point using Randy Barnett’s cast 510 gr. plain base powder coated HP. I used a very conservative 90 gr. RL-15 ahead of a Fed. #215 magnum rifle primer. POW! It blew the 6 lb. steel gong off the pipe rack hooks and placed it about 4’ behind under a bush. I was surprised at the speed of the recoil impulse and the rifle torqued off toward the right side. I’ve not used this type of TC stock before. It didn’t sting, but it did whack my knuckle on the guard and almost removed my spectacles!

I decided to weigh the rig, with old steel weaver 3x and sling, 7 lbs. 13 oz. It might be a little light for a .500 Nitro Express! I know a couple other guys, Erik and Blake have light Nitros, a delight to carry, but demand respect. The 510 gr. bullet ran 1975 fps generating around 4600 fpe, and 85 ft./lb recoil. Not only that but the recoil is happening at 27 fps. Hence the light gun swat on the end, surely the brake helps, that’s a pretty good amount of gas to work with.

The experimental brass I have been working with is a bust. I acquired it with known deficiencies , for cheap, but it’s got something wrong with it I’m not able to fix. The hardness treating is whonky. I think it was process cull or something. The brass is too soft, sticking in the chamber and rims truly flimsy. You harden brass by heating and slow cooling but then it would make necks too hard. I may have to reserve them for display pieces. Most guys would like to have an example for novelty. My best brass are going to be trimmed down and expanded (fire formed) .416/500 new brass.

My sourced brass has not been adequately processed. It’s so soft that it sticks, the rims are deformed my extraction, and the primer pockets expand. Note the grey from gasses escaping around the primer and it fell out! It’s not the load (actually a light starter) but this funky non-process brass I sourced. To be continued…

It’s still a fun project. I’m waiting on pins and needles until I can get a bunch of Trail boss.