I recently had a .458 Ruger #1 rebored and rechambered to .500 NE 3". Rebore was done with a 1:26 twist. Have a leupold 2.5 FX-2 Scout scope mounted in Warne quick detachable rings with a NECG peep for irons. Scope is just far enough forward to be correct. Finally got some loads chronographed. Thought some might be interested.

Ran a 535 Woodleigh PP with 91 grains of RL-15 in Jamison cases with Fed. mag primer. Velocity was 2111 FPS, and got a 2.1 inch group (3 shots)at 100 yards. I think rifle will do better, but recoil was lively in this 8 lb. 10 oz rifle (without scope). I need to learn better bench technique.

I also shot a 550 grain 1:20 lead FN from a Brooks mold with 120 grain of 1.5 FG Swiss (with SPG lube). Used a beeswax wad wad over powder (to keep SPG wad from migrating), then a SPG lube wad over that, and a .060 Walters wad over that, prior to seating bullet (on a die compressed load). Cases were Jamison with Fed. Mag. primer. Load ran 1420 FPS and made a .9 inch group (3 shots)right in the center of the three shots from the Woodleigh load - and the first shot was from a clean (no blackpowder fouling)barrel. Ah, the wonder of blackpowder.

Seems strange that both loads shot to point of aim at 100 yards, but I sure was pleased.