I have a S&W 500 Performance Center Hunter. I have enough cash in my slush fund to fully stock all the reloading supplies I'll need for a long time...or...I could buy the scope I want to put on the revolver.

Which should I buy first?

Which do you need the most?

Which do I need most...?

I don't know. I could put the pistol in service much quicker by buying the scope and mounting it. I could then buy some ammo which is sky-high in cost. That's what pushed me toward reloading to begin with; the ridiculous cost of a box of 20 bullets. The folks at S&W are in competition with the folks at Weatherby to see who can produce the most over-priced box of ammo. I reload for my Weatherby. No way am I going to pay $128.00 for a box of 20 loaded cartridges.

No contest.

RELOADING SUPPLIES

The gun will work without a scope. The gun won't work without ammo. Should the cost just keep going up on ammo and components then you will be glad in the long run that you started reloading when you did. Should some .50 ban go into effect then reloading dies for them will jump in demand and thus price as well. (cross fingers, knock on wood, and prayer sent...) I would also throw into the same idea that you should start learning to cast your own bullets. There will always be optics available but reloading and ammo costs are only going up, up, and away!!!

Absolutely. Stock up on everything you need to reload. Scopes are always available and on sale.

You will get so good shooting that you may not need a scope!

Answer to your trimming question.

If you do not have many to do, the Lee Hand held trimmer do da works well.

Large Cutter with Lock Stud

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Still Running Against the Wind

Buy the reloading supplies. Take the money you saved by reloading and sock it back to buy the scope later.

If you dont have ammo - you cant shoot it even if you have a scope!

reload!!i too have the 500 performance center hunter....so far i have taken several boars,a merino ram (tied for 3rd largest in 2010 taken with a handgun,a 4-horn ram (largest taken in 2010 with a handgun) and a muflon ram...a fun gun to hunt with...mine is scoped but...set up to reload this first...i'm doing a box of 20 high performance hunting rounds for the 500 for about $15.00 and i dont cast for this round yet

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

The "you can't shoot with a scope and no bullets" really tipped the scales for me. Plus, I had forgoten, but I had already ordered and received the Redding Titanium Carbide Competition-Pro Series die set for the S&W 500 Magnum.

Well, I see you came to a conclusion, with a little input. Just to reinforce your decision, lay in a stock of reloading supplies. If I didn't reload, I probably wouldn't shoot either of my 500s (a 4" & and an 8 3/8") much, if at all, or my 300 Weatherby. Load up a bunch of ammo and go have fun with your 500! I believe you will find the gun shoots very well, and you really don't need a scope on it at normal ranges for the 500 (good on game from point blank to about 150-200 yards), it is very accurate with open sights. I regularly shoot mine at 100-150 yards with excellent results, stock open sights only. If you do go to a scope on it at some point, make sure you get a very strong mounting system (Weigand makes a steel mount for multiple rings that is about the most solid mounting system available for it - use all four rings), and a high quality scope that can take the slamming from the recoil of the 500.

The 500 is easy to reload for, and almost requires hand loads, not only from the financial standpoint, but you can tailor the loads to your gun and situation, anything from a relatively mild (keep in mind it is a .500, not a .22, mild is relative) to wild. BTW, I also cast for mine, with several different bullets, ranging from a 420 grain HP Keith type bullet through a 650 grain gas check HP and a 700 grain solid. This cartridge offers a lot of flexibility. Enjoy!

Yes, the 700 grain bullet just blows my mind. I've seen a commercially loaded 700 grain hard cast lead and a 750 grain hard cast lead. Talk about a LOAD. There's not an animal on the planet that could stand up to some fast moving Barnes XBP 375s, much less a 700 grain bullet. It won't be moving as fast, and I'm a proponent of the velocity squared theory of energy not the momentum theory that puts a lot more emphasis on the projectile weight. I forgot how fast a warm load will get the 375s moving, but it's impressive. That's in my big reloading component order - 150 Barnes 375 XBPs.

You can learn to hit something without a scope but, not without practice. Buy the reloading supplies.

I was a Sheriff's Deputy in Texas, and I was also one of the departmental firearms instructors. I'm a fair shot with open sights. IF I decide to scope it, I'll have to learn to shoot a handgun with a scope. I've never scoped or put a red dot on a handgun. Front sight...front sight...front sight...focus on the front sight...

Dood, I vote for reloading supplies. You can begin shooting more and take on some load development for that cannon.

I shoot scoped handguns quite a bit and it's a game changer, even at 4power you see all your shakes, it's distracting. You also have to get used to the eye relief and other things. I use bi-pod shooting sticks while hunting.

I feel that at moderate range, I can often shoot better with open sights unless I can get a rock solid rest, not always available where I hunt.

If you can shoot more you'll get better by then you'll have the Bucks for a scope.

Best, Rick