I recently picked up a Model 500 and it came with two compensators. I know one is for lead and the other is for jacketed bullets, but what's the difference between the two other than the placement of vent holes? Is this an accuracy issue, or can each only be used with the bullet they were designed for? I checked them both with a micrometer and they are both the same at .527"

They're easy enough to change out so it's not that I'm too lazy to do it. Just more curiosity than anything I guess.

The lead bullet compensator is designed to direct the lead buildup differently. If you shoot lead bullets through the jacketed compensator, it will be extremely difficult to remove it.

So can one just leave the lead bullet compensator in the gun and shoot both through it?

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A Smith & Wesson Beats 4 Aces

You could leave the lead bullet comp on all the time as far as I know. I understood that the lead one had the forward holes allowing insertion of the removal tool to detach it from the barrel for cleaning after lead build up. What I find curious is the fact that the early (and some current) 500s had an integral comp that would presumably be used for either lead or jacketed. I don't find a lot of lead build-up occurs. All I shoot in my 500s is lead, but I do use hard-cast gas-check bullets. My loads are all max or close to it, no "practice" or mid-range loads in the 500 for me. If I want to shoot something like that, I reach for a 38 or 45.

I have a similar issue except which one do i use for semi jacketed bullets...

Is there anyone out there that has the lead comp. sitting around and they are dying to get rid of it?