So with finances as they are, a few months ago I told myself I would only buy another gun if it was a certain one. A mint condition John Ross edition Performance Center S&W 500 with 5 inch barrel. Being that less than 500 of them were ever made, I figured it would be a long while before ever seeing one for sale. Well, of course where there's a will there's a way. I routinely ran a couple google searches online every couple days.
A couple weeks ago I got a hit. Advertised on Guns International, Cabelas in Boise had it in their gun library. I call the Boise gun library, double check that it is the specific model as advertised, and tell him I'll buy it for full price if he ships it up here to the Anchorage Cabelas. The full price was actually more inline with standard model 500's so I was skeptical at first but after I asked what the serial number prefix was (JRC), bingo.
Unfortunately for some delays in their process it took a little longer than expected but today I got to pick her up and bring her home.
This will certainly now be my most favorite gun of all. I've owned a Super Redhawk 454 but I didn't like grip nor the high hammer reach so the 480 version wouldn't have been for me either. I'm certain the big Rugers have a grip made for a bigger hand than the X Frames. I had owned a 6.5" standard model a couple years ago but let it go in a moment of weakness. Over the course of owning that one and researching all of the model 500's, as well as working out what would be the ideal package for me to bring along on my moose hunts in Alaska and general camping trips with my wife, there was no question that this model was it.
My previous 6.5" model was just a bit too long and the 4" model with the compensator really doesn't make good use of the available powder in my opinion. The sight of the 5" design is a work of art, just as a revolver should be. Then there's the tighter tolerances that should minimize lost velocity over the 6.5 or 8 3/8 inch versions. The trigger is unexplainably superb, even better than my fond memories of the 6.5". And, the John Ross's creation has a 1:10" twist to stabilize heavier and slower bullets, which is exactly what I'll be hand loading. On top of all that, it's just as well balanced as rumored and it's perceived weight is even lighter than I expected. I just weighed it in at 52 oz, which is the same weight as a Ruger Super Redhawk with 7.5" barrel. I'll be hand loading the 500 to be more like a bigger caliber 480 Ruger most of the time so weight savings won't be missed.
Suffice it to say, I'm one happy guy tonight.
Brought home my Unicorn
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