I bought a 10.5" PC .500 Mag about a year ago and mostly shot Federal Fusion 325gr and Doubletap 275gr through it. Got two deer last year with it.

This month, however, I finally ran out of ammo and got to looking online for more ammo (I'm trying to get into reloading but I'm not there yet).

Doubletap is sold out everywhere with no ability to backorder. Federal Fusion is also sold out with no ability to backorder. Looks like Winchester stopped making their 500SW ammo, also.

All I can find is Hornady for $60-80 a box.

I was paying $35-40 for the Fusion and Doubletap.

Is the .500SW going the way of the .450 Marlin? I have one of those, too, and you're pretty much stuck with Buffalo Bore and Hornady with it (But you can get .450 Marlin Leverevolution easily and for <$40.)

I see .460SW everywhere, though.

EDIT TO ADD:

Seems like I DO see a lot of .500SW ammo, but it's all Armscor, Freedom Munitions or Precision One. These are all loaded down to .500 Special loads, just about. Like a 300gr bullet at 1250fps.

It seems like most full-power, name brand loads are gone.

It’s a specialty round and most likely will be made in intermittent batches (think .32-20 and .455 Webley, among many others). Be sure to pounce when they come back in stock.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I'm hoping that's the case and they'll make some around deer season.

I'd like to shoot some though since I'm having some issues with mine right now.

Have you tried Outdoor Limited?

Looks like they have some Precision One at full power and some Hornady and Federal.

$17 shipping. Ouch.

They're local to me so I have no experience with their shipping charges. Maybe $17 is a minimum charge. What happens to the cost if you add like 1,000 rounds of 9mm to the order?

I go into debt, lol.

Bass Pro has one box in the store and it's $80. I predict they hold onto that box until they go out of business like Gander did.

Things are WAY better today than they used to be.

In more than a decade and a half, my 500 S&W Magnums have not seen a single round of factory ammunition fired in them. With the exception of one that I use for ammunition testing

However, you need to look into hand loading. This is a very easy cartridge to load for.

You do not necessarily get into hand loading for the cost savings, but more for the variety
The light bullet on the left is 450 grains, the big wadcutter on the right is 725 grains . When looking at this image remember that these are 1/2" across, making the shortest one over an inch long.

I also have lighter weight stuff going all the way down to 275 grains

Back in 2003 we had to cast our own projectiles or use the 50AE & 50GI bullets at velocities they were not designed for. We also had to develop our own load data. It was a FUN time

It's just simple supply and demand at work.

The S&W Model 500 Revolver and the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge have limited appeal due to their punishing (to say the least) recoil, thus rendering them only sought after by Handgun Hunters, Wilderness Guides, and those who simply want to own them for the novelty of owning "The most powerful handgun in the world!"

The S&W Model 460XVR is more popular due to the virtue of being able to chamber less powerful cartridges which are more comfortable to shoot such as .45 Long Colt, and the .460 S&W Magnum cartridge is more than powerful enough to take any game in North America.

The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge isn't dead, nor is it dying, it's just kind of niche, only appealing towards folks who are more interested in its application as a Hunting/Wilderness Defense round as opposed to recreational shooting, ergo the ammo doesn't sell very well, so retailers either only order it in limited quantities or don't bother to stock it at all. .460 S&W Magnum on the other hand is more practical, offering plenty of power with less recoil, ergo it would make sense that it's more available.

I'm thinking a 300 gr. bullet at 1250 FPS would knock a deer for a loop. Should be a lot milder recoil to shoot, too. Save the big stuff for barrs!

A similar question could be asked: Does Frankenstein live?

Same as with most any cartridge. You can get very watered down ammo from the major suppliers, somewhat decent powered ammo from the specialty suppliers, and full power ammo if you hand load your own.
Stock up on reloading tools and components and you have as much of what you want.

Precision One states their 350 XTP load's velocity is 1725 fps.

500 S&W 350gr Hornady Magnum HP/XTP *NEW* 100rds [P1500S&W350MAGXTPN100] - $149.99 : Precision ONe Ammunition, Dont Shoot Twice Shoot Precision ONe

They seem to load their stuff hot, and at very reasonable prices. I think if they described their products a bit better (like stating fps for all their loads) they would sell even more. Their XTP prices are very hard to beat for sure, and they have the cheapest 44 SPL I have seen anywhere. I bought a big box of the 44 SPL and it was great stuff.

At those prices for ammo, it will not take long to pay off a set of dies and a simple turret press

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

It's a specialty cartridge. Best thing is to handload. Not only due to scarcity, but because you can load what you want and besides, it's fun. Maybe find somebody near you with a press. Buy Lee .500 dies and a shellholder
some bullets and primers. A can of powder costs under 30 bucks and will probably load 8 or 10 .500 cartridges.'

LOL Just kidding. Reloading is great. With an investment of less than 100 dollars, you can try it out. If you like it, everything you bought will be good when you add a press and other essentials.

PS You probably shouldn't invest in a Dillon 550 progressive press unless you plan to shoot a LOT of .500 ammo.

PPS Considering the cost of .500 S&W rounds you probably COULD save a lot of money if you plan to shoot a box 20/month
A press that will handle only pistol cartridges is CHEAP. And cast or coated bullet cost a lot less than jacketed.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Try this guy out. A buddy of mine bought his "sample" box and was not disappointed!!

500 S&W : Matts Bullets Ammunition

Pretty much where I'm at, have only purchased two boxes of ammo since I got into the 500 in 2003. One box is Buffalo Bore 440gr and I haven't shot a round of it yet for some unknown reason.

The other is a box of shotshells from Matt's Bullets. They're pretty neat. I've tried to make my own but they're inconsistent and CCI won't make 500 shotshells, they say the cost of new tooling will never be recovered.

Yeah, variety is a huge factor but so is cost. As you know, I can reload high quality hard cast, gas checked ammo for less than 50 cents/rd not counting brass which seems to last forever.

What I find dumb is the local Bass Pro usually has a 500 or two for sale but to the best of my knowledge has never had ammo to buy for it. You sell a caliber, stock at least some ammo for it. Don

Perfectly spoken.

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Oui Chef!

Only reload for mine.
Only got one buck with it, but nothing like shooting something that is over the top.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I have a few 444 Marlin rifles . You can buy factory loads for it but I roll my own. I $ave a lot so I can shoot them more often. A 500 has to be expensive to shoot. Loading is a fun rewarding hobby that saves you money so you can enjoy shooting.

Ballisticly it was a specialty/niche item, IMO. Once the novelty of owning the bad boy wore off, so did the sales. Demand & supply.

Pricey, but available.

500 S&W Mag | Handgun Ammo | Ammo

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Ad Astra Per Aspera

Handgun Ammo – tagged "Cartridge_500 S&W Magnum" – Underwood Ammo

About $ to $3 a round but available. And I have never heard anyone complain about Underwood watering down their ammo.

Don't know if its daed yet, but I do believe it won't be around (produced that is) long term! Ammo very expensive, recoil is hard, noise is VERY LOUD, and other than Hunting there is little use for it that truly makes sense.

I believe the main reason for it in the first place was braggin' rights for S&W - "the biggest stick" - as there are not too many these days that actually hunt with handguns that need to be a 500 Mag.

While I do not own one, several of my friends do. After firing it once or twice they are pretty much conversation pieces these days. They don't want to spend the $$ on the ammo, and hate cleaning the Muzzle Brake. Neither one of them are Hunters and they have little use for them. More than likely regret the purchase (but I don't know that for sure).

On Ammoseek they show 346 hits for 500 S&W ammo and 145 hits for 460 S&W ammo. I was considering a 5" .460 and was surprised at the terrible selection factory ammo. I'd reload 95% of what I shoot, but it's always nice to have some factory ammo on hand.

I don't own a 500 S&W but my son does. Try ammoseek.com. They show a long list from a long list of suppliers and manufacturers. A lot priced between $30 & $40 a box.

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NRA Benefactor Member

I handload for two main reasons:
1.)To circumvent the lack of availability problem. Ammo company's load what they want when they want . You have to wait , then hoard what you can get.
2.) I can tailor my loads. Light target , mid range and heavy hunting.
Cast bullets give you great flexibility.

There is another reason....being the master of your ammunition supply is very self satisfying , you are no longer dependent on an ammo maker to make a run and some dealer to stock it .
I can just about bet your price per box will be lower to boot.

It's also a very fascinating hobby , I started about 50 years ago (1967) and still enjoy the process....it's fun !
Gary

Just thought I'd follow up on this.

I emailed Federal directly and asked them about their Fusion line. They actually emailed me back within an hour or so and said their production runs will begin in September. So just in time for modern gun season.

I feel silly for making this thread now.

The .500 S&W round is (IMHO) a beast that is heading for extinction. Maybe not next year but within the next decade.
We only sell a few guns in .500 a year at the shop I work at per years (maybe one in 1500 sales). Those that are sold, get shot rarely (as per their owners reports). Maybe once/twice a year and then only for 10-20 rounds or so. Consequently, we sell maybe 5-10, 20 round box's a year total.
I'm not sure how long it will be profitable for manufactures to make production runs on something with so little call.
If I owned one, I would covet my brass and lay in supplies to roll my own .
FWIW, we tend to sell more .460's than 500's these days. Ammo cost, availability and interchangeability is the big selling point there.

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Dave

Another crisis averted . Thanks for the update.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Did I hear someone say bears, or Barrs. Is this a BEAR thread now.

I do not know how much they turnover, but I see Model 500's in every gun shop - even Academy, someone must be buying them and someone must be making the ammo. A few of my friends like them have them and we shoot them periodically. Impressive recoil and power, but I get just as much fun from shooting 357 mag. I would "like" a Model 500 if I win the lottery, but it's not something I feel that I "need" or would spend hard earned money on. To each there own, but as long as someone will pay for it, and I know a few folks who will, the ammo will be made by somebody - if only in periodic batches..

There is no denying it's a niche market, but even if only one out of every four dealers sold one gun a year, that's about 16,000 guns which would certainly be worth the set up time to make. No doubt S&W would piggy back that run to make their other X frame models as well. I don't see the 500 going away in the immediate future. I see far more 500's around than I do Desert Eagles in 44 mag (let alone their 50 caliber model), and look how long they've been around.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Just checked mine - phew it's still alive Mine had only 1 20rd box of factory ammo through it (out of about 900 rds so far). For factory - just checked Midway and looks like they have what you're looking for: Underwood, Federal, Grizzly, Hornady.

Fun is not a term I use when describing reloading.

If I could put the supplies out at night and wake up to completed rounds I'd be a happy camper.

I'd describe it as a means to an end.

Check out midwayusa.com. They have 22 different 500 loads, including Underwood ammo, which I would not call a dumbed-down load at all. I shoot a lot of PrecisionOne Ammo, and although it’s not loaded to super level, it’s affordable, and would easily kill any animal in North America. With a 500, just about any load will kill anything unless you go to Africa or Jurassic Park.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, silly. Anything hit with a .500 S&W is dying.

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Psalm 27:2

I roll my own 440 grain lead and AA#9 to propel them with mate.

thewelshm

You know, they were saying about 35-40 years ago that the 45 Colt was dying.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

At $3 or more per round I doubt they are losing money even though the volume is low. As long as people are willing to spend that much on the ammo some small maker is going to provide it.

The reason the .44 mag was the king for so long was that it was considered to be the reasonable limit for hand guns. In a carbine with a 20 inch barrel, it has been known to kill a brown bear and a grizzly or two. Then the 454 Casull came along and kinda made that idea seem to be even more so true. Ever shoot a 454 Casull? Not fun. A .44 mag with hot Underwood or Buffalo Bore loads can come very close to the Casual in ft lbs. of energy without the loud report and heavy recoil the Casull is known for. I have thought about the 460 for a while but invested in a Marlin 444P outfitter instead. In a ported lever gun, it is a bit more deadly and easier to hand load. Can't for the life of me see why I would "need" a 460 or a 500 handgun. It is a gun I think would sit in the safe after the novelty wore off and I started thinking about how much more it costs to shoot than my Marlin 444P. I load lead boolits that I smelt from wheel weights. 270 grain to 410 grain. With my powder coating, i can keep the barrel clean and lead free. Shot a 250 pound hog here in Florida. He dropped without taking a step. Right thru the front shoulders and a small hog behind it got knocked down as well. Had to finish the small hog off with my 357 mag. Sometimes owning the king of handguns isn't all it is cracked up to be. Plus my stainless 629 is so cool and classic. I also shoot the very hottest .44's out of a Ruger Redhawk.

Someone needs to make a movie where a .500 revolver is the star of the show. Just like Clint Eastwood's Model 29 was the star of "Dirty Harry." Remember, the .44 Magnum was not a big seller until "Dirty Harry" made it into a household name. Then everybody wanted one.

The revovlers may not have been the Stars, but Smith and Wesson 500 and 460 Magnums did appear in motion pictures almost as soon as they were on the market.

Here is one from Bruce Willis' movie RED
Samuel L. Jackson used one in the film The Spirt
OK, neither movie was as big as Dirty Harry, but I bet no one thought that Dirty Harry would be that big when Smith and Wesson gave them the revolver for filming