I've sold my .500 S&W with the 8.38" barrel length as it was too long to carry in the bush for bear protection.

I'm interested in purchasing the 4 or 6.5" model. I'm curious as to how much "Wallop" i"ll be losing with either of the shorter barrel models as compared to the 8.38" model.

I use factory loaded Buffalo Bore 440 grain hard cast bullets.


Thanks,
Moose Chaser

Not enough for you to worry about. With the 6.5" barrel in particular, it's still more than capable for ANYTHING that walks the earth.

I'm a power junkie, that's why I have two Model 500s, have had them since 2003, great guns, even for me, I'd say don't worry about a few fps.

Enjoy and hope you never have to deal with a PO'ed bear. Don

when the bullet exits the backside of the target, it makes no difference...

In the event you ever have occasion to use your handgun for self defense against a bear in the bush, you’ll need to be very quick and you’ll be shooting at close range.

Did I mention that SPEED and short range accuracy are the important factors?

If you can unlimber an X frame with a 6 1/2” barrel and hit a moving target in 1.5 seconds, you’re a handgun master.

Most of us mortals can’t come close to that quick.

The 4” barreled model would be much quicker.

One has to realize that for any Specified barrel length of an X Frame, you have to deduct 1" for the Brake. S&W counts the Brake as Barrel length which it is not. Thus my 5" 460 is actually a 4" Gun

I had a PC 10 + inch 500 but sold it because it was just too heavy and unwieldy for my tastes. I settled with a 4” and think it’s the best length for self protection in the Alaskan Bush.

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That it is. Don

With the 500S&W caliber and a flat point "Keith" Hard Cast bullet it doesn't matter OP. I would opt for a 3" barrel personally if they make it.

We don't have brown bears here but certainly blacks and coyotes and 2 legged predators... I have (2) 3" barreled "N" frames, an M29 and an M629 that I load with Underwood's 255 grain Hard Cast Keith's loaded hot in .44Special for the woods. That will full perforate even the beefiest black bear. For nightly dog walks and around town .44Special GD's are fantastic. The 3" barreled "N" frame is very comfortable and concealable to carry. The velocity loss between a 5" barrel and a 3" barrel in a .44Mag is so negligible that it's not worth worrying about. I've watched Hickock45 and other Youtube contributors shoot an 8", 5", and 3" .44Smiths with the same ammo and chrono. The difference between the 8" barreled revo and the 3" barreled one was 130fps over and over... BFD! The difference between a 5" and the 3" was a joke and so negligible it wasn't even worth remembering. I'm not saying it will be the exact same between an 8" and a 3" in 500S&W Mag but I'm betting its probably close to the same results. YMMV...

I'd have to disagree with you.

My 8.375" barreled 500 Mag measures 8.25" from the forcing cone to the beginning of the integral brake. My 6.5" PC 500 measures exactly 6.5" from the forcing cone to the beginning of the compensator. Don

I've had lots of time over chronographs and I'd say that if there was only 130fps between an 8" and a 3" barreled .44Mag using heavy loads, then the 8"er has a wide barrel to cylinder face gap or the 3"er has a very tight gap or both. No way that would be the case if both had comparable gaps.

The difference between the 500s I'm virtually certain would be considerably higher than differences between 44 Mag loads. The short barreled 500s lose a lot of velocity and lots of powder is burned in massive muzzle blast.

I've been shooting the beasts regularly for 15yrs now. Don