I recently took a long look at a .500 S&W with a 4" barrel and decided that this revolver has no practical application. The cartridge really belongs in a lever action rifle and NOT a revolver. If you are serious about carrying a .50 for personal defense (and I would not belittle anybody who is serious about it), better alternatives would be the .50 GI in an auto or the .50 AE or even .500 Linebaugh/.50 Special in a revolver. The revolver cartridges are custom propositions but can be had in custom Redhawks with 4" or even 3" barrels. The .50 GI from Guncrafter seems like a very good idea, and is most cost effective when used on the Glock platform.

Dave Sinko