How about a .500 Magnum thread -- All models Pros & Cons!

.460V & XVR Magnum Man

.460V & XVR Magnum Man

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Was thinking about getting a .500 8 3/8 with compensator. Anyone have one or any other model and lets hear what your reviews are. I myself have the 4" and the 6 1/2", and am happy with both. Lets hear some forum reviews on your experiences with the .500's.
 
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i have the 7.5" hunter model from the performance center...put a scope on and have taken several boars,merino ram,and a 4-horn ram...also lots of fun at the range...love it !
 
Recently had the opportunity to shoot one. All I can say about it is "AWESOME". Gotta get one, it's on the list.
 
Yep "AWESOME" is putting it mildly. Sure are a lot of fun to finish off a nice day at the range. Just when people are getting used to the .44's and .357's that I was shooting, I break out one of these and after the blast, things in the lanes get really quiet as everyone is asking "what the heck was that". Then when they ask can I take a shot, you explain about the cylinder gap, how to hold it properly and let them light off a round, it takes 1/2 hour for the grin on their face to go away!
 
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ever notice that when people fire one for the first time they get the "giggles"?
 
I notice that when people shoot one for the first time they go "WHOAAAAA!!!!"
 
The 500 is awesome out of a $300 Handi-Rifle too. 350 grain hard cast lead reloads at over 2100fps. Destructive power you just have to witness.

It's our highlight at every range outing.
 
My view, having owned the 8 3/8th, newer 6.5" half lug and 6.5" PC models, is that they're all fine, you just have to determine what pleases you, more velocity and longer sight radius or more portability.

Personally, I find the 10.5" PC model just too long and realize that I probably wouldn't shoot the short 4" and 2 3/4" snubbies nearly as well due to the much shorter sight radius.

Simply great guns. Don
 
Hi Craig.Steve here, Normaly i shoot 44 Mag. Have a 500 8"3/8,and it is awsome, more comfortable than i expected. Seemed like it only pounded me when i shot 40 or more rounds at one time. I am currantly working up reloads starting at 350grn. I have some 700 grn. waiting on the shelf. The heaviest load i have shot so far is 440 grn.
 
.460V & XVR Magnum Man said:
Was thinking about getting a .500 8 3/8 with compensator. Anyone have one or any other model and lets hear what your reviews are. I myself have the 4" and the 6 1/2", and am happy with both. Lets hear some forum reviews on your experiences with the .500's.
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My son-in-law got the excellent John Ross 5 inch model built at the Performance Center and available from Mr. Ross in two versions. It is far and away better than the production version. Mr. Ross, you may recall, is the author of the excellent novel "Unintended Consequences."
 
Hi guys..I got my 500 a few months ago and have only put about 15 rounds thru it. It's an 8-3/8" model with the non removable compensator. The last time I shot it, the compensator pulled away from the end of the barrel about 1/8" gap at the top and tilted downward. Luckily I noticed it right away and stopped shooting it.
I sent it back to the factory and got it back in about a week. I asked them to explain what happened, but got no reply when the gun was returned. The comp seems tight on the end of the barrel now, but I haven't shot it yet since it was returned. Anyone know what might have caused this? And how is the comp attached? I was shooting a FMJ 350grn round at the time. Thanks...Steve
 
shawn mccarver said:
My son-in-law got the excellent John Ross 5 inch model built at the Performance Center and available from Mr. Ross in two versions. It is far and away better than the production version. Mr. Ross, you may recall, is the author of the excellent novel "Unintended Consequences."
Click to expand...

Your Son-in-Law has an excellent revolver in that JR model. He will probably find the recoil to be very harsh when shooting full-on loads compared to the compensated models.

If he has any problems with accuracy have him check the cylinder throats - I know mine & one other individual on this board had tight cylinder throats and after sending them off to a pistolsmith for reaming, they shoot very well now. I went to 0.501 while the other member went to 0.502. 0.502 is probably the better choice if shooting cast bullets.

My JR Model just went down this week and I'm awaiting a S&W return ticket, so I can send it back to them for repair.
 
I fired one cylinder full from a buddies 500.
Not a fun experience when you have arthritis. lol
 
There are no cons.... unless your weak to heavy recoil

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I have both the 8 3/8" model and the 10.5" Performance Center Hunter model 500.

My Leupold VX-III 2.5-8X32mm handgun scope along with Leupold Quick Release rings are on their way to Leupold as of today. The scope scoots back under recoil on the 10.5" Hunter and has really scared up the tube. I called Leupold about the problem and they suggested I degrease the rings and scope and use a small amount of rosin. That helped a bit, but the scope still canted a slight bit and started to strip metal off of the scope tube under recoil. I am not using maximum loads, either.

Hopefully the scope will be returned before I head toward Wyoming for a hunt on October 1st. I am confident that Leupold will make it right.
 
retiredsquid said:
The scope scoots back under recoil on the 10.5" Hunter and has really scared up the tube. I called Leupold about the problem and they suggested I degrease the rings and scope and use a small amount of rosin. That helped a bit, but the scope still canted a slight bit and started to strip metal off of the scope tube under recoil. I am not using maximum loads, either.
Click to expand...

These guns are tough on equipment. You might have noticed that one of this forum's members, Ohio Coconut has either 3 or 4 beefy rings securing his scopes.

I have a .458 Win Mag that was moving the scope a little, again, not with max loads. I degreased the rings and put RTV silicone on them and have never had an issue since. If you disassemble the rings/scope, the RTV comes off easily w/o damage to anything.

Good luck with the beast, my .500s are strictly iron sighted. Don
 
Don,
I didn't think about putting on an additional set of rings, but that makes sense. Problem is that I wanted to run quick release rings on this gun. I guess I could put a second set of them on it. If Leupold doesn't come up with a better solution that may just be the route I take. If it were not for my eye sight going south with age I would not do the scope, either.
Regards,
Rich
 
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