Pro and Cons Smith and Wesson .500 Revolver

[S.B.]

Pros?
It's a beast. Like Hellboy's revolver. Like a crew-served weapon.

Cons?
LOUD.
Expensive to feed.
It seems to be missing the buttstock, and/or tripod.

I think the .500 S&W would be a sweet round in a Marlin lever action.

On a side note, the .500 sure makes for some entertaining "fail" videos on Youtube.
I never get tired of watching people smack themselves in the head with the muzzle, upon firing.

I've got about 1000 thru mine and many others have enjoyed shooting it with me. I've never witnessed anyone not being able to control the recoil to the point it smacked them in their forehead(internet old women's tale)?
Steve

 

[stu1ritter]

3" groups at 225 yards with a handgun, you should treat yourself to the National Pistol Matches (Camp Perry) where you would walk away a winner.

Stu

 

[shocker]

3" groups at 225 yards with a handgun, you should treat yourself to the National Pistol Matches (Camp Perry) where you would walk away a winner.

Stu

20/20 vision is 1 MOA acuteness. To shoot 1.4 MOA with iron sights and a short sight radius is definitely a "show me" claim.

With a iron sight rifle I can shoot around 2.5 MOA from prone position with a loop sling. 1 MOA for the eyes, 0.5 for pulse plus 1 MOA for the gun.

 

[Goodnews]

If you can see a 3 inch clay target at 225 yds without a scope and hit it with a pistol you are smoking something better than me. I would love to see a video of that, not saying it is not possible but would love to see it happen. My 50 yr old eyes don't work that well.

Back in the day I used to plink clays at 105 yards with my 686, 6 inch classic hunter. 38 special target loads. Sights set to max height, and I would hit 2 out of 6 shots. Knock dirt on them the other 4. It taught me more about trigger control than any other type of shooting I have done. Loads of fun, and when people show up to the range and see you shooting offhand at 105 yards and see the targets break or disappear in a cloud of sand, they think you are superman. lol When I first started, I couldn't even hit the sand bank I placed them on.

 

[Redhawk500]

I have hunted a lot with 45 Colt with 300 grain Hornady XTP JHP and RCBS 45-270-SAA cast at 20,000 psi. Except for mountain lion, none have stayed inside. The S&W 25-5 with 6 inch barrel and iron sights is one of my favorites. If I want more, I go to a Clements rebored 44 Magnum Ruger Redhawk to minimum chamber specification in 45 Colt, blued with 5.5 inch barrel. If I shot three inch groups beyond 50 yards, I break out the bubbly. I guess a 4.5 pound revolver is not on my desirable list. With a 300 grain Hornady XTP, 2.5 inches high at 50 yards, you are 53 inches low at 300 yards. This is a range finder first shot. At 250 yards you're still looking at 28 inches, still off the animal by more than I would try with a rifle. I guess I just don't have these skills and think 14 inches drop at 150 yards with a handgun, 1100 fps, in perfect conditions is more than my ethical revolver range.

 

[Chrisj357]

It's a lot of money, the whole damn journey is money after money. You mean to tell me a 44 magnum is not good enough?

44 Magnum is fine for one of them smaller caliber guns.

 

[ruggyh]

Thank you all for your reply. I plan to go shoot them at the Range.today I will.be back with some info......

How was your session? What guns did you get to shoot?


Be safe
Ruggy

 

[dandyrandy]

Very cool revolver for sure but I would never own one. It just seems to much of an impractical revolver to me and the only thing I could think of for it would be for hunting largish game like Bigfoot or the Man Bear Pig. I do not hunt and if I did I would rather have a 44 or 357 magnum for that purpose. Those revolvers to me would be more able to fill multi roles if need be too! 357 and 44 magnum can be used for self defense purposes too but 44 magnum is pusshing it. You can shoot lighter loads out of those guns too like for example 38 and 44 special. The S&W 500 is more of a novelty gun or a conversation piece to me. The whole hey you call that a gun??? Now this is a gun!

 

[dave201]

I have the 500 460 44
Grandkids shoot them all and enjoy it
Cast my own and load them along the lines of Cowboy Action
For full bore, I would look for something that you can control and hit the target with.
That means a lot of practice and more practice. I use a shooting glove that really helps
I had 4 broken figures in my right hand, and still enjoy all three calibers

 

[vipermd]

I have the 500 460 44
I had 4 broken figures in my right hand, and still enjoy all three calibers

Why would having had broken fingers matter? If it was in the past month, then it may be a little tender, but fracture's of phalanges, meta-carpals, should not be a problem. Healed Fx's of wrist bones generally is not a problem, while a tendonitis of the elbow can be aggravated with some of the big bangers ( 500 S& with bullets 500 gr and above).

Be Safe,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[S.B.]

Why would having had broken fingers matter? If it was in the past month, then it may be a little tender, but fracture's of phalanges, meta-carpals, should not be a problem. Healed Fx's of wrist bones generally is not a problem, while a tendonitis of the elbow can be aggravated with some of the big bangers ( 500 S& with bullets 500 gr and above).

Be Safe,,,,,,,,,,,,

Who are you kidding? Have you ever shot a .500? You must be younger. While, not impossible, very painful with either wrist or hand problems(I should know, I've had carpal tunnel done on both wrists).
Steve

 

[Chrisj357]

Broken and then healed bones are not a reason to avoid the .500

I have 4 healed brakes in fingers and a broken wrist. Also a dislocated elbow and I shoot the .500 just fine, you develop the technique that works, the recoil becomes enjoyable. One can get addicted to the adrenalin. Well until it's time to buy more rounds that is!

 

[nesser]

Help me understand why $8 to $10 a pack for smokes and $50 to a $100 for a 1/5th of whiskey is a good deal but $26 for 20 500mag bullets that will put a smile on your face that can't be pried of with a crowbar is a bad deal. Love my 500 and 460 mag. I also have the only Desert Eagle 50ae that always go's bang.

 

[S.B.]

Crisj357, My intension was to state that, it is wise to let these things heal completely and then enjoy them again. Not intended to say, any reason to stop? I own a John Ross 500 and dearly love the gun! I'm 68 and don't heal as quick as I once did.
Steve

 

[dave201]

When my fingers were broken. more liked crushed, it sounded like peanut shells on a bar.floor
I notice it more in cold weather. Bones are said to be stronger after a break.
That being said, I love all my Smith big bores and load to what suits my day. Load em up, shoot em. collect the lead. melt cast swage and reload and shoot em again. Pure pleasure. AND the grandkids having fun with the wheelguns is an added bonus
The only thing I haven't tried is Ranger Rick's T-Rex Thumpers. Think someone took over his product line
What to get. Get em all. You won't be disappointed

 

[Chrisj357]

Help me understand why $8 to $10 a pack for smokes and $50 to a $100 for a 1/5th of whiskey is a good deal but $26 for 20 500mag bullets that will put a smile on your face that can't be pried of with a crowbar is a bad deal. Love my 500 and 460 mag. I also have the only Desert Eagle 50ae that always go's bang.

$26 for 20 is a great deal. When I was getting .500 S&W from HSM I paid somewhere around $32 and thought that was good. Most places are over $50 for 20, that's not so good. Great that I have around 500 rounds but I keep looking for good deals. My philosophy is to shoot one box and buy two. Lol

 

[Chrisj357]

OK, so talking about ammo cost I went shopping. Found some 700grn cast flat nose for $53 for 20. I usually see a much higher price than that for the big guys. 375grn is the biggest I have shot to date. I bought one box.

I have no practical use for those monsters, just want to know what they feel like.

 

[patrickd]

You say you want it for hunting. Hunting what animals? To me the 500 is an awful lot of gun and unless you're going after big bears or moose probably a bit too much gun at that. If all you're hunting is deer anything between the .357 Mag or .44Mag is plenty good. Personally, I like the .41 Mag or in a semi auto the 10mm for deer or pigs. Either will drop them like a sack of spuds.

 

[Chrisj357]

You say you want it for hunting. Hunting what animals? To me the 500 is an awful lot of gun and unless you're going after big bears or moose probably a bit too much gun at that. If all you're hunting is deer anything between the .357 Mag or .44Mag is plenty good. Personally, I like the .41 Mag or in a semi auto the 10mm for deer or pigs. Either will drop them like a sack of spuds.

I bought my 500 for hunting pigs. I watched many videos of pig hunts with pistols and NONE dropped a wild pig like the S&W500 Magnum. Nothing else is as good except maybe the 460. It's the weight of the big bullet traveling so fast, hard to beat it.

 

[nesser]

You know you can shoot 500 S&W special in that gun. 350gr fmj . 1100fps 941 fl/lbs. $18.87 for 20. They will drop a 250lb. hog quick. If you want to shoot big cal. guns you have to be willing to spend a little more money. Nothing is free anymore.