Those of you that have the .500: what do you use it for?

[Univibe]

I examined one of these behemoths at a gun show. 8 3/8 inches of factory-ported barrel. A cylinder that probably weighs more than my 9mm Shield. Cartridges that look like military munitions.

What do y'all use yours for?

(Be honest: if it's for Machismo, say so!)

 

[double-dipper]

I don't have one yet, but it's on my very short wish list. You never know when a Tyrannosaurus Rex will show up in the back yard.

 

[6518John]

Because it was there.

Univibe—The classifieds and gunshows were flooded with them several years ago after they came out—I suspect sort of along the lines of the .44 Mag after Dirty Harry (I understand there were countless nearly new 29's for sale with a box of shells with six empties—or frequently less than 6 empties).

I bought a .500 second hand that I doubt had been shot twice. Beautifully made. I have shot two cylinders full of ammo. It is deadly accurate and fun to shoot.

 

[huthike]

Just for fun. A few big boomers and then some gentle 500 special. The boomers make a 44 mag gentle by comparison.


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[colt_saa]

There is nothing wrong with the folks that do not like the 500 Smith and Wesson Magnum. We do not mind and we will not try to convert them. Heck, I do not like the 40 S&W, 45 GAP, 5.7x28FN, 7.62x39 and loads of other cartridges

When it comes to the 500 Smith and Wesson Magnum, 90%+ of the time, I use it for the exact same thing I use my 17 Remington, 22LR, 357 Magnum, 45 ACP or 50BMG for. . . Target Shooting

I get just as much of a thrill making half a pound of lead cloverleaf at 50 yards with a BIG hand gun as I am launching a grain of rice at over 4000 FPS into a dime size group down at the end of the range.

The 500 Smith and Wesson Magnum is an exceptionally accurate cartridge, easy to hand load and versitile over a very large range pf projectile weights and power levels.

When it comes to hunting, the round is surprising. I have seen a shoulder shot that traveled down the spine, exiting at the rear of the Hog and still burying the projectile in the ground behind the animal. The hog just collapsed on the spot

If this were just Machoism, All of us would have been card carrying 44 Magnum owners for the last 5 decades.

Myself, I am not too big a fan of the 44 Magnum, never have been. I own a couple because I am a Smith and Wesson collector but I do not shoot them, Heck, I do not even reload for he 44 Magum . . . and I reload for EVERYTHING

 

[two-bit cowboy]

My rationalization when I bought my 10½" Hunter when they first came out was "it'll be my elk gun."

One of these days I'll actually apply for a tag.

I've pushed every available commercial bullet weight through it except the 700gr lead. One of these days.

Yeah, I guess, for now, it's just another target model.

 

[RMFnLA]

"I like big guns, I cannot lie"...

 

[CH4]

"Those of you that have the .500: what do you use it for?"
Not being in Alaska any longer, I now use my .500 for show & tell and bragging rights at BBQs.

 

[HamHands]

I'm a big .44Mag snubbie guy myself living in the south all my life. I carry them as my Woods Gun with heavy Mags; and on the streets/nightly dog walks it's loaded with heavy .44Specials. But to answer your question, IF I lived in Alaska or somewhere with brown or white bears... a .500Mag it would be and of the "Midget", short barrel variety, "lock delete" equipped of course! I'm digging that 2.75" version I'm seeing pics of... Dammit OP... I don't need another big bore midget as the (3) I've got, got me in so much trouble with the wifey in the first place!!!

 

[bigggbbruce]

It's fun to let my friends shoot it..
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thZ_o_pPksk[/ame]

 

[Univibe]

What would be cool is if you were wearing a suit, carrying concealed, pumping gas at the local car watering hole; and the jackboys came up and made their typical demands. You'd pull out that stainless-steel, 8 and 3/8 inch Smith & Wesson .500 Magnum. It'd be worth it just to see the faces of the youthful thugs when they were confronted by a potential victim with a hand-cannon.

 

[F75gunslinger]

I don't have a 500, but i have a 460xvr . I bought it for the simple reason that the deal was too good to pass up.I shoot it here and there at targets. That's about it.

 

[AmStaff64]

I love the big guys - just because.
I have the 500 and 460 S&W - both 8&3/8
50AE Desert Eagle
and
Barrett M82 in 50BMG - now this is a big dog.
And a whole lot of "lesser" ones from 454 Casull on down...
In all seriousness the big fellas (50 BMG excluded) give you great flexibility when you reload your own ammo.

 

[Univibe]

I love the big guys - just because.
I have the 500 and 460 S&W - both 8&3/8
50AE Desert Eagle
and
Barrett M82 in 50BMG - now this is a big dog.
And a whole lot of "lesser" ones from 454 Casull on down...
In all seriousness the big fellas (50 BMG excluded) give you great flexibility when you reload your own ammo.

Now this is where the big guys come into their own. I recently got a 6.5 inch 629. I have no use for full house .44 loads and indeed have never fired one in my 629. I load an intermediate load that goes around 1000 or 1050 fps by published data. You know you're shooting a big gun but it's not unpleasant.

In .500 I'd load a 335 grain hardcast at about 1000 fps or so. It'd be like a .38 spl wadcutter.

 

[bigggbbruce]

What would be cool is if you were wearing a suit, carrying concealed, pumping gas at the local car watering hole; and the jackboys came up and made their typical demands. You'd pull out that stainless-steel, 8 and 3/8 inch Smith & Wesson .500 Magnum. It'd be worth it just to see the faces of the youthful thugs when they were confronted by a potential victim with a hand-cannon.

You mean like Crocodile Dundee except with a gun..

 

[WPWarhawk]

I am into Big Bore revolvers and have wanted a 50 caliber revolver for a long time. The S&W is the most affordable option, the other possibilties are custom jobs from Bowen, Lineaugh, etc.

I've had a few different 500s, the only one I still have and my favorite is the John Ross performance center version. Remember, I wanted a 50 caliber revolver, not necessarily a 500 Magnum. So I shoot a lot of target and midrange loads, and on extremely rare occasion will shoot a few magnum loads.

 

[steelslaver]

I use mine to make a big booms and big holes.

I am hoping that the clone a few dinosaurs and I draw a permit to take one. I did shot a prairie dog with mine and am glad to report it as a one shot kill.

 

[Rpg]

Great question!!

Great answers too: all variations on the theme "because it's cool and impressive".

 

[roscoepc]

I bought mine for hunting and target practice.. And it IS kind'a fun to show off. One of the fun things though is demonstrating to curious people that, with a lower powered round, the recoil on the weapon is not bad at all and totally controllable!! I've shot .357 Mags that had more kick!!

And steelslayer… Nice Job on the Prairie Dog!! Was there enough for a meal left??!!!!

 

[gman51]

That 500 recoil fail video is why I don't want one. At my age I might break a hip.