Does anyone have any velocity based data for the 500 S&W, using same lot of loads, but fired in different length barrels?

Ideally: 8 3/8” vs 3 1/2” barrel
even 8 3/8” vs 4” or anything else


What about any other barrel length dependent studies?

Also, is the Wolfe loading database carry any value for its $35/yr membership, specifically for the 500?

Thanks

I think you will find some such data on the web.
(But maybe not for the 500 S&W)
For instance:
BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: Calibers/Cartridges
The loss of velocity, compared to whatever longest barrel you have,
gets greater and greater (per inch) as the barrel gets shorter.
In other words the velocity is a logarithmic curve as shown in the diagrams below.
The greatest loss is going from 3" to 2", then 4" to 3" etc.
(The equation for the Federal 240 below is 804.9+311.8*LN(x))

.500 S&W Magnum - Wikipedia
Has some 8" vs. 18" velocity results but finding someone who has actually cut a long 500 S&W barrel down inch by inch is more challenging.
That's a big project.

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/r...barrel-length/
Went the easy route and tested several revolvers of different lengths and makers with the same commercial rounds and plotted the results.
These are all .38 spl or .357 but you will get the idea.

Sorry I can't be more specific to the 500 S&W.

As a shooter of the 500's smaller brother, the 445, my main concern with barrel length is the recoil.
However my shortest barrel is 8" so I don't have anything shorter to compare it with.
I could not afford the Dan Wesson barrel pack at the time.
My others are 12" and 17" respectively (in an Encore)
I doubt I would be able to shoot a 4" 500 with a full heavy load these days.
Going from the 7.5" Redhawk to the 4" light barrel 629 in 44 mag feels like doubling the recoil.
I don't know how anyone shoots the aluminum 44 mags.
My aluminum 44 special feels like a full house magnum.

Attached Images

	44MagBarrelLengthVsSpeed.jpg (90.5 KB, 9 views)
	44MagBarrelLengthVsSpeed-Federal240.jpg (103.3 KB, 11 views)

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"Everything 44"

Thanks

It appears this is not at all a cut and dry science for me to use. Too many various additional factors at hand, like bullet grain, powder, load data, barrel gap etc. which will change how barrel differences effect velocity. I was looking for a said velocity to factor in to the standard 8.4” (shown on most published loads) to apply on the 3.5” loads I will eventually be loading. Right now with a 400 gr JSP +h110 I can just guess that I will have about 250 ft/sec less than the 8.375” for a max load.

Has anyone used the Wolfe database for the $35 (a year). Thinking about using this

While I have not compiled my 500 S&W data by barrel length/ velocity, it closely follows the trend of the 460 data I did compile for the forum in the post below.

460 S&W: Velocity / Barrel Length

Any study done is just going to be a generalization because the are just to many variables to test to, you are going to find exceptions. Even on the same revolver throat deference in each cylinder chamber will influence the velocity. BC gap tends to effect velocity to larger degree than other specifications. Longer the barrel the more effect an increase in the BC will have on reducing velocity. Each specification has an effect and how the tolerances are stacked determines the total effect. I would venture to guess a comprehensive study would cost around $500K

Bottom line for 460 and 500 cartridges effectiveness is not really an issue with regard to barrel length. Even a couple hundred fps is not going going make much deference in terminal performance.

Choose a bullet that will provide your desired terminal performance, choose the barrel length based on carry and sighting objective, and practice to ensure your can deliver the bullet to correct point of entry and either cartridge will get it done.

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Ruggy

Here are some .44 Mag comparisons

Buffalo Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F

S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps

460 S&W: Velocity / Barrel Length

If my calculations are in the ballpark, that’s about 1532 lbs of total lead fired through those 460’s. About equivalent to a 16” x 16” x 16” block of lead

and that testing was done in single session with the exception of the 3.5" uncomped, just to eliminate variables of weather.


The UPS and FedEx guys really don't like delivering to my place,
you can guess why!!!

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be safe
Ruggy