SW 500 & 460
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Redhawk1
Member
I have shot and owned several of both the 460 and 500 Mags.. Sold all 6 of my 460 Mags, and kept my 500 Mags. My choice in the X frame is the 500 mag.. I like the bigger holes.. 
bmdaniel92
Member
It all boils down to what your looking to do with it. Both are excelent hunting revolvers, but each one has it's own pro's and con's. IMO, the .460 is a more versitile handgun, being able to fire .45LC, .454C, and the .460MAG. Almost every sporting store, including Dick's and Wal-Mart will have .45LC, so finding ammo will be alot easier. Finding ammo for the 500MAG will be a bit tougher and more expensive, but the power behind that slug is second to none. Reloading is generally a must if you plan on shooting either gun frequently, but spend the time to ask around and look for threads on this forum comparing the two weapons. Each revolver and caliber provides it's own special purpose and use, but as I stated above, it all depends on what you want to do with it. Hope this was helpful!
From handling both SW 500 and 460, the recoil is about the same. 460 seems to be more louder. But, the SW 500 with heavier bullet and hot load is the worst one.
So question, how the recoil from a shorter barrel like 4" or 6" on the SW 500?
So question, how the recoil from a shorter barrel like 4" or 6" on the SW 500?
I now own both. They are really great to shoot and get attention. Very accurate. All shots in 6" circle off hand at 25 yards. That's as good as I c an shoot off hand. If you want a big boy toy this hand cannon is for you and has relatively mild recoil for the energy delivered.
If your hands are large enough put a set of Karl Nill grips on one - not bad at all!
Why the 500?
Because they do not make a 501.
I think the 460 is better on paper for ballistics but the 500 is definitely a hammer. I like mine (500) and its not a gun you shoot a couple hundred rounds of magnum ammo out of in a day.
Because they do not make a 501.
I think the 460 is better on paper for ballistics but the 500 is definitely a hammer. I like mine (500) and its not a gun you shoot a couple hundred rounds of magnum ammo out of in a day.
I bought a 500 when they first came on the market in '03, and then picked up a shorter barreled version of the same gun in '05. My pusher aka my friendly local gun-dealer then tried to sell me a 460 when those first showed up. I did think about it but decided that I had that base pretty well covered, and have a couple of guns in 45Colt, plus I handload so the issues of ammo availability really don't apply. If I had it to do all over again, and could only get one, I'd go for the 500 without any doubt. It's just awesome.
I do think that anyone who owns and shoots a 500, even occasionally, really needs to either be a handloader, or to take it up! I'm sure the same could be said for the 460, although there are less expensive options as has been mentioned. But I don't even like paying for factory 45Colt, just cheap I guess!
I do think that anyone who owns and shoots a 500, even occasionally, really needs to either be a handloader, or to take it up! I'm sure the same could be said for the 460, although there are less expensive options as has been mentioned. But I don't even like paying for factory 45Colt, just cheap I guess!
I really can't imagine that I can take the abuse even for 40 rds in a day.
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carl3989
Member
The 460 xvr is the most versatile of the x frames. 3 choices of ammunition. The best ballistics: zero at 100yds=6" drop at 250yds. That's better than 30-30 rifle. The 500 is the biggest for those that need it. LOL Just remember to wear inner and outer ear protection. I've never fired a louder gun.
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I really can't imagine that I can take the abuse even for 40 rds in a day.
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The way I got into my 500 was not intended and totally indirect. A fellow worker was hot after one when they 1st hit the market. He was one of the first in the area to have a 500. He was raving about it and it got me reading about them. Being a toolmaker by trade the engineering aspect of the gun (totally designed by CAD around the cartridge) got me interested. I was doing a lot of reading about the gun and one locally appeared for sale at a really,really nice price. Gun, ammo, brass, dies, bullets, cases. The gun was fired less than 10 times. Needless to say I got it.
The ammo included was mid-range loaded ammo. It was not punishing in the least but LOUD. I fired all of those in short order. Loading ammo I rolled up some Sierra JHP magnum loads. Let me say using the same gun its a Jekyll / Hyde difference with the ammo switch. I fired 40 rounds of magnum ammo and my palm hurt worse the following day. Its a punisher on both ends. My co-worker never fired a magnum round from his gun thus far and I cant wait to see his expression when he does.
I have a 600 grain JHP/FP mold on order. IMHO this is the ONLY way to afford and fire the 500. The Lee bullet (400ish) is a nice slug but the 600 or heavier slugs can be loaded up to insane power levels at moderate velocity. Good power and no leading.
Its not a gun for the masses and you can kill anything in North America easily with it if you hit it. It's fun to shoot in a special way and if you have a macho man near by let him fire a bunch of magnum rounds and watch him try to sign something / anything afterwards.
AkRocky29-2
Member
i am considering purchasing a .460 xvr in a 14 inch barrel i am a dog musher in alaska and cant always find room for a rifle in my sled bag i am looking for a rifle in a handgun basically and i shooot and reload 45 lc as i am a cowboy action shooter i like the idea of the 500 just like the versatility of being able to shoot cheap ammo for fun my question is will the 460 replace a rifle? and hunt down the big and dangerous game in the alaska
Just opinion and conjecture on my part as I have no hunting experience with the 460, but I do with the 500. I would say that a 460 with max/heavy 460 loads (not the 45 Colt cowboy loads!!!) would be the near equivalent in power and terminal effectiveness of a number of rifle rounds, but probably at the lower end of the hunting spectrum. I'm not sure I'd want to face down a pissed off brown or polar bear with one, however......for that matter, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be forced to do that with a 375H&H Magnum rifle! But I do have a lot of faith and confidence in the sheer slap and knock-down power of my 500, and whenever I carry a handgun in a situation where I think I might have even the remote chance of encountering a griz, that's what I carry without exception.
The biggest permanent hole in your target does the most damage. A hard cast 500 will penetrate VERY well and makes a big hole. I feel it has the edge on the 460 in this regard. The 460 is no slouch and likely enough gun for most targets. If you really want to shoot other ammo the 460 give you that option and is the better choice in that regard.
The 500 IS loud and it makes me cringe to even think about firing it without very good hearing protection.
This is much quieter and make a big hole....its just a lot slower!
The 500 IS loud and it makes me cringe to even think about firing it without very good hearing protection.
This is much quieter and make a big hole....its just a lot slower!
