I am about to dive into the deep end of the pool and pick up an 8 3/8" version of the S&W500.

Would love to hear some feedback on this revolver.
Including possibly some load data, etc.

Regards,

Tom

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I don't have any load data as I have only fired factory ammo so far. I have saved all my brass so I should buy the dies and get with the program. I have loved my 500 ever since my sons gave it to me for my Birthday years ago. It is the 4" version. My late wife loved to shoot it. I am a law enforcement officer. I have shot 100 percent on our handgun qualification course. 50 rounds is kind of expensive. I took it to a ballistics demonstration down in San Antonio. They shot blocks of gelatin with just about all the normal (for Texas) law enforcement calibres (38, 357, 357 Sig, 40 S&W, 44 Special, 5.56, 7.62) It was calibrated and the results were carefully measured. Then I shot my 500 loaded with Winchester Platinum Tip 400 grain hollow points. It rained gelatin. The first block just went everywhere. The block behind it was blown off the stand onto the ground. I can assure you, you would never have to shoot anybody twice.

Bought my 500, also the 4" (3" with 1" compensator) on a whim. But I love it. Partly for the laser like accuracy, it weighs over 4 lbs and is so steady in the hand. And partly because it has such a novelty factor and the impression it makes at the range. People come looking after my first shot to see what in the hell I'm shooting.

I for one would not recommend the longer barrels. Yes you have a longer sight radius but those long barrels just tend to wobble around in a circle when I'm trying to squeeze off a shot. The 4" is steady as a rock. And it can ring the 250 yard steel gong with impunity.

It'll be the cheapest gun you own to shoot; no one wants to shoot it more than once! If at all!!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have three of the beasts: a standard 4”, a 5” JRS and a 6 ½” PC Hunter. For hunting the Hunter is obviously the one to use. It easily takes a scope, weighs 70 oz without the scope, 85 oz with my 2x Weaver scope, is super accurate and the weight does a fair job of taming the recoil. The 4” is a good one to use to clear out the range. It is so noisy that no one wants to be anywhere near it. The 5” is the most fun for me to play with. It is my favorite.

All my loads are reloads. I just can’t afford factory stuff. I also load things down a bit. It is much more fun to play with without beating myself to death.

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Tom

Thanks for the plug!

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JR, the 500 Specialist

I first shot an early model with the long barrel. It seemed front heavy to me (bet it would be nice with a scope though)

Since I dont want to add a scope to my handgun, I opted for the 6.5" barrel and it shoots real nice. straight and level out to at least 100yards. I have hit respectably on a 100yd target with it, so I am convinced I didnt give up much accuracy

Just my humble opinion because you asked

I have ownd several S&W 500 mags over the years. I still have a 8 5/8 inch. I have been shooting the 500 mag from 2003 tell now. In my opinion, the 8 5/8 is the best for me. I had a 4 inch, 6 1/2 inch a 10 inch and a couple of the 8 5/8. As for load data, I have a large data base in an excel program. If you send me an e-mail address I will send it to you. As long as you have excel on your computer you can down load it. PM me your e-mail address if you want the data.

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Endowment Life Member NRA

I have the 4" model and enjoy it a lot. Cabela's has the cheapest ammo I have found, $33 for 20, HSM brand 350gr. It is quite punishing though, or maybe I'm a sissy! I reloaded some milder loads and it is a joy to shoot. It really creams watermelons and pumpkins!

Thanks for the feedback on this......

I am taking this in on trade and will mostly likely trade it off for guns that I am more interested in.

My collection consists of mostly pre-1961 revolvers.
Looking for a K-32 right now.

But...that said, I may just have to take this to the range and give it a try!

Tom

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I have 4" version. I shoot my own reloads , very much tamed down.
I shoot mostly Berry's plated bullets , 350 grain with a load of 23 grains of Power Pistol.
It is such a flashy powder that it seems hotter then it really is.
I was lucky to find a solid comp for sale on this forum so that has really made it more pleasant to shoot.
Even though I do believe it kicks a bit more, it does not have the annoying
clean out the indoor range blast effect it used to have.
I think it is my cheap skate version of the John Ross one I had always wanted.
I think the blast of the open comp is worse then the small amount of recoil reduction you get.
I sure agree with accuracy claims , I can keep them in a quarter size hole out to about 15 yards which is as well as I can do with any handgun.

Definitely give it a try if you haven't shot one before. Corbon makes 500 Specials that really take the edge off if you wanna give those a try.

Is there a specific vintage K32 you're looking for or by saying K32 you're indicating a pre model # gun?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Great guns, try Hodgdon.com for pressure tested reloading data. Don

Just brought home a PC M500, 6-1/2" bbl. It was a bit of an impulse buy driven by what I considered to be a good price, and a healthy dose of curiousity

Unfortunately I haven't gotten it to the range yet, as I am having to put my kit together while trying to conserve funds for the the Xmas season, but I am looking forward to it. Been reading everything Mr. Ross has had to say about the guns, and I do appreciate all the forum members willing to share their experience. A range report will be forthcoming

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I have an early ('03) production 8 3/8" which I bought in that year and used to harvest a nice buck that fall. I've shot and handloaded for it extensively. I have one load, a duplication of the mighty 440 grain CorBon loading, a CastPerformance 440 grain over 40 grains of H110/W296. It chronographs within 20fps of the factory stuff and is excellent in terms of power and accuracy.

I personally do not load the 500 down. I do not know why someone would buy a 500 and then shoot moderate loads out of it. When I want to shoot something mild, I grab a nice 38 Special.

"Moderate" .500 loads can still eclipse anything fired out of any other DA revolver or semiauto. A 400 grain slug at 1200 FPS has less than half the energy of top loads, but I wouldn't compare it to a .38 Special...

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JR, the 500 Specialist

There's at least 6 different factory loadings besides a 'jillion' handloads. I don't know why anyone should always shoot only the very hottest one!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

if you can afford the beast, and the ammo to feed it, buy it. i love mine and is my favorite of all my handguns to shoot.

I've owned two, a 4" and 6.5"... Both shot very well but the 4" with the comp was much more pleasant to shoot. I sold the 6.5" to a friend who uses it for mountain hunting black bear in Pennsylvania.

18.0 grains of Unique with a 350 grain bullet runs just under 1100 fps and is very accurate. 43.0 grains of H110 with a 350 runs in the 1400s and from the 4" throws a fireball so bright it you can see it on a sunny day and feel the heat from the flash on your face...

I would like to one day get a 6.5" Hunter with a comp....I've also got a 20" TC Encore barrel...a hoot to shoot...

Bob

OH and, Plus, don't forget - if anybody ever shoots an RPG at you, you can hit it head-on like John M. in the movie RED!

I know that capability would be a big plus for me - you know, just in case...

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But then, what do I know?

I have an 8 3/8" and a 4" 500. Love both; however, the long barrel gun is much more pleasant to shoot with hot loads. The compensator on the 4" gun produces muzzle flash that is really annoying, even to the shooter, with light (350 grain)/fast (1800+ fps) loads, and most factory ammo. In fact, after the first range session with it, I nearly put it up for sale, but tried it later with some loads I made with some 420 grain lead HP that I cast at about 1200-1500 fps (several loads), and it was a great deal of fun. In fact, I only shot the long tube gun a little that day, but ran about 100 rounds through the 4" gun. Both are extremely accurate, easily 100 yard guns with very tight groups, the long barrel gun is good to 150-200 yards with very good accuracy. I only use open sights, might be better with a scope for some people. Definitely a caliber that requires hand loading a, both for the expense factor and the ability to tailor the load to the gun and the intended use. It is an extremely flexible caliber. I think you will like the 500 once you shoot it. I would never have bought the 4" gun if I had not enjoyed the 8 3/8" gun so much. I highly recommend the 500.

I love my 8 3/8 500 but it is expensive to shoot as I don't reload. Don't consider it for a SD weapon. You will permanently lose your hearing and be blinded by the muzzle flash at night. All said, it is a hoot to shoot!, with double hearing protection.

Reload, a basic outfit will be paid for very quickly and you can load whatever you want. Don

There was no wish on my part to offend anyone who enjoys shooting 500 Specials or loading the gun down, I probably worded my comment poorly. I was purely speaking for myself. Anyone who likes to shoot should shoot what they want and however they want to shoot it, provided it is done safely.

I think one would have to be overly sensitive to have taken offense at what you said. Don

Yeah, I certainly wasn't, it just triggered some diverse opinions. Written communication just can't equate to direct conversation meaning. It just takes more words.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Other then saying you own one.what do you do with them things.

They're simply great guns. Excellent triggers. Far more accurate than 99% of shooters can exploit. They have a vast power range, from feeling like an overgrown .38 Spl to beastly loads that can effectively take anything that walks without being some stunt backed by a legion of professional hunters.

The only thing they're not much good at is CCW. Don

I've got the 8 3/8" and the 6 1/2" 500's and they quickly became my favorites to shoot, I've bought most of the reloading components but haven't loaded any yet. Anyone have a good source for bulk bullets? The cheapest I've found ammo is Cheaper Than Dirt at $21.99 for 20. Not bad and burns clean. I still think I can reload for about half of that.

Hi, steve here, Have the 8 3/8 500 . Can't say enough about it. I normaly shoot about 20 to 30 rounds at a shooting. Mostly 350 grainers. some 440s . Recoil is not to bad. I mostly shoot hot 44 Mags.

Plain base 16 to 28 cents each depending on weight. Gas checked about 6 cents more. He will soon be offering my long nose long range designs.

500 S&W : Matts Bullets

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JR, the 500 Specialist

I use Montana Bullet Works to get my 500 Mag, and all my other handgun bullets. Quality hand-cast bullets for reloaders, competitors, and recreational shooters - Montana Bullet Works

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Endowment Life Member NRA

I just fell in love with the 500 Magnums !
After years of shooting my Taurus 454 Casull Rageing Bull and 50AE Desert Eagle I wanted something with a lot more hard hitting recoil.
Tryed the S&W 460 which was a lot better untill I tryed the first 500.
My favorite loads are Magtech 325gr and 400gr, Ultramax 440gr and Hornady 500gr.
These are my favorites in the vault.
The factory 6 1/2" and the 5" from the Performance Center.




Ernie

I like the .500 because, I'm not that good of a shot and can still do this....

It just makes me look good..

You appear to have your original front sight on the 5" JRS. I had to change mine to a higher Baughman serrated ramp because the original was too low for me.

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Tom

AH, nice one there kritter !
Believe thats gonna be the next one I get, after seeing you'res, i'm all "FIRED" up --------- (-;
Good grouping with you're shots.
Thats one thing I like about S&W revolvers, all seems to be able to get decent shot groupings.
I'm not saying Colt and some other manufactors can't do the same as I have others. I just prefer S&W.


Yes Tom, thats the origional front sight.
I haven't had any problems yet using it, but you're conversion sounds interesting.



Ernie

I have been looking into these for not to long now and just going off an average of what people are saying it seems like a Full Lug 6.5in w/full comp would be the best all around, because S&W doesnt have this model currently (the Hunter model I believe it was in past years) would the 8 3/8 be a good entry into this field or wait to see if they will come back out with this model? I have sent an email to S&W to see if their Performance center would make me a custom full lug 6.5in w/full comp have not heard back yet. Sorry for the somewhat hijack

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Disabled Combat Veteran OIF

All work, personally, I prefer the 8 3/8" barrel and wouldn't wait for another version if I had the .500 "bug." Who knows when a run might come off the production line? Don