I just sold my SW 500 I bought on Jan 2nd 2012 for a penny more than I paid for it! To be honest, at my age it was beating up my hand so much I could only shoot it every other week while the bruises in my right hand healed. I don't regret buying it..It created a lot of memories with family and friends that shot with me. It's a great conversation starter and I didn't lose any money.
NOW...what to buy with the proceeds...? my favorite part.
I am pretty sure it will be .45 ACP model 25 variant. Possibly the Army 1917 .45. I am also looking hard at the PC 625. But with the sale of the SW500 I currently don't own any SW's with an IL. I would kind of like to keep it that way.
Then there is a LNIB Model 27
A pre 27
A pre 29
A 29 with cokes
A pre 19
A pre 15
or 3 model 10's
3 baby chiefs.....the possibilities ar endless..Feel free to chime in. Of course I can always put the money back in the bank to collect interest

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I use to be a big fan of the 357 magnum.....until I bought a 29 with a 8 3/8th bbl. Its the best shooting revolver I have .. smooth trigger , I love it...shoot 44spl. and recoil is nothing... you can go from mild to wild and have a blast.... I would get the 29...but get what you like and what fits you ........Good luck

I'd suggest the 625 model of 1989 if you can find one. Personally, my 625 JM has the lock but IMO the 625 is heavy enough for it's recoil that the lock isn't a concern beyond cosmetics. Since I purchased the 625 to shoot I'm really not very concerned about how it looks so the lock doesn't bother me.

Big pluses for the 45 ACP steel revolvers is the recoil is rather mild and you can't beat moon clips for range play or gun games. Actually about the only negative is that if you have a large stock of moon clips you'll find you can burn through an awful lot of ammunition in a very short period of time.

I think you should find a Elmer Keith 29 commemorative (gold and all) and shoot the heck out of it. I would think that could start new conversations - I've seen quite a few for sale and they all seem to be new in box never fired outside of the factory

Model 696 3" Be Different!

...not a Smith & Wesson, but take a SERIOUS look at the FNH "Five-Seven" auto pistol.
It basically DOESN'T kick, yet ejects a high-lethality .224" bullet at approximately 2000 fps. Properly sighted in it can be aimed "dead on" out to nearly 150 yards!
The factory magazine accepts 20 cartridges and 30 mags are inexpensive, available, reliable, and extend only 1.5" beyond the butt.
Even with factory "civilian" ammo I wouldn't want to be trying to stop the round with a level II vest at close range.
Ammo is around $22-24/50 rounds which is spot on the price range of "mid-level" 9mm/.45ACP ammo, and LESS expensive than exotic ammo in said calibers.
Elite Ammunition will also sell you a "T6: round turned from solid copper that approximates the ammo the elite units use.

As a "people mover" the 5.7x28 "Five-Seven" is more - FAR more than the sum of its parts...just ask all the elite units around the world that choose it.

FN 5.7 ....
either buying this or a 10mm 1000 series S&W as my next auto.

Your post is spot on.

Time for a shopping spree !!
Fun times ahead.
I love the .357 mag N-frames but that's just me.
I'm sure you'll choose wisely.
I bought one of those .500's in a single shot rifle "H&R"
and i believe my shoulder still hurts from last November
shooting 10-15 rounds through it. I know the memory of
shooting the thing still hurts. But i'm scoping it for this
fall and gonna try to Deer hunt with it. Recoil pad has already
been installed.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Depends on what you have and what the biggest "holes" in your collection are. All those are good choices! Assuming I was starting from scratch I'd probably go with a 357 mag...the hard part would be deciding between a k-frame, L-frame, or N-frame. I might lean to the middle and get a nice condition prelock L-frame (586, 686, 581, or 681).

After selling your 500 have you considered reconstructive wrist surgery?

I've never shot one nor do I have much desire to, especially if I'm paying for the ammo.

Like you are looking at now I also had some extra money in my budget, until that is I found a 625-4 and a 629-1 snubby that needed to find better homes. I took that civic duty upon myself and they have found their "forever home." I only hope that whatever you find you can offer a good home to as well.

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Son of a Gun...Smith