500 Magnum recoil?

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ShrinkMD

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How does shooting a steel framed J frame like a 2" 60 with warmer 357 loads compare to a 500 S&W? I've shot some 158 gr loads which go about 1250 out of a 4" barrel, and they felt pretty explosive in a little gun. I was able to shoot about 30 of these loads before taking a break for the day. (well my skin cracked open and started bleeding between my thumb and pointer finger)

So what do 350 gr rounds feel like out of a 8 or 10.5" 500 S&W?
 
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It is absolutely different....I know we can hot rod little guns and get them to really sting our hand...like the little j frames or even the 329pd 44mag. But Nothing will equal the power generated by the huge mass of a 350 or a 450 grain bullet leaving in a hurry.

Now take the 400grain bullet and send it at a scorching 1805 fps...you will get all of the snap and high speed recoil of the little guns plus the inertia of 400 grains of lead leaving in a hurrry.

I'll finish by saying the 500 is not really that bad and I really enjoy shooting my 4" with 350 Berry's/xtp's and 450Kieth's....but 1000fps is the sweet spot. You never really escape the force generated by the bullet's mass...there is nothing that compares or feels like a huge bullet leaving, I don't care how hot you load a 357.:D
 
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The 500 is more like a long, slower recoil for me. Much more powerful. I only shot my long barrel PC 500 twice. After two shots I sold it. Enough for me. And I like recoil.
 
i have a 7.5"hunter model 500 mag.from the performance center...love it...its more of a push back into the hand and is quite managable...i hunt with mine and so far have taken several boars,a merino ram,4-horn ram,and a mouflon ram...love mine!
 
Zero interest? Even working up with handloads? I see it as a challenge to overcome. I've heard the stories about 629's for sale ANIB with a half a box of ammo leftover as well.
 
One thing you always have to consider when people say the .500 doesn't kick is what kind of load did they shoot.

When the .500 was new, many people got to demo the gun using the relatively wimpy 275 gr commercial load, a load that is a piddler in a gun as heavy as an 8 3/8" .500 Mag. Of course, they might not have been impressed, a different story had they shot the 440 gr Cor Bons. Don
 
I have a 6.5" 500.

When different caliber handgun recoil is being compared it's important to consider the weight of the handguns in the equation.

The 500's are big handguns. That metal mass dampens much of the "sharp" recoil felt with the smaller calibers but adds to the weighted "push back" felt with the 500.

Many people who don't reload don't realize what an adaptable and pleasant caliber the 500 can be to shoot when powders like Trail Boss, Unique and others are available for reduced loads.

The best suggestion I could give about a 500 purchase is if you are in the least bit recoil sensitive and you don't reload, needing to rely completely on available hot factory ammo, don't buy a 500.. Reloading permits us to tailor-make the ammo to fit our recoil tolerance level and usage needs, all for 1/3 the cost.

The 500 is a wonderful caliber but not for the new or occasional shooter, or those who don't reload or have access to a friend who reloads, IMO. Like the smaller framed light weight magnums, it is an excellent tool for its intended purpose but not a "fun" gun to shoot all day like many others...:)
 
ShrinkMD said:
How does shooting a steel framed J frame like a 2" 60 with warmer 357 loads compare to a 500 S&W? I've shot some 158 gr loads which go about 1250 out of a 4" barrel, and they felt pretty explosive in a little gun. I was able to shoot about 30 of these loads before taking a break for the day. (well my skin cracked open and started bleeding between my thumb and pointer finger)

So what do 350 gr rounds feel like out of a 8 or 10.5" 500 S&W?
Click to expand...

Are you considering purchasing a 500 or just asking out of curiosity? It's hard to compare perceived recoil of a J-frame vs an X-frame 500... They are two totally different animals... True a 500 has significant recoil... however it has a much larger handle to give you a solid grip, plus overall the gun is pretty heavy to also help absorb recoil.

I just shot a Magnum Research BFR in 500 S&W a little bit ago for a case I had and I used 500 grain Hornady ammo.. The heavier the bullet.. the more the recoil! The recoil is stout but manageable... this particular model has a pretty long barrel... I shot it off hand, but if I were to own one with that long of barrel I would take a rest off something if I were shooting it for accuracy... which again would help with recoil. I know they are also making 500 S&W Special ammunition now if recoil was that big of concern or werent interested in reloading...

If you have a particular application (hunting.. just plinking, etc) we could probably give you better advice for comparisons. For the most part (not always) the 500 is a niche setup that you will take to the range and shoot a box or two of ammo here or there... Or setup for hunting... It's probably not something you would take to the range to shoot all day long...

Oh and if you hear of any of those 629s for sale ANIB with half of box of ammo, let me know! I love 629s!
 
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Ha ha. My 629 has already seen more than a box or two! But it's only seen about 10 or 15 rounds of factory. 2400 and hard cast bullets go together well.

The purpose is purely plinking, long range plinking, and an excuse for more dies, brass, powders, etc. I really plan on getting one.
 
In a nutshell, the 500 lets you know for sure its there but its not really all that bad. Frankly, I'm a little tired of hearing scenarios like "I bought one, shot it twice and sold it." I have the 6 1/2" version and I love it!
 
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After I shot the 500 it ruined my aim on other handguns for the day. I was actually hitting the dirt with my glocks after that because the 500 messed me up mentally:)

It was fun though.
 
mclark202 said:
After I shot the 500 it ruined my aim on other handguns for the day. I was actually hitting the dirt with my glocks after that because the 500 messed me up mentally:)

It was fun though.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm.... Kind of an "off the wall" way for ShrinkMD to gain new patients. Perhaps he can advise here..:D:D

Actually most people have found shooting a 500 has greatly improved their control and accuracy with hot loaded 41 and 44 Mags. The big gun can make those notorious high recoil calibers seem docile by comparison...:)
 
Closest I have experienced was firing a light, pistol gripped 12ga. shotgun with magnum slug loads. The shove is the same IMHO but the initial snap is different. The heavy loaded 500 shoves HARD without much snap but you know something big left quickly.

Firing heavy loads 1/2 a box or 25 rounds makes for a work out. Loaded down you can fire it all day.
 
Hunter Model 6.5"

I purchased a S&W 500 that has a tapered barrel lug, and a full quarter rib that also tapers. The barrel is 6.5", and added to that is 1" compensator. I haven't been able to shoot it yet. I'm not afraid of the recoil, but I have a healthy respect for it. What other handgun round uses a large rifle primer?
 
My S&W PC 500 recoiles up & not that bad to me.
Here is the Granson @ 16 shooting it.
Jorden-500.jpg


When he shot my M29, he said "Papa, that hurt!"

And my reloads for the 500 are not wimps.....:)
 
I have owned and shot each barrel length in the 500 (2 1/2" Bear gun, 4" and 8 3/8th). I currently have just the 6.5". I reload and have shot everything from wimp loads to the 700 grain hot loaded. The most interesting load was 50 grains of black powder behind the Lyman 515141 bullet. Smoke and kick, shoot and wait for the area to clear to check targets.
Its a matter of perspective and training. Start out light and work up. I got one of the first 500's in Utah back in the day and shot the hell out of it. Now I use 12 grains of unique behind a Lee 350 grain hollow based mini ball. Its the full wadcutter from hell. I can say that two or three cylinders of the hot stuff is about all I care for in one setting though. Its a fun gun and you sure feel more manly after shooting it than you would with a 22.
 
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