I have a friend with a performance center 500. He has approx 500 round through this pistol. Did state he had to replace the firing pin at one point. I was just curious as to what the life is of these pistols, barrel life, etc. There is just a tremendous amount of force and energy exerted from these which is why I was curious.

Thanks!

Welcome! I cannot recall any reports of anyone shooting enough ammo to wear out a 500, but someone here might have. If your friend has put 500 'full-power' rounds through his he must be very recoil-tolerant!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

His inner redneck gets the best of him. I think I could probably get the pistol for 800 off him, just seems to good to be true. Though I would run it by you all first.

Welcome to the Forum

The 500 S&W has not been out long enough for us to learn how many years or rounds it will last. Remember these were only introduced 11 years ago.

What is the service life of other S&W revolvers?
Forcing cone erosion, Top strap flame cut, Firing pin break off, Cylinder end shake, Timing off, Trigger & hammer studs wear, etc...
These are all common things that eventually happens with S&W revolvers and nothing is particular problem with M500s. And yes, I have sent my M500s back to the factory several times. Not big deal as they fix them for free and promptly. About the only unique issue of M500 is, the rubber grip split and I replace them every 500 rds or so. But again, factory will send you the new one for free.
Nothing last forever but if you use them with care, they'll last longer than you care for.

Not sure on the service life, some of that probably depends on how well someone takes care of their guns..

If you have a chance to get one at $800, and are wanting one.. I say do it. I bought two with the thought of selling one or using it as trade fodder.. But since I've been shooting them, that wont happen. I love these guys and I believe they will be life long companions now!

There are only two people who have really abused the S&W 500 by quantity shooting of REALLY powerful loads that can provide a REAL answer to this question. Kent Lomont is the first, but he is unfortunately no longer with us. The second is John Ross, author of "Unintended Consequences." I suggest you go to his web site and send him an inquiry.

For me the question would be a bit different. What is the service life of your hands and wrists shooting a .500?

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Oh well, what the hell.

I have over 1000 rds through mine, mostly handloads, not loaded lightly but the not loaded stupid either. zero problems. very minimal double action shooting as I feel this is the weak link if one exists. that hand just looks so small.

My JR 5" has about 4000+ rounds through it.
My 7.5" PC has about 1500+ rounds through it (new this year).
My 8.375" has 2000+ rounds through it.

I have several 460s with in excess of 6000 rounds each.

None have any accuracy degradation that I can notice.
They all show some top strap cutting, forcing cone erosion, and have had to replace 2 extractor springs, a grip, firing pin spring, and a few side plate screws.

The X-frames I own have held up very well- all 16 of them.

"What is the service life of a 500 S&W Magnum"

I bet most would have an upper extremity joint give out before the revolver does.
John

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

$800.00?????? I'd be all over that one if I had the money!! From what I've read the X Frame S&W's are built to the hilt!! The hottest loads for the 500gr bullet run about 50,900psi chamber pressure and the weapon is designed for at least 60,000psi.

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

I wouldn't be afraid to buy it!

That question is, in my opinion, impossible to answer. Depends on how heavy the loads were and to an extent, what kind of powder was used.

The gun was designed from the “ground” up for use with the .500 Mag and it would appear that they didn’t scrimp on strength or durability. Don

IMHO flame cutting the top strap will be the biggest wear indicator and the 500 is really no different than any other magnum revolver for round count & durability.

I think you will go broke shooting factory magnum loads before you wear it out. The worst possible combo for wear is fast burning powder & light bullets. Loaded hot & heavy it's punishing on the sending end & receiving end.

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NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

I believe a lot has to do with what loads are used most of the time.
Both of mine has had many rounds through them.
Most often I shoot the 325gr and 400gr.
With the 500gr and 700gr I like them also but don't usually fire a lot of them as a rule. especially the 700gr.

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S&W .500 Magnums RULE !

I've shot 100 rounds while up at the S&W Plant 6 years ago. I was not bothered that much about the recoil, but stopped shooting it mainly because of the noise. I was shooting it at their indoor PC Range and wearing plugs and muffs - still way too loud for me want to shoot indoors.

The only real use I see for the 500 Mag is for Hunting or Collecting. I would thing most owners would never shoot it enough to wear it out.

I know one of the engineers who was on the .500 Mag project. The ammo they use is sort of mid range, no where near the heaviest recoiling stuff. I doubt that you’d shoot 100 rds of the heaviest stuff and not be bothered. Don

I have a 500 Magnum and I love shooting it. Smith & Wesson quality is awesome.
For $800, if I were you I'd buy it with no worries and walk away a happy man.
The ammo does get expensive, but it is a unique revolver. It wasn't meant to be an EDC gun, unless you live in bear or other dangerous predator country.
I wouldn't worry about it wearing out.

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I have always been a little curious about top-strap flame-cutting. When I was a kid, lo these many years ago, my dad gave me a Model 27, first center-fire gun I owned, and I shot the hell out of it for years with pretty heavy loads exclusively. I noticed that the top strap developed a little cut that went just so far, and then seemed to stop altogether. I fired thousands and thousands of rounds through that gun, and the cut just never increased in depth after the initial small divot. Has anyone here ever heard of a revolver top-strap being cut through???

Re the 500, I have two of them, one was an early model that I bought in '03, and I shot it a fair bit. I'm guessing it has between 800-1000 rounds through it, all heavy full-charge loads. No significant flame cutting or other signs of wear. I'm thinking that I'll wear out long before the gun does.

Unless it was defective, 500 rounds isn't close to enough to wear out a firing pin. Maybe he was getting some pierced primers which damaged the pin.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

What is acceptable end shake for M500? I measured 0.019".