Pro and Cons Smith and Wesson .500 Revolver

Mcr.02.20.80 · Nov 17, 2016

I am interested in the handgun "SMITH AND WESSON.500 . I want to use it for hunting. I like the short barrel more than the longer barrel......

What's do you recommend?

.460 VS .500

murphydog · Nov 17, 2016

Welcome! If you reload it is a toss-up between the .460 and .500, but if not the former allows you to use .45 Colt and .454 Casull in addition to full power .460. Factory .500 ammo runs $2 a round and up.

Best barrel length is highly subjective and there are a lot of choices in both guns. If you use an optic a shorter barrel would work but with open sights longer would be better, for more sight radius and muzzle weight. In the .460, 2 3/4" seems too short and 14" a bit too long

. Others will be along with more opinions, and being able to try a range or someone else's .460 or .500 would be an excellent idea prior to purchase. Good luck in your decision.

steelslaver · Nov 17, 2016

I have a scoped 8 3/8" 500 and like it. That length barrel kind of fits the package. It is a big heavy gun to start with and a few move inches of barrel helps balance it out. I wouldn't want any longer as it would be get difficult to carry in any kind of holster. I use a shoulder rig on mine. Unscoped maybe a 6" would be the best package for carry and still get some balance, sight radius and velocity to get the full effect of the loading. Below 6" I think your starting to handicap the gun to much.

I originally planned to get a 460. I love the 45 caliber guns. But, a great deal on the scoped 500 came along and I already have a variety of 45s to shoot, so went with it. As far as one being better than the other I think the only thing the 460 has over the 5500 is the ability to fire 45 colts and the Casull rounds. The top loads in either gun have enough velocity and power to make any differences a non issue. Both have more than enough of anything you could want from an handgun round. Recoil is enough that if you can take it from any of the loading your so far into it that none of them are going to make you say to much. If they do you can always back off to the "light" 350 gr range bullets and still have a mega load for anything on this part of the planet. If your going to Africa after Cape Buffalo or elephants then maybe the 500 with 700 gr bullets is the way to go.

Tom S. · Nov 17, 2016

Pros: Big boom!
Cons: $$$$$$$

Although I bought a 500 for carry in the woods as protection against critters, if I was looking at a hunting firearm, I'd most likely go with the 460 for the reasons cited above.

silentflyer · Nov 17, 2016

What ranges and game do you anticipate hunting? Longer shots is where the longer barrel makes a difference.

wolverine · Nov 17, 2016

Mcr.02.20.80 said:
I am interested in the handgun "SMITH AND WESSON.500 . I want to use it for hunting. I like the short barrel more than the longer barrel......

What's do you recommend?

.460 VS .500

Morning Mcr.02.20.80

If you want to have a BFG to hold, look at, & brag about then get a .500.

If you want a BFG to shoot, carry, & hunt with then get a .460.

Chrisj357 · Nov 17, 2016

I have the 6.5" barrel and it is perfect for hunting. I would not recommend anything shorter. Also a comfortable carry holster is crucial. I use a Big Mike Sidekick thigh holster.

For me, the pros are it's power and accuracy. The cons are that it's expensive to feed and it's really loud. The 460 would have the same pros/and cons of you shot only 460. For me, if I wanted to shoot smaller stuff I would get a smaller gun to do that. I carry my 686 .357 with 180gn hollow points for a back-up when hunting.

ruggyh · Nov 17, 2016

Mcr.02.20.80 · Nov 17, 2016

460 vs 500 S&W

Thank you all for your reply. I plan to go shoot them at the Range.today I will.be back with some info......

mazer · Nov 17, 2016

I opted for the 460 with 8 3/8" bbl, now, I own a LOT of 44mag pistols, and love them! When making the consideration of what I wanted to buy my biggest thing was hunting...and, I like to get as flat a trajectory as I can get because sometimes what I hunt is 20yds away, but it can also be 200yds away! Since I primarily hunt things like deer, black bear, and the occasional mountain lion. I did my research, and as some have mentioned, when the bullet gets there, the damage is very similar, but HOW it gets there clinched it for me! I currently am loading a Hornady 200gr FTX bullet and it is doing 2200fps, at 225yds I can pop 3" clays all day long. That is without a scope. If I shoot farther than that, or if hunting at dusk or dawn, I will have to add a red dot or something since my older eyes aren't seeing things well when the light is low as they used to! Right now, I'm just using it at the range. The lower calibers, 454 and 45LC and if you get the cylinder cut 45ACP is handy, not something I'd shoot a lot of, but I'd rather plink with these than use my 460 brass and bullets. Honestly, with how easy the 460 shoots, I don't know if my original idea of using this with the light rounds will ever actually happen...and yes, it shoots that easy, no worse than a 44mag honestly!
Good luck on your decision! This was mine to go with the 460, but I think it's a win win for you. Just get the longer barrel, it does make it easier to get on target!!!

hargroderauto · Nov 17, 2016

If you can see a 3 inch clay target at 225 yds without a scope and hit it with a pistol you are smoking something better than me. I would love to see a video of that, not saying it is not possible but would love to see it happen. My 50 yr old eyes don't work that well.

mazer said:
I opted for the 460 with 8 3/8" bbl, now, I own a LOT of 44mag pistols, and love them! When making the consideration of what I wanted to buy my biggest thing was hunting...and, I like to get as flat a trajectory as I can get because sometimes what I hunt is 20yds away, but it can also be 200yds away! Since I primarily hunt things like deer, black bear, and the occasional mountain lion. I did my research, and as some have mentioned, when the bullet gets there, the damage is very similar, but HOW it gets there clinched it for me! I currently am loading a Hornady 200gr FTX bullet and it is doing 2200fps, at 225yds I can pop 3" clays all day long. That is without a scope. If I shoot farther than that, or if hunting at dusk or dawn, I will have to add a red dot or something since my older eyes aren't seeing things well when the light is low as they used to! Right now, I'm just using it at the range. The lower calibers, 454 and 45LC and if you get the cylinder cut 45ACP is handy, not something I'd shoot a lot of, but I'd rather plink with these than use my 460 brass and bullets. Honestly, with how easy the 460 shoots, I don't know if my original idea of using this with the light rounds will ever actually happen...and yes, it shoots that easy, no worse than a 44mag honestly!
Good luck on your decision! This was mine to go with the 460, but I think it's a win win for you. Just get the longer barrel, it does make it easier to get on target!!!

Handgunner454 · Nov 17, 2016

Hunting hand gun

The choice would depend on what you are hunting. I had both the 460 and 500. The 460 was a fantastic whitetail revolver. I also had a 500 just to have one. You have better ballistics with the 460 for thin skinned game in North America. Sure the 500 will do it but that big heavy bullet is not needed for the lower US.
I took a nice number of deer with the 460 and only one walked or ran after the hit.
I had a Freemdom Arms 454 as well prior to the 460. But after I purchased the 460 the 454 was not needed. I was getting older and the 460 scoped and felt better and with less recoil than the 454. I even had the 454 Ma Na Ported 4 port.

mazer · Nov 17, 2016

hargroderauto -> I am almost 58, I see a little orange spot, cover it with the sight and it disappears when I pull the trigger!! I never thought about making a video.....but next time I take it out I'll do that! Honestly didn't think it was a big deal! I do use a bag to rest on to make those shots.....I don't think i mentioned that.

S.B. · Nov 17, 2016

I know others disagree but, I'd recommend a John Ross 5".

Silentflier, I think this caliber will cover all game on earth?

Steve

Jaymo · Nov 17, 2016

Pros?
It's a beast. Like Hellboy's revolver. Like a crew-served weapon.

Cons?
LOUD.
Expensive to feed.
It seems to be missing the buttstock, and/or tripod.

I think the .500 S&W would be a sweet round in a Marlin lever action.

On a side note, the .500 sure makes for some entertaining "fail" videos on Youtube.
I never get tired of watching people smack themselves in the head with the muzzle, upon firing.

HOUSTON RICK · Nov 17, 2016

Con is cost of ammo. Even if you hand load, it ain't cheap.

CH4 · Nov 17, 2016

Plenty of both in the used case at your LGS - usually includes an almost full box of ammo.

steelslaver · Nov 17, 2016

Dr.Lou said:
Plenty of both in the used case at your LGS - usually includes an almost full box of ammo.

LOL, but I see more used 329 44 mags than 460s or 500s.

Kanewpadle · Nov 17, 2016

I would suggest doing much more research in addition to shooting one. What are you hunting? How far would you expect to shoot?

There isn't an animal in the lower 48 states that can't be taken with a 41 or 44 magnum.

The ballistics of the 500 are amazing and will allow you to take shots farther away than a 41 or 44. But what do you really need and at what expense?

Mehutch · Nov 18, 2016

It's a lot of money, the whole damn journey is money after money. You mean to tell me a 44 magnum is not good enough?

Pro and Cons Smith and Wesson .500 Revolver

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