Looking to get a .500 Magnum, suggestions/advice?

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629classic.44

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Hey all. This is my first post on this forum. As the thread title suggests I'm looking to pick up my first S&W .500 Magnum soon. My local gun store has every model from the 4 inch to the 8.3/8 barrel & some Performance Center models. Personally handled them all & liked the 4 & 8 inch models a lot. Unfortunately they do not have any to rent them here though. The biggest handgun for rent is a .50AE Desert Eagle. I'm interested in an Eagle too but leaning more towards the .500. The biggest handgun/revolver I've shot up till now is my 629 Classic .44 Magnum 5" BBL & it's my favorite gun to shoot out of what I own. Regularly go through up to 2 boxes of full power commercial .44 Mag each range trip. The clerk informed me that if I like shooting my 629 so much that I'd love the .500. Any suggestions or tips/advice about which model to go with or anything about properly shooting these beasts before I run out & get one?
 
The 50 AE Desert Eagle I shot, with factory Hornady 300gr XTP loads, was a puddy cat compared to a 500 S&W.

A 44 Mag is nothing like shooting a 500 either.

I'm a short barrel guy. I've got the 3-1/2" ES & my son has a 4". (The 4" is only 3" of rifled barrel & 1" of comp.)

Which ever you choose hopefully you handload because that's the only real way to enjoy the 500 to it fullest, & the cheapest :D .

Welcome to the forum!

.

SampW%20500ES%20-%20front%20quarter%20view%20-02b_zpsj3p3sybb.jpg


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BLUEDOT37 said:
The 50 AE Desert Eagle I shot, with factory Hornady 300gr XTP loads, was a puddy cat compared to a 500 S&W.

A 44 Mag is nothing like shooting a 500 either.

I'm a short barrel guy. I've got the 3-1/2" ES & my son has a 4". (The 4" is only 3" of rifled barrel & 1" of comp.)

Which ever you choose hopefully you handload because that's the only real way to enjoy the 500 to it fullest, & the cheapest :D .



Welcome to the forum!

.
Click to expand...

Thank you! The DE being a puddy tat in comparison doesn't surprise me. Makes me more excited to shoot the .500 to be honest. I agree with the short barrels. I really liked the 4 inch but was thinking the 8 inch may be more manageable. That & the added velocity. Reloading is the plan, but that won't start till probably the end of the year. Maybe it would be good to start with some 275 GR Magtechs or 300 GR Hornady's as the first rounds. 1 round at a time as well.
 
Hi 629Classic.44,

Sounds to me like you are pretty committed to getting one! Have any other members at your local gun range not got one so you could at least compare to the 44 magnum first?


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A friend purchased a 500 and brought it down to my house to shoot. I fired 3 rounds and handed it back to him. I am in no way recoil shy..but that thing just plain hurt,and the muzzle blast was like a Howitzer. It sure crushed the concrete blocks I was shooting at,but so does a 44 magnum with a LOT less drama.They say bigger is better..but not always when it comes to firearms..:)
 
What you get depends on what you plan to use it for. If for range use only, consider a 6 inch with a compensator. For hunting, 6" or longer, with or w/o the compensator. For silhouettes, long barrels give better sight alignment. For general fun and carry in the woods as protection against large critters, the 4" is good. Of course none of this means you only have to buy one!

BTW: The clerk is full of ****. Just because you enjoy the 44 mag does not mean you will the 500. They are two entirely different animals.
 
I just bought a SW 500 4 inch model 10 days ago. I have been to the range twice already. Although I didn't blast off that many i can say it does pack a punch. With a full load of h110 powder and a 440 grain bullet it is punishing. However a 300gr hornady behind a full load of power pistol is very manageable. I mean you'll know your shooting a big gun, no doubt; as will everyone else at the range.
 
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brainflood said:
Hi 629Classic.44,

Sounds to me like you are pretty committed to getting one! Have any other members at your local gun range not got one so you could at least compare to the 44 magnum first?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Hey! Unfortunately they do not. I've asked around at my local range & no one seems to own one.
 
Tom S. said:
What you get depends on what you plan to use it for. If for range use only, consider a 6 inch with a compensator. For hunting, 6" or longer, with or w/o the compensator. For silhouettes, long barrels give better sight alignment. For general fun and carry in the woods as protection against large critters, the 4" is good. Of course none of this means you only have to buy one!

BTW: The clerk is full of ****. Just because you enjoy the 44 mag does not mean you will the 500. They are two entirely different animals.
Click to expand...

As for right now it would just be for range only. & then maybe down the line for hunting. They had a good selection but not the 6 inch with compensator. Didn't get to see how that one felt in the hands. I got to check out the 4", 7.5" PC, 8.3/8" & 10.5" PC. Hahah yeah, doesn't need to just be one! But if more get added to my collection that will be later on. Just starting with one first. Lmao. Thank you for pointing out the clerk. I didn't take his word for it when he told me that.
 
Blowncar,

I can imagine the 440GR's pack a real good punch! Good to know the 300gr Hornady's feel more manageable. The description you give of knowing you're shooting a big gun & everyone else at the range knowing as well sounds like fun to me.
 
All I can say is buy what you want and go from there. I have never shot one and would only do so if I got the opportunity to try one someone else owned. Everyone I have talked to says they are a handful even with the 6 inch barrel. The 4 inch would be a beast. Good luck and start your wrist curls ! BTW I would look for a used one that someone bought and can't handle. I have seen a few at gun shows etc guys were selling them to free up cash. They bought them to deer hunt and found it was too much gun for them to shoot accurately.
 
I posted about a new 500 that I received for my 50th; bias alert!

As other posts have noted in this thread and others (search is your friend), the 500 is a unique platform and round.

After shooting my 8-3/8" 500 S&W Magnum, others pale in comparison. I will be reloading so I can feed this addiction without selling organs to pay the bills. There's something about the scale of this firearm, and the rounds it launches that just works. I'm 6'-4" and 220#, easily palm a basketball and bowl with a 16# ball.

The 500 FITS me.

Accuracy is limited by my skill, or lack there of.

Power and recoil varies and can be influenced by loading; wad cutter cream puffs all the way to Mammoth slayers.

I cannot speak highly enough of this platform.

Experimenting with optics is a new adventure for me on this beast. I'm running an Aimpoint H-2... they say their scopes aren't bothered by the recoil - it's the mount that is the weak link. So far, I've found the aimpoint picatinny mount isn't up to the challenge. I'm on an American Defense QD mount now and it's promising.
 
I am in the group that has a 4" for novelty and brown bear protection, but mostly novelty. :D FWIW, it carryies well in an Elpaso Tanker holster and it's fun to reload for.
 

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They are a hoot to shoot. I owned several when we lived in Alaska. Plan on taking up reloading unless you have a ton of extra cash to spend on ammo.
Cheers.
 
Dr.Lou said:
I am in the group that has a 4" for novelty and brown bear protection, but mostly novelty. :D FWIW, it carryies well in an Elpaso Tanker holster and it's fun to reload for.
Click to expand...

That's a beautiful piece! Love it. Good to know that it carries well in an Elpaso Tanker:D
 
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Flipside,

That's a great 50th present lol. Your enthusiasm for the 500 is awesome. I'm only 6'-0" & 180lbs but I have large hands. The grip fit like a glove. As everyone else has said reloading is the best way to get the most out of it. So that will be something I do later in the year. Till then though, it'll be factory ammo & hoping to take it out to the range around twice a month. :D
 
Here's what I know now after purchasing my 12" 460XVR. First off for what my needs were I made the perfect choice which was a big bore target handgun capable of reaching out to a max of 200 meters. I have found that accurately shooting my 460 beyond 100 yds is extremely challenging. 75 to 100 yds with a scope is very do-able but will take some practice to shoot consistiantly at that distance. The percieved flinch will be an issue in the beginning but practice , practice and the flinch will subside. I also choce the 460 over the 500 because I was going to commit to handloading and the 460XVR uses .45 cal bullets which are far more plentiful and cheaper than the .500. I think if you plan on hunting I suggest the 10" with an optic as it will be the best compromise of longer range potential , yet still carry decent in the woods. The 8-3/8 is the best "do-all" but will give up a slight amount of accuracy and velocity. I would not get a 4" if you think you will be hunting at longer 50+ yd distances. The very short sight radius will be an issue, and the short barreled big bore's pack a NASTY recoil wallop ! Here's my PC 460:

 
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I have a 6.5" 500. Nice compromise in length. I'm a reloader trying different grains. Right now I have shot the 350 grain which is pleasant. I also loaded some 500 grain bullets.

As Road_Clam mentioned, the 460 is a great option. I don't plan to shoot other loads in mine, as I already have a 454 Casull. My 460 has an 8 3/8" barrel. It CAN Shoot 460, 454 Casull and 45 Colt. It's a great pistol.
65999da997ceb453de8c9752ccda5cb4.jpg

This lineup is the following:
5" 500 S&W
8 3/8" 460 XVR
7.5" 454 Casull
7.5" 44 Magnum 629 Hunter (Performance Center)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
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