S&W 500???

I am seriously interested in a 500. I am debating between barrel lengths. My first thought would be 8 3/8" but i am really looking for opinions of those that have one on barrel length.

I currently have a super alaskan redhawk 454 casull 2.5 so i am fine with recoil. I am wanting something that is comfortable considering to shoot.

Thanks in advanced.

Get the 460 then, you can shoot 460,454,45LC all at the same time

adrianolsen said:

Get the 460 then, you can shoot 460,454,45LC all at the same time

Click to expand...

Yeah, and not lose any significant terminal power. No real reason to go longer than the 5 inch ported barrel. Before shooting one, watch Jerry Mikulek’s video on you tube.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I like the balance of power and portability the 4” provides.

I purchased a 460 with 8 3/8" barrel a couple of years ago. I really liked it however it was very nose heavy. I recently traded it for the 460V with 5" barrel and much prefer it over the longer barrel for range plinking. I do not hunt with it as I have a SW 44 mag for that.

I will admit up front that I'm a power junkie, good basis for liking the 500 which is the king.

I've had a 6" half lug, 6.5" PC 500 and 8 3/8th in 500s, only have the two latter models which are keepers.

I prefer the 8 3/8th for the muzzle heavy balance as I shoot better with it, greater velocity and less perceived recoil. The 6" half lug was far less pleasant to shoot, it really slapped the hand.

While I really like the feel of the 4" models, muzzle blast, noise and reduced (dropping from 8 3/8 to less than 4" does cut a significant amount of velocity) velocity keeps me away. Don

jerhelo said:

I am seriously interested in a 500. I am debating between barrel lengths. My first thought would be 8 3/8" but i am really looking for opinions of those that have one on barrel length. ...

I am wanting something that is comfortable considering to shoot.

...

Click to expand...

You have not said what you are are intending to use it for which is important.

I would suggest you handle them to understand the balance you are going to get since that is subjective and very individual thing.

The longer guns will convey less recoil and shooting impulse into the palm- simple physics.

I prefer to shoot the 7.5" and 8 3/8" models when hunting but like my 5" umcomped gun for target shooting.

As far as velocity losses from different barrel length - they are comparable to those in 460 - here is a like 460 S&W: Velocity / Barrel Length[/URL] Note the velocity difference not the velocity itself. One day I will get around to making a similar test summary for the 500 models.

be safe
Ruggy

While the 460s can chamber and fire 45 Colt the accuracy level and chamber scrubbing chore taught me to always load with 460 brass.
We bought the 3.5” M460 and would have bought a similar length in the M500 as our primary reason is protection while fishing/hunting.
A longer 460 is in our future but not today.
Variety of bullets and other firearms that use the same diameter bullets are why we never bought a 500.
S&W eventually granted our wish!

You never completed your user information, so we do not know where you are located.

As I have done in the past, if you are in the Central Florida area, I will let you try some of mine

I have had many different barrel lengths in the 500 S&W Magnum

My 1st was a 12" barrel that was built 6 months prior to S&W releasing their firearms so that we could do some load development. I still have this one for when I want MAXIMUM velocity from the round
I have had the original 8 3/8" along with the 6 1/2" standard profile barrel versions. Both have since been sold.

I have kept the 2 3/4" because it is such a hoot to shoot and it makes a GREAT Conversation piece when discussing snubbies Much like CH4, I really like the balance of the 4" (really 3" with a 1" Comp). The 4" also carries very nicely on the belt. This is the one that has probably been shot the most over the past almost 15 years now
I also have one of the John Ross 5" guns which also feels pretty good in the hands. Though at the moment, I am not sure where I put the picture of this one

If you are a hand loader, the 500 S&W Magnum is a fantastic cartridge. With available projectiles ranging in mass from the petite 275 grain JHPs up to the massive 725 grain wadcutters. Power levels can be had from mild to wild.
When looking at that photo of cast projectiles above you need to remember that these are 1/2" in diameter and the little guy on the left weighs in at 450 grains while the big dude on the right tips the scale at 725 grains

For further comparison, here is a 725 grain 500 Smith and Wesson wadcutter shown next to a 250 Federal Core Cast 41 Magnum hunting load. That 41 Magnum looks fairly tiny
While the 500 Smith and Wesson revolvers only hold 5 rounds, if you touch off 5 of those big wadcutters at full power you are sending in excess of 1/2 pound of lead downrange at roughly 1100 FPS

Now, if you are not a hand loader, there is much more appeal to the versatility of owning one of the 460 S&W Magnums over the 500 S&W Magnum as several other Forum members have pointed out.

To me that is not a selling point since I do not believe in shooting short cartridges in Magnum firearms. I much prefer to down load the full size brass to what ever levels I please. This obviously avoid the cleaning concerns due to the ring that builds up just adjacent of the case mouth

I started out with the 8 3/8" 500mag. Then added the 4" 500mag. I sold the 8 3/8" for cash and then traded the 4" for the 10 1/2" 500 magnum hunter. Then I traded a chainsaw for my dads 7 1/2" 500mag. I traded the 7 1/2 inch for a Desert Eagle 50ae. So I have handled and shot many variations of the 500mag, I settled on the S&W 10 1/2 500 Magnum Hunter and a Desert Eagle 50ae. The 50ae is for plinking and fun shooting and the 500mag is for deer hunting.

Installed “plug” and aftermarket blank comp on mine. I’d prefer true 4” rifled barrel but the 5” non-comp John Ross model would be my choice.

WOW, i really appreciate all the posts on this. I am planning to range shoot mostly, no intention of hunting. I have heard all of the arguments in favor of the 460 but honestly this is to just buy the baddest boy on the block.

I am leaning mostly to the 8 3/8" but definitely would like to handle a few before spending the money as I've heard the same from others on the muzzle weight.

I currently have a 629 competitor, 629 4", 686+ in 6"&2.5", a pug nose 327PC and the super alaskan redhawk 2.5" in 454 so the 500 should feel right at home. And i am in Central Florida.

Buy reloading equipment first. Seriously.