Just your opinion and it's opinionated and biased. Don

.....standing behind your mother-in-law.......

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

You must be very, very proud.

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"You're messin' up my Zen"

Not anything I need and probably would ever own myself, but I love that they exist.

Why?

Because ‘Merica! That’s why.

Always wanted a 4" S&W 500 - never quite got around to pulling the trigger. Did however pick up this 500 JRH (a bit more than the 500 S&W Special) built on a Freedom Arms M83 frame by Jack Huntington. It will do 465gr at 1,300 fps, but don't need that, so my current load is a 325gr Swift A Frame at 1,330 fps.



FWIW,

Paul

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Keep on Chooglin'

I’m on the down side of life I don’t think my old joints could handle a 500 s&w. I did want a 480 ruger Redhawk.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Everyone should own at least one hand cannon, however some folks tend to become addicted quickly. You are welcome to use the following excuses for owning one....or more.
The gun gets excellent mileage, a box of ammo lasts a long time.
It puts other recoil in perspective.
It eliminates folks asking to borrow it.
Occasionally the term “bullet proof” needs a test tool.
Occasionally you need a special event handgun.
You need another holster anyway; Guides Choice™ Leather Chest Holster, the ULTIMATE outdoor gun holster | Diamond D Custom Leather | Handmade Leather Holsters (be sure you save shipping and order your Toklot holster at the same time)
You always wanted to try a shooting glove.
You might as well get it over with and put this dream/nightmare behind you.

and of my favorite; Because I Can!

I have a S&W 500, S&W 460, 50AE Desert Eagle and several 454 Casull. Need them? Useful? Maybe not. If I could only keep one of my firearms - the fifties would not be my choice.

I also have a 50 cal rifle - I am not sure I need an anti-materiel rifle. Not much use, but a literal blast to shoot. ~13k ft/lbs.

Who else has a 50 "trifecta"? I.e 3 different 50 cals?

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When it comes to 'useful', nothing beats my .50cal Singer.

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I do not have a Model 600 or 460, but I would like to when I grow up, but I am too cheap right now and realistically have no requirements above 357 Magnum. I do not handload/relolad now so the ammo even more than the gun is prohibitive in cost. I can certainly sympathize with all those who have and/or want X frame handguns. I may need to cut down a small tree when I cannot find my ax.

Not for me it isn’t.

I think it’s very useful! I get a lot of enjoyment out of shooting and loading for my S&W 500 8 3/8” and that in itself makes it incredibly useful.

Of course it's useful, it is 5 better than a 45.....

As do I. Don

82A1's are a hoot to shoot.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. The 500 Magnums do have a coolness factor to them. Since S&W introduced them, I have owned three in different barrel lengths. I enjoyed shooting them while I had them, and I only ever used my own handloads. But even reloading for those is very pricey. They all got sold off. Now I am back where I started from with 44 Magnums. That's really all I need. YMMV.

I like their look, but I'm afraid of everything so I would not like to shoot one, scary.

Bought an 8 3/8" several years ago, the "cheap" one with the fixed comp. Have a DeSantis Black Mamba holster for it. Just added a 4" and bought the Diamond D Custom Leather Guides Choice holster for it along with a speed loader, speed loader pouch and ammo carrier.

In addition to the necessity of handloading, casting your own "boolits" opens up many avenues of different power factor loads and less expensive shooting.

After the initial capital investment in dies, moulds, etc., the sting of high ammunition costs can be lessened. The more I shoot it and load for it, the more apparent it becomes to its versatility and practicality.

John Ross has been fantastic here and on Cast Boolits forum with advice and loads. There is alot of support for it and an enthusiastic owner base for advice and guidance.

It does announce itself at the range when shooting it. Others have said it sounds like a magnum high powered rifle. Recoil isn't that bad or difficult to control, for the power it has. My 640-1 .357 Magnum with Crimson Trace laser grips is painful to shoot with 125 gr. Magnum ammo, much more so than my .500's.

"Useful". As "Useful" as any firearm.

History shows that anything can be killed with a spear or bow and arrow.

I believe you'd like to know if a .50 cal is "Overkill". The answer is an emphatic, YES!!!

Wrap your hand around that fat, cushy grip, pull the hammer back, squeeze that grip a little tighter...Touch that round off.

It's an experience. Recoil, noise, concussion... Damn!!

12 ga. slug type of experience. From a revolver.

It brings a really huge smile to the face of any who endure the recoil. It's holding what you shouldn't, doing something naughty...But you feel really good about it!!

Total Overkill. Leads to chasing the dragon, next fix, type stuff...

I may have a problem...

And you smile a lot when you read posts and guys are complaining about .44 mag recoil. ROTFL!!

Please consider this; if we as the gun owning community start airing pros and cons, needed or not needed, number of guns needed or not we are playing right into the anti 2nd amendment peoples trap in my opinion.

I have a full blown turbo charged liberal neighbors who are always "just curious" asking questions, how many, why etc. It isn't their business and I always ignore the questions, I change the subject to begonias whatever begonias are.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

OP, I bought my John Ross 500 when he came out with them(in my 60s) now in my 70s and still own it and doubt I'll ever sell it, Mind you they're not for everyone but, I like mine(I like big handguns).
Steve

A home, food, water, hygiene and liberty are all useful stuff. Anything else may or may not support those things, and if anyone wishes to blast over 1 pound of lead in just 10 shots reaching supersonic speeds by 50yds, moreover fired from a 3.5” barrel with one hand, there is no condonation in supporting it.

What would be an overkill would be doing the same with one in each hand.

You just never know when a rampaging rhinoceros is going to escape from the zoo.

It is the bare minimum caliber for self-defense. 2 is 1, 1 is none; a 9mm is the equal of a .45; a .44 is just 2 .22s. You might be attacked by somebody on a D-9 Cat - then what good will your 73 rounds of 9mm do you? Although, with those measly 5 rounds you might want to back it up with a .50 Desert Eagle in an ankle holster. IMHO, YMMV, M-O-U-S-E.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

They're great for pocket carry

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John

I was at a local range a few years ago watching a guy shoot his S&W500. He asked if I wanted to shoot it, and I told him, No I don’t want to waste your ammo. He said go ahead and shoot a cylinder full. I braced myself and got ready for the worst. It really wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed shooting it.

Now would I spend the money on one, and the cost to feed it? No, but everything is application driven and someone may have the application for one, or they simply don’t care about the cost and just want one for fun.

I assembled 155 mm howitzers for the US Army the only difference is the wheels and bore brush size, lol. Ya if I was 25 yo I’d have i one. Why because there is no 60 cal yet.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Since I have both of those guns, a No.1 in .458 and two Model 500s, I can comment.

If you're concerned about your eyes, the .458 and its type of recoil, don't shoot the .458, shoot the 500. The .458 drives your shoulder back as well as muzzle rise. Your arms take care of all that with the 500.

Good luck with the surgery outcome. Don

An additional remark. Before you shoot anything that has substantial recoil, best check with your opthamolic surgeon. Old line, better safe than sorry and you only have two precious eyes. Don

yeah you'll get one shot maybe two the second one will be muzzle to muzzle

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US ARMY
Viet Nam 70-71

I shot 2 doe with my 500 mag this deer season. 275gr federal premium vital shock Barnes Expander hollow points. It's the heavy 10.5" barrel with compensator so it didn't recoil any more than a 4" 44 Mag with 240gr Winchester white box or similar rounds.

Good post. I have offered a significant number of people the opportunity to shoot one of my 500s. I have yet to have anyone take me up on it and that includes a couple active duty cops at a police range. All I get is a quick nod of "No".

My wife isn't into shooting these days. I did get her to fire a fun round with Trail Boss powder. She admitted that I wasn't kidding that the "plinking" round was OK. Don

that's because some of them have only been fired once.....


my own ability to simulate actual interest in the one my buddy bought, did not extend to actually firing that many....Similar disinterest now, after earlier experience with his .460 Smith, first in long barrel, then 4"; I have managed to recover & redirect my enthusiasm to other calibers, thanks for asking

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Absolutely!!!
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I’m too old for a 50 cal now.

I hunt bear. I carried a handgun with my ‘06. I put them away when I purchased a rifle in 338wm. If your going to blow a hole blow a big one. No need to carry a handgun except when visiting the outdoor plumbing.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Bottom line

ONLY IF YOU HAVE ONE

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be safe
Ruggy

Do ya feel lucky punk? Well do ya?







No


WuzzFuzz

If you're talking about penetration and performance on large and dangerous animals, a heavy load in the 500 Mag gives up nothing to the .338. Don

I've had a couple grandsons shoot mine one when 14 years old. I think everyone enjoys this challenge.
Steve

That sounds somewhat like the introduction of the 500 Mag by S&W. They let people try it out but with the lightest factory load then available giving the false impression that they really don't kick much.

275gr wimp load is nothing, as you should well know, compared to 1700fps with a 440gr hard cast.

Let your 14 yr old try one of those and you might give him an early flinch. Don

We were shooting some of my 500 grain hard cast over a full load of H110 powder? We had fun, all of us. I should note here I've never had anyone shoot my 500 without it leaving a trace of rubber on the web of their hand.
Steve

I stand corrected Steve. Good on your son shooting real 500 Mag ammo. Don

One of my grandsons not my son who all four of them have shot it also the same day. Same young man also has taken a bear(In Maine) when they lived in Gloucester Ma. along with his father plus his younger brother(11 at the time) also has taken bear same hunt. Both of these boys have grown into men now. Looking around I mangaed to find a link to my son's and his son's Maine bear hunt on another website(hope this is OK to post here?) My Maine Bear Hunt.... | Graybeard Outdoors
Steve

If it makes even one sane person happy, it is needed.

At one time I had the notion to buy the biggest caliber single-shot black powder pistol and use it for deer hunting. Then I found out they aren't legal for deer in Illinois.

Is there something that IS legal in Illinois?

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Criminals.

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protocalldesign.com

I bought a Ruger Old Army for the same reason, then argued my case with local state rep to no avail.
Steve