4” S&W 500

[sothoth]

Put one on order at my LGS. I can probably take possession in Jan when it arrives and I do my 10-day jail time as they require in CA.

I can't wait to shoot it. I'm slightly worried that it's one of those gimmicks that won't be fun to shoot and totally excited that it will be a gimmick that is a blast to shoot. I'll post a range report in case anyone else will benefit from my review.

I'm pretty sure I'll love it.

 

[iouri]

Congrats on your purchase. Not sure about your 4" but I really love my 7.5" PC. I was really worried on my very first round and pleasantly surprised how controllable it was. Muzzle compensator, grips and weight do a really good job. I've tried factory 350 gr Fusion which felt really anemic . I've reloaded commercial cast 330gr and 400 gr lead coated bullets; also tried 500 gr jacketed from Hornady just to see how much difference in perceived recoil it makes. Everything was very controllable.

 

[sothoth]

Congrats on your purchase. Not sure about your 4" but I really love my 7.5" PC. I was really worried on my very first round and pleasantly surprised how controllable it was. Muzzle compensator, grips and weight do a really good job. I've tried factory 350 gr Fusion which felt really anemic . I've reloaded commercial cast 330gr and 400 gr lead coated bullets; also tried 500 gr jacketed from Hornady just to see how much difference in perceived recoil it makes. Everything was very controllable.

Great feedback. Thanks!!

 

[sturtyboy]

Congrats...
I have a 8 3/8 I bought in Reno a few years ago. I was so excited to shoot it so I pull off I80 on the way home and found a spot against the hill off the road a ways. It came with 4 boxes of ammo with 5 rounds missing. Get the picture? I set up a target and what fun that was. I was so excited on the last few rounds in the second box, I forgot to put my hearing protection back on... Wow! I hope to never do that again.

I've reloaded ...2000 plus, to make it affordable. 350-400 grains are very nice. 500 grains are impressive on steel too. Fast D/A with all 5 cyls. is a hoot. Get a good stance. I'm 6'8" 270 and it put's me on my heels on the last 2 rounds.

One benefit I have that I really appreciate, I shoot well with either hand. That is a real benefit with those magnum 500's.

It's a crowd pleaser. But not everyone wants to take part...why?

Enjoy your new toy.
...Stu

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations.

I have had my 4" for probably close to a decade now

I find it so much fun that I also bought the snub nose 500

The 500 is a VERY versatile cartridge for the hand loader. Lead, plated, coated or jacketed projectiles weighing from 275 grains up to 725 grains.

The little lightweight guy on the left is 450 grains. Remember those projectiles in that image are all 1/2" across

Mild to Wild it is a accurate revolver.

 

[CH4]

I like my 4", but yet to shoot the real hot stuff. It's one of my favorites to reload.

The .500 S&W - when a .44 mag just isn't enough to thoroughly piss off the guy shooting next to you at the indoor range.

 

[steelslaver]

I can think of no good use for a 500 S&W unless your hunting moose or big bears.

Mines a 8 3/8"

 

[CH4]

n​

I can think of no good use for a 500 S&W unless your hunting moose or big bears.

Mines a 8 3/8"

It seems you don't have much of an imagination.

 

[DonD]

I've been shooting these great guns since they came out in 2003. I love them and for some strange reason, I shoot my 8.375" barreled 500 Mag more accurately than any handgun I've ever shot. I do reload, I do so for two reasons, tailoring the power level to what I want and I'm not one who wants to blow off unnecessary $.

These guns have great triggers and are more accurate than 99.99% of shooters can exploit.

Having said that, my other 500 is a 6.5" PC model.

I haven't shot a 4" model and don't intend to buy one but they do feel very good in the hand. Enjoy your fine hand cannon. Don

 

[Rosco Shooter]

That looks like the operational definition of a wrist wrench (LOL.) You 500 Magnum shooters are tougher than I am.

 

[iouri]

I can think of no good use for a 500 S&W unless your hunting moose or big bears.

Mines a 8 3/8"

I hear'em Yetis are pretty sneaky

 

[BTH]

Congrats, you will enjoy it, I have 5 of them 8 3/8, 7.5 pc, 6.5, 4 inch and the 3.5 inch. My favorite to shoot is the 4 inch. than the 7.5PC.

But these aren't for everyone that is for sure.

Good Luck and enjoy.


BTH

 

[roscoepc]

Welcome to the "500 Club"!! Mine's the 8-3/8" barrel with the interchangable compensator and I love it!! You might want to start off with Winchester's 350gr Reduced Recoil rounds to get a "feel" for her and then try something like a 500gr Hornady XTP. Also, if yer gonna shoot alot, you might want to check into reloading at least on a small scale as the over the counter rounds for this Beastie are about $3.00 per round!! The good news is with reloading you can get that down to about 35-85 cents per round.

Matt's Bullets has some good prices and a nice variety also!

500 S&W : Matts Bullets Ammunition

Have Fun with her!!!

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

There is a young woman at church, slender and probably weighs 125 # or so. She has shot her Father in Laws .500 a bunch. I have never seen her shoot it but I have seen the photos.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[CH4]

I hear'em Yetis are pretty sneaky

Yes, they are very sneaky! They get around undetected by disguising themselves as yaks.

 

[Tom S.]

I bought mine for the next time I see these in the neighborhood:

 

[SuperMan]

Love mine...have had it since just after the 4" was introduced...

It's a fun gun and much more pleasant to shoot than a Single Action in .454 or .475...

I've settled on 350 grain bullets for my needs. I use 18.0 grains of Unique with a Berry's plated bullet for 1080 fps....great on bowling pins... 20 grains with a Hornady, Sierra or Speer runs 1250 fps. What is great about both is that if you double charge a case the powder comes right up to the case mouth without spilling but would be hard to miss it when seating a bullet.

Also found a stainless 20" TC Encore barrel in .500. 43 grains of H110 runs 1800 fps and really isn't bad to shoot...

Bob

 

[iouri]

Don't forget - after you pick up 500 you'd need a BUG in 460

 

[sothoth]

I am set up to reload 357, 45 ACP, 308 win, and will add 500 to my list. I have only reloaded 357 so far. I got started when ammo was nearly impossible to find but my interest petered out when ammo cost went back down. I think 500 makes perfect sense to reload. I may post some questions about powder when I'm getting closer.

I haven't seen any moose or yetis but I have seen a Toyota Tercel from the 1990s that's nearly dead and may as well use it to test the 500 grain cartridge. Will it kill the motor with one well placed shot?

 

[iouri]

I've had a really good luck with 4227 and Lil'Gun