500 Magnum Blowback in Face

[rat107]

I recently fired my 8 3/8" 500 with fixed muzzle brake and had 1 round blow back at me and I got a couple small cuts on my face. Seemed like from the cylinder gap or muzzle brake but not sure. After that happened I checked the revolver (cylinder timing, etc.) and fired brass and everything looked ok. I fired another cylinder and everything was fine. When I went home and cleaned it everything looked fine but I'm not a gunsmith. The firearm has about 200 rounds through it. I shoot mostly 325 grain Federal Fusion ammunition. I was shooting a 10" swinging AR500 gong at 15-20 yards so maybe it was a ricochet, I dunno. Anyone have a similar issue? I sent it back to S&W to have them check it out just to be safe. I'll give an update when I get the revolver back.

***Updates on posts #21, 27, & 32.***

 

[Dieseltech56]

My brother had that happen to him. Drew blood on his cheek, never had it happen to me though.

 

[rat107]

My brother had that happen to him. Drew blood on his cheek, never had it happen to me though.

Same thing happened to me. I'm fine. Just wondering if it's normal or a defect with the revolver.

 

[delcrossv]

Hmm. Hasn't happened to me and I've put everything from 300 gr Swifts to 700 gr Underwoods through mine. (6 1/2"- no brake , just the compensator).

Maybe something with the brake?

 

[dogdoc]

Definitely been hit from bullets fragments shooting steel. Wear safety glasses!

 

[75Vette]

What you got was a ricochet from the gong. 20-25 yards with a 500 is too close unless the gongs are set up right to deflect the bullet away from you. Hickok45 has a good vid describing how the steel should safely be set up.

 

[rat107]

Hmm. Hasn't happened to me and I've put everything from 300 gr Swifts to 700 gr Underwoods through mine. (6 1/2"- no brake , just the compensator).

Maybe something with the brake?

It's the standard brake/compensator that comes on the revolver: Model S&W500™ | Smith & Wesson

 

[Black Sunshine]

My 500 came with two different compensators. One for cast/bare lead and one for jacketed. I'm doubtful, but wonder if shooting with, say the cast bullet comp using jacketed or vise versa could spray lead at the shooter?

Edit: S&W calls them compensators, but they more of a combination brake/compensator. Yours appears to be strictly a compensator.

 

[Sevens]

You shot a steel plate at 15-20 yards with a .500 Mag?

That is something I would not elect to do. I put thousands of rounds in to steel at 10-25 yards, but not with a monster X-frame magnum. When I shoot steel with my 460XVR, 100 yards is my absolute minimum as I don't want to damage the plate.

When a steel plate is in great condition and totally flat faced, it works extremely well as a target. The FIRST time a steel plate ends up with a pock or divot in the surface of the plate it becomes a dangerous, ticking time bomb, and ANY shot that follows can seriously hurt or kill or damage anything that is anywhere near it.

I have very little fear being within 12 yards of a steel plates getting shot with handguns or rimfire, but a .500 Mag is far outside the scope of a normal handgun. Twice the bullet weight, 2-3-4 times the pressure of a typical handgun.

Shooting a solid target at that distance with a .500 Magnum isn't a good, safe idea.

 

[rat107]

What you got was a ricochet from the gong. 20-25 yards with a 500 is too close unless the gongs are set up right to deflect the bullet away from you. Hickok45 has a good vid describing how the steel should safely be set up.

Thanks for the input!

 

[rat107]

You shot a steel plate at 15-20 yards with a .500 Mag?

That is something I would not elect to do. I put thousands of rounds in to steel at 10-25 yards, but not with a monster X-frame magnum. When I shoot steel with my 460XVR, 100 yards is my absolute minimum as I don't want to damage the plate.

When a steel plate is in great condition and totally flat faced, it works extremely well as a target. The FIRST time a steel plate ends up with a pock or divot in the surface of the plate it becomes a dangerous, ticking time bomb, and ANY shot that follows can seriously hurt or kill or damage anything that is anywhere near it.

I have very little fear being within 12 yards of a steel plates getting shot with handguns or rimfire, but a .500 Mag is far outside the scope of a normal handgun. Twice the bullet weight, 2-3-4 times the pressure of a typical handgun.

Shooting a solid target at that distance with a .500 Magnum isn't a good, safe idea.

Good to know thanks!

 

[Narragansett]

I recently fired my 8 3/8" 500 with fixed muzzle brake and had 1 round blow back at me and I got a couple small cuts on my face. Seemed like from the cylinder gap or muzzle brake but not sure. After that happened I checked the revolver (cylinder timing, etc.) and fired brass and everything looked ok. I fired another cylinder and everything was fine. When I went home and cleaned it everything looked fine but I'm not a gunsmith. The firearm has about 200 rounds through it. I shoot mostly 325 grain Federal Fusion ammunition. I was shooting a 10" swinging AR500 gong at 15-20 yards so maybe it was a ricochet, I dunno. Anyone have a similar issue? I sent it back to S&W to have them check it out just to be safe. I'll give an update when I get the revolver back.

What you probably got was a ricochet. IMHO, i would only shoot paper at that distance. A friend of mine got several stitches in his hand from a 44 mag shooting at metal that was too close.

Years ago I was shooting mid range match ammo ( 148 wadcutter) out of a 28-2. i was shooting across a field about 75 yards at a target on a blown down tree. i take a shot, and in a couple seconds I hear a slight noise like a pebble dropping. I looked down, and there was the 148 grain wadcutter on the ground in front of me. To this day, i still can not picture that happening, but it did

 

[delcrossv]

It's the standard brake/compensator that comes on the revolver: Model S&W500™ | Smith & Wesson

Aah. thanks for the link. In that case, I'll throw my hat with the "you got a ricochet" posters. I'd agree that's very close to shoot steel, especially with a 500.

 

[Fishinfool]

What you probably got was a ricochet. IMHO, i would only shoot paper at that distance. A friend of mine got several stitches in his hand from a 44 mag shooting at metal that was too close.

Years ago I was shooting mid range match ammo ( 148 wadcutter) out of a 28-2. i was shooting across a field about 75 yards at a target on a blown down tree. i take a shot, and in a couple seconds I hear a slight noise like a pebble dropping. I looked down, and there was the 148 grain wadcutter on the ground in front of me. To this day, i still can not picture that happening, but it did

I'd go with the bullet splatter theory as well. If the gun was out of time, or had other issues, it would probably spit with every shot, not just one in several hundred. Bullets do weird things sometimes. Years ago, I was out camping, and decided to put a few rounds from my .25 acp auto into a tree about 15 yards away. First shot bounced back and struck me in the belly. No damage, but it did sting. Kind of turned me off to the .25 acp. I like a self defense gun to do a little more than "sting"....

Larry

 

[BigBill]

All I can add is some of these guys shooting steeling you tube up close is dangerous.
Some of these cowboy shooters shoot close too.

My handguns get shot mim 25yds to 100yds.
My rifles get shot mim 100yds.

Be safe do it right.

 

[Benchrest1]

The club I belong to has a handgun range and doesn't allow you to shoot any mag loads at steel for safety reasons. I still get hit every now and then with bullet splatter and we set the steel at 20 yards.

 

[shocker]

Another note from a plate manufacturer- some of the kinetic energy of the bullet heats the steel plate. Enough so that it can temper the heat treat and soften the surface of the plate, near the strike point. Hence the recommendation that powerhouse cartridges like 300 magnums have a minimum distance of 300 yds.

 

[rat107]

Check out Hickok45 shooting a skillet at point blank range with a 500. I wouldn't shoot anything that close. Is that ok because it's cast iron not AR500??? YouTube

 

[delcrossv]

Well, still kinda foolish IMO as shards of cast iron can fly back, but yes, cast iron will fracture not reflect.

 

[Coaltminer]

Smith 500

What you got was a ricochet from the gong. 20-25 yards with a 500 is too close unless the gongs are set up right to deflect the bullet away from you. Hickok45 has a good vid describing how the steel should safely be set up.

It’s the steel IMHO. My gong says 25 yd minimum, but I was hit once. In the stomach, drew blood. From a 38 Colt Diamondback with copper washed, hard Winchester lead bullets that they used in 357 factory loads. Bought them by the case of 2660 from Wideners years ago. Great bullets in a 38, no leading at all with 38 velocity