500 Magnum People .....

[PA Reb]

If a question like this has already been posted, please forgive me and point me in the right direction because I couldn't find it.

I have been shooting S&W magnum revolvers since the 1970s (.357, .41, .44). I sometimes hunt big game with them but normally just go to the range to have fun. I do not re-load so all my ammo is factory made. I have been fascinated for some time with the S&W 500 magnum but have never had the opportunity to actually fire one. I was in a local gun shop last evening and saw one used for sale at less than $900.00 because the former owner "couldn't handle it"! The price could be negotiated somewhat but the gun itself is in very good condition - looks like it was rarely fired and has about a 12" or 13" barrel. Anyway, my question to all you 500 people is this; Tell me why I need this gun?!?! Is it just the fascination of its sheer power and beauty or, is it really a weapon that can be put to good use? I ask this because I trip each year to Maine or Canada for black bear and I'm entertaining the possibility of hunting with something like this next spring. I'm thinking it would be more gaming and would like to have it on stand with me as a second possibility to the rifle. I definitely respect the power and recoil of this gun but I'm also not afraid of it. Keep in mind my current revolver for hunting is an unscoped 629. Any and all comments (pro or con) would be appreciated. I just don't want to be the next "former owner" of a 500 !!

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

The gun is very accurate and it's fun to shoot.
It will kill anything put in the front of it, with proper bullet choice and placement.

Three down falls with the gun.

1. Ammo is not cheap, so to be a reloader is almost a requirement in ownership.

2. The gun is incredibly loud. I'd wear ear & eye protection, always.

3. The gun is heavy. 5+ LBS could get old after a while.

 

[Avery11]

I've been thinking about this same quaestion. If anyone lives in Southern NH and would let me try one of these please shoot me a PM.

 

[TDC]

What 500 Magnum Nut said,

I shoot one, handload for the caliber and hunt with one. Nothing else in "normal" production will produce the delivered energy with such a flat trajectory as the 500. It is superbly accurate as well.

It is, however, not for everyone. Its recoil, noise level, ammo costs and additional size truthfully make it a handgun not suitable or advisable for occasional plinkers and "twice a year" target shooters. It pushes the limit in all four categories. Those susceptible to any of these four issues should pick another caliber.

But for those of us who are familiar with hot magnum firearms and use the 500 as a tool for experimentation or hunting, it is a superb firearm and caliber that's unmatchable in its effectiveness.

I've hunted black bear and bull elk with either a 41 and 44 Mag for over 35 years with great success. Those smaller magnum calibers will do the job, but any hunter who has taken more than a few of either animal will attest to the fact that either of those calibers can be "marginal at best" on really large and adrenalin charged animals.

It is a firearm that requires new shooter techniques and adaptability to control heavy recoil. It is a firearm that "barks" loud enough to test the maximum endurance of human hearing, requiring hearing protection at all times.

I wouldn't attempt to "sell" anyone on the 500. Each person must shoot one before purchasing it to determine for themselves it usefulness and desirability for their intended purpose.

But those who may say "You shouldn't buy one because I don't like them or see any need for them" doesn't sway the happy 500 owners like me who appreciate the 500's unmatchable and unique "talents"...

JMHO....

 

[PA Reb]

500 S&W People Continued

Well, a big thank you to everyone who gave me their honest opinion. So please tell me this; I went back to the store this afternoon and took two pictures of the gun. Its a little dirty and needs a good cleaning but it is in great mechanical order. I managed to get them down to $850.00. What do y'all think of that price? This same store has brand new 500s marked to $1249.99. Oh, and by the way, its an 8 3/8" barrel.

 

[kennyb]

better grab it..there is nothing like it !

 

[vic3620]

buy it

I have the 500 with a 8 3/8 barrel plus I bought a H&R handi rifle in this
caliber, the handgun is easier to shoot that the rifle. You will enjoy it if your already shooting 44 mags.
I do hunt deer with mine, but electronic ear protection is something you must consider. buy it and enjoy!

vic 3620

 

[PA Reb]

I have the 500 with a 8 3/8 barrel plus I bought a H&R handi rifle in this
caliber, the handgun is easier to shoot that the rifle. You will enjoy it if your already shooting 44 mags.
I do hunt deer with mine, but electronic ear protection is something you must consider. buy it and enjoy!

vic 3620

That was going to be my next question. You mention "electronic ear protection" as I was wondering how you can hunt with a weapon that could explode your eardrums. I've never hunted under those circumstances so, how does the device you speak of work? I assume it doesn't hinder being able to hear yet guards against the extremely loud concussion?

 

[jessegpresley]

That was going to be my next question. You mention "electronic ear protection" as I was wondering how you can hunt with a weapon that could explode your eardrums. I've never hunted under those circumstances so, how does the device you speak of work? I assume it doesn't hinder being able to hear yet guards against the extremely loud concussion?

It amplifies the sounds around you, but dampens gun shots. So you can carry on a normal conversation with them, hear deer in the brush, etc, but at the same time have protection from gunshots like a regular pair of muffs. Pro Ears for $300.

 

[Avery11]

I have the caldwell electronic muffswhich cost around $30 and the Howard Leights which cost around $50.

They will enhance a hunt because they amplify sounds in stereo. You will hear every twig and leaf move and can still tell from which direction the sounds are coming. Because you can amplify the sound so well, I lets you hear the noise you make and cannot normally hear...the same sound that the game CAN hear. This aids in yoour noise discipline.

I'm sure the #300 muffs are great but the two I mentioned are superb and both are designed for use with a rifle should you decide to hunt with one.

Of the two, I actually prefer tha Caldwells which were on sale for under $20 when I bought them.

 

[310Pilot]

Sounds like you may have decided to buy it, if so, I'm betting you will fall in love with it. I have an 8 3/8" gun like the one you pictured and a 4" gun, as well. Both are very accurate, and the long barrel gun, especially, is very flat shooting, easily good to 150-200 yards on game. More like a carbons than a handgun in reality. Electronic hearing protection is a very good idea. I do recommend learning to handload for this caliber, not only to greatly reduce the expense of shooting it, but it also allows a great deal of flexibility in tailoring the loads to the gun, the shooter and the game. In fact, buying the 500 made me get back into handloading, which I had intended to do for quite a few years, and I am enjoying that, as well. I uses single stage press for loading 500s, weighing each charge, but use a progressive for other calibers. I also have the sheii plate for loading 500 on my progressive press, but like to do the relatively small runs (generally 50-100 rounds arlt a session) on the single stage, especially if doing max loads. It only costs about $0.10-0.20 per round to reload, possibly less, as I usually load bullets I cast myself, certainly far less than the $2-$3+ per round for factory ammo. I know you don't reload, but I suggest you consider it, as it opens up a great range of potential, especially with this caliber. BTW, it is highly effective on black bear.

 

[MTKTM]

PA Reb, the gun in your picture is an integral comp 8 5/8". That was the original model that S&W came out with in '03, so it could be an early model although that model is still made as far as I know. I have that same model, one that I purchased when they first came out in '03, and have never regretted buying it, nor the 4" purchased in '05, for a moment.

I agree with what 500 Magnum Nut and TDC both said in every respect. I've shot, handloaded, hunted, chronographed, plinked, carried, even competed in a bowling pin match once, with the 500s and consider it to be a very useful caliber and the guns are among those that I use the most.

I can't tell the condition of the gun from the pics, but would venture to guess that if it looks and checks out good, and the original owner found it to be too much, that it hasn't been shot a lot and is thus a good buy at $850. I actually managed to get my 4" for about that price even though it was a new gun, the store had a sale on and I hit it just right. But heck, you'd pay almost that much for a new 629, and even if you decide you don't care for it you'd probably not have a lot of trouble flipping it and at least breaking even, so what do you really have to lose??

 

[Kavinsky]

from what people have said its capabile of putting huge heavy rounds out there at longer distances than the M29 44 magnum round, but above 500 grains recoil gloves cant really help you that much along with double ear protection.

 

[PA Reb]

To tell y'all the truth, I'm a little leary of buying a used gun especially one of this caliber that has a tremendous amount of power behind it. I also thought it may be one of the original types which makes me wonder how much it has been fired over the years. I am reasonably good at shooting a revolver but I am not a gunsmith so I have to rely on instincts while looking one over. Personally, I can see nothing wrong with this particular 500 and it has been checked (but not fired) by the in store gunsmith. The cylinder seems to lock up tight, I see no signs of cracking anywhere, the hammer locks in place tight when cocked, the trigger pull seems the same as my 629, the bore looked reasonably clean but, I know as true as God is my judge, I will close my eyes, clench my teeth, and hold my breath the first time I fire it if I buy it!! The only thing I can see is that it needs a good cleaning in all the places where they usually blacken with powder. Gander Mountain is the store I found it in and I can't imagine them selling a questionable item. So, I'll more than likely go back tomorrow (its on hold for me) and try to go over it again. I may even ask them to give it a good cleaning before I take the plunge so I can see if small problems exist anywhere. Its been there for a while now so we'll see how bad they want to sell it!!

 

[ohiococonut]

Most people that own one, or more, usually shoot them a lot or very little. And those that shoot very little usually get rid of it because they can't handle the recoil or afford the ammo. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used one if the right one came along.

I own five of them, and to say I like the gun is an understatement. I shoot my 500's more than any other handgun I own. I reload and cast my own bullets as well. I can't add much more than what's already been said except beware.......you may get the bug! I've posted pics of my guns numerous times so I'll spare everyone.

Here are just a few of the bullets I've loaded over the years. The weights range from 223gr to 700gr. and they are from mild to wild!

 

[Kavinsky]

Just be careful with the thing and fire it one at a time till your used to it, I know you probably know that but I remember something my dad told me about the 44 magnum back in the 1960's where this exact same thing that happens in this video happened to some other woman in alaska

YouTube - ‪FULL AUTO 500 S&W‬‏

and that was a ruger single action 44 magnum, not a double action gun, somehow she cocked the hammer again after the first round went off and she shot herself in the head.

anyways on a lighter note hickok45 also did a few videos on the M500 a couple of days ago that might help you make up your mind on this matter:
YouTube - ‪500 S&W Magnum‬‏
YouTube - ‪500 Magnum at 230 Yards‬‏
YouTube - ‪500 Magnum vs Watermelons‬‏
YouTube - ‪500 Magnum vs Lawn Mower‬‏

and if you decide not go with it, theres always the 454 casull, which is my limit.

and FYI I'm a model 29 guy myself, I love my old model 29 -2 with a 6 inch barrel, it just fits like a glove.

 

[PA Reb]

S&W 500

Great stuff! I love that new and improved lawn mower kill switch but hickok45's first video was very informative. As I've said above, I'm not afraid of the gun but rather, I don't want to just go and waste my money because it "isn't fun" or buy it if its faulty in any way. At any rate, thanks to everyone who has weighed in with their thoughtful opinions. I'm going to be headed back here shortly and I'll let y'all know how I made out this evening.

 

[PA Reb]

Bought It!

As promised, here's my POST SALE update! I went back this morning and did some more dickering with a bewildered employee ! I told him I had agreed to $850 the night before (down from the asking $899.99). I told him they would have to come down to $825 or I wasn't buying. The answer I received was "we can't do that." I thanked him and turned around and left. Before I reached the front of the store, he called the register person and told them to tell me to come back, so I did. He agreed to the $825 (now I knew I had them). I then told him they had a box of ammo on the shelf listed at $67 with one round stolen out of it. He agreed to sell it to me as "damaged" for $40. I then asked if he would throw in an Uncle Mikes shoulder holster for it that was listed at $39.95, which surprisingly, he did that also. When he was ready to start the state police background check, I asked him how much that cost. Although I already knew what it was ($5), he said it wouldn't cost me anything. When I asked about the original box, he said they didn't have it but I could have a spare Gander metal suitcase like case in the back if I would just leave already (that's big enough to cary three or four revolvers). He told me I was really pushing my luck when I asked if there was anyone available that could carry it all out and put it in the back of my Blazer so I had to do that myself ! I left as fast as I could, came home, tore the gun down, and gave it a good cleaning. I feel like my mom taught me well as far as wheeling and dealing goes and I'm pretty happy with the end result. I hope it shoots as well as it looks, which I see no reason why it won't.

Thanks again everyone for all the info and support. This forum and the people that belong to it just made my day. I pity the first bear that walks in front of me!

 

[jake m29]

I have the 4inch gun and absolutely love it. Handloading broadens the horizons considerabaly when it comes to recoil and utility. I did shoot it once during hunting without plugs and it felt as if an ice pick was being stabbed into my ear..... Stupid me! Bottom line is I love the .500 and recomend it to any serious handgunner.

 

[Kavinsky]

lol Oh come on that was cruel Pa Reb, but chances are he just wanted to get rid of it and it probably had been sitting there for quite some time.

I must look up that 4 revolver case though, I could use one of those for the range.