500 S&W Pricing

[AJ]

A friend has a Nephew who lives in NY. He is down here for a vacation. He has a S&W 500 and needed ammo for it. We have four gun shops in town and only one had ammo. It was $80.00 a box of 20. When I heard that I had heart failure.

 

[murphydog]

Low production volume so components are expensive, and not surprising that you can only find it at "desperation" pricing. Was it a super-duper, expanding bullet boutique load?

 

[chief38]

IMHO the 500 Magnum has a limited value. The best scenario would be for hunting very large game - mostly as a back up gun. For those purposes, very few rounds need be fired - mostly for practice and familiarity of course. Yes - $80 a box of 20 rnds; but seldom fired. I do not see any practicality of the 500 in a recreational scenario - unless you have Warren Buffet's $$ - lol. Aside from the shocking recoil and to say you have shot it once- it's not that much recreational fun after the first cylinder full.

The main reason (at least IMO) that people bought a 500 mag was just because they could and because it was the King of the hill. Sometimes guys just want to have the biggest bat in town! I think now that owners are seeing the cost of a box of 20 rounds, the revolvers are mostly relegated as either safe queens or to come out to shoot once every few years at best.

Anyone seriously interested in actually shooting a 500 Mag a lot should either search out a good price on ammo and buy in bulk. The other solution would be to reload for it. Other than those two suggestions, they will have to pay the piper for the ammo - whatever the going price is. BTW, Target Sports currently has 500 Mag ammo in stock for $57 / box. When planning to shoot one it makes more sense to acquire the ammo way ahead of time so you don't get rapped on the price from a LGS.

 

[Imissedagain]

A Lee Handpress, Lee powder dippers and the other basics are great for on the road.
Airline travel might mean no powder/primers.
I have used it for the 460 and 458 cases.
Carbide dies and lube for a good upper body workout.
I wear gloves and hope the handles don't break.

 

[Dave Lively]

Its not just your local shops. Out of curiosity I checked online at sgammo and they were asking $3/round for Magtech.

On the plus side, now that I am older and getting more recoil sensitive an $80 box of 20 full power 500 S&W would probably be a lifetime supply.

 

[AJ]

Not sure exactly what they bought. May have been a range ammo or a super-duper defensive round. Just know I do not want one in my stable and I reload. My hands and wrist would not like the punishment of shooting one.

 

[reddog81]

One of the reasons I went with the 460 is because you can plink with cheap 45 Colt ammo at only $1 round

 

[madmikeb]

I picked up a 4" 500 last year. I have a few boxes of factory ammo, but once I get situated most shooting will be 300 gr plated and trailboss saving the factory ammo for special occasions!

 

[AJ]

Talked to his Uncle last night. He bought three boxes at $80.00 each to take back home. He is using it in a rifle for deer hunting. Not sure what rifle, but that is what I was told. I guess 60 rounds would last a while if all you are using it is for deer hunting. Told his Uncle to tell him to save his brass. Would only need the dies to reload for it. Have another friend that has mold for casting that should fit it.

 

[Imissedagain]

I picked up a 4" 500 last year. I have a few boxes of factory ammo, but once I get situated most shooting will be 300 gr plated and trailboss saving the factory ammo for special occasions!

I believe Trail Boss is currently not being made.
It might return at some point.
If you see it available online..... just scammers.
TB was sold in 9oz and 2lb bottles.
Scammers list those and 5lb bottles.

The experts here might provide alternatives, load data
and performance results with different barrel lengths.
if you ask nicely.

 

[Skeet 028]

Had a 4 inch 500 S&W. I did not consider it an extremely hard recoil gun. But along with recoil you get torque and a lot of pressure wave. It truly is a great bear backup ...except...it is very heavy. Put it in a holster on the front of you for quick access. Gets old in a hurry. My camp gun is a Benelli M-1 Super 90 slug gun with mag extension. My backup handgun is a S&W M-57 4 inch. Been used on 2 bears...many years ago in Alaska. The 500 is just not an easy gun to get into action all that quick. But it should shoot through a bear...or moose...maybe even a Wooly Mammoth that they're cloning. Oh, there is a Company here in Cody that makes a new high end copy of an 1886 Winchester in 500 S&W. Nice(expensive) rifle too! And a fun to shoot rifle

 

[AJ]

Ammo today at the local gun show was $55.00 a box.