EVERYONE must shoot a 500 magnum once!!!

[somebizarredude]

Shot mine again Sunday and I love it even more than the day I got it. but I learned a valuable lesson during the Sunday shootout. WEAR EAR PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES lol I had my father shoot it and he cracked one off before I could get my muffs on I was rite over his shoulder trying to explain my technique, so it felt like someone slapped their palms on my ears! god this thing is loud especially for the shooter thanks to the muzzle brake

 

[DonD]

Shot mine again Sunday and I love it even more than the day I got it. but I learned a valuable lesson during the Sunday shootout. WEAR EAR PROTECTION AT ALL TIMES lol I had my father shoot it and he cracked one off before I could get my muffs on I was rite over his shoulder trying to explain my technique, so it felt like someone slapped their palms on my ears! god this thing is loud especially for the shooter thanks to the muzzle brake

I strongly recommend that you use double ear protection, plugs and muffs. Your ears will thank you. When you lose hearing acuity, you can never get it back. Plus, all that extra noise reduction makes it seem to recoil less and makes shooting it all the more enjoyable. Don

 

[skosh69]

My neighbor has one and we've been to the range a few times. That thing is a beast. It's awesome watching those around us stop and stare while we shoot. My S&W 44 draws alot attention ( it's a silhouette with the 10 5/8 bbl ) but it doesn't compare to the 500.

 

[Kavinsky]

I purchased a 500 strictly from an engineering appreciation of the gun itself. Loaded down its VERY tame to fire. Loaded heavy it can be a handful. Full magnum loads I doubt you could burn 50 rounds up comfortably but its a lot of fun to shoot. I have a 600 grain mold on order to cast some bullets. The big JHP's from Sierra hurt the wallet more than the hand. My gun is the 8 3/8" with the attached comp. It does a good job and recoil is on par with a pistol gripped shotgun firing 3" magnum slugs. I find the lighter .44 mag pistols more punishing to my wrist. The 500 hurts the palm of the hand from the kick more than any snap.

hmm your the second guy I've heard say that:
YouTube - ‪500 S&W Magnum‬‏

I think it may be more the hogue grips than the gun itself doing that and recoil gloves would also help too.

actually do they even make any pachmayr grips for the 500's?

 

[Bendutro]

The web between the thumb and index finger is what takes the brunt, at least with the Hogues. I don't mind shooting <450grain bullets at <1200 fps without gloves, when you start pushing the 465+ bullets faster then even the Hogues aren't that much help.
I looked at a bunch of specialized shooting gloves and finally just went down to Lowe's Depot and bought some Mechanix brand gloves for $20 that have a padded palm and aren't too thick in the finger for good trigger feel. That makes wielding loads like this much, MUCH easier. I'm looking harder at the Jim Badger grips. A good finger-groove grip seems like it would be just the thing to help prevent gun rotation in the hand.

 

[somebizarredude]

The web between the thumb and index finger is what takes the brunt, at least with the Hogues. I don't mind shooting <450grain bullets at <1200 fps without gloves, when you start pushing the 465+ bullets faster then even the Hogues aren't that much help.
I looked at a bunch of specialized shooting gloves and finally just went down to Lowe's Depot and bought some Mechanix brand gloves for $20 that have a padded palm and aren't too thick in the finger for good trigger feel. That makes wielding loads like this much, MUCH easier. I'm looking harder at the Jim Badger grips. A good finger-groove grip seems like it would be just the thing to help prevent gun rotation in the hand.

have you looked at weight lifting gloves? i remember seeing those with fairly heavy padding and a tight fit at sports stores. some are even fingerless with gel pads.

 

[gilroy]

No thanks. I never plan to shoot .44 mag again. Even my .41 mag is now most appreciated in the safe. The upper end of fun for me now is .357. I just don't get the thrill out of pain and ringing ears that I once did. Enjoy the .500 while you can!

 

[ghitch75]

have never shot a 500...have shot one of these and thats all i wanted....

45-70

Bison Bull-THE single action handgun

 

[somebizarredude]

have never shot a 500...have shot one of these and thats all i wanted....

45-70

Bison Bull-THE single action handgun

Now i want one of those also

 

[cal50]

The web between the thumb and index finger is what takes the brunt, at least with the Hogues. I don't mind shooting <450grain bullets at <1200 fps without gloves, when you start pushing the 465+ bullets faster then even the Hogues aren't that much help.
I looked at a bunch of specialized shooting gloves and finally just went down to Lowe's Depot and bought some Mechanix brand gloves for $20 that have a padded palm and aren't too thick in the finger for good trigger feel. That makes wielding loads like this much, MUCH easier. I'm looking harder at the Jim Badger grips. A good finger-groove grip seems like it would be just the thing to help prevent gun rotation in the hand.

My hand hurt worse a couple days AFTER shooting heavy loads. I do need to get a padded glove of some sort. I am with you on the grip that I doubt any grip will take the brunt of the recoil away.

As a comparison I have a Marlin 45-70 guide gun I launch the Remington 405 JSP out the tube around 1800 fps. The 500 is not really that far behind it and the Marlin sticks you good in the shoulder. I did put a pad on it and it take the snap out of it but still one hell of a push.

 

[frankverrees]

I have 1 S&W .500Mag also => 4"
I love the gun.
I live in Belgium
See you guys.

 

[texmex]

speed loaders

My speed loaders from 5 Star just arrived in the mail a few minutes ago. Now I'm ready for a Zombie Bear attack! A recent change in our departments firearms policy makes the 500 acceptable for off duty use. 45 calibre is still the limit for on duty. I don't think my 4" 500 will completely replace my 642 for off duty, but it will be fun every once in a while when the weather is cooler making concealment easier. I did wear it to a ballistics demonstration down in San Antonio once. ATK (Speer/Federal) sponsored it. We shot the ballistic gelatin with all kinds of duty rounds including 308 and 223. Nothing compared to the 500. There were two blocks of gelatin lined up on the table. The first block disintegrated, raining gelatin all over us. The second block was blown off the table onto the ground. The bullet had stopped just before exiting. It was a Winchester Platinum 400 grain.

 

[DonD]

I did wear it to a ballistics demonstration down in San Antonio once. ATK (Speer/Federal) sponsored it. We shot the ballistic gelatin with all kinds of duty rounds including 308 and 223. Nothing compared to the 500. There were two blocks of gelatin lined up on the table. The first block disintegrated, raining gelatin all over us. The second block was blown off the table onto the ground. The bullet had stopped just before exiting. It was a Winchester Platinum 400 grain.

People who don't know much about the caliber are skeptical when I tell them that the .500 Mag makes a .308 look like a wussy on any liquid filled object or when fired into any object other than steel plate. Don

 

[somebizarredude]

It definitely does a number on gallons of water and cans of food also 5 gallon Ozarka jug's have a really big splash

 

[bennettfam]

642 vs 500? David and Goliath.

A recent change in our departments firearms policy makes the 500 acceptable for off duty use. I don't think my 4" 500 will completely replace my 642 for off duty

Gee, Ya Think!? It may replace about a dozen 642s.


I did wear it to a ballistics demonstration down in San Antonio once. Nothing compared to the 500. There were two blocks of gelatin lined up on the table. The first block disintegrated, raining gelatin all over us. The second block was blown off the table onto the ground. What Fun!!!

Sounds like you made a big splash with your contrabution.

 

[Nemo288]

MTKTM Posted:if I hung on until there was no staying with the horse any more, and hit the ground all tensed up. Wasn't thrown very often, but learned that pretty quickly.

I used to ride animals and you are right. Glad I learned that lesson
as it applies to motorcycles as well.

I have never had a problem with recoil. Full house rounds in a
Mountain Revolver leave it pointing straight up but no injury
if you relax. And, yeah, accuracy is a state of mind too.
Being afraid will kill it.

I win the lottery I will be in line for a 500. I subscribe to the theory.

A 696 will have to come first however. We are on the brink of
concealed carry after 100 years of "progress".

---
Nemo

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

I agree with the magnum shooters. If you like 44s you will love the 500.

I've been shooting several since it's birth. The first one in 2003 was a problem child and that's how I found this forum as I was looking for other people with the same problem that I was having.

Later bought 2 more, but as of Saturday sold them all. In fact I sold nearly a dozen revolvers over the past year. I kept several that I bought as a kid, as these models are more to my roots. Been biten by the class III bug and needed to raise the cash to play in a new direction.

Life is too short to not try new things. Try a 500!

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

People who don't know much about the caliber are skeptical when I tell them that the .500 Mag makes a .308 look like a wussy on any liquid filled object or when fired into any object other than steel plate. Don

Watermellon mist.....

Yep, if you want a can of corn opened, I don't think you'll find the corn after the can is opened.

I bet if you make a hardened pointy bullet, that steel plate will look like a rifle got to it.

 

[MTKTM]

As others have commented, I believe that the 500 has a more profound effect on impact than many popular rifle rounds including the 308. Here's a pic of my son last summer having just blasted a small cabbage with mine. Pieces were everywhere, including several on the windshield of my truck which was parked about 20 yards behind the shooting point.



I also recall an occasion where I was in camp with a group of guys preparing to go hunting. Three of them decided they wanted to double check their rifle's zero, so we went to a nearby gravel pit and they set up an old piece of plywood and were shooting at that with calibers like 30-06, 270 and 300 Win. Mag. The bullets just zipped on through. Then one asked me to try with the 500, so I did and the first shot flattened it very convincingly. Everyone just burst out laughing.

 

[jimmyj]

Good Morning:
Thank you for your kind offer to fire your S&W .500 revolver.
However I will pass. I am sure that it would bring excitement into my dull life, but at the present time I have all the excitement I can handle.
In a rather "Without Thinking" second I sassed my wife! I am now attempting to find a hiding place.
Jimmy (aka-Wimpman)

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Don't forget your shooting ear muffs when trying it out.

My 4" 500 would set off car alarms 50 or so yards away from the outside pistol range. That pisses off the rifle shooters, but hey life is not fair sometimes.

 

[18DAI]

I shot one. Big flash, lots of recoil, big boom. Still don't "get" it, or understand "why?", or want one. Same for the 460. Regards 18DAI.

 

[MTKTM]

I shot one. Big flash, lots of recoil, big boom. Still don't "get" it, or understand "why?", or want one. Same for the 460. Regards 18DAI.

Ummmm, the "why"? Big flash, lots of recoil, big boom, big hole or splat!! That's why!

 

[somebizarredude]

I shot one. Big flash, lots of recoil, big boom. Still don't "get" it, or understand "why?", or want one. Same for the 460. Regards 18DAI.

those are all of the reasons why I bought one it definitely wasn't convenience of carry and price of ammunition ahahahah.

Don't forget your shooting ear muffs when trying it out.

My 4" 500 would set off car alarms 50 or so yards away from the outside pistol range. That pisses off the rifle shooters, but hey life is not fair sometimes.

I will never forget to use my muffs again :/ its not very pleasant. its like getting palm slapped on the ears lol

 

[frankverrees]

How much do you pay for the .500mag ammunition over there?
I shoot the Magtech .500S&W Mag 400gr SJSP-flat.
I've payd 20 Euro a box for 20pieces , it's about 28USD.
Some stores ask to 30euro a box => 43USD

 

[running iron]

Somebizarredude, if you are able, join the Corps, tell them your tale and ask to be the guy on the MA2. I think they will be glad to see.

 

[somebizarredude]

Somebizarredude, if you are able, join the Corps, tell them your tale and ask to be the guy on the MA2. I think they will be glad to see.

I got real close to joining the military after high school, but i decided against it and became an electrical engineer instead. but who knows.

I am curious though, what exactly is the ma2? i might be interested

 

[somebizarredude]

How much do you pay for the .500mag ammunition over there?
I shoot the Magtech .500S&W Mag 400gr SJSP-flat.
I've payd 20 Euro a box for 20pieces , it's about 28USD.
Some stores ask to 30euro a box => 43USD

I bought 60 rounds of the cheap stuff starting out and I have my buddy reload it for me. so i only spent about $26 us per box starting out. I don't buy it regularly but i have seen it range from 26$ to almost $70 per box of 20.

if this is what you buy you get a good price Magtech Sport Ammunition 500 S&W Magnum 400 Grain Semi-Jacketed Soft Point Box of 20 - MidwayUSA

 

[frankverrees]

I bought 60 rounds of the cheap stuff starting out and I have my buddy reload it for me. so i only spent about $26 us per box starting out. I don't buy it regularly but i have seen it range from 26$ to almost $70 per box of 20.

if this is what you buy you get a good price Magtech Sport Ammunition 500 S&W Magnum 400 Grain Semi-Jacketed Soft Point Box of 20 - MidwayUSA

That is the ammunition i've bought!!
An I thought that Belgium was expensive!!!!
I have payded my S&W .500 4" for 1400USD = 970euro.
How much do you pay this piece in the USA

 

[ohiococonut]

A 20 round box averages $60 now, which is why I haven't bought any since the gun first came out in 2003. I still have a box of Hornady 350gr marked 1st run production.
I keep well stocked with reloading components and cast my own slugs as well. As much as I like to shoot my 500's I couldn't afford all of the ammo I've shot if I bought factory fodder.