First Revolver 500 Magnum

[JDBoardman]

Having a 500 Magnum as your first revolver is like having a Las Vegas show girl as your first girlfriend. Watch out.

My wife was a Vegas showgirl - she worked at Caesar's Palace back in the early 1980's. So far, we've been married 32 years (and yes, I was in way over my head for the first 25 or so - that happens when you marry above yourself). And she would be a whole lot like that .500.

 

[A.O.]

My wife was a Vegas showgirl - she worked at Caesar's Palace back in the early 1980's. So far, we've been married 32 years (and yes, I was in way over my head for the first 25 or so - that happens when you marry above yourself). And she would be a whole lot like that .500.

Sorry, you should know the law... without pics, it didn't happen!

 

[mikey0013]

I love this forum and Input, I've been looking around for ammo I'll post links on what I find. I paid 1375.00 out the door for the gun, I really don't want to send the gun in to S&W for the small gouges but after paying that much for a gun it kinda bugs me ( sorry for any typos I'm posting this from my cell phone )

 

[Chrisj357]

How's it going guys ? I just started my 10 day waiting period ( Thanks CA) on a S&W 500 Magnum. I noticed a couple of gouges by the recoil shield is it normal? Thanks Guys . I'm trying to post a closer picture of the gouges but every time I copy and paste the link the picture does not show up

Are you maybe seeing the arrow for direction of turn for the IL? That's the only mark I see on that gun

 

[roscoepc]

I love this forum and Input, I've been looking around for ammo I'll post links on what I find. I paid 1375.00 out the door for the gun, I really don't want to send the gun in to S&W for the small gouges but after paying that much for a gun it kinda bugs me ( sorry for any typos I'm posting this from my cell phone )

Congrat's on yer new piece!! The 500 I've got has the 8, 3/8" barrel so that help's a bit with the kick. Since I got the gist that you've shot pistols before from reading the thread I think you're gonna like this gun!!!

A few hint's from my experience with this Beastie..

So far the round this gun seems to like as far as recoil and accuracy is the Winchester 350 grain Super X reduced recoil rounds. The best description I can give you of the recoil is a fairly hot .357 mag without the "sharpness" of the kick with these bullets. The guns weight and compensator do a really good job helping out with the kick but, on mine, there really isn't any barrel rise... Even with a 400 grain Winchester full power round the kick isn't that much more than a .44 mag or hot .357 mag.....

When you shoot her for the first time, and every time thereafter, remember to concentrate on the basics: Posture, grip, and target. As was said earlier, 1 round at the time to begin with!

As far as the nick's... I'd contact S&W about it. After all, it's a new gun and you paid premium price for it and deserve a good gun without blemishes!!

Ammo: I'm on an unstoppable search for affordable ammo for this gun as I don't really want to do any reloading. Matt's Bullets is the first site I found that has a 350 grain cartridge for about $2.00 per round. If you'll notice he offers the 700 grain round also!! Here's the link:

500 S&W : Matts Bullets Ammunition

Believe it or not the cheapest I've found is at Cabela's!! They are manufactured by HSM and are $34.99/box of 20 which is about $1.75/round!! Here's the link:

Handgun Ammunition - Pistol & Revolver Ammo : Cabela's

Take yer time with her, be SAFE, and you'll enjoy that weapon for many years to come!!

Don

 

[nordicwolf]

well you will need to reload I've never shot factory ammo in my 4in 500 if you can find taffins write up on prefect packing pistol gives a lot of good loads.I'm throwing a 400gr at about 1300fps it's a comfortable load to shot I figure it about equal to a factory 45/70 load and that will take just about anything that I would want to hunt plus doesn't beat you or the gun.good luck with it.an my first revolver was a S&W 29 with 6 1/2 still have it. shot soft loads till I got use to it and then went from there.

 

[vipermd]

What handguns have you shot before? Was this new or used?

 

[colt_saa]

Sorry, you should know the law... without pics, it didn't happen!

If his photos are like the photos of the Vegas Showgirl I used to date, they can not be put on the Forum, not even the PG ones.

 

[mikey0013]

What handguns have you shot before? Was this new or used?

No the gun was never used it was brand new they had received it 3 weeks ago

 

[vipermd]

What handguns have you shot before? I would not have paid that much for a new SW 500, nor would I have bought a 500 for first revolver, BUT I do not have to live with insane, inane Ca laws, if I did I would have bought it. So welcome to the forum and you should enjoy the 500. I wanted to know what you had fired so I could give you some comparison. I agree with staying away from the heavies in the 4" since they do not stabilize well. If possible I would suggest shooting a med size 4" 38 spl to work on technique, since recoil and cost of ammo do not lend it to be a good "learning" gun. Past gloves are OK, plugs and muffs inside/ I use both outside due to my hearing loss. Congrats on the biggest of the big, learn how to shoot a revolver and you will be surprised at the accuracy. I recently got the 2 3/4" SW 500, 10 yds, first 2 shots were X + 10 ( small pistol target) 2 witnesses. Now that you have the 500 safe, practice a little so you will have a better idea of what you are shooting. Good Luck, Be Safe,

 

[mikey0013]

Ive shot and own handguns 9mm to 10mm also have shot rifles from .223 to .308, I try too shot a least once and week if work allows. Thanks again guys

 

[mikey0013]

Congrat's on yer new piece!! The 500 I've got has the 8, 3/8" barrel so that help's a bit with the kick. Since I got the gist that you've shot pistols before from reading the thread I think you're gonna like this gun!!!

A few hint's from my experience with this Beastie..

So far the round this gun seems to like as far as recoil and accuracy is the Winchester 350 grain Super X reduced recoil rounds. The best description I can give you of the recoil is a fairly hot .357 mag without the "sharpness" of the kick with these bullets. The guns weight and compensator do a really good job helping out with the kick but, on mine, there really isn't any barrel rise... Even with a 400 grain Winchester full power round the kick isn't that much more than a .44 mag or hot .357 mag.....

When you shoot her for the first time, and every time thereafter, remember to concentrate on the basics: Posture, grip, and target. As was said earlier, 1 round at the time to begin with!

As far as the nick's... I'd contact S&W about it. After all, it's a new gun and you paid premium price for it and deserve a good gun without blemishes!!

Ammo: I'm on an unstoppable search for affordable ammo for this gun as I don't really want to do any reloading. Matt's Bullets is the first site I found that has a 350 grain cartridge for about $2.00 per round. If you'll notice he offers the 700 grain round also!! Here's the link:

500 S&W : Matts Bullets Ammunition

Believe it or not the cheapest I've found is at Cabela's!! They are manufactured by HSM and are $34.99/box of 20 which is about $1.75/round!! Here's the link:

Handgun Ammunition - Pistol & Revolver Ammo : Cabela's

Take yer time with her, be SAFE, and you'll enjoy that weapon for many years to come!!

Don

Thank you very much for the info and links, how do you guys think that S&W will handle the nicks/gouges will they refinish the revolver?

Update
I just ordered 4 boxes of the C.O.P 275 Grain ammo and 2 boxes of the HSM ammo.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/91...r-hollow-point-box-of-20?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Handgun Ammunition - Pistol & Revolver Ammo : Cabela's

 

[vipermd]

Since you said that you have shot a 10 mm,the highest energy was a Buffalo bore 180 gr @ 700 ft/pds 4" bbl, while a 44mag may be doing under a 1000 with a 180 gr, a 500 with a 350 xtp will do 2000 out of a 4", basically double a 44 mag, triple a 10 mm. Great guns, currently I have 2 3/4, 4, 7.5, 8 3/8,16.5". Reloading is the only way to become proficient or lots of cash. Enjoy I like 300-350 gr for all around shooting, hunting in the 4", the 600,700 out of the rifle are great if you need to take down a house or T-Rex. Be Safe,

 

[A.O.]

while a 44mag may be doing under a 1000 with a 180 gr, a 500 with a 350 xtp will do 2000 out of a 4", basically double a 44 mag, triple a 10 mm. Be Safe,

What loading do you use to get a 350 grain XTP to do 2000 fps out of a 4 inch barrel? The fastest I've gotten my 350 XTP's out of my 8 3/8 inch barrel is just shy of 1700 fps. Maybe I need to try some new powders..

 

[roscoepc]

Thank you very much for the info and links, how do you guys think that S&W will handle the nicks/gouges will they refinish the revolver?

Update
I just ordered 4 boxes of the C.O.P 275 Grain ammo and 2 boxes of the HSM ammo.

Copper Only Projectiles (C.O.P.) Ammo 500 S&W Mag 275 Grain Solid

Handgun Ammunition - Pistol & Revolver Ammo : Cabela's

After looking at mine, it looks like the nicked area is an actual part of the basic frame of the weapon, ie: a machined area, not just a plate that can be removed and replaced. As a guess I would think S&W would try buffing it out first then, if they have to remove too much material, just replacing the weapon....

Let us know what they do for you!!