How about a .500 Magnum thread -- All models Pros & Cons!

[TDC]

DonD.... I like the way you think...

I've hunted big game (bear and elk) for over 35 years. I used S&W 41 and 44 Mags. They are great guns and calibers and get the job done... but marginally so in many instances.

This year I switched to a 6.5 500. It's flatter shooting with heavier bullets, has much higher delivered energy and, for me, its better long range accuracy are those issues that have been convincing to this hunter.

That serious shooters and hunters are really catching on to 500s now was predictable and it's acceptance absolutely justified... Their versatility and usefulness, especially if a person re-loads, is amazing... I'm looking for a 4" now...

 

[DonD]

Thanks, TDC. Your photos are unusual and quite elegant. They remind me to some extent of what high end jewelry stores use to advertise their products.

The 500s are amazing guns and I have little patience with critics. I didn't ask for their opinions and I don't insult those who enjoy old school .38 Specials or similar firearms so don't whine about these beasts. Don

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I got this 500 from Smith--only problem is the darn thing was scratched.

I know the picture don't do the gun justice, but I ain't a photographer.

 

[DonD]

Ah, the worlds most powerful Texas barbecue gun. Maybe too pretty to shoot?? Your photography is fine. Don

 

[ladder13]

I had my 4 inch 500 for sale for about a week or two, what was I thinking?

 

[wheelgun28]

I have a question on the felt recoil, how much worse is it than a M-29 with a 4" barrel? I am interested in these but if its much more than the 44, I dont know if I can deal with it. My hands are kinda worn out...

 

[ladder13]

I have a question on the felt recoil, how much worse is it than a M-29 with a 4" barrel? I am interested in these but if its much more than the 44, I dont know if I can deal with it. My hands are kinda worn out...

Depends on what you're shooting. When I first got the gun a friend bought me some 440 Corbons for a Christmas present. Man, they were brutal, imo. I had second thoughts about the gun. Then I tried some 275 grain Hornady's,.....ahhh, much better.
Soon I'll set up the 500 for handloading, that seems to be the trick with this gun, getting the right mix of power and performance.

 

[MTKTM]

I have a question on the felt recoil, how much worse is it than a M-29 with a 4" barrel? I am interested in these but if its much more than the 44, I dont know if I can deal with it. My hands are kinda worn out...

I've shot a 4" M-29 and also a 4" 500, both with heavy loads. My take is that the physical recoil impulse of the two guns isn't all that different, but the overall "experience", a combination of the recoil, the noise, the blast (which you feel as a physical presence), and the flash of the 500 is considerably greater. For me shooting the 4" 500 creates a sort of sensory overload after about 10 rounds. My hand is not any more sore or impaired from the recoil than from a 4" 29, but my central nervous-system is!!

 

[szuppo]

I really like my 4" that I bought when they first came out. I load them from 350 gr all the way up to Ranger Ricks 700's
It is just one hell of a fun gun to shoot. Especially when shooting reactive targets like water jugs or pumpkins etc.
I never found the recoil to be too harsh, which I attribute to the grips design. My 629 w/3" and wood combats has way more perceived recoil than the 500.

 

[Pate]

I have two of them and am officially addicted.

 

[Bendutro]

I just shot 70 rounds and was fine but I have a no-comp gun. The blast, especially if you're using H110, is no fun with a comped gun for that many rounds.

The bullet weight vs. recoil is not a direct relationship. 600 and 700 grain bullets are more of a 'shove', the lighter faster bullets have an attendant higher recoil velocity even if the energy is about the same or less.

 

[ohiococonut]

Quickdraw03

No the compensator is not removable. The gun is an excellent shooter and probably my favorite of them. It's also only one of 500 made. There was talk at one time of producing another run of them but I have never seen it.

 

[bigshot500]

First post- my 500

Let me first start off by saying "hello"..ok now that is done. I purchased my 500 when they came out a few years back. I tried several factory (not corbon- way too much $$ even then) and the accuracy was average at best. My groups were 4-5 inches at 25 yards. I know many will say that a larger magnum will have larger groups but I have many of 44's that group ragged holes at 25 yards. I can also smack bowling pins at 100 yards off hand with my classic hunter/iron sights.

I had my rcbs rockchucker for over 20years and figured it was time to reload for the 500. yes spending close to 2 bucks for each pull can add it...rather quick. Think for a moment gun holds 5 at 2 bucks a pop..shoot 50 -100 rounds a time= $100-$200 and shoot the gun several times a month...when you think about that it makes gas prices seem rather silly when the price goes up a few cents and people start to piss and moan...

I purchase my lead bullets from a guy on line who goes by the name of "leadhead" turns out he casts the lead bullets for corbon (I dont want to post his site, if you want to know just pm me).

The weights were 440 grain, 465 grain and 500 grain, all had gas checks on them. He suggested using H110 and gave me an idea of the powder charge to use.

Since I enjoy a good whack in the palm...my loads worked their way up to max loads. The gun really enjoys 31.5 grains of H110 behind the 500 grain hard cast loads. It is quite IMPRESSIVE to say the least!!! One shot can damn near destroy a bowling pin if hit dead nuts center. The recoil (which I enjoy) will take your hands verticle, just letting them free recoil, not trying to force and hold the barrel down. Its easier to shoot 150-200 rounds a time this way. If you try to strong arm this load, the gun will win and your ability to shoot will be limited to 30-50 rounds at any given session.

Accuracy is outstanding using hard cast (no they DO NOT FOWL the barrel, as many people say...) I can hit bowling pins with easy at 25-50 yards. Shooting such a big gun at 100 yards isnt easy, even with the long sight picture..face it the gun is heavy, so its best to shoot, drop your arm and when ready go back on target.

Recently I also purchased 700 grain hard cast bullets (T-Rex) and will reload them today. These really are going to kick like a whale...think for a moment 1.5 ounces of lead coming out of a handgun...this is more then a 12 guage slug weighs by quite a bit!!!

Bottom line, the X frame 500 is a joy to shoot, gets looks every time you shoot it, people think your nuts, insane , flat out crazy and when offered to shoot the gun they quickly (most of them) respond with no way..or I will pass..The gun is a joy to shoot, offers miles and miles of smiles and as always can be as accurate as any S&W or for that matter any of my Freedom Arms as well...

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

Ok, I brought my little 4 incher to the club today. About 15 degrees out. I was off and decided to warm up the barrel. The range was 20 yards and I was only making noise, I don't shoot groups when I can't feel my fingers. I shoot this standing in the open with no roof over my head, dirt under my feet. I fired 121 rounds and was sorry I didn't bring more ammo. As I was shooting I was loosing up and having a good time. All hit the paper I figure, some were low in the begining, as I was gripping it to tightly at first. The paper stopped flying about 3/4 the way thru the ammo run.
I had fun today despite the cold temperatures!

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

I had my 4 inch 500 for sale for about a week or two, what was I thinking?

I sold 10 guns this year, down to 1 little 4 inch 500 at this point. At some point, I'll have to change my name to 38 special nut. It's not having 20-50 guns but the quality of them. Besides, I don't what that much stuff around any more, put some of it to use, I figure.

I going to class 3 stuff, and that needs a ton of money, but the shooting is FUN!

 

[devildog66]

Hmmm, cast bullets and goes by leadhead... Hmm, Leadheads Bullets perhaps? Just a SWAG. Great reputation and a premier seller.

 

[bigshot500]

you got it...nice guy to speak with on the phone.

But when you really want to go BIG beyond 500 grains, their is only one choice

Hmmm, cast bullets and goes by leadhead... Hmm, Leadheads Bullets perhaps? Just a SWAG. Great reputation and a premier seller.

 

[chief38]

I was up at the S&W Factory on business exactly one year ago, and they invited me to shoot any of their guns, so I chose to shoot one of these bad boys. It was a 4 inch model and I fired 40 rounds. The gun was accurate, after a few shots I found that the recoil was quite stiff but manageable, but the problem I had with it was the noise. Unfortunately, I was shooting this monster indoors, and even though I was wearing both plugs and muffs, the noise was deafening!

It was fun to shoot and I would do it again, but never again indoors!

chief38

 

[DonD]

I was up at the S&W Factory on business exactly one year ago, and they invited me to shoot any of their guns, so I chose to shoot one of these bad boys. It was a 4 inch model and I fired 40 rounds. The gun was accurate, after a few shots I found that the recoil was quite stiff but manageable, but the problem I had with it was the noise. Unfortunately, I was shooting this monster indoors, and even though I was wearing both plugs and muffs, the noise was deafening!

It was fun to shoot and I would do it again, but never again indoors!

chief38

I wear plugs and earmuffs all the time and only shoot outdoors. Have no interest in the concussion and echoing of an indoor range. Ouch!! Don

 

[6pack]

Just picked up my first PerfCenter gun today....and it's also my first .500 S&W.

Bone Collector #680 of 1,000

I'll post up some pics when I have time. Gun feels great and the trigger is sublime.

cheesy cell phone pics....sorry:

I'm hoping to use it this month on a buck I've been hunting: