Is 500SW dying?

[Zombie John]

I bought a 10.5" PC .500 Mag about a year ago and mostly shot Federal Fusion 325gr and Doubletap 275gr through it. Got two deer last year with it.

This month, however, I finally ran out of ammo and got to looking online for more ammo (I'm trying to get into reloading but I'm not there yet).

Doubletap is sold out everywhere with no ability to backorder. Federal Fusion is also sold out with no ability to backorder. Looks like Winchester stopped making their 500SW ammo, also.

All I can find is Hornady for $60-80 a box.

I was paying $35-40 for the Fusion and Doubletap.

Is the .500SW going the way of the .450 Marlin? I have one of those, too, and you're pretty much stuck with Buffalo Bore and Hornady with it (But you can get .450 Marlin Leverevolution easily and for <$40.)

I see .460SW everywhere, though.

EDIT TO ADD:

Seems like I DO see a lot of .500SW ammo, but it's all Armscor, Freedom Munitions or Precision One. These are all loaded down to .500 Special loads, just about. Like a 300gr bullet at 1250fps.

It seems like most full-power, name brand loads are gone.

 

[murphydog]

It’s a specialty round and most likely will be made in intermittent batches (think .32-20 and .455 Webley, among many others). Be sure to pounce when they come back in stock.

 

[Zombie John]

It’s a specialty round and most likely will be made in intermittent batches (think .32-20 and .455 Webley, among many others). Be sure to pounce when they come back in stock.

I'm hoping that's the case and they'll make some around deer season.

I'd like to shoot some though since I'm having some issues with mine right now.

 

[Jeppo]

Have you tried Outdoor Limited?

 

[Zombie John]

Have you tried Outdoor Limited?

Looks like they have some Precision One at full power and some Hornady and Federal.

$17 shipping. Ouch.

 

[Jeppo]

Looks like they have some Precision One at full power and some Hornady and Federal.

$17 shipping. Ouch.

They're local to me so I have no experience with their shipping charges. Maybe $17 is a minimum charge. What happens to the cost if you add like 1,000 rounds of 9mm to the order?

 

[Zombie John]

They're local to me so I have no experience with their shipping charges. Maybe $17 is a minimum charge. What happens to the cost if you add like 1,000 rounds of 9mm to the order?

I go into debt, lol.

Bass Pro has one box in the store and it's $80. I predict they hold onto that box until they go out of business like Gander did.

 

[colt_saa]

Things are WAY better today than they used to be.

In more than a decade and a half, my 500 S&W Magnums have not seen a single round of factory ammunition fired in them. With the exception of one that I use for ammunition testing

However, you need to look into hand loading. This is a very easy cartridge to load for.

You do not necessarily get into hand loading for the cost savings, but more for the variety

The light bullet on the left is 450 grains, the big wadcutter on the right is 725 grains . When looking at this image remember that these are 1/2" across, making the shortest one over an inch long.

I also have lighter weight stuff going all the way down to 275 grains

Back in 2003 we had to cast our own projectiles or use the 50AE & 50GI bullets at velocities they were not designed for. We also had to develop our own load data. It was a FUN time

These are some hand loaded Reminton 385 grain PLHP projectiles
shown next to a few Remington 240 grain SJHP 44 Magnums for comparison

 

[Echo40]

It's just simple supply and demand at work.

The S&W Model 500 Revolver and the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge have limited appeal due to their punishing (to say the least) recoil, thus rendering them only sought after by Handgun Hunters, Wilderness Guides, and those who simply want to own them for the novelty of owning "The most powerful handgun in the world!"

The S&W Model 460XVR is more popular due to the virtue of being able to chamber less powerful cartridges which are more comfortable to shoot such as .45 Long Colt, and the .460 S&W Magnum cartridge is more than powerful enough to take any game in North America.

The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge isn't dead, nor is it dying, it's just kind of niche, only appealing towards folks who are more interested in its application as a Hunting/Wilderness Defense round as opposed to recreational shooting, ergo the ammo doesn't sell very well, so retailers either only order it in limited quantities or don't bother to stock it at all. .460 S&W Magnum on the other hand is more practical, offering plenty of power with less recoil, ergo it would make sense that it's more available.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I'm thinking a 300 gr. bullet at 1250 FPS would knock a deer for a loop. Should be a lot milder recoil to shoot, too. Save the big stuff for barrs!

 

[crstrode]

A similar question could be asked: Does Frankenstein live?

 

[richbuff]

Same as with most any cartridge. You can get very watered down ammo from the major suppliers, somewhat decent powered ammo from the specialty suppliers, and full power ammo if you hand load your own.
Stock up on reloading tools and components and you have as much of what you want.

 

[dr. mordo]

Precision One states their 350 XTP load's velocity is 1725 fps.

500 S&W 350gr Hornady Magnum HP/XTP *NEW* 100rds [P1500S&W350MAGXTPN100] - $149.99 : Precision ONe Ammunition, Dont Shoot Twice Shoot Precision ONe

They seem to load their stuff hot, and at very reasonable prices. I think if they described their products a bit better (like stating fps for all their loads) they would sell even more. Their XTP prices are very hard to beat for sure, and they have the cheapest 44 SPL I have seen anywhere. I bought a big box of the 44 SPL and it was great stuff.

 

[Narragansett]

At those prices for ammo, it will not take long to pay off a set of dies and a simple turret press

 

[rwsmith]

I second that motion...

Things are WAY better today than they used to be.

In more than a decade and a half, my 500 S&W Magnums have not seen a single round of factory ammunition fired in them. With the exception of one that I use for ammunition testing

However, you need to look into hand loading. This is a very easy cartridge to load for.

You do not necessarily get into hand loading for the cost savings, but more for the variety

The light bullet on the left is 450 grains, the big wadcutter on the right is 725 grains . When looking at this image remember that these are 1/2" across, making the shortest one over an inch long.

I also have lighter weight stuff going all the way down to 275 grains

Back in 2003 we had to cast our own projectiles or use the 50AE & 50GI bullets at velocities they were not designed for. We also had to develop our own load data. It was a FUN time

These are some hand loaded Reminton 385 grain PLHP projectiles
shown next to a few Remington 240 grain SJHP 44 Magnums for comparison

It's a specialty cartridge. Best thing is to handload. Not only due to scarcity, but because you can load what you want and besides, it's fun. Maybe find somebody near you with a press. Buy Lee .500 dies and a shellholder
some bullets and primers. A can of powder costs under 30 bucks and will probably load 8 or 10 .500 cartridges.'

LOL Just kidding. Reloading is great. With an investment of less than 100 dollars, you can try it out. If you like it, everything you bought will be good when you add a press and other essentials.

PS You probably shouldn't invest in a Dillon 550 progressive press unless you plan to shoot a LOT of .500 ammo.

PPS Considering the cost of .500 S&W rounds you probably COULD save a lot of money if you plan to shoot a box 20/month
A press that will handle only pistol cartridges is CHEAP. And cast or coated bullet cost a lot less than jacketed.

 

[roscoepc]

I bought a 10.5" PC .500 Mag about a year ago and mostly shot Federal Fusion 325gr and Doubletap 275gr through it. Got two deer last year with it.

This month, however, I finally ran out of ammo and got to looking online for more ammo (I'm trying to get into reloading but I'm not there yet).

Doubletap is sold out everywhere with no ability to backorder. Federal Fusion is also sold out with no ability to backorder. Looks like Winchester stopped making their 500SW ammo, also.

All I can find is Hornady for $60-80 a box.

I was paying $35-40 for the Fusion and Doubletap.

Is the .500SW going the way of the .450 Marlin? I have one of those, too, and you're pretty much stuck with Buffalo Bore and Hornady with it (But you can get .450 Marlin Leverevolution easily and for <$40.)

I see .460SW everywhere, though.

EDIT TO ADD:

Seems like I DO see a lot of .500SW ammo, but it's all Armscor, Freedom Munitions or Precision One. These are all loaded down to .500 Special loads, just about. Like a 300gr bullet at 1250fps.

It seems like most full-power, name brand loads are gone.

Try this guy out. A buddy of mine bought his "sample" box and was not disappointed!!

500 S&W : Matts Bullets Ammunition

 

[DonD]

Things are WAY better today than they used to be.

In more than a decade and a half, my 500 S&W Magnums have not seen a single round of factory ammunition fired in them. With the exception of one that I use for ammunition testing

Pretty much where I'm at, have only purchased two boxes of ammo since I got into the 500 in 2003. One box is Buffalo Bore 440gr and I haven't shot a round of it yet for some unknown reason.

The other is a box of shotshells from Matt's Bullets. They're pretty neat. I've tried to make my own but they're inconsistent and CCI won't make 500 shotshells, they say the cost of new tooling will never be recovered.

Yeah, variety is a huge factor but so is cost. As you know, I can reload high quality hard cast, gas checked ammo for less than 50 cents/rd not counting brass which seems to last forever.

What I find dumb is the local Bass Pro usually has a 500 or two for sale but to the best of my knowledge has never had ammo to buy for it. You sell a caliber, stock at least some ammo for it. Don

 

[Mr.Harry]

It's just simple supply and demand at work.

The S&W Model 500 Revolver and the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge have limited appeal due to their punishing (to say the least) recoil, thus rendering them only sought after by Handgun Hunters, Wilderness Guides, and those who simply want to own them for the novelty of owning "The most powerful handgun in the world!"

The S&W Model 460XVR is more popular due to the virtue of being able to chamber less powerful cartridges which are more comfortable to shoot such as .45 Long Colt, and the .460 S&W Magnum cartridge is more than powerful enough to take any game in North America.

The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge isn't dead, nor is it dying, it's just kind of niche, only appealing towards folks who are more interested in its application as a Hunting/Wilderness Defense round as opposed to recreational shooting, ergo the ammo doesn't sell very well, so retailers either only order it in limited quantities or don't bother to stock it at all. .460 S&W Magnum on the other hand is more practical, offering plenty of power with less recoil, ergo it would make sense that it's more available.

Perfectly spoken.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Only reload for mine.
Only got one buck with it, but nothing like shooting something that is over the top.

 

[Marloe]

I have a few 444 Marlin rifles . You can buy factory loads for it but I roll my own. I $ave a lot so I can shoot them more often. A 500 has to be expensive to shoot. Loading is a fun rewarding hobby that saves you money so you can enjoy shooting.