Need Help from anyone who has a .500 Magnum -- Ready to Purchase one but have a couple questions!

[Kilibreaux]

Just about ready to round out my S&W Collection with a .500 Mag. Before I get it I wanted to know should I go with the 4" Compensated or the 8 3/8" Compensated? As with my .460's I have both the 5" V & the 8 3/8" XVR. I am only able to get one of these and I need to know from someone who has both or at least one of them to get some feedback. End of the year extra bills and things I will have to put it on a layaway plan for three months and pay a bit at a time. Being that I will only be getting one or the other this is where you guys come in to help me with the choice. As I said I have both the .460 models and a .500 would be my crown jewel so to speak. So any imput will be appreciated. Also I have one other question. Is the recoil and blast that much more than the .460's, or are they pretty close to being the same? Thanks for all your help!

I got the 6.5" first then spent a year wishing I gotten the 4". The I got the 4" and realized why the 6.5" was the ultimate best choice between the 4 and 8-3/8ths. Go figure.

Fact is you won't be happy till you have them all...

The 4" is really 3" with an inch of compensator. It IS the best handling...shoots nice and doesn't kick anywhere near as crazy-violent as a M29 4" with REAL loads. I'd choose the 4" M500 over ANY M29 everyday...and I love the M29. Problem is the 500 eclipses it for a mere 16 oz weight penalty.

Since you have the .460 XVR you really don't need the long barrel 500, but it would give you the full ballistic potential. On the other hand a 4" 500 would give you outstanding close range blasting power on a belt gun scale.

Get the 4". You will LOVE shooting it!

 

[Kilibreaux]

BTW I regularly shoot my 4" one-handed with full power loads...it's really a pussycat when the load is tailored to the comp!

The short barrel's bore time is short which limits recoil. The comp limits upward rotation making a 4" 500 MORE shootable than any short barreled .44!