Quick, down and dirty opinion of a 4 inch 500?

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I have no doubt DCWilson's holes are from the 500. My greatly reduced handloads look the same on paper.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Wow factor gun. I would love to have one, but quite frankly 357 does it for me. Price of the gun is not so prohibitive as the ammo. Maybe if this one client finally pays up.

 

[shocker]

A few times a year a 460 or 500 shows up in the consignment case at the LGS. Usually with a box of ammo less 5 rounds or "doesn't look like it was ever shot". They sell briskly compared to most revolvers.
I was tempted by an 8" 460, but for me 44 mag in an L frame is enough fun.

 

[Dan Christopher]

It's neat that this thread has been revived, and rather timely for me. The 4" Mod 500 is on my shopping list for 2016. I currently own two other 500s. One is the plain jane 6-1/2" production model, the other is a 7-1/2" PC model. Both are tack drivers. I roll all my own for the 500 as well.

For some reason I just want to add the 4" model to the collection. I know it has no practical application, then again...neither do the other two 500s!

Sometimes we just want what we want. Now the challenge is to start saving my lunch money.

Hope everyone here had a Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a much better 2016!

 

[S.B.]

I have no doubt DCWilson's holes are from the 500. My greatly reduced handloads look the same on paper.

Milder velocities don't necessarily mean smaller holes.
Steve

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Milder velocities don't necessarily mean smaller holes.
Steve

I should have phrased that a little differently. My reduced handloads with Berry's plated 350gr RNFP bullets punch the same size holes. To look at my groups on paper they look like 38spl or 40 cal holes. If you look closely at the holes you can see it is a big bore.

 

[ruggyh]

Lastly you will hear a lot of people telling you to pick the 460..while it's an excellent gun in its own right, in no way shape or form is it the 500. I think a lot of those comments come from folks who don't own either of them and just regurgitate info they've read elsewhere. You can find bullets as light as 300 grain and as heavy as 700 grain with the 500 magnum. That is a wide Variety of fun, capability and power.

Actually 500 bullets are available from 275 to 740 grains; but 460 bullets are available from 200 to 720 grains- an even wider range of weight. While it is true the 500 does produce a little more kinetic energy, a couple hundred ft/lbs doesn't mean much when either can produce over 3000 ft/lbs.

There is a noticeable difference in recoil impulse even when rounds produce same or similar kinetic energy. The 500 has a much more noticeable push into the palm and rotational torque into the hands. Either one requires hearing protection.

Not everyone can shoot or enjoy these big bore revolvers, but then there are those that like nothing more.

Anyone considering either should also take up reloading, it allows the owner to unlock the full potential of the chosen cartridge.

I have a number of both but prefer the 460.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

 

[sandmansans]

Actually 500 bullets are available from 275 to 740 grains; but 460 bullets are available from 200 to 720 grains- an even wider range of weight. While it is true the 500 does produce a little more kinetic energy, a couple hundred ft/lbs doesn't mean much when either can produce over 3000 ft/lbs.

There is a noticeable difference in recoil impulse even when rounds produce same or similar kinetic energy. The 500 has a much more noticeable push into the palm and rotational torque into the hands. Either one requires hearing protection.

Not everyone can shoot or enjoy these big bore revolvers, but then there are those that like nothing more.

Anyone considering either should also take up reloading, it allows the owner to unlock the full potential of the chosen cartridge.

I have a number of both but prefer the 460.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

That's pretty neat, I actually didn't know that the 460 had bullets that heavy. I've only ever seen them up to the 400ish range. Thanks for educating me.

 

[chief38]

The only role I personally see for the S&W 500 Mag is as a last ditch back up for big game hunting. If I were to ever buy one for that purpose I'd opt for the 6" or 8" model for better velocities and better handling characteristics.

I have shot a few hundred rounds out of 4" and 6" barreled models and since I don't think anybody would advocate one for a SD/CCW or EDC role I really don't see the purpose of the shorter barrel. YMMV of course.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Actually 500 bullets are available from 275 to 740 grains; but 460 bullets are available from 200 to 720 grains- an even wider range of weight. While it is true the 500 does produce a little more kinetic energy, a couple hundred ft/lbs doesn't mean much when either can produce over 3000 ft/lbs.

There is a noticeable difference in recoil impulse even when rounds produce same or similar kinetic energy. The 500 has a much more noticeable push into the palm and rotational torque into the hands. Either one requires hearing protection.

Not everyone can shoot or enjoy these big bore revolvers, but then there are those that like nothing more.

Anyone considering either should also take up reloading, it allows the owner to unlock the full potential of the chosen cartridge.

I have a number of both but prefer the 460.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

Ruggy,you are my hero!

 

[rwsmith]

If you need one, get one......

But don't get one for 'funsies' because when the novelty wears off (pretty quickly) you'll be looking to trade it in.

 

[Road_Clam]

Oh, go ahead. If you don't like it, you can sell it for almost as much as you paid for it.

I bought mine used off a consignment shelf a couple of years ago. I haven't shot it much, but it groups as well as it needs to and it's kind of fun in a noisy, not too responsible kind of way.

This was actually 10 shots at 10 yards. Ignore the X-ed out label. The rounds were very soft home defense loads, the equivalent of a jacked-up .44 Special or low-end .44 Magnum.

If those are 1"x1" squares those sure look to me like .30 cal rifle holes..... a .500 should have punched far bigger holes...