Reducing felt recoil of a 500 S&W

[Groatski]

I took my just-purchased 500 S&W with the 8-3/8" standard barrel out for its first spin today, and bought the highest octane ammo they had available at the range (2,300 ft-lb Hornady loads). Put some pretty big holes in the zombie target I bought, and every shot got everyone's attention.

I liked everything about it except for the recoil. No matter how I gripped it I kept bashing my middle finger knuckle against the trigger guard, so much so that it was a struggle getting thru the 20 round box. My knuckle still hurts.

I'm 5'10", 255 pounds, and I have larger than average hand. I've been shooting my .44 Magnum for 20 years without incident. I should be able to handle this.

Does anyone have any tips on how to better handle this recoil? The range officer suggested shooting gloves, but there seem to be a bewildering variety of them. Would different grips help? I was planning on reloading these rounds myself and I want to take it up to it's maximum rated power of 3,000 ft-lbs, but I need to figure out a better way to hande it.

Any tips would be welcome.

 

[Pisgah]

What you are dealing with here is physics, and it's not going to change. I'd say gloves are a good idea, but as for brand I don't know. Check out what's available and try some out would be my suggestion. In my slight experience of the .500, I would say that recoil-wise it is to the .44 about as the .44 is to the .38 Special wadcutter load!

 

[chuckster57]

I use a wrist brace. Level 3 for carpal tunnel syndrome, and I cut the plastic insert off so it doesn't interfere with the grips.

I broke my strong arm wrist a few years ago and have a plate/8 screws holding it together. This brace has all but eliminated the shock I feel. I also have found my reloads (350gr. Hornady XTP/ 21gr. Of long shot) have a significant lower amount of recoil. Chrono'd at 1245 fps. Bet you can't outrun it

 

[jake m29]

Nature of the beast of you are shooting full house loads...Try letting your arms roll with the recoil. I use Herrett's Jordon trooper stocks on a few of mine and they seem to work for me. I still like the stocks grips as well.

 

[cal50]

Don't lock your elbows and let the pistol recoil up and away.
I use a firm grip and never had my knuckles busted.

 

[fedmanshooter]

You need to work on gripping a little different. I have also used weight lifting gloves with the fingers out. They are padded in the palm which is where you get most felt recoil. They help if you are going to shoot more than a few.

 

[gnappi]

If memory serves (which it fails at times nowadays) The Ruger Super Blackhawk was a middle finger crusher till they squared the rear of the trigger guard and folks bought shooting gloves. It's the nature of hard recoiling handguns I'm afraid.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Don't lock your elbows and let the pistol recoil up and away.
I use a firm grip and never had my knuckles busted.

Thats what I have found.
My M29 has a harder felt recoil to me.
Only 5'9, 165lbs....

 

[canative]

Gloves and grip her like you mean it. I have smaller size hands and shoot my 500 6.5 alright. Lock your wrists.

 

[tengaugemike]

The higher the power of the load the more recoil generally speaking i have found in my 500 also the 8 3/8 inch barrel the higher the velocity the more the recoil more than Bullet wait .as long as you're staying 500 grains or less .I have not shot any of the 700 grain elephant loads I've been told they are real
Kickers

 

[cantshootstrate]

Do you handload? I load a lee handcast lead 440 grain gas check ahead of 38 grains (starting load from handloads.com) of 1680 in a 4" Taurus. It's a relatively low pressure load and is snappy in recoil but not brutal.

 

[XTrooper]

The BEST way to reduce the recoil of that monster is to let someone else shoot it!

 

[D10]

You can do 2 things:
1) You could reload with Trail Boss powder and it will shoot almost like 1911. Simply fill up the case, just leave space for bullet. All the fun is lost when you do this.
2) Reload bullets with 330 grains or lighter with H110 powder at something near max load. At this point compensator is starting to work very effectively and felt recoil is manageable. Lot's of fun shooting it.
Plus you'll actually accomplish your goal to reach 3,000 ft·lbf energy.

 

[75Vette]

I went through the same thing when I first started shooting mine. I found that if I put the butt of the grip firm in the palm of my left hand it keeps the trigger guard from busting that knuckle. The padded fingerless weight lifting gloves help too.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Sounds like a clasic case of trying to fight the gun.
I can do this with autos, the brass hits me in the forhead,and up to 41mag.
But the bigger guns need to be allowed to run a might,
You think the 500 is bad try to fight the FA 454 with the old FA loads.
I about Jammed a shoulder with those, much faster comeback
then my 4in 500.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The BEST way to reduce the recoil of that monster is to let someone else shoot it!

I'm so disappointed! I really expected someone to say the best way to reduce recoil was to shoot a .357 Magnum! But letting someone else shoot it is equally sufficient for the purpose, I have to agree.

***GRJ***

 

[Jboutfishn]

Try using a tight fitting weight lifters glove. They are padded in the correct places and help a lot.