S&W 500 Just for Fun - 4" or 8"?

[DonD]

I'd say go for the 8 3/8th barrel model.

What's the primary reason for buying a Model 500? If your answer isn't power, I think you're buying the wrong gun. And if you want power, the
8 3/8th" model has a sizeable velocity/power edge over a 4" barrel as well as reduced muzzle blast and longer sight radius, contributing to better shooter accuracy.

I've had the 6.5" half lug and found it smacks the palm of my hand far more than does the 8 3/8th.

My two .500s are a 6.5" full lug PC model and an original style 8 3/8th which for shooting enjoyment, I prefer to the PC model. Don

 

[anytym]

Today at the range I was sighting in an Aimpoint Micro on my .500 Smith/Wesson. I was shooting 2 feet high at 25 yds, so I moved out to 50 yds. I am resting my revolver on a hard rubber rest, shooting 400 gr. rounds. I touch one off and man.......my last two rounds went off almost as one. I have had slam fires on an AR15 and this was just a fast. It really got my attention. I have shot a T/C Encore .45-70 Pistol with heavy loads and can handle all pistol rounds that I have ever fired, although the .500 is not a lot of fun to shoot. I have probably shot 50 or 60 rds. through it. A glove, "I use a racqueteball glove," helps my a lot and cuts down on the vibration when shooting. My revolver has the 4" barrel.

 

[Invictus357]

As earlier stated, go the middle ground and get the 6.5".

The half underlug looks great on the X frame.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

+1 for the 4in.

Maybe the 4" kicks a bit more, and it might be louder and make a bigger fireball, but isn't that what you want?

My feelings exactly! Everytime I pick up my 4" I get a big grin & almost giggle! Since you handload you can have lots of fun with it. I've only used the Hornady 300gr FTX bullets (light, but cheaper than the others) but I've loaded it with everything from Unique to Lil'Gun, from 950fps to near 2000fps, from 600me to ~2500me. I even think the 4" 500 is slightly easier to shoot with full loads than my 7-1/2" SRH 454 Casull with full loads. And after you shoot a heavy load in it (pieces of the acoustic tile fall down), you feel the warmth of the fireball drift over you...crazy! Lyman #49 lists Unique in all bullets weights. These are "light" loads but with 19.0grs of Unique (~1450mv & 1400me), you still get an impressive fireball!

 

[Bello]

4" inch is the way to go!! If your crazy the do make a snubby also

 

[Kilibreaux]

I'd like to get a 500 just for fun. No bears & no hunting - just paper punching and Watermelon vaporizing. I'm 47, 6' 5", big hands and not recoil sensitive. The only place I could see keeping it with me is on the deer lease holstered on the ATV handlebar for the Hogs (again overkill but just for fun).

Problem is I can't decide between the 4" or 8+".

Also, I will be reloading for it.

Thanks for any advice.

The 6.5" .500 is fantastic to shoot! With 350 grain loads delivering 2,000 lb-ft recoil is stout - straight back with little muzzle flip, and completely manageable. It is VERY possible to pump out five rounds of this load rapid-fire and put all into the size of a dinner plate at 20 yards.
But since you didn't mention the 6.5", and since you state you simply want a "fun gun" (which is true of most of us), I'd say go with the 4". It's more compact, the lightest of the breed, and has the least sensation of muzzle weight. While short barrels are intimidating the truth is that short barrel revolvers tend to have less felt recoil because bore time is low - the bullet is "gone" and the instant the bullet leaves the muzzle rearward thrust drops abruptly.
While I carry my 6.5" in a chest rig when I'm out punching around in the desert, the 4" can easily be carried on the belt in a holster...sure it's heavy, but not nearly as heavy as one might think. At 56 ounces empty it weighs only 7.5 ounces more than a M29 6.5"!!! Even the 6.5" M500 weighs just 12.5 ounces more. Of course the cartridges are considerably heavier - I weighed some 300 grain Rainier plated HP's loaded with 34.5 grains of AAC-9 that averaged 525 grains per round or 6 ounces for five cartridges. This would bring the 4" barrel model up to 62 ounces fully stoked...not bad and not much heavier than a long-barreled M29, and certainly not much if any heavier than a long-barreled Ruger SRH! Yet even the 4" barrel is capable of delivering stupifying kinetic energy and bear in mind most - if not all factory .500 ammo is loaded well below maximum simply because the round is SO powerful pushing the limit is not needed. This is contrary to even the vaunted .44 Magnum where one tends to feel the need to push handloads to the maximum - especially from 4" barrels to ensure terminal effect. There is no other 4" barreled revolver or pistol of any make that can match or exceed the S&W M500. Since you're not interested in some "specialized" pursuit, for general carry the 4" is your choice - period.

 

[jack the toad]

I have the 4" and like it for what I do, which is carry it in an OWB holster and shoot with it occasionally. It's proven big medicine for hunting feral/wild boar and black bear. I've replaced the comp with the blank insert, which I prefer. My 4" 629 works also but the 500 even more so.
If you were going for all-out performance for either hunting or down-range ballistics, the longer barrel may be what you want.

 

[S&W500 MAG]

I have a 4' that was given to me on my 50th birthday. I use it for Elk as my side arm.I shoot the 500gr factory loads but also reload the 500 gr and I have some 350 gr loaded that i need to try out. I had a custom OWB holster made for it and also because I like the thumb break and the one the factory sells didn't have that. I really like the 4 I do know this, no matter what barrel you decide on you will get lots of looks at the range for shooting that hand cannon!! lol

 

[colt_saa]

I have several 500s

2 3/4"
4"
5"
6 1/2"
8 3/8"
10 1/2"
12"

Love them all, each for different reasons.

If I were only buying only one and it was for fun, I would go with the 5" JR from the Performance Center if money were not an issue and the 4" if price was an issue.

 

[Magnum-Krazy]

I also echo the 6 1/2" .500
I love mine as well as the JR Performance Center .500 in 5"

Neither has that bad of recoil, unless your using the 500gr or 700gr.
With the 325gr you can shoot all day.

Ernie