I though about the S&W 500 for almost a year and finally took the plunge. After reading many posts here (and other places) I went with the 6.5 inch half lug. The 8 inch was just too big for me. I liked the 4" but the compensator takes up something like 11/2 inches, making the barrel only approximately 21/2 inches long. In the high muzzle velocity handguns (357, 44, 500 etc), you lose so power much in very short barrels. The 8 3/8" barrel is the best for that, but as I said, it is just too big for me.
The 6.5 inch has an internal compensator, which consists of a series of holes in the inside the the barrel. The gasses exhaust in the top at the front sight. I found it is very difficult the move a tight fitting cleaning patch in the area of these holes. The revolver was fired once by S&W, with what appeared to be a lead cast bullet. When purchasing the revolver at the gun show, I forgot to look for a .50 bronze cleaning brush. Unfortunately I could not find one in Miami and have ordered some from Brownell's. Using a 44/45 brush was kind of like brushing your teeth. I could rub the brush along different sides of the barrel, nothing like using a correct size brush. For having only been fired once, it seemed extraordinarily difficult to remove the lead fouling with a brass brush that was too small.
I could not wait for the proper size brass brush and made a trip to an outdoor range. Looking back, it probably was not a good idea to "warm up" by shooting 50 rds of 44 Mag from my 629. I have always enjoyed shooting the 629, even with its strong recoil.
When starting to shoot the 6.5 .500 (for the first time), the noise did not bother me at all. The recoil is incredible. Here is some rough math, 50 - 44 = 6, roughly 12% larger diameter. My perceived recoil was not 12% more, it was much more than that.
Shooting Magtech (Brazilian) 325 grain bullets there was a great amount of recoil. I lasted for 20 rounds. These are jacketed, but who knows it the bases had copper gas checks or what ever. For only 20 rounds, the amount of lead fouling was very high. It was not possible to get it all out, even after 50 very tight patches, I will finish it when the correct size brass brush arrives.
It may seem like I have a lead hang up - well that is true. I really take care to clean the guns proper. That is why I can brag about my 40 year old Python, fired thousands of times, has a perfect barrel.
I liked shooting the .500, not enjoyed like other handguns. But with some more practice, I believe that will happen. It is surprisingly accurate, the long sight plane helps.
IHO, the 500 is for someone that shoots quite a bit (not necessarily the 500). I shoot 150 - 300 rounds a month mostly my "duty" H&K USP Compact .40.
The 500 is incredible, and am happy I got it.
The 6.5 inch has an internal compensator, which consists of a series of holes in the inside the the barrel. The gasses exhaust in the top at the front sight. I found it is very difficult the move a tight fitting cleaning patch in the area of these holes. The revolver was fired once by S&W, with what appeared to be a lead cast bullet. When purchasing the revolver at the gun show, I forgot to look for a .50 bronze cleaning brush. Unfortunately I could not find one in Miami and have ordered some from Brownell's. Using a 44/45 brush was kind of like brushing your teeth. I could rub the brush along different sides of the barrel, nothing like using a correct size brush. For having only been fired once, it seemed extraordinarily difficult to remove the lead fouling with a brass brush that was too small.
I could not wait for the proper size brass brush and made a trip to an outdoor range. Looking back, it probably was not a good idea to "warm up" by shooting 50 rds of 44 Mag from my 629. I have always enjoyed shooting the 629, even with its strong recoil.
When starting to shoot the 6.5 .500 (for the first time), the noise did not bother me at all. The recoil is incredible. Here is some rough math, 50 - 44 = 6, roughly 12% larger diameter. My perceived recoil was not 12% more, it was much more than that.
Shooting Magtech (Brazilian) 325 grain bullets there was a great amount of recoil. I lasted for 20 rounds. These are jacketed, but who knows it the bases had copper gas checks or what ever. For only 20 rounds, the amount of lead fouling was very high. It was not possible to get it all out, even after 50 very tight patches, I will finish it when the correct size brass brush arrives.
It may seem like I have a lead hang up - well that is true. I really take care to clean the guns proper. That is why I can brag about my 40 year old Python, fired thousands of times, has a perfect barrel.
I liked shooting the .500, not enjoyed like other handguns. But with some more practice, I believe that will happen. It is surprisingly accurate, the long sight plane helps.
IHO, the 500 is for someone that shoots quite a bit (not necessarily the 500). I shoot 150 - 300 rounds a month mostly my "duty" H&K USP Compact .40.
The 500 is incredible, and am happy I got it.
