3.5" 12ga or .500S&W magnum?

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coosbaycreep

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I've been wanting something extremely powerful, pointless, and painful to shoot (and cheap too, because I can't afford an african double rifle or .50bmg) for awhile now, and since I have yet to find a place locally with a NEF handi-rifle in .500s&w in stock, I'm starting to lean more towards getting a 3.5" shotgun first instead. Bi-mart's running a pretty good sale on them tomorrow, but whether I actually make it there and pick one up instead of procrastinating like I usually do is a different story.

Which would be more powerful, assuming you use slugs with the 12ga?

How's the availability of slugs in 3.5"? Midway only lists one, and they're out of stock and over $3 each.

The price difference of ammo is a non-concern. Both .500 and 3.5" are almost $2 and up a shot, so I can't afford to shoot much of either, which doesn't matter anyway, since I expect the recoil to be so terrible that my shoulder will give in before my meager bank account does.

If I get a handi rifle, I plan on getting some of the 500 and 700 grain bullets from ballistic supply. Which would recoil worse, the .500 with 700gr. bullets, or an 870 with 3.5" slugs?

The good thing about the 3.5" shotgun is the ability to shoot shorter, cheaper shells, but I've already got a 590 for that (which I don't even hardly shoot anyway), so that's not really a valid reason for me to get another shotgun.

I don't hunt anything. Occasionally I shoot squirrels and rabbits and stuff, but that's a rarity. I like shooting water jugs, old car bodies, whatever trash people dump on the BLM land that I usually go shooting at.

How much more devastating (to targets and my shoulder) is a 3.5" compared to 3" slugs? Is the increased price of ammo and the cost of another gun chambered for it worth the price?

So, which one is the most bang for the buck?
 
About 5 or so years ago I recall shooting a 3.5" slug load out of my buddies Benelli Nova 12ga pump. I only wanted one shot. That was enough.
 
Lightfield makes some amazing slugs in the 3.5" variety. Something like 465gr, full bore .73 cal slug at 1900fps. Recoil is something in the neighborhood between a .375 and a .416.
 
I've shot 3.5" out of a Nova, and .500 out of a Smith 500 8 3/4". Neither were extremely painful, I did 3 shots in succession of each iirc, and follow ups weren't hard by any means(for that matter, they weren't accurate by any means either). I'd imagine the 3.5" 12ga would be more devastating to a target, with 000 buck it would be like shooting a handful of 9mm rounds at once, compared to one, well, .50smith round at once. The slug is also bigger than the .500, I don't know what the velocities and kinetic energy numbers are, but I know the hole would be bigger.

And considering you want to get your .500 in a rifle, the 12ga would probably hurt you more. By that I mean hurt you the way you want it, I'm assuming you're looking for big bruises and what not. The shotgun is also more practical, even though you already have a superior shotgun (it's damn hard to beat a 590).

My vote is shotgun.
 
I have a nova in 3.5, I have never shot anything other then 000 buck with the 3.5 shell. That recoil wasn't bad at all. I have shot a 500 smith and I can tell you that I really wouldn't care to have that much power in a handgun, thats what a long gun is for. Out of the two choices, if you want to feed your recoil addiction, I think the 12ga 3.5 will disappoint you.

EDIT: I didn't catch that you were talking about a rifle chambered in 500 smith. In that case if you want recoil I would say the shotgun would be by far worse when it comes to recoil. Why don't you get a shotgun chambered in 3.5 and sell your other one?
 
the 12 ga 3.5 loads have exceeded the 10ga in all performance categories as far as I know. Not to mention you have the ability to shoot all sorts of ammo. The ammo is also available everywhere as well.
 
I hadn't thought of that aspect. If you had a good source for any 10 gauge shell you desire, it might be one thing, however 12 gauge is available nearly EVERYWHERE!
 
Go to the garage take a hammer hit your thumb with it once it's healed go by a 22 and you'll just as happy.:neener:
 
I would imagine you could get some crazy single shot rifle thats chambered for some equally crazy cartridge that has more energy then a 12ga slug. At that point all you are really doing is using the contraption as a recoil force generator. I am sure for a couple hundred you could design a non firearm weapon that generated more recoil energy then a 600ne. It would have the same shoulder busting "fun" yet it could be enjoyed and shared with anyone without having to be at a range... :D
 
Some years (decades?) ago, I sighted in a .460 Weatherby Magnum.

If you want a "cannon" buy one of those, or a .458 Winchester Magnum.

Only problem is, unless you are going to Africa, I don't see much use for it in the lower 48 states.

As for "cheap to shoot," just about anything, even a 12 gauge 3.5" Magnum would be expensive to shoot, however, probably least expensive than equally or more powerful rifle catridges. Also, the gun is probably less money too. The advantage is you can use low brass loads for plinking and having fun without dislocating your shoulder!

I could be wrong.:eek:
 
Dont think I've ever encountered someone who wants a firearm with as much recoil as possible.. but to each their own. My vote would be the 12ga just for its versatility and availabilty of ammo. Want more recoil? Get the lightest shotgun you can find, take the butt pad off and uh.. enjoy? I guess.
 
Another possibility is to get the 24" NEF Turkey gun with screw in chokes. Take the weight out of the stock and it will be about 5.5 lbs. It's rather unpleasant to fire any 3.5" shells out of it. I shot a couple rounds of 3.5" buckshot out of mine and had enough.

You could also get the .500 Handi rifle and send the frame back to have the shotgun barrel fitted. That would give you both options for under $300 or so. You can have the rifle frame fitted with a shotgun barrel but not the other way around.

With good handloading, My .45-70 Handi is fun to shoot. If you have no desire to start handloading, I would get the 12 ga and be done with it. Ammo will be much more available for a much longer time and 2 3/4" shells will do all you need.
 
I didn't know NEF made any shotguns chambered for 3.5"? I know they make a 10ga (which would be cool too....and pointless for me since I don't hunt ducks or elephants), but I haven't seen anything other than their large variety of 3" 12ga.

Brutal recoil's not really the main thing I was looking for, it's just what I was expecting if I want something that will blow the crap out of stuff better than the guns I already have (3" 12ga, .30-06, 7.62x54R, 8mm mauser, etc.).

The recoil from my NEF pardner with the barrel cut down to 18 3/4" without the recoil pad using slugs is almost enough to make me curl up in the fetal position and cry like a little school girl, but I still want something bigger and badder.

It sounds like there's a 3.5" 12ga in my future though....and probably a .500S&Wmag if I can ever find one in stock still.
 
I think the recoil of the 12ga with 3.5 will disappoint you. Its not going to give you must more of a boom on target (Say a lawnmower) and the recoil isn't going to be much more then a 3inch with a slug. Hell my 5'6" friend shot around 20 rounds of 3.5 with 000 buck out of my shotgun. He did have a bruise that looked like a tattoo (from improperly holding the shotgun) after 2 days, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. I would really look into single shot rifles chambered in some serious cartridges.
 
If you've never shot anything like this before, give a 12 gauge with magnum loads a try. That might cure your desire for the super-magnum 12 gauge.
 
I just got an 870 Express super magnum an hour ago, so that settles that. It cost me $259 after the mail-in rebate.

They didn't have any 3.5" slugs or buckshot though, so I'll have to order some online.

Does the choke need to be out when using buck/slugs, or does it matter?
 
The choke tube should always be in the gun when firing it. Shooting one without the tube installed is a sure way to booger up the threads and ruin a barrel. A more open choke is normally used for slugs (cyl, skeet, ic). I use either an ic or mod for buckshot.

Congrats on your new purchase.
 
Good thing you opted for the shotgun because its going to kick a whale of a lot more than the 500 rifle.
 
Ever see an 8 gauge shotgun :eek: That be the ticket if you like pain.

That sounds alittle like me at the indoor range. Start off with 15 slugs then the 500 comes out for 20 rounds, then it's the .357 and after a box of 50 it's 22 time.

After an hour I'm beat and so is the target.
 
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