.500 S&W bolt action rifle

[NavyGuy]

I've been looking for a few days and can't seem to turn up what I'm looking for. So, I started thinking....which is never a good thing.

Indiana changed their hunting laws recently to allow rifles shooting pistol cartridges to be used during deer season. Used to be only shotgun, this is as close as we get to rifle.

Here are the rules according to DNR:

Rifles with pistol cartridges
Rifles must fire a cartridge with a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger; have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches; and have a maximum case length of 1.625 inches.

These rifle cartridges can be used only during the deer firearms season.
Some cartridges that are legal include the following:
.357 Magnum
.38-40 Winchester
.41 Magnum
.41 Special
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.44-40 Winchester
.45 Colt
.454 Casull
.458 SOCOM
.480 Ruger
.475 Linebaugh
.50 Action Express
.500 S&W
Some illegal rifle cartridges for deer hunting are the .30-30 Winchester, .444 Marlin and .45-70 Govt.

I started looking (naturally) at the biggest caliber possible fitting within the guidelines and have my sights set on 500 S&W. Nobody makes a carbine or rifle for this gun except for Wild west guns ($1500) or a handi rifle (single shot)

The width of the cartridge is what makes a problem for lever actions, but why not a bolt action? Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a short action with a big bolt face work? I know you'd have to have a new barrel chambered and installed but that has to be cheaper than $1500. As for the magazine, there has to be a rifle round similar enough to the 500 to load properly.

I know I can get a marlin or something else in a 44 mag or similar, but I'd like to have a S&W 500, just cause. If I could pick up a Savage/Stevens cheap and have a barrel cut, it doesn't seem like that much of a pain in the arse.

Anyone out there thinking on the same lines as me, or am I just out there?

 

[SGW42]

Sorry, I just checked and it was a Ruger No. 1 in .460 S&W that I saw, not a Hawkeye.

 

[NCsmitty]

Pickin's are mighty slim for a rifle to convert but a cheap rugged rifle like the Russian Mosin has a bolt face that is nearly the same as the 500 S&W. I'm not sure if it is doable or not, but something to be considered seeing the rifles can be bought for $100 or so. I'm not sure if the cartridge would fit the magazine, or if the receiver and new barrel could be safely reamed to the 500 S&W dimension.
Perhaps someone can give some insight on the possibility of the conversion.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a Handi rifle. Single shot discipline teaches patience and marksmanship so that one shot is all you need, with that potent round.


NCsmitty

 

[NavyGuy]

NCsmitty,
I have no problem with single shots, but I'd rather have a bolt action.

I thought about going the surplus route too, but I think chamber pressures would blow the thing apart, plus they're kinda heavy for a field gun. I've got the perfect candidate, a VZ24, but I'd just assume leave it alone.

I gotta break the manuals out. There has got to be a short, fat cartridge similar to the 500. The rim diameter is .556, case length is 1.625, OAL is 2.290.

 

[redneck2]

Or, just get a 12 or 20 gauge with a rifled barrel and shoot 1,900 fps sabots. I sight my 870 at 125 yards. Took a coyote at 140 and multiple deer at 125+.

Now, I'm looking at an upper for my AR in a custom caliber based on the WSSM. It's a true 250 yard rifle. If you're just looking for .500 S&W performance, look at the 12 gauge.

 

[bobotech]

H&R Handirifle in 500 S&W.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/ST_hr500sandwmag/

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=136929953

Not a bolt action but rather a break action.

 

[NavyGuy]

Looks like a 300WSM rifle would be pretty darn close.

 

[longdayjake]

I swear I saw a lever action in 500 s&w in a gun rag.

 

[NavyGuy]

better quality scans

 

[mongo4567]

TC makes an Encore rifle in 500 S&W

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

How about a pump?

http://townermfg.com/firearms/

or the NEF Handi-rifle single shot mentioned above.

 

[Eightball]

Will a .500 make a deer any more dead than a .44 from one of those Rugers or somesuch?

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well no, but it cooks the meat instantly around the wound channel so you can start eating the deer in the field, and not have to wait until you drag it back to camp and check it and cook it.

 

[NavyGuy]

I knew we'd go down this road, should've known better.

Just asking if it could be done, seems like it could to me.

 

[kanook]

it lists the 458 socom. sounds to me like an "ar" style will work. at least then you are not spending alot on a custom build.

 

[Joe Demko]

Of course it can be done, provided you're willing to spend enough money. Where I think the greatest difficulty lies is in wanting it to feed from a magazine.

 

[rbernie]

Dupe thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=468312