500 SW Magnum in 4 inch barrel

[FireArmFan]

Probably been asked before but anyone ever shot a Smith and Wesson Model 500 in the 4 inch barrel? I want to try it out. What's the recoil like? It's not a gun i'd most likely buy, but I would imagine it would have a pretty impressive recoil. looks fun.

After further examination i notice it comes with a compensator. anyone know how much that helps?

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I've shot this little beauty prior to it getting engraved.
It's a handfull, but that compensator is very well designed.
I thought it shot great. Accurate, loud, big flame ball.
Pretty darn cool revolver overall. It put a smile on me and my buddies face.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[Stainz]

If you are not a reloader, your greatest recoil will occur when you see the ammo price... makes a .38 downright fun!

Stainz

 

[EddieCoyle]

I own one and have shot it over 1000 times. Recoil is stout but usually manageable. A lot of it depends on the round. With lighter loads and lighter bullets (under 350 gr) my 12 year old shoots it. On the other hand, heavy powder charges and 500 grain bullets caused me to buy my first shooting glove.

Stainz is right. You definitely want to handload if you're going to shoot it often; $1.50 per round for factory ammo will quickly break the bank. In addition, most factory loads are tailored to the longer barrels. If you handload you can tinker with it until you find a combination that your gun likes.

My favorite "light" load is 12 grains of Titegroup behind a Rainier 335 gr plated bullet. Re-using brass, you can load these for less than $0.20 per round and they're very accurate.

Fun? Hell yes.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Very fun.

Videos here: http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod1_.wmv
and here: http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod2.wmv

 

[swampgator]

Very fun.

Videos here: http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod1_.wmv
and here: http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod2.wmv

Aren't Magnum handguns and indoor ranges fun! Love the "whump" of the air when a big gun goes off.

 

[SnWnMe]

Single action?

 

[SnWnMe]

BTW the range in the video looks just like Discount Gun Mart in San Diego CA.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

GUNKWAZY, that's an outstanding piece!
I've been trying to convince my girl that I need a barbecue gun and I absolutely have to show her this.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Single action?

 

[Maxinquaye]

Yeah I have shot the piss out of mine. LOTS of fun. Every time I shoot it at the indoor ange I go to, 1/2 the people leave and the other half line up and watch (I feel bad about the people leaving, and I generally warn those next to me before I shoot it). Usually I offer to let people shoot it and a few always do and leave grinning

True story: the first time I fired it indoors, the muzzle flash blew out both lightbulbs in the firing lane. I have to remove them now before I shoot.

I have never sent a factory round down the barrel. I load 335gr Rainier behind I think somewhere around 38 grains of accurate #9...have to check my records to make sure. Anyway, I think cost per round is somewhere around 30 cents.

I have somewhere around 1600 rounds through mine and I still get a big grin every time I bring it. Highly recommended if you're a recoil junky!

 

[mmcbeat]

I have a 500 with the 2.75" barrel and yes recoil is fierce but managable. So far I have only shot 325gr rounds, all outdoors. I noticed that Cabellas has some bulk 500 rounds for about $1/round, thinking about ordering some.

A sample pack from -
http://www.ballisticsupply.net/Default.aspx?tabid=167893
might be in order.

PS - Its all relative but my 500 is much more pleasant to shoot than my 340SC with hot 357's.

 

[depcon3]

Fun?

Oh, yeah! I used to work with a guy that had one in the 4" barrel. At the range he would pass it around and see who had the guts to try it after watching him shoot it. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs close to 400lbs and truly can handle heavy recoil. We shot outdoors but under a pavillion-type cover. The sound and flame was quite impressive with the Magtech ammo he used. About 2 feet of flame even in good light! I don't know the bullet weight in the Magtech cartridge but he figured the cost at about $1 per round. I fired two cylinders through it on our trips to the range. Recoil is substantial, but when you consider the energy you're letting loose the recoil seems pretty manageable. That compensator seems to work very well. Of course, if it was mine, it would be one of those that I only shoot a little at a time. I don't mind some recoil, but it doesn't take a lot of heavy recoil to turn a fun day at the range into something more like work! Still, it was great to feel that much raw power flying loose in your hands

 

[klover]

When you're ready to sell yours, mmcbeat, please let me know