500s&w vs 44 mag

[Reefinmike]

Hey all, Im bouncing around the idea of selling off my g41 and all of my related reloading components and gear to buy another revolver. While I absolutely love my taurus(I know I know...) 66 357 mag, recoil no longer tickles me enough, even with max w296 and lilgun loads.

My biggest question is- does the novelty wear off pretty fast for a 500 smith? Anyone regret buying the big boy? I reload and cast/powder coat 99.5% of what I shoot so ammunition cost isn't really a factor. assuming 30 loadings per case, I can load 500 smith for 20 cents a round and 44 mag for 13 cents a round. Cheaper than factory 9mm. Selling all my 45 stuff will pretty easily pay for everything I need to go to 44 mag. 500 smith setup and components will cost $300 more.

If recoil gets to be too much in the 500, I can always work up some softer loads with a light cast boolit.

The only negative I see on the 500 smith is the excessive weight of the gun.

Thoughts?

 

[Risky buisness]

The novelty of a 500 wore off with me, just watching some poor guy fire it. I suppose if you really want one... by all means. The physical size of that handgun alone would keep me from owning one. By my take, a .44 is plenty of power/recoil to accomplish just about anything I could ever need in a revolver, their are several 240 grn loads that I have put together that accomplished the recoil thing your after.

 

[buck460XVR]

Is there a purpose other than a hoot to shoot at the range? If not, the weight of the X-Frame will not be a factor. I doubt if either the .44 or the .500 would be a disappointment.

 

[Reefinmike]

Is there a purpose other than a hoot to shoot at the range? If not, the weight of the X-Frame will not be a factor. I doubt if either the .44 or the .500 would be a disappointment.

Purpose would be a toy to bring out at the range for paper/discount fruit hunting. I dont live in bear country and I do my hunting at the meat department of the grocery store.

 

[Frizzman]

I got one of the 4" 500s when they first came out. I didn't reload for it and the cost to set my Dillon RL550 to assemble the cartridges didn't appeal much. The only reason I got it was just to have one...It was a toy and like most new toys, the excitement wore off and I traded it for something else. I didn't NEED a 500 for the wilds of Virginia. On the other hand, my S&W 629 and Ruger Redhawk in .44 Mag have been with me a good many years. Reloading components are readily available and not too expensive. Factory ammo can be easily found. They can use loads ranging from powder puff to fierce. They are accurate and not too onerous to carry. For my needs, they are much more practical and they go well with my Ruger and Marlin .44 carbines...If I lived in grizz territory, maybe the 500 would be useful for me. After watching that bear scene in "The Revenant", I don't find much confidence in any handgun or rifle/shotgun help me to avoid being converted into a big pile of grizz poop...

 

[Ed Ames]

I have never fired the .500 but I have gone through a bunch of .460 in an x-frame.

I would strongly suggest renting one or finding a buddy with one before buying. Why? Well, here's how my .460 went with a lot of people:

I would load one cartridge, set the gun down on the bench, and tell them to pick it up and fire at the target. They would fire it. Some would have it swing backwards dangerously under recoil, one guy dropped it, a few had complete control, but most were really shocked at how the recoil bit them.

About 60%, the ones who didn't totally scare me with one round, I'd offer either another cartridge or 5 depending on how they did. Of those, only about half accepted. In other words for 70% of shooters one round was enough. They had done it and they didn't need to do it again.

I let quite a few people fire my .460, and only one guy ever bought his own. Most refused to go five rounds with it.

To me these are awesome guns if you have a use for them. If you are already handgun hunting and want to take long range shots the .460 is a real upgrade over .44 mag.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The only negative I see on the 500 smith is the excessive weight of the gun.

This would be the concern I'd worry about. The novelty of an X frame never gets old for me, but it's also s practical tool in my life at times. If you can load 500's for $0.20 a round, I say go big.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Ed you have the snub 460 don't you?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The local gun stores by me are full of the "big" caliber handguns. Most are hardly fired. You can do what you want with your money but if only looking for a thrill, rent one first.

 

[THEWELSHM]

The 500 in 8 3/8 was a joy to shoot great trigger for a big boy. I have 44 magnum and a buddy had an unshot 27-2 in nickel box and papers. I traded my 500 for an AR 15 to trade for the 27. I had 800 in the 500 so I think I did ok. Now to find another 500

Thewelshm

 

[buck460XVR]

The local gun stores by me are full of the "big" caliber handguns. Most are hardly fired. You can do what you want with your money but if only looking for a thrill, rent one first.

Around here, it's hard to find a used one, especially the X-Frames. What you do find is a lot of Ruger .44 mags like ArchAngelCD mentioned....barely fired. Sensitively to recoil is relative and subjective. My X-Frame is more pleasant to shoot with hunting loads than my 637 J-Frame with +p .38s. Folks I let shoot my .460, generally come away with a smile on their face. I too start 'em with one round. While some have had enough after one round, most ask to shoot it again. But it is the 10.5" P.C. with a comp. It recoils less than my 629 5''.

Yes, there are many folks out there that have a .500 just to have one. Cause it's the biggest and the baddest. So what, it's their money. There are also folks that have bought them and then sold them after the novelty wore off. Heck, I did that with my .45 Colts, both the lever gun and the revolver. Once I realized they didn't accomplish anything that my other guns could do better, they went down the road. There are also folks where the recoil is a big turn-off, but there are also folks where recoil is the turn on. Big recoil is why we always see those "what load for biggest recoil and flash in my .44" threads. Again, their money, their gun, their choice.

 

[eldon519]

When I wanted more recoil, rather than go big in caliber, I went smaller in gun. Sure a .500 S&W has lots of power/recoil, but by virtue if its design, it is also huge which tames the recoil to some degree. Something like a S&W 329 will allow you to have all of the recoil you could ever want with a .44 mag and it is actually a convenient size/weight to actually carry. For me, I've got a 69 for recoil and a 6" 29 for a more tame outing. Similarly for my .45 Colts I've got an FA97 that's quite lively and a 7.5" Bisley I can put hundreds of rounds through. 329 is next on my list.

 

[Panzerschwein]

The .500 can be loaded down to .44 levels, and make for a fun shooter.

The .44 can NEVER be loaded to the .500's level though.

 

[Ed Ames]

Ed you have the snub 460 don't you?

Had.

I realized that I my Alaskan (.454 Casull) was a better overpowered snubby for real world use, and I was never able to find a Ruger #1 or similar in .460 to make a pair. I have been casually looking for a 5" barrel version to replace it but that isn't a high priority.

 

[boomeradf]

I enjoy recoil and of course always have to prove my manhood so I of course bought a 460 and convinced my father in law into a 500. I reminded him he couldn't be out gunned by his son in law I will say I love my 460, but I am not so sure I would own it if I didn't spend a fair amount of time in fairly remote areas of Idaho with a GWP that thinks bears are her friend. Then again I think my next revolver will be a 45/70 BFR.

 

[Reefinmike]

Thanks for all the replies. Cooldill pretty much sums up my ideas on the situation. The rest of the posts also reflect the inner conflict I have been experiencing. Yes, it is a good bit ridiculous and unnecessary. As a reloader, I can load them as light as I want as long as the bullet leaves the bore and is stabilized. Its almost like choosing between a 38spl and a 357 mag revolver. Might as well go big with the option to download. I will certainly check out the used market as I highly doubt any 500sw out there will have many rounds through it considering the cost of factory ammo. I would need to see a 15-20% savings to buy used which I have not yet seen on armslist. Most people want full blown retail for their used, hardly fired with "13 rounds through it" guns.

Renting is certainly an option as well, but by the time I rent both guns, lane time and 50 rounds of each caliber- well, thats a couple hundred bucks! Never ran into someone at the public range with a 500 to ask to try out.

 

[ClemY]

The .500 can be loaded down to .44 levels, and make for a fun shooter.

The .44 can NEVER be loaded to the .500's level though.

When the .500 is loaded down to .44 mag levels, it is still much more pleasant to shoot than the .44.

 

[eldon519]

Since you reload, might also be worth checking out a BFR in .500 JRH. It only gives up around 100fps to the .500 S&W while still being practical in size/weight.

 

[Ed Ames]

Renting is certainly an option as well, but by the time I rent both guns, lane time and 50 rounds of each caliber- well, thats a couple hundred bucks! Never ran into someone at the public range with a 500 to ask to try out.

Hah...sorry to laugh, but...

Not counting myself, only one person ever put more than 5 rounds through my .460 in a day. At least not while I owned it. That one guy shot 35 rounds before he had to stop, and when I say stop I mean it ended his shooting for a month. His right hand was various shades of purple, yellow, and green, and he reported it was swolen and sore for 3+ weeks. He was using gel shooting gloves too.

One of the reasons I eventually noped out of the .460 was that after a dozen rounds or so the bones of my hands and forearms hurt. I think it caused stress fractures. 50 rounds of .454 Casull in a Ruger Alaskan? Bring it. 100rds of .44 magnum from a 3.75" barrel Blackhawk? No problem. Same from a .460? Nope, I depend on my hands for too many things.

Mind you, these were heavy full power loads. You could shoot .454 Casull or light .460 all day...but what's the point of having a powerful gun if you use derated ammo?

 

[CraigC]

If the purpose it just to rattle the ceiling tiles out of your local indoor range, then either will do.

 

[Shaq]

I'd recommend the BFR 500 over the S&W. I had to ship my S&W 500 in for warranty repair twice. If you handload the 500, you'll probably shoot it more than someone who has to buy factory ammo & the S&W won't hold up very long.

 

[HankB]

For those who really LIKE recoil, try one of S&W's scandium J-frames with the small stock grips and full power .357 ammo.

Or S&W's 329 lightweight .44 Mag and full power .44 Mag ammo.

Shooting either will get your attention.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I dont own one, but have shot both at some point, so take this for what its worth, but I too have been contemplating one of the bigguns.

I am leaning on the .460. Just as capable as the 500. Just as noisy and flashy. Great for hunting. Supposedly accurate to 200+ yards. The big thing for me though is the availibility of reloading components. Tons of 45 caliber bullet options out there for a lot less than the more limited 50 cal selections. Also, if you want to, you can shoot .454 or 45 Colt out of. It just seems more versatile, but yet still just as capable. I think the 500 is one of those things, its just the idea of owning a .50 caliber anything that makes any man grin(50 BMG, 50 AE, 500 Nitro, 500 S&W, they all just seem so.... awesome!), however since the price and guns are pretty apples to apples with the exception of the cartridge they shoot, I think the 460 XVR is where its at!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Had.

I realized that I my Alaskan (.454 Casull) was a better overpowered snubby for real world use, and I was never able to find a Ruger #1 or similar in .460 to make a pair. I have been casually looking for a 5" barrel version to replace it but that isn't a high priority.

Yeah I think we chatted about it in a thread a few months ago about the 45-70 BFR.

The snub model had to be horrendous to shoot. I guess I never understood the purpose either since with that short of a barrel you will lose so much velocity, it isn't going to make any sense with a gun meant to produce speed and flat trajectories. I agree, in a short barrel, the Alaskan makes more sense to me, especially with heavy ammo.

I'm not trying to thread jack here, but I had intended to pm you. Even though the 460V isn't high on your priority list, I definitely recommend shooting one if you have the chance. It's the sweet spot for me regarding X frames. It's so nicely balanced that shooting it one handed isn't too difficult, and it still will shoot like a laser beam out to 100 yards, though you definitely leave some powder unburned. Anyway.......

 

[CraigC]

I am leaning on the .460. Just as capable as the 500.

A .500 is significant step up from any .45, no matter how fast it is.