A .500 S&W Lever Action Carbine is here....

[Pat Riot]

Not a draw. Years ago I was part of a discussion between the Bakers (Freedom Arms), gunwriters and gunsmiths where this was discussed. When Ruger introduced the SRH in .454, all the manufacturers feverishly tried to adapt their existing actions to the cartridge. None survived. The 1892 held up the longest. None of the others lasted very long, even the rifle actions, including the Winchester “Big Bore” action. Basically the Marlin and Winchester 94’s are good to 40,000psi, the 1892’s 50,000psi. Gunsmith Keith DeHart built some of the Big Bore actions into .454’s but you had to run reduced loads in them.

Interesting. Good to know. Thank you.

Edit: I have always thought the 94 was stronger because it was made for a rifle round and because the “Big Bore” handled the .307 Winchester at 52,000 CUP or 60-62,000 PSI.
I did not know the .454 Casull had a max pressure of 65,000 PSI. Holy Cow! No wonder they kick like they do.

 

[earlthegoat2]

There tends to always be a few new 500s for sale on GB from a dealer out of Alva, OK. Other cartridges are available sporadically.

That is probably the route I would go. Call them and buy it over the phone so no fees are absorbed by either party.

Since I would be looking for a 460 or 454, there would be a little waiting and hoping until one was available.

 

[MachIVshooter]

That thing us fugly. Hard pass

 

[CraigC]

Interesting. Good to know. Thank you.

Edit: I have always thought the 94 was stronger because it was made for a rifle round and because the “Big Bore” handled the .307 Winchester at 52,000 CUP or 60-62,000 PSI.
I did not know the .454 Casull had a max pressure of 65,000 PSI. Holy Cow! No wonder they kick like they do.

That's what most people thought initially. There's no way they'd ever be proofed at 90,000psi. The Winchester rifle actions want to open up like a taco. The major difference in the 92/86 is the massive vertical locking lugs. The Big Bore fared better but only as a custom gun. It would survive a limited dose of reduced loads but it'd never proof as a production gun.

The $2,499.00 MSRP is fine. Even if they're selling for $3K, that's fine right now. Money is cheap. The new Marlins are selling for $2500 with a laminated stock. This assumes you can actually get one. If they want $2.5K and won't ship the same day, then it sucks. Whatever that $600 deposit is on their website, forget that. Either they have it or they don't.

That $600 is a deposit. They're not a major manufacturer and these aren't mass produced rifles. They don't have piles of guns ready to ship. These are essentially custom guns, made to order.

The last thing is that it's based on that Mormon polygamist's designs. I won't buy it. Just beef up an 1873. It'll take it. Rossi's takes 44. Just make the toggle and pin bigger. For sure it will never hang up.

None of that makes sense. Firstly, how do you get along as a shooter if you are averse to Browning designs? Second, the only Rossi .44 leverguns are also Browning designed 1892's. Lastly, no way will the 1873 or any toggle link action handle the 62,000psi .500S&W. The 1892/1886 designs are the only ones that come close. They basically scaled down the 1886 so they wouldn't be quite as heavy.

 

[natman]

Thats an ugly gun for $3k

I agree. I like this version much better:



Looks like a slightly smaller version of the Winchester 71.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Saw test recently comparing 500S&W to 45-70. I'll stick with the 45-70 myself.

 

[westernrover]

None of that makes sense. Firstly, how do you get along as a shooter if you are averse to Browning designs? Second, the only Rossi .44 leverguns are also Browning designed 1892's. Lastly, no way will the 1873 or any toggle link action handle the 62,000psi .500S&W. The 1892/1886 designs are the only ones that come close. They basically scaled down the 1886 so they wouldn't be quite as heavy.

Easy. Just don't buy them.

You're right about Rossi. I meant Uberti. Uberti is the one that makes an 1873 in .44 Magnum. My mistake.

I don't see any reason the toggle link can't handle more force if it's simply increased in size. It's a much better action than the rear locking lug. The BLR or Henry Long Ranger is probably better for handling high pressures than the toggle link and it's not a John Moses design. Still, it won't feed as well as an 1873. Should the '73 be scaled up to work for 500? Probably not, but it doesn't make any less sense than scaling up the '92.

 

[CraigC]

Easy. Just don't buy them.

You're right about Rossi. I meant Uberti. Uberti is the one that makes an 1873 in .44 Magnum. My mistake.

I don't see any reason the toggle link can't handle more force if it's simply increased in size. It's a much better action than the rear locking lug. The BLR or Henry Long Ranger is probably better for handling high pressures than the toggle link and it's not a John Moses design. Still, it won't feed as well as an 1873. Should the '73 be scaled up to work for 500? Probably not, but it doesn't make any less sense than scaling up the '92.

A scaled up `73 is the `76 and it can't handle the pressure either. The guns are already overweight for what they do. Sorry but the toggle link designs are not applicable. It makes A LOT less sense than the 86/92 hybrid. I think the people that do this are a bit better informed than you seem to be.

 

[Walkalong]

Definitely ugly for a lever action, and heavy, I don't see them selling very many of them.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Easy. Just don't buy them.

You're right about Rossi. I meant Uberti. Uberti is the one that makes an 1873 in .44 Magnum. My mistake.

I don't see any reason the toggle link can't handle more force if it's simply increased in size. It's a much better action than the rear locking lug. The BLR or Henry Long Ranger is probably better for handling high pressures than the toggle link and it's not a John Moses design. Still, it won't feed as well as an 1873. Should the '73 be scaled up to work for 500? Probably not, but it doesn't make any less sense than scaling up the '92.

It IS a copy of Browning's BLR.

 

[natman]

It IS a copy of Browning's BLR.

Which "it" are you talking about?

 

[Steve S.]

I can see some beauty in the wood model but I have many levers already AND I do not know what to use it for except as a novelty - it is an overpriced novelty to me - one man’s opinion……