Practicality of the S&W 500 Magnum?
- Thread starter gtmtnbiker98
- Start date
- Status
Grizzley Adams
Member
other than hunting in a area with the kodiak grizzley, polar bears,large dangerous cats or some other extremely dangerous game around i can not think of a practical reason for it and in cases like what i mentioned above i would prefer a rifle.but if you have the bucks for the ammo and pistol go for it.the bragging rights is worth it alone,but for practicality for your averge Joe there really is none.
Ghost Walker
Member
Hmmm ... Every time I walk into Gander Mountain I never cease to be amazed by the large number of used heavy caliber handguns they have for sale. More than any other pistol - including Glocks - in the store! You're kidding, right! You wouldn't really attempt to use such a beast for home defense - Now, would you?
Troutman
member
<<You're kidding, right! You wouldn't really attempt to use such a beast for home defense - Now, would you?>>
Speaking for myself, I would if I had too. Unless, the BG was willing to take a break for a moment, to allow me to get that .32 revolver I have, that I just use for HD purposes.
Because, if I use it, the system (justice) is going to take it away, till I’m cleared. Who knows how long that might take? I need that thing for more important things, like for hunting.
The .32 revolver, hell, for what I paid for it…..they can keep it. Donate it to the PBA, for all I care. It would have paid for itself, the way I look at it.
<<If you have to shoot 'em more than once with that thing, it's time to call a priest.>>
You’re a trip!
Hey, I have mine blessed by a priest with a box of cartridges. I really believe that doing this improves the performance of the revolver and cartridges tremendously. Having a firearm with the blessing from a higher authority.
<<Kidding aside, has anyone here fired this beast in its 2 3/4" incarnation? I'm still kicking the idea around.>>
The only difference between the two is the muzzle comp.
Where the 4 inch, has 3 inches of rifling, and 1 inch for the muzzle comp. The 2-3/4 inch has no muzzle comp.
If you know someone who has a 4 inch and they let you try it out, just take the muzzle comp. off and that’s how a 2-3/4 inch would feel like shooting it.
I like the muzzle comps. They work for me, especially with heavy loads’. Three I have, one for lead, one for jacketed, and one solid (no porting). The solid comp. was done by a friend who is a gunsmith.
Redhawk1, who is a member here, gave me the idea and instructions.
The solid comp. just gives me another choice, how I want to use it.
Bottom line: it’s only a one inch difference, give or take.
Speaking for myself, I would if I had too. Unless, the BG was willing to take a break for a moment, to allow me to get that .32 revolver I have, that I just use for HD purposes.
Because, if I use it, the system (justice) is going to take it away, till I’m cleared. Who knows how long that might take? I need that thing for more important things, like for hunting.
The .32 revolver, hell, for what I paid for it…..they can keep it. Donate it to the PBA, for all I care. It would have paid for itself, the way I look at it.
<<If you have to shoot 'em more than once with that thing, it's time to call a priest.>>
You’re a trip!
Hey, I have mine blessed by a priest with a box of cartridges. I really believe that doing this improves the performance of the revolver and cartridges tremendously. Having a firearm with the blessing from a higher authority.
<<Kidding aside, has anyone here fired this beast in its 2 3/4" incarnation? I'm still kicking the idea around.>>
The only difference between the two is the muzzle comp.
Where the 4 inch, has 3 inches of rifling, and 1 inch for the muzzle comp. The 2-3/4 inch has no muzzle comp.
If you know someone who has a 4 inch and they let you try it out, just take the muzzle comp. off and that’s how a 2-3/4 inch would feel like shooting it.
I like the muzzle comps. They work for me, especially with heavy loads’. Three I have, one for lead, one for jacketed, and one solid (no porting). The solid comp. was done by a friend who is a gunsmith.
Redhawk1, who is a member here, gave me the idea and instructions.
The solid comp. just gives me another choice, how I want to use it.
Bottom line: it’s only a one inch difference, give or take.
Troutman
member
<<Hornady makes them. They're not cheap.>>
Hell….They came down in price (on their web-site). No joke!
They were selling them for 60 something.
Cabelas’ was selling them for 50 something. Now their cheaper than Cabelas’. Have to see what Cabelas’ has them for, now?
Hell….They came down in price (on their web-site). No joke!
They were selling them for 60 something.
Cabelas’ was selling them for 50 something. Now their cheaper than Cabelas’. Have to see what Cabelas’ has them for, now?
Ghost Walker
Member
My new home defense gun!
EddieCoyle
Member
Noxx said:
Yup. It's next on my list. I'll probably get the .460 "snubby" instead of the .500 though. Even though the 2-3/4" model has no compensator, the recoil for the .500 2-3/4" feels about the same as it does in the 4" model.
Jeff F
Member
.500 S&W
You guy's remember when that movie Dirty Harry came out in the 70's. Smith & Wesson sold a bunch of the 6 1/2 inch barreled model 29 .44 magnums. Within a couple of years the pawn shops in the bay area had a lot of not shot very much model 29's in stock. I think it is a good caliber for those who fish or hunt or camp,hike and live somewhere an encounter with dangerous game or a big bear. Then theres always the guy's that have to have the biggest baddest most powerful hand cannon in the world. Lastly there are the guy's that will take the .460 and .500 and will shoot them. My self I have shot them both and although I was impressed, a couple or three rounds was about all I could shoot. I like to shoot all my guns, if I had one it wouldn't be shot by me very much. If you want one get it. If you can rent and shoot one first to make sure you really want one.
You guy's remember when that movie Dirty Harry came out in the 70's. Smith & Wesson sold a bunch of the 6 1/2 inch barreled model 29 .44 magnums. Within a couple of years the pawn shops in the bay area had a lot of not shot very much model 29's in stock. I think it is a good caliber for those who fish or hunt or camp,hike and live somewhere an encounter with dangerous game or a big bear. Then theres always the guy's that have to have the biggest baddest most powerful hand cannon in the world. Lastly there are the guy's that will take the .460 and .500 and will shoot them. My self I have shot them both and although I was impressed, a couple or three rounds was about all I could shoot. I like to shoot all my guns, if I had one it wouldn't be shot by me very much. If you want one get it. If you can rent and shoot one first to make sure you really want one.
500
gtmtnbiker98: Sir; This reminds me of a story
A man was standing on the corner minding his own business when another kindly gentleman walked up.
We will call Standing man #1 and walk up #2
Casual conversation begins.
#2 had a pressing issue; reaches into his pocket and jerks out a gun
Shoves gun into #1 chest; reaches into another pocket; jerks cautiously
a bottle of whiskey out.
By now we know #1 aint doing to good! #2 shoves the bottle to #1;
take a drink. Now #1 needs something; swigs heavily from said bottle;
Hands the bottle back to #2 #2 takes the bottle; hands the gun to #1 and says;
now; force me to have a drink
Sir; you know what you want and no matter what I'll support the decision
Craig
gtmtnbiker98: Sir; This reminds me of a story
A man was standing on the corner minding his own business when another kindly gentleman walked up.
We will call Standing man #1 and walk up #2
Casual conversation begins.
#2 had a pressing issue; reaches into his pocket and jerks out a gun
Shoves gun into #1 chest; reaches into another pocket; jerks cautiously
a bottle of whiskey out.
By now we know #1 aint doing to good! #2 shoves the bottle to #1;
take a drink. Now #1 needs something; swigs heavily from said bottle;
Hands the bottle back to #2
#2 takes the bottle; hands the gun to #1 and says; now; force me to have a drink
Sir; you know what you want
and no matter what I'll support the decisionCraig
i do not own a single piece of jewelry,unless you count 2 watches less than $150 total. some people swath themselves in gold and diamonds. i have heard of some people buying ducati 916s,never putting fluid in them,and hanging them on the wall. if you want it,and can afford it,buy it with no regret.
KiltedClaymore
Member
i saw a video on youtube of a guy shooting a 500mag at watermelons. it was pretty funny watching all thoes evil fruit getting popped. but as for practical, not really. unless you have a kodiak problem, which in that case id suggest moving far away, or the zombie horde is at your door.
Battlespace
Member
First gun
I was drooling at the gun counter at the Ft Knox PX about a month ago. (Yes, the Army Air Force Exchange System does sell firearms) A young man walked up and started a conversation with the clerk about the most powerful handgun they sold. The clerk showed him the 500 magnum they had in the display and the guy bought it right then and there. I asked him what he planned on doing with it and he told me it was target shooting and maybe home defense. I asked if he had shot one before and he told me that "no, I have never shot any handgun before." I recommended he might want to start with a .38 or even a .22, but he had the cash and wanted to start big.
The PX has a no return policy on guns, so I wonder if it ended up in a Radcliff pawn shop later.
I was drooling at the gun counter at the Ft Knox PX about a month ago. (Yes, the Army Air Force Exchange System does sell firearms) A young man walked up and started a conversation with the clerk about the most powerful handgun they sold. The clerk showed him the 500 magnum they had in the display and the guy bought it right then and there. I asked him what he planned on doing with it and he told me it was target shooting and maybe home defense. I asked if he had shot one before and he told me that "no, I have never shot any handgun before." I recommended he might want to start with a .38 or even a .22, but he had the cash and wanted to start big.
The PX has a no return policy on guns, so I wonder if it ended up in a Radcliff pawn shop later.
Troutman
member
About a year and a half ago. I was getting back in hunting again. My interests were peaking again, about guns. I wanted a handgun, but not something for H.D. or CHL use. That was secondary. See post #31. And the 44 magnum I have, I would never use for hunting, H.D…..maybe CHL use….maybe. Range use…Yes.
The 44 has (one I have) a history tagged along with it. So, I said: what the hell, since the 500 is a new generation of hunting handgun/cartridge. I bought into it. Several months ago, I bought a 460.
You can hunt deer, hog, with these handguns. One does not have to use max. loads, either. One just has to realize that it’s basically a rifle ballistics cartridge (not being politically correct), designed for handgun use. This is not to say…that it’s better than a rifle, or to replace the rifle, either. The two are totality different in their use. Using a scope (handgun scope) on these handguns increase their capable range, than open sights.
I’m waiting for Crimson trace (Hog-Hunter laser grips) to come out with grips for the 500/460
In Texas; you can hunt those things at night. Those hogs are something else. I thought my x-wife, was something else, when one day she asked me for a favor, I was convinced she was going to give birth to twins. I was wrong.
Some of those hogs can weigh-in at 400 + lbs. Now, I know why, there is no bag limit, and one can hunt them year round and at night. They eat and eat, till no end. Having first hand experience with this. I can understand, the term “eating you out of house and home”. I understand what farmers’, ranch owners go through.
Except their problem is a different problem (animal) than I had.
The 44 has (one I have) a history tagged along with it. So, I said: what the hell, since the 500 is a new generation of hunting handgun/cartridge. I bought into it. Several months ago, I bought a 460.
You can hunt deer, hog, with these handguns. One does not have to use max. loads, either. One just has to realize that it’s basically a rifle ballistics cartridge (not being politically correct), designed for handgun use. This is not to say…that it’s better than a rifle, or to replace the rifle, either. The two are totality different in their use. Using a scope (handgun scope) on these handguns increase their capable range, than open sights.
I’m waiting for Crimson trace (Hog-Hunter laser grips) to come out with grips for the 500/460
In Texas; you can hunt those things at night. Those hogs are something else. I thought my x-wife, was something else, when one day she asked me for a favor, I was convinced she was going to give birth to twins. I was wrong.
Some of those hogs can weigh-in at 400 + lbs. Now, I know why, there is no bag limit, and one can hunt them year round and at night. They eat and eat, till no end. Having first hand experience with this. I can understand, the term “eating you out of house and home”. I understand what farmers’, ranch owners go through.
Except their problem is a different problem (animal) than I had.
- Status
