Range Trip Musings & the S&W 500...

[Edward429451]

Saw a guy at the range yesterday with a S&W 500 complete with shoulder holster. I didn't get to shoot it but have you guys seen the cartridges for that thing? Wow. I thought they were 45/70's at first glance!

From what I've heard about that gun I expected it would have had to be trailered in. That is not the case. OK so you'd play hell concealing it. But it's about 1/2 the size I expected it to be from the way people talk about it. It isn't THAT heavy considering what it is and its real intended use, which btw isn't shooting down aircraft and such.

He had some 385gr reloads that were obviously mildish, only a small fireball accompanying the 6" or so of rise. I noticed two pairs of huge holes in one of my targets later on which I know was from him but I don't care as it sure didn't confuse me as to which ones were my holes and there wasn't a lot of stuff to shoot at up there anyway. Them holes were freakin huge and couldn't even be confused with 44 maggie holes.

The cartridge's look like slightly shortened 45/70's on steroids. I know I said before that I wouldn't ever be interested in one cause it probably wouldn't kill anything deader than a 44 mag would and it has to be lots more expensive to shoot, but seeing one up close has me thinking twice about it! That plus the fact the bigbrother.gov doesn't want me to have one.

Do you guys think this round will be plagued with the same airspace problems that 45/70's are? (Light loads, detonation possibility, etc)

Anybody curious about these things that hasn't actually handled one should go take a closer look at one.

 

[Ukraine Train]

I handled a full length model at a dealer, it's frickin' huge. I was just at another store and saw ammo for it, also huge lol. It was $30 for 20 rounds!

 

[Exposure]

For whatever reason that gun does absolutely nothing for me. It is however a neat conversation piece.

For me my 1911 is everything I need. I am a total 1911 fanatic though and I'm sure there are those who wonder why people are fascinated with my particular choice of handgun.

 

[Jason Demond]

 

[blue86buick]

I've shot one.

And it's FUUN! We had a S&W rep at a range (sponsored by a local shop), and 3 of the many firearms he had were of the .500 S&W variety. The one I shot a couple rounds through was the shortie compensated one. I shot at least 6 rounds through it....RH'ed, LH'ed, both hands, and both light loads and heavy loads. I think one was 275gr, and the other was about 450gr. It sure was fun, and I'm glad I did it, but also glad I didn't have to pay for it. When a box of 20 rounds costs $45 bucks...that's not a plinking gun! If I ever...no...WHEN I get one, I'll definitly reload for it.





right...like I'll ever convince myself to get one. wishes and dreams.

 

[Mannlicher]

Last week, I handled two of these. One a Performance Center with the LONG 10.5 inch barrel, the other had the standard 8 3/8 inch barrel. Both were big handguns.
For the life of me, I just can't get excited by these.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

Oh my, I disagree. I just took delivery of a PC 10.5 inch. It may take me the rest of my life to work up to max load, but what a trip it will be!

In terms of ergonomics, it doesn't seem any more unwieldy than my 629, but maybe I've been a rifle guy for too long.

In terms of kick, I find it easier -- at light loads -- than the little 329PD to handle. Now that's a nasty little beast. If you use a modified grip, tight gun hand and support hand behind the gun hand pushing forward, it's awesome but not unbearable. I could easily see hunting with it. Rapid fire is not, for me, a possibility. Nor, yet, the heavy loads. Oh, and yes, my range day was over after 7 rounds. Who-ah.

I can't wait to see the effect on our local wild pigs, who seem to laugh at .44 Mag's and wander around a bit before dying. At twice the knockdown, I'm guessing a similar effect to hot .45-70 loads.

It will never take the place of the .44 Mag as a balance of power and utility, but it's got it's place. Hmm, maybe a Magnum Research .45-70 with Garrett loads next...

 

[Black Snowman]

I like big fireballs and I could use a 2nd revolver. I already keep .500 cal bullets in my reloading supplies for the .50 AE so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to reload for.

I'll wait until someone goes "Damn, not for me." and sells a used one cheap when I happen to be flush with cash . . . like that will happen.

 

[P95Carry]

I did give serious thought to this - but the BFR in 45-70 won! I am pleased with my decision. No Smith 500 needed and anyways ... the SRH in .454 can always brighten a dull day too

 

[Edward429451]

In terms of ergonomics, it doesn't seem any more unwieldy than my 629, but maybe I've been a rifle guy for too long.

Yeah it's kinda like a SRH on steroids. Not too too big but just not concealable. Like anyone would want to anyway. I'm not the big time rifle guy but look at pistols like Clint Smith talks about them. (The only reason you fight with a pistol is to get back to the rifle that you shouldn't have laid down in the first place.) So in comparison to a rifle, it's pretty compact in its own right.

It will never take the place of the .44 Mag as a balance of power and utility...

Yeah the utility of the 44 is pretty much unsurpassed. I prolly wont ever get a .500 for that reason, but it was seriously impressive.

Chris, that's a mighty fine pistol you got there. Still no cylinder line! You got a plinking load for it, or full house all the time?

 

[P95Carry]

Chris, that's a mighty fine pistol you got there. Still no cylinder line! You got a plinking load for it, or full house all the time?

Cylinder line actually is there .... well, it shows for the half of rotation immediately prior to bolt dropping into notch. This pic was earlier on and .. could well have been sneaky and painted a mark out!!

Current load that I like is an even 40 grains Reloader 7 shoving a 405 Lasercast flat nose. Gives about 1500 ft lbs ...... and is I guess about a ''medium'' load . maybe a 30,000 pressure, as against the softer 25,000 for trap door.

It will take more but this load is a nice compromize .... have yet tho to work up a load with 3031 which seems like a great powder for the cal.

 

[Edward429451]

Aha! the ol photoshop spruce it up, lol.

Good. Means its a real gun and not just a safe queen.

 

[PBIR]

We've got a S&W 500 at the shop for sale, so I've handled it a few times. If I were a rich man I'd buy it to have in the collection, but right now my list is geared towards more practical firearms (not planning on hiking in brownie country anytime soon). The Cor-bons we stock run from 275 grain HP's to I wanna say 440 grain HC's and average about $3.00 a round.

 

[rock jock]

The Cor-bons we stock run from 275 grain HP's to I wanna say 440 grain HC's and average about $3.00 a round.

This may be the first gun that can you can shoot its own worth through in one good day.

 

[JNewell]

Had the same reactions...handled the revolver, wondered where the wheels kit was? The cartridges are truly, and I do mean truly, impressive. Makes the box of .45-70s on the next shelf a little green with envy.

 

[feedthehogs]

I had picked up a 500 BFR some months ago but never got to shoot it until this past weekend.

Shooting Hornady 350 grn loads and wearing gloves, I thought it was quite managable and lots of fun.

After 40 rounds at 25 yards I was hitting within the 8 ring on a regular basis with a few x's. Shooting at 25ft hotshot handgun targets.
The 8 ring measures 4"

I shot the last target with some 17HMR for size reference.
Quite a difference next to each other.

Weight of gun after 100 rounds was making shots unsteady.

Muzzle rise was about 12" according to the guy next to me.

The only incident was the first shot.
Not knowing how she was gonna kick I pulled the first shot to the right by flinching. Hit the leg of the 2x4 target frame and blew a 1 foot section out of a new piece of wood. Shards were flying everywhere.

Everyone who was watching busted up laughing along with myself.
Then after a few minutes of conversation the mood turned somber when someone mentioned what that would do to a body.

Fun with Guns...........

 

[Ukraine Train]

Has anyone done some gellatin testing with this round yet? I'd like to see the terminal ballistics data/pics.

 

[P95Carry]

Ukraine ... I'm not entirely sure a std gelatin block would survive!

 

[Bullet]

I thought I read these would stop dinosaurs. Well maybe not.