S&W 500 question

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I have a 6.5" S&W 629 .44 Magnum that I love to shoot regularly. I've been looking into getting a S&W 500. I recently handled the model with an 8 3/8" length barrel and it felt so barrel-heavy to me. I haven't seen the 6.5" in person, but if it's as balanced as my 629, that'd be great. It would mainly be for shooting recreationally and occasionally hunting hogs. Note that I have zero interest in long range shooting (anything upwards of 100 yards).

For owners, what barrel length did you go with? Is there any disadvantage to the 6.5" concerning the porting's effectiveness on recoil in comparison with the compensator on the 8 3/8"? (I'm basically trying to figure out if there's any disadvantage - other than velocity - to the 6.5" in comparison with the longer barrels).

(Lastly: Respectfully, please don't divert the subject to "why I need the gun". I don't. I just enjoy big bore revolvers. I'm more concerned with the question previously stated. Thanks in advance for your time!)
 
I've owned the gun you are considering. The 'extra' recoil is not that noticeable vs the longer bbl. Sold it off for a 460 as I am not a 500 fan. Dave
 
I don't own one, but I have handled one. It balanced quite well in the hand and didn't feel nose heavy to me at all. Perhaps a tinny tad if at all. I have not shot this gun however so won't speak to that.
Check out this review.

http://www.gunblast.com/SW-500.htm

S&W doesn't make them any more, but I own a 460V. It is the 5" bbl version, and you can still find them on gunbroker if you look. It balances perfectly in my hand. I use it as a trail gun in grizzly territory, or if there are any wild angry Buicks on the loose. It is a very, very versatile chambering, and buffalo Bore makes rounds for it that are very close to factory .500 rounds power level. Just sharing.

If you have your heart set on a .500, the 6.5" bbl does seem to be the most well balanced IMO. I hope you enjoy what ever you buy. I'v also handled the 4" version. It didn't feel right to me. Huge cylinder to bbl ratio. It felt like a flare gun.
 
I think you would like the 6.5" barreled gun. I have owned and shot the 8 3/8", 4", and currently own the 2 3/4" snubbie, mostly because I like the weight of it and will carry it with less complaint. There was a limited 5" called the "John Ross" special, I believe, and it seemed to be the perfect size/weight/brute compromise for hunting. If lieu of finding one of those, the 6.5" without the lug would seem to be near perfect, and might be better than the 5" just for the fact it will keep the blast further out.
 
Thanks for the input thus far. :) I appreciate it.

SharpsDressedMan: What do you think of the 8 3/8" model when not using a rest? Is it controllable (because of the weight) enough to be accurate? I'm about 6'3, 185lbs by the way, so I'm not a super strong guy. I shoot my 629 .44 Magnum regularly and put 50-80 rounds down range with no problems at all though.
 
I personally think the 8 3/8" is a boat anchor with all that weight. It would be much better if it didn't have the full lug, like the newer 6.5". I'm sure you could hold it fine, but as others have said, recoil on the 6.5" is manageable, and if you reload, you just put the energy, blast, and recoil wherever you want it. I have a compromise on my short barrel; I load it down, but even loaded down, I am clocking a 385 Remngton bullet @ 1150 fps from the snubnose. It isn't a full load, but it's enough for me from that gun, but, not so much that I cannot shoot a fair amount in a practice session before my nerves go south. I think the 6.5" wouild be the perfect compromise between managed recoil, energy, and portability. I chose the snubbie because I wanted something as close to the weight of a .44 Magnum (maximum comfort when carrying) and as much power as I could manage without injuring myself. I could probably kick it up another 100-150fps if frequenting hostile animal territory, but it wouldn't be fun to practice with anymore, and I get to shoot more than I get to hike in big bad bear country.
 
The 500 is not a handgun in the modern sense. It is an old-fashioned "horse pistol" able to take just about anything that walks on this continent.

It is sufficiently heavy AND sufficently accurate AND sufficiently powerful AND sufficiently long-ranged that it's effectively a 50-90 Sharps. In that venue it is meant to be used in lieu of that rifle--from either a real barrel rest or at least a braced hold--and most comfortably carried in a cross-chest holster.

My do-all civilized load is a LeadHead 440-LFNGC over 34.0gr of Lil'Gun/BR2 Primer for 1,546fps chrono'd / 2.5"moa (scoped) with probably half that group size due to me)
(This is one grain under Hodgdon's max load listed at 1,650fps/50,000psi)

Its recoil, for all the hoopla, is remarkably civilized in the 8-3/8" barreled version. (But don't let the general public know this. Keep`em wowed.)
:D
 
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I never got the big 500 because of the bulk of the gun so I got the 6.5" 500 when it came out. It may be the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned. I love mine. The 6.5 just feels more normal than the 8 3/8". If you hold it next to a 7.5' SRH it almost the same size. Its just has the big 500 cylinder so its obviously heavier. Its like a SRH on steroids if that analogy helps any. There is a lot of bullet choices for the 500 if you reload. Anyway I think any hand gunner will love the the 6.5" 500 S&W.
 
I shoot and reload the mighty 500 in a single shot Handi-Rifle. Great fun. It's the best $300 in firearms money I've ever spent.
 
S&w 500

Got this one early on hop[ng to get an Elk with it. None was found, but I carried it all day in it's Tucker crossdraw holster, along with my .270, and had no problem, and I am OLD. :D
I DID however add a SDM fiber optic front sight before I went. :)
standard.jpg
 
I own a 4" bbl version of this critter and have handled (and drooled over) the performance center 7.5 and the standard 8 3/8 bbl quite a bit. I agree that the 8 3/8 is very muzzle heavy, with the 7.5 being somewhat muzzle heavy; however, a little muzzle heft is good when launching a 500 grain bullet. I think the 6.5 is a simply wonderful compromise. Best of luck, good shooting and happy hunting!
 
Man, it sure seems like a LOT of people opted for the 4" version. (not just in this thread, but all over...that's the most common response)
 
That is because shortly after introduction, all you could get was a 4" OR the full 8 3/8" version. There were not 2 3/4", 6.5", 7.5" barrels, etc. Many buyers went to the 4" becuase it had a comp, and was more practical for carry. The snubbie is same length for the rifled portion of the 4", but without the compensator portion, so it gets about the same ballistics, just kicks more.
 
From my limited expirience shooting big-bore high-recoil revolvers, a longer & heavier barrel seems to reduce recoil. After shooting a Ruger Security Six in .357, then immediatly shooting a Python with a longer, heavier barrel, the recoil difference was immense.

Longer & Heavier barrel = more weight for the force of the bullet's recoil, resulting in less "kick" felt by the shooter.
 
Agreed, but I just wonder how much difference there is between 6.5" and 8 3/8". I really want to shoot the 6.5". Comparing the 4" and the 8 3/8", I'm sure there's a very big difference.
 
Yes. The 4" is much better balanced. The 8 3/8 is very muzzle heavy. Dave
 
As stated in the original post, practicality has nothing to do with it. It's not a need. It's for fun.
 
I love my 500 with 4" barrel + 1" comp, I shoot a lot of sierra bullets all loaded all the way down to under 1000fps, with the comp its a pussy cat to handle and usually hits the steel gongs at 75 yards most of the time. I can go 30 - 40 rounds without getting to weary. Its something I don't need but just wanted. I got mine, just when they were first released
 
The black John Ross 500 5" is just insanely beautiful. Ahhh. I wish I hadn't seen that.
 
The 6.5" is good shooting gun very managable especially if you reload, but If you plan to shoot the 500 alot you need to load your own. Here lately I have been shooting the MBC 400 grain crusher around 1000/1100 fps range just like I like my 44 mag loads with great accuracy. I've found you can load the 500 up and down like the 44 anyway I plan on doing some deer hunting with it next season. With a slow moving cast bullet out of a 500 its perfect for deer. I have killed a few deer with the 480 & 475 with very mild cast bullet loads and they blow a nice big hole without messing up any meat whatsoever. The 500 is like a shotgun slug and a no brainer for a handgun hunter IMO.
 
I own the 8 3/8" 460 and my brother has the same barrel 500. They are barrel heavy but I use shooting sticks for it when I hunt. I prefer the versatility of the 460 more than the extra power from the 500.

I've shot the 4" 500 and it had a stout recoil. It was easier to handle than a snub nose 357 though.
 
I have not run across ANYONE with a 6.5". Wonder why it's not more popular.
 
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