SMITH AND WESSON 500 - WOW
- Thread starter johnny blaze
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Confederate
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I suspect once bought, that many just won't take a loss on one. First, if someone can afford shooting a 500, I don't think they'd be lacking for money. Second, it's quite the conversation piece. Throughout Europe, people are buying deactivated revolvers and autos for about the same price we pay for new ones. They even keep them in safes, and when they have their little gettogethers, they take out these deactivated guns and show them off. And I worry whether the U.S. will ever go down that path.tc300mag1 said:
As for the 500, I suspect that many users are not firing full-throttle rounds out of them, nor do I think that many are being used for hunting. Back during the Dirty Harry days, some .44s did end up on dealer's shelves -- but many were just too hard to get at the time.
S&W 500s are just not practical for the most part. They're too far into rifle territory.
tango2echo
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- Joined
- Dec 14, 2008
- Messages
- 811
+1 for the .460XVR. Much more shootable than the .500. My first experience with the .500 involved laying a 10lb bag of leadshot over the scope (from bench). After firing the bag was on the ground behind me about 4ft. It took me 8-10 rounds just to learn how to manage the recoil of the .500. I think that is a gun you have to shoot ALOT to be good with it, especially offhand. My right elbow hurt for two days after shooting 20rds of .500.
t2e
t2e
I have miy 4" 500. Some people just can't afford them. They are not for everyone.
Notice the 700gr round...
I really have no problems shooting the 500. It is more of a strong push back into my hand. But I do have big hand and am 6'2" so i make a good base.
Notice the 700gr round...
I really have no problems shooting the 500. It is more of a strong push back into my hand. But I do have big hand and am 6'2" so i make a good base.
BMF500
Member
I find that shooting the .500 requires a bit of finesse to absorb the recoil. Especially when shooting one with no compensator or muzzle break, like a 10" BFR.
I have the 6.5" Smith 500; It is one of the most accurate revolvers I've ever owned. Its recoil is not as bad as you would think .I reload all my ammo for the gun and it can be pricey for bullets, brass and the amount of powder,but I knew this before I bought the gun. This gun is not that bad to pack when hunting either. This gun is about the same size as a 7.5"SRH when you hold them side by side,its just heavier. Its a deer thumper.
I am surprised at the negativity of the 500 and that more handgun hunters do not use the 500 for deer .This gun is not overkill it is a huntin machine.If blowing a clean large hole with a hardcast bullet is what you like this is the gun for the job. I love the 500 it will out perform and outshoot all my 44's in everyway.Nothing against my 44's I still use them too,but I have discovered a fine huntin gun in the 6.5" Smith 500 maybe hunters should give it a try. As of now I'm not interested in the 460 though I'm sure its a great performer too,but it don't get much better than a 500's performance especially in normal handgunnin ranges.
I am surprised at the negativity of the 500 and that more handgun hunters do not use the 500 for deer .This gun is not overkill it is a huntin machine.If blowing a clean large hole with a hardcast bullet is what you like this is the gun for the job. I love the 500 it will out perform and outshoot all my 44's in everyway.Nothing against my 44's I still use them too,but I have discovered a fine huntin gun in the 6.5" Smith 500 maybe hunters should give it a try. As of now I'm not interested in the 460 though I'm sure its a great performer too,but it don't get much better than a 500's performance especially in normal handgunnin ranges.
Confederate
Member
You guys are all wimps. I'm going to wait for the 2-inch Scandium model. My favorite load is to fill the entire case with Bullseye, then compress a 460-grain JSP bullet into it using a hydraulic press. My open sights will have three settings: 1) horizon; 2) moon; and 3) Mars. I'd get some armor-piercing rounds if I could find an old battleship to practice on.
Taurus_9mm
Member
They are fun to touch off. I had a Raging Bull 500 Magnum and it also seemed to be a firm shove back into my palm rather than a sharp upward flip of the muzzle.
johnsongourd
Member
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2010
- Messages
- 1
Smith and Wesson 500 snubby bear kit- lesson learned
I'm a gun guy first and foremost...by that I mean I wake up and go to sleep thinking about guns or my next gun purchase, I went to medical school (in part of course!) so I could support my gun habit...I've got 18 years military experience and counting...including the first part of my career as an SF guy (18D naturally...) I have shot a good deal of weapons over this time from all over the world. At the peak of my training I was firing 3K-5k rounds per week with 8 hr range days the norm (and a pleasure!) I have never assumed I was a master of any weapon or technique and practice basic gun safety in a stringent matter regardless of my comfort level with a particular weapon. I am certainly no name-brand gun course instructor or the like who lives on a gun range and trains our civilian or military population daily...but I THOUGHT at least I had enough experience to avoid the more common shooting mishaps. I was wrong. After a recent invitation to an Alaskan fishing trip my first thought of course was what kind of gun should I take- I found the S&W 500 bear kit within a week or so and life was good. I read all the 500 forums, etc, to include John Ross's 26 pages (PDF) on the topic, hand loads, you name it. I purchased a sample of all locally available 500 ammunition and headed to my local indoor range. Yes, the "bear kit" is great marketing, the "spec ops" knife is made in China and I already have all the survival stuff included many times over- but a bright orange waterproof case with all those items already tucked away is still better than the cheap plastic glock/FN/XD case with a few spare mags and a maybe a holster! Back to the story- I get to the range and set-up. Double hearing protection, check. Sig 220 elite dark lubed and fired (new gun, shoots great), rugar LCP (boot gun until the Rohrbaugh arrives, no problems). Now the big boy. I inspect each round of 500's I have brought and put them back on the bench. I pull the 500 snubby from the kit and re-inspect it for any possible flaws, although the gun has been dry fired a few hundred times (at least). I load 5 325gr JHP ultramax rated at 1400 FPS and take a good stance. From all the forum chatter I am a little nervous, "death grip" is an understatement, but hey, I am an experienced shooter right? I can handle this. The freak'n size of the pistol alone with its short 2 3/4 barrel makes me question whether this is really a good idea for a pistol for public release to unsuspecting "got to have the biggest" shooters- but they made it and I have one so here goes... First round recoil is more than I ever imagined in a pistol but not as bad as it could be- at least I'm not bleeding (yet). The next 19 rounds were much more controlled- all in the head region at 15yds. I then load only 3 rounds of 400 gr cor-bon hunter (they come 12 to a pack and a row is 3 across) I see two empty chambers as I slam the cylinder shut. I am going to "advance" the chamber so my next shot is the real deal. I have the gun pointed down range, proper stance. I have a one hand grip and start the DA trigger pull as my left hand is closing on the two hand grip with arms extending. BLAM! although I thought I was advancing on two EMPTY chambers the S&W goes the other way- next thing I know I am holding my mouth. I knew HOW it occurred a split second after it occurred. weak right handed grip not expecting to fire the round but to advance the chamber (I know, I know- wrong wrong wrong way to to do that) My lip was split wide open and the rear site impacted two teeth (my right front tooth had a perfect "notch" wacked out of it and the one next to it was shattered in pieces to the gum line). I composed myself, retrieved the gun and made a round count. I felt only one detonation and it was pointed downrange, but I still made sure the fellow in the far right lane was uninjured. I put the gun lube sock I had been using to my mouth to stem the bleeding (I wish they made flavored gun lube...) and checked out of the gun range. I had the guy double check my 3 guns for safety and went to have my lip sewed up and my teeth fixed. 4 hours later I returned (only local anesthetics- I was not drugged up) I simply could not go to sleep that night with that as my last experience with the 500 mag. I fired a few 400 gr and then a few 500 gr Hornady XTPs. WoW! previous injury (all my fault) not withstanding- that is one powerful handgun. I believe something in the 300s will be my max for the fishing trip. Anything bigger in the the snubby is great to say you shot it, but far from practical for the field. I do plan on getting at least two more- the John Ross 5" if I can find one and a longer hunting length. The big 500 has got my attention. I admit I am now hooked. In all my years shooting this or that wonder caliber or wonder gun I have never felt the pure affection I have for the power this gun packs in such portable package. If your a newbie and reading this go back and read the basic safety warnings for firearms in general. The gun should point always in a safe direction with your finger OFF the trigger and ONLY down range or something you might destroy if your finger goes near the trigger. No exceptions, ever.
I'm a gun guy first and foremost...by that I mean I wake up and go to sleep thinking about guns or my next gun purchase, I went to medical school (in part of course!) so I could support my gun habit...I've got 18 years military experience and counting...including the first part of my career as an SF guy (18D naturally...) I have shot a good deal of weapons over this time from all over the world. At the peak of my training I was firing 3K-5k rounds per week with 8 hr range days the norm (and a pleasure!) I have never assumed I was a master of any weapon or technique and practice basic gun safety in a stringent matter regardless of my comfort level with a particular weapon. I am certainly no name-brand gun course instructor or the like who lives on a gun range and trains our civilian or military population daily...but I THOUGHT at least I had enough experience to avoid the more common shooting mishaps. I was wrong. After a recent invitation to an Alaskan fishing trip my first thought of course was what kind of gun should I take- I found the S&W 500 bear kit within a week or so and life was good. I read all the 500 forums, etc, to include John Ross's 26 pages (PDF) on the topic, hand loads, you name it. I purchased a sample of all locally available 500 ammunition and headed to my local indoor range. Yes, the "bear kit" is great marketing, the "spec ops" knife is made in China and I already have all the survival stuff included many times over- but a bright orange waterproof case with all those items already tucked away is still better than the cheap plastic glock/FN/XD case with a few spare mags and a maybe a holster! Back to the story- I get to the range and set-up. Double hearing protection, check. Sig 220 elite dark lubed and fired (new gun, shoots great), rugar LCP (boot gun until the Rohrbaugh arrives, no problems). Now the big boy. I inspect each round of 500's I have brought and put them back on the bench. I pull the 500 snubby from the kit and re-inspect it for any possible flaws, although the gun has been dry fired a few hundred times (at least). I load 5 325gr JHP ultramax rated at 1400 FPS and take a good stance. From all the forum chatter I am a little nervous, "death grip" is an understatement, but hey, I am an experienced shooter right? I can handle this. The freak'n size of the pistol alone with its short 2 3/4 barrel makes me question whether this is really a good idea for a pistol for public release to unsuspecting "got to have the biggest" shooters- but they made it and I have one so here goes... First round recoil is more than I ever imagined in a pistol but not as bad as it could be- at least I'm not bleeding (yet). The next 19 rounds were much more controlled- all in the head region at 15yds. I then load only 3 rounds of 400 gr cor-bon hunter (they come 12 to a pack and a row is 3 across) I see two empty chambers as I slam the cylinder shut. I am going to "advance" the chamber so my next shot is the real deal. I have the gun pointed down range, proper stance. I have a one hand grip and start the DA trigger pull as my left hand is closing on the two hand grip with arms extending. BLAM! although I thought I was advancing on two EMPTY chambers the S&W goes the other way- next thing I know I am holding my mouth. I knew HOW it occurred a split second after it occurred. weak right handed grip not expecting to fire the round but to advance the chamber (I know, I know- wrong wrong wrong way to to do that) My lip was split wide open and the rear site impacted two teeth (my right front tooth had a perfect "notch" wacked out of it and the one next to it was shattered in pieces to the gum line). I composed myself, retrieved the gun and made a round count. I felt only one detonation and it was pointed downrange, but I still made sure the fellow in the far right lane was uninjured. I put the gun lube sock I had been using to my mouth to stem the bleeding (I wish they made flavored gun lube...) and checked out of the gun range. I had the guy double check my 3 guns for safety and went to have my lip sewed up and my teeth fixed. 4 hours later I returned (only local anesthetics- I was not drugged up) I simply could not go to sleep that night with that as my last experience with the 500 mag. I fired a few 400 gr and then a few 500 gr Hornady XTPs. WoW! previous injury (all my fault) not withstanding- that is one powerful handgun. I believe something in the 300s will be my max for the fishing trip. Anything bigger in the the snubby is great to say you shot it, but far from practical for the field. I do plan on getting at least two more- the John Ross 5" if I can find one and a longer hunting length. The big 500 has got my attention. I admit I am now hooked. In all my years shooting this or that wonder caliber or wonder gun I have never felt the pure affection I have for the power this gun packs in such portable package. If your a newbie and reading this go back and read the basic safety warnings for firearms in general. The gun should point always in a safe direction with your finger OFF the trigger and ONLY down range or something you might destroy if your finger goes near the trigger. No exceptions, ever.
SharpsDressedMan
member
As a shooter of the 500ES snubbie, I progressed from reduced handloads, mostly because of fear of the unknown, and a POSSIBLE fantasy scenario like Johnsongourd had above. I settled on a handload of 385gr. Remington JHP's at 1150fps (chronographed out of the shorty). I don't know what they would clock out of the standard 8 3/8" used for book velocities with loads, but it is "enough" to handle well, and ought to be a cut above .454's and all .44 mags. Sure, longer barreled 460's and 500's with full loads will outclass my load, but this "little" gun is easy enough to carry comfortably, and loaded as such, managable enough to shoot effectively. I am sorry you had such an unfortunate experience, and can fully understand how you could get into the cylinder rotation mistake, etc. Also glad you are still on board for a great ride with the .500 snubbie!
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 13,146
I enjoy all that I can stand from 10 shots (2 cylinders) from my .454 casull. So I cannot see the point in taking on more recoil/blast. Wonder how many of these guys hunting with .500s and .460s are going deaf from the brakes combined with the cylinder gap blast. I'd bet there's quite a few - not worth it to me.
I have shot many many shots from this 460 Mag, I wear proper ear protection and it's enough. I have no hearing loss and can still hear a pin drop. I will say all my life I have worked in machine shop environments (50 screw machines running non stop all day). Auto shops and motorcycles. The noise is not a problem for me. I do believe that you should never stand beside someone shooting these or any revolver for that matter. Other than that protect your ears and realize what you as the individual can handle.
captain awesome
Member
I definitely won't call the guys who cant can't handle it or don't like it wimps, I respect them for giving it a go. I on the other hand am classified as one of the "yo yo's" I don't have the snub yet, but will soon. And I am quite fond of the 8 3/8th's one I have. it is my favorite gun. I have heard from several people that the recoil is equal to a 44 mag. If you are on the market, DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. It might be comparable with the light underloads, but any regular load above 350grain bullets is WAY more powerful. 3 full grown men all more than 200lbs that I had with me on Saturday can attest to that. And it seems so can a lot of others on the thread. And as said before, it is extremely loud. be ready for it.
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