What about this S&W 500?

[hillbilly preacher]

How is the recoil on this pistol? Is it worth all the extra price for the FPE, cost and weight? I am looking for a pistol to carry on a bow hunt out West and do not want to sacrifice the ft Ib of energy (fpe) if the recoil, weight and other factors are similar to other large caliber handguns. What is your opinion??? Other suggestions of recommendations are welcomed!! Since WEIGHT IS A FACTOR on a pack and hike in hunt, I was leaning more towards the 4" barrel model since its only 3.5lbs, the 8 3/8 model is 4.6lbs. HELP!!

Thanks,
Brent

 

[critter]

Everybody's perception may be different, but here's mine. I shot one (a full size gun, not one of the new cut down versions) with a 7 1/2 or 8" barrel-whatever they are (not the 10" version.)

Make no mistake, it IS SOME horsepower! However, the recoil is more 'pushy-shovy' instead of a teeth-ratteling slap that I have found in some other guns. At the same time, I shot a 475 Linebaugh chambered FA SA handgun. It was MUCH more a quick, twisting, violent recoil it seemed to me. The big 50 did not hurt although I can see how it would begin to hurt your forearm and wrist after a long range session.

It is definitely a big boomer with plenty of power for whatever you need BUT it is also one that you can learn to shoot easy enough if you have any experiene at all with heavily loaded 44 mags or 45 Colts.

Don't be afraid of it.

 

[Hawk]

I was surprised by how comfy it was - shot a co-worker's 8-3/8 bbl model. There's no doubt that there's a load of thrust but it seems mostly straight back. The muzzle brake and rubber grip do their jobs.

The first round was the worst - after I realized it wasn't going to push me through the range wall and relaxed it shot a lot closer to POI.

It was easier to deal with than a Desert Eagle .50AE due to the absence of muzzle flip.

Any single action .44Mag and up tends to hurt me. I'm just not designed around that plow-handle thing.

 

[happy old sailor]

you didnt say what animal you planned to arrow. anything less than griz or brown can be taken with a magnum revolver although i consider the .357 a little light without good bullet placement. my personal preferance is the .41 mag. more than the .357 and withput the Boom of the .44. easier to shoot accurately and easier to learn than the .44. the .45 Colt should not be overlooked here. that old round has plenty of whump and is easy on the shooter. i would pick a gun i could continue to enjoy shooting well into the future. only reason i want a .500 is that i dont have one. the one i am really wanting is the .460 SnW i have been reading about here on THR. may Ruger produce a revolver for it soon. seems about right for deer and hogs. good shooting whatever you choose

 

[hillbilly preacher]

I am wanting a back up gun for a Brown or Grizz. I will be bow hunting in the West. Anyone shot the 4" barrel? Comments?

Thanks,
Brent

 

[P95Carry]

I am into hand cannons and have resisted getting the 500 ... though it is appealing. Now to be honest, I think as far as X frames go the 460 is becoming ever more interesting ... particularly in the long rang aspect.

I have so far tho found that my SRH's in .44 mag and .454 Casull serve well, plus BFR in 45-70 .. tho that is maybe too much up there in weight for some.

The recoil of 500 is well manageable I think for anyone with ''cannonitis'' ... no worse really than my hot 300 grainers in .454. If you haven't looked into 460 yet I would - might be just what you need tho I honestly would not even consider short barrel versions in any of these heavy cals, however much I enjoy recoil!

 

[Jubei]

There is an article in the March/April issue of American Handgunner about the 4.5" .500 S&W Magnum. The article is about the handcannon as a fighting gun. One thing I found interesting is that CorBon is coming out with .500 Special ammo. The two loads are; a 275-grain BarnesX and a 350-grain JHP both pushing 1350fps.

Good thing about the .500 as a fighting weapon, is that when you run out of ammunition, the friggin' thing is heavy enough to be used as a bludgeon.

Jubei

 

[sturmruger]

I think I will wait a couple of years and buy one of the .460s when they are available. I read an excellant article in one of the gun rags recently. What an amazing new caliber!! To get that kind of accuracy and power all the way out to 200 yards is very impressive.

 

[rockstar.esq]

I have to say that owning a .44 mag and having shot a 500 SW, the big boy holds no interest for me. I couldn't manage the recoil enough to get a respectable group. For me anyway the recoil was much more about the simply awesome concussion blast that comes with it. My hand and arm weren't sore but my head and chest felt like I had been hit by a 2x12. I can't see paying nearly $3.00 a shot for something that just isn't fun to shoot. My .44 on the other hand is tons of fun as it groups well and has plenty of premium loads that are top out at about $2.00 a shot. Plus there's a ton of companies that make .44 mags so you can shop around a little.

 

[Nosferatu]

I have found my 8.375" 500 has LESS recoil than my 5" 629 (44 mag). It's not exactly what I call a pleasure to shoot, but it is fun!

Check out my signature for like-minded folks!

 

[DOUBLEDTX]

I have shot the 8" 500 and I own a 4". Of the two I found the 4" recoils less with bullet weights upto 350gr, I haven't shot any of the 440's. From what I have read the 4" recoils less due to lack of pressure build up in the short tube. If I had known about the 6.5" model I would have waited for that one.