Will someone make a more powerful handgun then the 500 smith?

[GregGry]

I was reading about how the 44 magnum was widely considered the most powerful handgun when it came out, and it had much of the same fame that the 500 smith has now. That got me to thinking... Is the 500 smith really the end all of a mass produced power houses? I realize there are crazy people out there with single shot 600 NEs, even revolvers that supposedly shoot that round. However they really aren't mass produced to the scale of the 500 smith, even more so since even gander mountain sells them.

I don't think there is enough of a market for someone to take away the 500 smiths title of most powerful mass produced multi shot handgun. What do you think?

 

[Kindrox]

Have you shot a 500? I am not a large guy and I do not think the 500 is difficult to shoot so I think there is room for a handgun with a little more power that is still shootable by the average person. So give it a few years and there will be the 500 S&W Magnum or something.

 

[zoom6zoom]

There's also a limit you reach where it's considered a "destructive device" and becomes an NFA item.

 

[HoosierQ]

I am not sure why. At some point, monster handguns like that just become noisy novelties or exercises in metalurgy rather than useful firearms. While by no means a "big bore" expert, it would seem to me that with the .454, really hot .45 Colts, or .44 mags out there, we have long since achieved the acme of handgun power that has useful functionality in a real world setting...hunting deer at short ranges...defending against bears with a handgun.

I would be of a mind that if you needed something more powerful than the .500...you need a rifle.

Down a different path of thinking...

I would like our handgun makers to spend some of those engineering dollars making better or more innovative products in .357, .44. both the .45s, and hey, get a really good selection of 9mm, .40, and 10mm revolvers out there...and why not get some more products back out there in .41? I think they'd be doing the shooting public a bigger favor and sell more guns with that strategy.

Opinions worth a grand total of $.02. QB

 

[#shooter]

There's also a limit you reach where it's considered a "destructive device" and becomes an NFA item.

Beat me to it. you also have to consider the cost of the product and ammo. Its is hard enough to get .22lr, 9mm, and .45acp let alone all of these specialty calibers and loads would be near impossible to get for the average Joe. Who wants to make and sell a gun likely be only acquired by hand loaders in this economy and in this political environment.

 

[WoofersInc]

Not a "mass produced" handgun but definitely more power than the S&W.

The company Maadi Griffin had a prototype 50 BMG pistol that was making the show circuit a few years ago.

 

[LightningMan]

WoofersInc, here's a 50 BMG pistol.
http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0600/601.htm
(This is not real it's a joke)

 

[CWL]

LightningMan,

That's a "Birdman", it's a joke.

 

[mljdeckard]

They do exist. Look Maadi-Griffin, and Thunder .50 BMG by Triple Action LLC of Logan, UT.

You can put a V-8 in a Pinto too. Doesn't make it a good idea.

 

[Dimis]

dont forget the Pfeifer Zeliska 600 Nitro Express revolver

 

[BhmBill]

Luckily, the only handgun ammo that local shops had tons of in stock was .460, .480, and .500.

My .500 mag BFR was plenty powerful, more so than I needed.

If you need something even more powerful than the .500, just get yourself a dedicated slug shotgun or something.

I can't see anything above the .500 mag being necessary, although it most certainly will come in due time.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I assume that anything more than the 500 would be little more than a novelty. One day, they will likely develop more powerful focused energy weapons in a handgun platform for use as a combat tool. I doubt it will be good for hunting though... unless you want to kill it and cook it at the same time.

The 500 packs the punch of some rifle calibers. Even if they make a bigger gun, will it be necessary? Heck, I still believe that the 44 mag is plenty for 99.9% of the jobs done with a handgun.

..

 

[mljdeckard]

That's kind of how I feel too. Elephants have been taken with .44 magnum. Anything above that is really just tweaking the effective range. Going bigger than that is overlapping into the range of; "Why use a pistol at all?"

 

[sohcgt2]

I'm suprised nobody mentioned the Smith & Wesson 460 Magnum. Its not as big a bullet but has more power and more versatility since it allows the use of .454 Casull and .45 Colt.

 

[Jim Watson]

Does it have to be a repeater? Thompson Center makes Contenders and Encores in all manner of rifle calibers.

 

[.375]

over .50?

I think a special permit is required for any handgun over .50 cal. So producing one larger than that wouldn't happen. Obviously, they could make a more powerful .50.

 

[jad0110]

This guy did ...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=11043822

600 Nitro Express.

 

[Hostile Amish]

Some heavy-caliber handgun cartridges are applicable for Destructive Device exclusion, I think there is already a around-.60 cal. conversion for a Contender. However, there comes to a point when increasing the diameter of the bullet further will result in LESS performance than a smaller diameter.

 

[JSmith]

"Have you shot a 500?"

Shot the S&W .500 magnum at the local indoor range last winter. They have one you can rent, as well as a .460.

Indoors... it was just unpleasant. I've fired many big-bore handguns and I'm used to them, but in this case the shock wave carried downrange, rebounded off the far wall 75' away, and came back to impart a noticeable smack in the face. Never had that happen before. Too damn loud, too, even double-plugged.

It's a heavy thing, though, and this one is ported so the recoil, while noticeable, wasn't remarkably more severe than a .44 magnum hot-load.

Outdoors, it's probably a different story.

Most ridiculous thing I've seen lately? The .500 magnum "bear country special". It has a 2-inch barrel.

 

[Packina45]

I have a 4" 500 Mag and it IS a blast to shoot. Whatever you hit will explode or implode... something gonna plode!! Yep, shockwave to say the least. It is a toy but a very suitable hog or bear gun. I would not want to practice skills with high volumes of target shooting with it so I'll keep it being the last 10 rounds of the day.

 

[Wolfeye]

I already think anything past .44 magnum is too much to carry and would be better off done with a rifle anyway. Well, let me amend that: .480 ruger pushed the limit of what's practical & manageable in a handgun. Sadly, it was eclipsed by the .500 s&w, which I think more of a novelty caliber despite the way some people swear by it as an ideal bear defense gun. It's too heavy to pack, too expensive to feed.

.44 magnum is the ideal big cartridge. Anything bigger is rediculous.

 

[Nalapombu]

Didn't custom gunsmith John Linebaugh make a 500 Linebaugh Long a few years back? I thought that was the KING of handgun power.

BD

 

[BCRider]

I recently got a Thompson Center Encore rifle with a 15 inch barrel that takes .500 S&W. I'm SLOWLY working my way through two boxes of Hornady factory ammo that cost me dearly before I start reloading.

Even with a shoulder stock it's a helluva thump to the shoulder. I've also shot the local range's revolver in this caliber and frankly it's just nutz. But it's still not the same soul shaking shock to the arms and chest that a strong .454 Casull gives.

When I get into reloading for this beast I'm going to try using a slower burning powder both to produce more of a push than a slap and also to enhance the fireball out the end of the barrel. I don't hunt and with the short barrel it's not really a long range shooter so it's all for show and giggles.

 

[PT1911]

I have no doubt that they will make one... someone always wants a bigger gun and will do whatever they must in order to get it.. therefore, there will always be a market...

if you break it down, there is no practical use for the 500 that a 44 magnum cant do.... and little that a 44 can do that some lesser caliber cannot do or come close to matching...

there will always be bigger guns, faster cars, and ED meds... there is just no way around it...

 

[Taurus_9mm]

I own a Raging Bull 500 Magnum and enjoy it immensely. I've imagined a revolver in .50 Alaskan could be fun.

www.taurusarmed.net