Removing compensator from Performance Center .500. Please advise

[Shawn Michael]

I have a S&W performance center .500. It is the compensated hunter with a 6.5 inch barrel. I would like to remove the compensator. I do not think it does a whole lot. Unless I have missed something, it is not removable, is has to be cut off.

Any problem with my cutting it off myself? I cant imagine that the smith could do it any cleaner.

Is there any reason this is a bad idea? I dont care about the aesthetics. These compensators just do not seem that effective and add an inch (that is not much) but makes it a lot harder to draw quickly.

Thank you for advice.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

From everything I have read, the Compensator not only does a lot to tame the recoil but should be left on the revolver.

If you wanted a shorter revolver for "quick draw" you should have bought the 4" Model. http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...angId=-1&parent_category_rn=15707&isFirearm=Y
That model comes with 2 different Compensators so that model the Compensator is obviously removable. I truly believe you shouldn’t fire that revolver without the Compensator. I’m totally sure you will damage a VERY expensive barrel if you just hack the compensator off.

 

[Mike128]

I remember reading about the 500SW when it first came out. The author had the compensator come loose because the screw holding it on fell out so he had to shoot the pistol without it. So the compensator can be removed without cutting.
The author also reported as a definite increase in recoil and could not shoot more than a couple of shots at a time. And he was used to shooting big bore revolvers as that was his specialty. So yes I do think the compensator does something but you can shoot without it.
I'm just wondering why would you want to quick draw a pistol that weighs in around 5lbs? If you want a bear defence pistol I agree with ArchAngel and get the 4 inch version. Also think about magnaporting if you really want to shoot without a comp.

 

[Shawn Michael]

I got the idea

I got the idea of taking it off from the forum...I had heard some guys saying all it did was make a lot of noise and that the were going to "put an end cap on it" I thought I would cut off the compensator and have it ported and that might be more effective.

As to drawing it, I can draw and shoot it pretty fast. I stand in front of the big screen and draw a dozen times a day. Without the compensator it would be just right. The gal who does our horse tack makes some beautiful custom holsters (expensive)

Why would smith put these on if they are minimally effective

 

[Shawn Michael]

After carefully considering

After considering the ballistics produced by different barrel lengths the 6.5 inch seemed to get almost all the power and still be pretty easy to handle.

I am a minimalist kind of guy so I have 38/357 for two leg animals and just want one pistol for everything else....so with a "50 special" I am still exceeding the heaviest .44 but it is really comfortable to shoot and it is still pretty easy to handle while having 90% of the power of the long barrled monsters that dont really seem as pistol like to me.

So I am caught between removing the comp and porting (which will take some power) and I am not sure now if the porting will have the same effect as the compensator