S&W 500 anyone?

[el44vaquero]

Thoughts on the S&W 500 Magnum? A buddy bought one, but needs to sell it for financial reasons. He has only shot it a dozen times and wants $600 for it. It's a S&W 500 8-3/8. Would this be really uncomfortable to shoot compared to a model 29 with same barrel length shooting magnum loads?

 

[jobu07]

I've never personally shot one but i've heard conflicting reports on them. One group tells me that it's a pussycat compared to certain other cartridges like the 454. Another fellow said he sprained his thumb and had a black and blue hand for a week when he shot it due to an improper grip.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I like my shorty. It shoots nice.

I'd buy her for 6 bones.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[damascusblade5]

I'll buy it if you don't

If you don't buy it for $600 I sure will. I had a 500 and sold it to get the new 460.The 500 is not a whole lot more to shoot than a 44 magnum because the Smith is so large and has the ported barrel.I am not a very big guy,and never had any problem with recoil on mine.Haven't fired the 460 yet but I will this weekend.Like I said,if you don't buy it,send me a message.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I'm not a magnum-type handgun kind of guy, but for 600 I'd pick one up just for the hell of it. If anything, sell it back to someone for an increased price. Business is business.

 

[palerider1]

i've heard that gun is for guys with small wankers

 

[Wllm. Legrand]

i've heard that gun is for guys with small wankers

As those with behemoth trucks.....true...so true....

The Smith .500.....an answer in search of a question.....

 

[gp911]

I'll second the guy saying he'll buy it if you don't. Sometimes you have to "buy the buy". It's a really good price on a desirable gun. I've heard the same conflicting reports of "not bad at all, more of a big push then a snap like the 454" to "whatever, that thing KICKS!" but if you shoot a 44 mag you'll be much better prepared for recoil than a guy who shoots a 9mm and wants to step up. I think you'll be just fine with it. Plus there are .500 Special rounds available now so you can ease into it somewhat.

Two words:

Buy it.


gp911

 

[GUNKWAZY]

That's funny, I heard that guys using the word Wankers, were a little on the feminine side.

Or should I say.... Macho Macho man...Maybe you are a Macho man

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[palerider1]

nahhh i'm not macho, in fact i'm a lover not a fighter,,,,,,,you seem a little disturbed about my comment hope i didnt offend you, i was only joking my friend. thats more gun than i would want to handle though. i like shooting 45's but dont care for magnum loads. enjoy your s@w .500

 

[asknight]

I've never personally shot one but i've heard conflicting reports on them. One group tells me that it's a pussycat compared to certain other cartridges like the 454. Another fellow said he sprained his thumb and had a black and blue hand for a week when he shot it due to an improper grip.

A .357 will sprain a thumb and bruise a hand if you use incorrect grip. Not a fault with the gun, I would say.

 

[Justang]

I talked with a guy that had the shorty model as a side arm for hunting in Montana. He said it's a pretty tough round. I want one just for the sake of having one.

 

[Stainz]

I'd say that the gun pictured, which looks like the first variant - the only one I've shot, will be no worse than the 240gr .454 XTP's I shot hundreds of through my now-long-gone .454 SRH. At least that was my impression. The weight, excellent grips, and, ugh, porting all help. It's a deal, I'd say. Sales incentives last year about this time had that variant in the $700's dealer cost, due to the sales of the pricier 3" model (Okay, with builtin comp, it's 4"!). Of course, do you NEED the behometh?? Of course, which of our firearms do we really NEED??

I WANTED a 3" .500 Magnum for some 400-440gr LWFN rounds in the 'Special' vein - 780 fps or so - for PD - from trucks, etc. I finally made some similar KE rounds, 300gr LSWC @ 920+fps, for my .44 Magnums, especially my 4" 629MG... which I already had. I no longer 'NEEDED' the .500 Magnum... but I still WANT one... go figure!

Stainz

 

[Camp David]

Thoughts on the S&W 500 Magnum?

Main complaint is that barrel seems a bit long and unwieldy for a handgun...barrel extension seems to make this situation worse...having never fired .500 I don't have frame of reference, but I am comfortable with .454 Cassul... if you had to employ that .500 Smith rapidly you'd have real problems....

 

[Smurfslayer]

Perhaps this will help...

here are 2 videos of my lighting off a cylinder of 500 handloads.

First, the 500 grain JFP's
http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod1_.wmv

then the 350 grain JHP's
http://bighammer.net/images/Watch_the_HandofGod2.wmv

To properly set this up, to my immediate left and out of the video shot is a guy with a f/a MP5, a few lanes down to the right is a guy with a shotgun.

Note how after I uncork round number 1, cylinder number one, you can hear me cock the hammer, or a pin drop as everybody on the line does a collective "***?"

I think it's in the 2nd video where you see the table and everything on it shaking...

Enjoy...

 

[Darkness]

I got to shoot the .500 during my range time for my CCW. The gun is big, and I was expecting it to kick a lot more than it did. Now don't get me wrong, you KNOW you shot a gun when this thing goes off, but it is only slightly more brutal than a full-power 44 mag.

I wouldn't plan on doing any double-taps with it, that's for sure.

I'd love to have one with a 4 inch barrel that I could carry, under a parka, just in case I get rushed by a feral Cadillac or something...

 

[diesel_furry]

I wouldnt mind shooting one one of these days . i love shooting my 44 and i should have my 454 here in about a month.

Thats my fav looking 500 there only thing is i dont like the look of the Muzzle Compensator. it take away from the clean look , of which i like

 

[GregGry]

For 600 its a great price . I shot the 500 after only firing a couple rounds of .44mag. It has more push I would say, but not unbareable. I could shoot a 500 s&w all day compared to a airweight .357 or even .44 mag. Thoes are tough on the wrists, especially when you have big hands like me, and can't hold them properly.

 

[klover]

ditto

I have a .357 snub, .44 mag snub and a .500 8 3/8. I'd say the .500 is much the more pleasant to shoot of these. Of course I could never part with any of them, and I'd buy the one offered in a heart beat
Because .500 sw rocks!
I also have the .44 in an 8 3/8. It is much the taimest in my subjective opinion.

 

[rockstar.esq]

just in case I get rushed by a feral Cadillac or something...

That's hillarious!

When I shot one with the 8-3/8" barrel my shoulder blades were nearly hitting each other under recoil. The concussion effect was greater than the shove. I fully believe that un comped 500's will change a lot of opinions about the "...a little more than a .44mag..." thing. Frankly a rifle would weigh less and hit harder. That being said, I'm in fan of anything new coming on the scene and I think the .460 just might be a great idea.

 

[280PLUS]

I shot one with an 8 3/4" barrel courtesy of Cortez Kid and I didn't think the recoil was as bad as one might expect. Even the hot loads he had weren't too bad. Makes a nice solid "CRACK" with those hot loads too.

I like the balance of the 4" better but haven't shot one of those so I have no idea what the recoil is like with that one.

To steal a phrase from "Buck" Mc Neely, "If you like the fun of high caliber hand guns then this here's the gun for you!"

Oh, I shot it one handed. I tried the first hot load with two hands but did the rest with one. It was cool