S&Wmodel 500 vs Desert Eagle 50

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mburnickas

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Ok, first off this thread is NOT to say one is better then the other. I am an FFL and was wondering your thoughts on both guns. The S&W is around $750 and the DE is around $950 (price is for a comparison purposes and not the real price, just FYI in general).

I do not hunt only shot at the range, but just can’t make up my mind. The S&W is cheaper but is a revolver (more kick back) and higher ammo prices. The DE is more $$$ but ammo is cheaper. The kick is also less due to the semi-auto.

Any pros and cons here? The wife thinks I do not need it and she is right; but, I WANT It and can’t make up my mind……..

I want to hear from anyone that has comments on both, good or bad. I like both but do not know what to do. Can't buy both either :neener:
 
I prefer the Smith & Wesson 500. Mine is the Performance Center version. But I reload and couldn't bring myself to buy factory ammo for three dollars a pop. Recoil is stiff but not unbearable. Unless you have huge hands it is hard to get a good grip on the Desert Eagle. Both are well made guns so I guess the question is do you like revolvers or auto's? It would be hard to beat the accuracy of the Smith & Wesson 500.
 
The reloading depends on the quality of your brass, how hot you load them, your reloading techniques, the chamber condition and demension, the quality and deminsions of your dies, and.......
There are just too many variables to give an answer.
 
I have a black Desert Eagle in 44 which I shoot pretty often, and I've been getting more and more inclined to prefer my 629 to it. In these size ranges a revolver is just as rapid as an auto, has about the same capacity, and is of course more reliable.

Also consider that the prettier Desert Eagles (anything other than black) are much more expensive than the stock ones, whereas the stock S&W 500 ain't too shabby.

You might also consider Magnum Research's BFR - it's priced about the same as the S&W.

The 50AE is a reasonable heavy hunting cartridge (and the DE in 50AE is a reasonable hunting gun), but remember that the 500 is a MUCH more powerful cartridge. It's a bit much for my taste, but YMMV - and the revolver does a great job of making that much power manageable.

In terms of "gee whiz" factor the 500 wins hands down - Desert Eagles aren't all that rare anymore, but 500s still are! Either way, have fun!
 
M16 hit the nail on the head. I assume you have a variety of revolvers and semi-autos now? So which do you prefer shooting the most?

I agree that either choice is basically an expensive toy with little practical use. For that reason alone, the S&W fits the bill more.

-Robert
 
S&W 500 Perf Cehnter

To: M16
Read your post with interest.
I am thinking about purchase of the Perf Center S&W 500 and I will reload the cartridges. I would appreciate any valuable info re this particular firearm and reloading info. Thanks in advance.
Herb Leventhal,MD
44Caliber (soon to become 500Caliber)
 
44 Caliber,

The PC .500 is as accurate as any revolver I have seen. I'm sure the long sight radius helps in this regard. On my particular gun the front sight is too low. So all my groups have been at a minimum of 8" high. I called Smith and they said to send it back but since it is such a monster size of a gun I may just scope it and live with it. Unlike the production .500 the front sight on the PC is dovetailed. As far as practical use it would be great for stand hunting whitetail or hogs but I wouldn't be crazy about packing it up and down mountains or through swamps. I just love big revolvers so the gun doesn't have to be practical just big! For reloading I got all my information at Cor-bon's site http://mysite.elixirlabs.com/index.php?uid=12665&page=1408 I have been shooting Cast Performance 440 grain bullets and the new Hornady 350 XTP. I am looking forward to the four inch as I have one on order. Not the most practical gun but if you like it go for it! Besides since when has being practical been a reason in a gun purchase.
 
The DE's are supposedly sensitive to less than full house loads - not an issue with a revolver.

Also, at some point there will be a 50 special and you'll be able to shoot everything from that all the way up to the heaviest laod out of the revolver . . . .
 
good posts guys. I like reading what you all have to say.

M16- good point on being practical since the wife thinks I go a little overboard. I do, but it IS FUN doing it!!!!!

Still can't deside but I think it is on the S&W500. I just need to get some dies and start doing some reloading it seems.
 
DE v SW

Well, if it is going to be a range queen only, I would get the Desert Eagle. You loose all pros for the 500 when it is a range only gun where the extra power means nothing. In my experience( I have had many DEs and the 8 3/8" 500), the DE is louder, more flash, cheaper to shoot, easier to reload at the line(with extra mags handy), 2 more shots per salvo, faster to shoot if you want to do a 7 round fast shoot to scare the hell out of your fellow range shooters and it just has "the look"(It will not be mis-identified as anything else).

The smith looks too much like many other revolvers, just a little bigger. Don't get me wrong, with those 440 grain Corbons, it is pretty nasty and I loved it when I still had it, but for the reasons above I sold it. Now, I still have nearly 100 rounds still in the safe for the 500 when Smith comes out with the 6" PC version after the 4" model. Ask me again then.
 
Haven't owned the D.E. in .50.......

but my .44 Maggie D.E. was grip & ammo sensitive, the S&W 500 is not the most pleaseant revolver to shoot and it's definately not cheap to shoot, using factory ammo. Even with that in mind, I still would lean towards the BIG S&W .500 - just my opinion, for whatever it's worth.:D
 
Yes, the DE will not work correctly if you do not shoot it correctly or feed it low power ammo. I also suspect it may have been an XIX model, which will not work as well as the VII in that caliber.

As for the 500-If you like that gun, it may help to know why for the person who started the thread to decide. I too like it, but it just has nothing the DE does not have for its intended purpose.
 
So far I like both guns (shotting wise). The big issue is price. The DE is like $350 more then the 500. The ammo on the 500 is a killer unless you reload; which I will to save some $$$$.

It comes down to the price and what you get for the delta.

The DE is more $$$ up front but ammo is less. Smaller size and weight, less recoil etc.

The S&W factory is 15 minutes down the road along with the performance center! Nice when you have a problem.

It is just a very hard choice for me. :banghead:
 
mburnickas

Biggest handguns I own are .44s but based on my general experience I'd advise you to get the S&W, here's why:

1. More versatile, the smith will function with low power ammo whereas the eagle won't. Futher the .500 mag cartridge can be loaded more powerfully than the Action Express, more room at the top and the bottom of the spectrum.

2. More reliable, I have no experience with either of these guns but this is my gut feeling

3. Grips, more options (in theory) on grip shape

4. Price, the Smith is cheaper and you can use the difference to get the reloading stuff you need to load .500 Magnum. Prices for loaded .500 and components will probably drop in the future.

5. Reloading, if you're going to load for either one it is generally easier to load for a revolver.

6. Lead bullets, I hear the gas system on the Eagle doesn't like lead bullets, an annoying limitation if you reload.

There are some reasons to go with the eagle, namely

1. You can't stant revolvers (doesn't sound like it)

2. You like the look of the Eagle (nothing wrong with that, it's impressive)
 
Price

Price is a non issue, unless you are buying brand new, and still there is not a $350 difference. I have gotten all my Ealgles for around $900, and I paid that for my S&W. Eagles will still have a lifetime warranty, even used.

Versitility does not really matter-It is a range gun, plus there are no "low power" AE rounds anyway. If you want a lower power buy a .44 or 357 barrel and you get more versility than any revolver.

Reliability for a target gun really has no effect. The one is just as likely to fail than the other. Proper shooting will see to that.

Grips-They are both huge compared to other guns, even other large revolvers. Not much a different grip will help, but there are many choices for both.

Reloading would be easier with the smith, but with the 50AE rounds found about 70 cents, it really does not warrant a reloading situation unless you are already setup. Plus the time to do it.

Lead bullets-Again, only matters if you reload.

Why not get both? That is what I will be doing. I am getting the smith just to have a revolver and "most powerful" bragging rights.
 
You know i didn't expect somebody to whip up a line by line rebuttal of my opinion but since that's the game:

Versatility doesn't matter? What if he ever wants it to be something besides a range gun? he may not need the full capabilities of the .500, but it doesn't hurt that he has the use of them, that's almost the definition of versatility.

jams are bad, no matter what you're doing. They range from annoying to deadly, depending on what you're doing.

Grips, the part that can't get smaller (the frame) is smaller on the .500 then the part that can't get smaller on the DE (the magazine and frame) that means there's more room to customize the revolver.
 
These of course are all my opinions also. Just thought it was good discussion to hit on all points, and helpful to the guy making the choice.

Versatility is won by DE, not 500 IMHO. Sure you can shoot different loads with the 500, but the DE will shoot different CALIBERS with a 10 second barrel change. Also, 440 Cor-Bon will get you even closer to the raw power of the 500.

Jams are bad, I agree. I meant reliability for self defence or a hunting senario where you need it to go boom everytime. Not a big issue at the range, but can be annoying as you say.

DE and 500 have about the same grip options, granted the 500 is a little less wide to start, but not much. DE has rubber, plastic, wood, and many others grips, just like a revolver can have.
 
You are correct about the barrel/slide changes on the DE, I didn't think of that; However that ramps the cost up pretty quickly, to the point where you could buy the Smith and another revolver in a smaller caliber and still be in the same price range as the DE and it's barrels.
 
I will be buying new and the price delta is not $350, really it is $328 with shipping to me (FFL)

I know both have a warranty but it is nice going down the road 15 miles and bang, there is S&W.

I do have a 44 mag and 357 both State police collector’s editions. Too nice to shoot. It is VERY hard Not to so I bought another 629 44 mag to shot. Nice gun.

To close, opinions are what I want good or bag since you guys know best.

So I think I will get both (thanks hometheatreguy). I will get the 500 now and the DE this fall.
 
No problem. Glad we could help. Both have so many strong points and are such different but equally nice weapons I could not choose either. Have fun with them.
 
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