Thoughts on the S&W 500

[zorkieo]

I recently shot the model 500 in a 6 or 7 inch i believe. To be honist i only shot about ten rounds before i had enough. at the end of ten rounds i felt that my wrist had hairline fractured. i was shooting what i was told were 780 or 720gr hand loads. overall i want to say this is not a target friendly gun (with heavy loads) but its extreme power did convince me of one thing. if i am ever in backcountry (bears) i wouldent take anything else. watching that thing hit the sand (behind our target) was like watching a mortar explode.

[ASR]

I have shot one as well and had the same thoughts as you when it comes to recoil. The palm of my hands was sore for several days. Mean looking gun but I can shoot it long enough to enjoy it.

[WINGEDSWORD]

S&w 500

Does it come with wheels and a tow package?

[naimad]

I have shot the 500 the 8 3/8 in model and the 2 3/4 in model both guns were fun to shoot the corbon ammo will get your attention ,cabellas has some ammo that is $225.00 for 200 rounds and they are mild and fun to shoot i think the 460 would be a better choice

[zorkieo]

luckily a box of 50, will probably take you to the range 2-3 times. for me it would be 5 visits.

[SnWnMe]

It's just like any magnum revolver. Enjoy in small doses. You don't shoot a whole box of 44 Mags without taking a break. More so the 500.

[CALI-gula]

It's just like any magnum revolver. Enjoy in small doses. You don't shoot a whole box of 44 Mags without taking a break. More so the 500.

I would say that is very true. I remember similar statements about .44MAG years ago (hurt hands, soreness, too powerful ) but I offer a different explanation:

Someone with limited shooting experience, if any, goes to the local gun dealer and is enamored by the Dirty Harry mystique and buys the "most powerful handgun in the world".

That person, maybe even experienced shooting 9mm every other weekend, now has a powerhouse in his hands and is surprised by it. The recoil is too much. Of course!!

I am not saying zorkieo is inexperienced; I am focusing more on the cliche anecdotes. I see people that may have never shot anything larger than .40S&W plow full steam into 500S&W, then tell about how horrible it was.

It is just like lifting to build muscle, or proofing math problems to strengthen your mind. You can't expect to go from curling 40 pounds to 150 pounds over night, or 2+2 to Calculus in a day, just as 9mm to 500 S&W in the time it takes to open a gun case doesn't make sense. I've shot large calibers for years, so moving up to the 500 S&W, while still impressive, was not overhwelming.

Next time at the range, start out by shooting something in .22LR to warm up, move on to 9mm, then move up to .45ACP, and later Magnum calibers. I bet you shoot the larger calibers better by building up to them first.

On another note: You know why so many S&W Model 29-2s can be found like new in the box? Because in the 1970's/early '80's, so many people with little or no shooting experience, went out and bought Model 29s just had to have a .44MAG like Dirty Harry.

After a box of 20 rounds, and finding it was nothing like the Daisy BB gun they had as a kid, the fantasy of one-handed shooting like Clint faded, the novelty was over. They put it back in the box, hid it in the closet for 10 years.... then finally sold it to me about 20 years ago for $300... so they could go get the new "ceramic" Glock like Bruce Willis had in Die Hard!

Often the other reason they sold it? Because some family member made them get ris of it because "that Clinton fella, he says 'guns are bad' and he is just so cute, he must know what he's talking about!"


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[randy]

I'm secure in my manhood and have a big johnson so I don't need one or a corvette either for that matter.

[Trader Jack]

I'm secure in my manhood and have a big johnson so I don't need one or a corvette either for that matter.

Wow!!!!Talk about one blowing there own horn. Now you know where term "blowhard" originated.

[Sam Hainn]

I'm secure in my manhood and have a big johnson so I don't need one or a corvette either for that matter.

Apparently you are not on either account, or you wouldn't need to tell yourself THAT is why you don't have them. It would be better if you just said you don't like them or can't afford them.

BTW, that's the same kind of garbage quips that those banning the 50BMG rifle here in CA would use.

[ivanimal]

I'm secure in my manhood and have a big johnson so I don't need one or a corvette either for that matter.

Is this really necessary?


The 500 is a little steep in recoil and ammo I would go with the 480 Ruger or 454 Casull. The largest pistol I like to shoot is the 44 magnum. I am in love with the ballistics of the 41 mag.

[SnWnMe]

I'm secure in my manhood and have a big johnson so I don't need one or a corvette either for that matter.

Oh let me pile on.

If you were secure in this regard then you wouldn't bring it up (yikes, bad pun).

[jp.cherokee]

Here is a 4-inch 500 in action, 600 grain bullet... USE TWO HANDS...

[naimad]

Apparently you are not on either account, or you wouldn't need to tell yourself THAT is why you don't have them. It would be better if you just said you don't like them or can't afford them.

BTW, that's the same kind of garbage quips that those banning the 50BMG rifle here in CA would use.

Big +1 on that

[grammaton76]

I started handguns with 45ACP.

I find the Desert Eagle to be pleasant in 44 magnum.

I can fire my Desert Eagle one-handed in 50AE, but usually choose not to unless making a point for someone who's terrified that it's going to knock them off their feet two-handed.

I rented a 500 S&W recently, and it was quite a hoot. However, the range had the rule that you aren't allowed to load more than one cylinder... apparently some folks can't control it, to the point where they twitch afterwards and put round #2 into the ceiling.