500 Smith & Wesson Magnum

[Bobcat]

GonHuntin',

I know you had to chance to try one of these bad boys. How about some feedback on performance and recoil?

Bob

[GonHuntin]

Bob

I did get to shoot one of the new 500 S&W handguns at my gun club's open house a few weeks ago. At $3 per shot, I only fired it once, but I was surprised at the very moderate recoil. The load was from Corbon and was their 400 grain Hawk soft point that is claimed to have a velocity of 1675 fps and 2500 ft/lbs of energy. Of course, the handgun is heavy and it has very effective porting, so the recoil is manageable. Truthfully, my Dan Wesson 445 SuperMag is much more violent in the recoil department, even with 240 grain loads! The big question is whether the S&W will hold up under the strain of full house loads.......I am a bit suspicious of the lock up.....time will tell.

[Jay Nistetter]

It's a powerful toy no doubt. I like it and have never even shot one.

I'm sure I will own one eventually. I will, however, opt for a used one since there will be many available with less than a box shot through it.

Until then, I will keep shooting my Ruger480 varmint gun.

[texasshooter]

I guess I am a big sissy, cause I can barely hold on to my S&W mod 29 44 mag!

[AlleninAlaska]

I'm still waiting for a revolver. But in the mean time I orderd brass, dies and bullets and now have 100 loads made up with the 440 grain Cast Performance bullet seated over 40 grains of H110. Somebody in the industry better hurry up and get me a revolver.

[Texpppr]

My Brother lives up in Alaska also and recently got the .50 cal pistol. Moving up from the .44 mag. Myself i just moved up to the .44 mag. well almost I haven't shot my pistol yet but do have 250 rounds of ammo for it. lol. Thinking of practicing with it and taking a Ram or Hog with it some time.

[ICMCumin]

That durn thing is huge..... The 44 Mag was big enough LOL.

Guess its time for another Dirty Harry movie.....

[CoonDawg]

Dirty Harry gets Dirtier co staring his new partner S & W 500 Magnum

[Odie]

I have been hearing that the Texas Legislature is going to pass a law requiring all Tx. pdog hunters to carry one of these cannons for a backup weapon when out shooting the TX. carnivorous pdogs due to the amount of missing hunters who never showed back up from the hunts:)

[CoonDawg]

OOOpppssssss guess I'll have to rush out and buy one ;D

[dieseldude]

I would imagine going into the brush after a wounded pdog might be pretty exciting,may have to look into one of these cannons for a back up piece

[CoonDawg]

Diesel now you are starting to sound like a real Texakin ;D

[dieseldude]

This will fit right in down here! Everything is bigger in Texas ;D

[44shooter]

I don't think there will be any problems with this gun holding up. S&W makes good stuff. Sure wish I could afford one. The largest game I hunt are deer and it just is not needed for them. My cap and ball drops them as fast as my 45-70 BFR, .44 mag or .45 colt. But the fun of just having one and shooting it is well worth the expense, trouble is, I am retired.
And the hardest kicking handgun I own is my .45 Vaquero with 335 gr. LBT's or my Lyman boolit that weighs 347 grs, and a heavy load of 296. Hits my knuckle twice as hard as a .454. I can shoot a .454 all day, but the Vaquero mangles my finger in 6 rounds.

[varmint101]

According to Roger Eckstine in the latest Gun Tests(2/04) mag. : "Our only operational problems occured during the firing of the heavier loads. On several occasions the cylinder would unlock and rotate upon recoil."

They recommend a "Buy It" I think I will! Heck it's under a grand! ($987msrp) Is 5lbs and holds 5 rounds. They even shot 1" groups at 25yds with it. You guys might want to carry a speedloader in case of those rabid, man-eating pdogs though. I can't wait to get one this summer.*crosses fingers*

Matt