500 S&W sheared forend screws

[huxley]

Okay, I'm sure I'm not the first person this happened to,but I decided on buying a 500 S&W barrel for my encore,I put it off for a long time because of all the horror stories of this round claiming casualties,not only on game but on equipment, like scopes ,mounts, and forends, I wanted one to hunt larger game with,I have a 308win.,270win.,and 223rem.I currently have a Leupold base with double dove tail rings, that seem to hold up so far, I use them on all my encores, I'm looking to find some recommendations on beefing up the forend system.I was using my gun with a Harris bipod,which maybe didn't help,everything was going well until my 15th shot,and that's when we had complete separation,I had pachmayr grips and forend on the gun,thought they would hold up better................WRONG!
 

[Grumulkin]

Yes, the bipod probably wasn't a good idea.  As for forends, if you use one of T/C's, if they break, they'll replace it; I'm not sure what Pachmayr's warranty service is like.
 
Unless you wish to learn the hard way like I have, don't use the usual bases/rings on things like the 460 S&W, the 500 S&W and other rounds with similar recoil.  They'll hold up for awhile and will then probably break at possibly the worst time.  For real security, go with SSK Industries' T'SOB 6 scew base with 4 rings and it will probably cost you less in the long run.

[Da-Law-Dawg]

Running a bipod on heavy hitters will tear crap apart eventually. I sheared a sling stud running a bipod with my 45/70. The big Smith rounds will wreak havoc on glass/mounts/rings. Save the bipod for lighter rounds and invest in a heavy duty mount like was stated.

[twohats]

Well I am using DNZ mounts and a Swift Premier scope and so far with 30 plus rounds its holding up.I am always wondering if they will work but I have had good luck with those said products.I did order this week some better screw kits so they say.I dont want to strip the screws either but these are fun to shoot, well at least the pain is offset by the joy of shootin these beasts.lol.
 
dan

[1puckaway]

I have striped sling stud and broke scope mounts with 30-30 in 14 inch and ten inch.Using a bipod is out of the question for heavy bangers.

[sirsloop]

Theres no way I would consider putting a bipod on a .500!!  Those tiny screws will get torn off time and time again.  Considering I sheared a 4 bolt screw base right off with just  a little leupold M8 scope on there... I'm surprised you didnt blow that bipod off in one shot!

[Ladobe]

I have no experience with the 500S&W at all.   But none of the many Contender wildcat "beasts" I had or my meanest beast Encore 416 Rigby barrel never caused a problem with Harris bipods or scope mounts, and I shot them more than regular for decades, the 416 for a couple of years with many hundreds of "hot" rounds fired.   So I can't accept that using Harris bipods on any handcannon is a no-no if mounted right with quality products and used right.
 
Ar trick maybe... on my heaviest hitters that were for extreme long range especially, I had the barrel stand offs welded, used higher grade mounting screws for custom forend bars, and custom made studs for biopod mounting.   Rock solid works IOW with better than TC factory quality.  And I used them with Pachy's as well as custom furniture, the Pachy forends using a Harris 7A adapter (wedge) between the bipod and forend.
 
I'd certainly change the scope mounts - handcannons need at least 3, some 4 rings "lapped", and a 6 screw base (and all installed right).   JD's aluminum sets were designed for the heavy hitters, put less stress on the scope and got it done.   But I used way more custom steel bases with steel rings no problem by lapping rings to near 100% tube contact.   You didn't say which scope, but if mine it would wear the one that IMO from long use of them stands up the best of all of them on the heavy hitters, a TPC.   The only scope made by this company I would own.   Discontinued, but still come up for sale, and usually for a third of what they sold for new in 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 6X and 1.5-4X, all with 30mm tubes.  They have a perfect reticle for hunting or target IMO, a converging tapered hair with fine dot that is etched so unbreakable and lightning fast for target acquisition when hunting.   FWIW -HTH
 
L.
 
 

[huxley]

I knew I should'nt have used the bipod,but after the first shot when the gun just came up off the bench in recoil, I really didnt notice how much recoil was pushing back before going up.... sometimes we must experience for ourselves, the hard way, lessons learned, I will do what I need, to make this barrel part of my permanate battery,I like shooting that SOB,can't wait to see what it does game.