JPH45,
I would think that for around $200 any .500 S+W owner that saw them for sale would want one as a companion. It's also unique enough to attract sales attention. I'm still on the fence about buying one. The 45/70 has so much more going for it from a reloading point of view, but it's always nice to have a new project to play with.
Don
I think most folks are going to make the choice you allude to, getting the 45-70 that is. I deleted a fairly long reply I made supporting a choice of the 45-70 over the 500, it just makes good sense. Please note that I do hope that sales go well for NEF with this barrel, I just think it will be another 450 Marlin, a flash in the pan. Sure, there are folks buying the 500 revoler, but a few cases of induced tendonitis from hangin on to that thing will stop the fever to go shoot it. It will be like the 454 Casull, how many do ya really see? A few will have them, a few of those will use it, at least some, but it ain't going to revolutionize the shooting world.
The 454 Casull would have made a lot more sense. It has a strong, established following and is currently offered by Rossi and Winchester (unless they dropped their version already) The biggest thing the 454 has going for it is bullet availablility. Everything from round nose lead to Nosler Partitions.
But all this is beside the point, we don't make the sales decisions. So I hope the 500 does sell well and that every one who gets one loves it and wants more. That will improve the chances of my getting something I might want