just ordered a 500......

[ebonitekid767]

I am heading to Quebec at the end of May for a bear hunt. Have been kicking around what gun to bring. From everything I had read they all say I want a big hole in-big hole out. I kicked around the 45-70 idea but thought to myself, "go big or go home" and ordered the 500. Any of you guys take a bear with one? or deer? I plan on putting a weaver 1-3x scope on it. What is the recoil comparable to? should i use 3 rings on the scope if possible?

[cwlongshot]

I cannot think of a better use for one!!!

Hell yea many of us have brought home Venison with the big 500!!

This one isn't mine, but its is from a member here!!



Here is one of mine



CW

[ebonitekid767]

woah, how did that scout mount get set up?

[twoshooter]

Love mine, I have taken many deer with it. I cast and load my own so my recoil is lighter than factory specs by quite a bit, but my loads would sail through any black bear made, guaranteed. For a brown, I would put in a bit more powder.

[mo_bio]

Killed my buck with my 500 this year. it was awesome. loaded it with 440 g lead and it performed perfectly. Would be my first choice handi if ever get to go after black bear.

[mstake]

full house factory loads can be painfull off the bench. Some have changed the factory recoil pads to help out. mine off the bench with 400gr factory rounds, will jump and twist when it is fire. that is with a light hold on the gun. but i like the little devil. fun to shoot!

[petemi]

Ya shoulda bought the .45-70.  To me, there's no comparison.  The 500 can't do squat compared to a .45-70.  The '70'll take your bear or whitetail up close and personal or 300 yards off.......that fad tinker toy won't. Like the ol' Injun said "Heap big smoke, no fire."  I've owned one and sold it.  Even my .445 would outshoot it.  You'll not find me raving about the .500.  Just about anything can kill a deer, or even a bear at 30 yards.

Pete

[mo_bio]

Ya shoulda bought the .45-70.  To me, there's no comparison.  The 500 can't do squat compared to a .45-70.  The '70'll take your bear or whitetail up close and personal or 300 yards off.......that fad tinker toy won't. Like the ol' Injun said "Heap big smoke, no fire."  I've owned one and sold it.  Even my .445 would outshoot it.  You'll not find me raving about the .500.  Just about anything can kill a deer, or even a bear at 30 yards.

Pete

Agree with Pete. A 45-70 would have been a better overall choice. It is more versatile and easier/cheaper to load for. That said, I still love my 500.  It won't do what my 45-70s will but it is still fun to push a .500" chunk o' lead out there.  They leave a big hole.  You will surely get that.

[AtlLaw]

loaded it with 440 g lead and it performed perfectly.

I've got a 440 gr. mould for my 500 and would like to use it for deer.  Could you expound on the "perfect performance?" 

[mo_bio]

loaded it with 440 g lead and it performed perfectly.

I've got a 440 gr. mould for my 500 and would like to use it for deer.  Could you expound on the "perfect performance?" 

Sure I can.  No recovery on the buck at 75 yards.  Went through both front shoulder. Needless to say, deer was never the same.  Same load shot into wet newsprint at 50 yards gave the following 3 results using air cooled wheel weight lead.  Retained weight, 420, 407, 411 grains with widest expansion at .78, .81., .80"  respectively.  Mine drop at 442 g.  Will have to dig to find velocity for that load.  All were Gas checked.

[twoshooter]

Mo and I use the same bullet , we compared notes before deer season. Another member here ran a chrony on my load for me - 1319,1301, and uh...1319 fps. And no, the chrony was not broke, he said he had never seen that before so it was one for his books. I don't use a gas check, no need, just more expense. At 92 yards went through both shoulders of the buck above and 16" into the ground, I know because I dug it up and recovered the bullet from the crater I water cool mine so there was no expansion really. The deer ran in a circle 2 or three times and fell over. Here are the specs:

[hoytcanon]

I have no personal experience with the 500 S&W... but I have a load of experience with bears... and based on the frontal section and energy... but particularly the MOMENTUM... I can assure you that your .500 will do an admirable job on blackies... put one in the lungs and let him run... if your guide tells you otherwise (he's a quack)... disregard his advice... remember; "one in the lungs and let him run!" I have heard guides advise their shooters to aim for the head, neck and frontal chest... why anyone would do this on a baited bear, I have no idea... you will likely have plenty of time to chose the correct body posture... preferably broadside, or slightly quartering away... just behind the shoulder and halfway up. I do agree with Pete, that the .45/70 is an overall better choice (much more versatile)... but for your bear hunting application the .500 will be great. 

[cwlongshot]

IMHO, when hand loaded,  the 500 and 45-70 are virtual twin brothers until about 100-150 yards are reached.

I like a big bullet, we all know the bigger frontal diameter equals the better more humaine ''killer''. The 500 wins that argument, its a power house at short range for sure. BUT the 45-70 can be loaded to duplicate.

The 440G WFN bullet design is a very good choice for the big, lil 500! The LEE mould throws a good bullet, that light on the pocket book.

CW

[8uck5nort]

I like mine and is still a work in progress. I took 2 does with it this year. One at about 20 yards and one at about 40 to 50 yards. Deer are not bear (don't have bear where I live) so not sure if performance would be the same, but the deer didn't go far in either case.
Recoil is stout and can be downright unpleasent using the factory configuration so I changed mine. I put on on USH thumbhole stock to mitigate the felt recoil and I think it helps alot. I added a nikon xlr scope which utilizes BDC. The scope has an extended eye relief of 5.5 inches so I don't give myself a skull/nose fracture in the heat of the moment by creeping to close during a hunting situation. I am seriously thinking on threading the barrel and adding a KA muzzle break, which is designed for the Beowulf round to further tame recoil. Make it a little more palatable from the bench for load developement
So far my most accurate load is using a Rem CL 385 JHP over a moderate dose of H110. The lighter Hornady FTX did well too.
 

[gcrank1]

The little 500 will do fine and if you arent in need of a longer distance capability no worries.
Still, its not my British .577 Snider with 85gr. BP and 485gr. HB soft lead bullet........

[geezer56]

I have only fired one shot in anger with my 500.  Killed a bobcat at about 60 yds.  Entrance hole 1 1/2''  exit about 2''.
I was using the Lee 440 gr cast, with a gc.  I want to try it on a pig, but from what I have seen, it will shoot completely through anything in the lower 48.  End to end or side to side, won't make any difference.  Onee of my buddies has the S&W pistol in 500, he has killed a lot of animals with it.  He says that cast bullets are the way to go in the 500.