500 S&W

[parson48]

I was in a local shop this morning and looked at a short barreled Handi with wooden stock and open sights in 500 S&W. I asked to look at the ammo for this caliber, and, after looking, I just don't think that I'd care to shoot it!

Nice looking rifle, but my shoulder ain't as young as it used to be.

By the way, price was $279.

[cwlongshot]

I have to admit if you don't roll your own, the 500 bite's in the wallet and the shoulder!!!  Handloading it cures BOTH!!! 

CW

[Darreld Walton]

Aw, come on now!  Recoil in my .500 carbine, the one that I had a barrel fitted onto my .45-70 BC, is nothing more than 'brisk'!  The 500 gr. Hornady's with a whole bunch of H110, 2400, or Li'l Gun is actually easier on me than the 300 grainers with a stout load.  I've yet to get any of them 700+ gr. bullets, but I'm looking forward to 'em.
I bought Starline brass, bulk bullets when available, and it's not that bad, in the wallet, or the shoulder, or wrist, or knuckles, or forehead, or cheekbones.........

[Spanky]

The 500 don't make much sense to me. If you don't reload it'll cost you a fortune to feed it factory ammo. Alot of guys that do reload for it say they load it down to make it more comfortable to shoot. Why not just shoot a 44 mag? Ammo for the 44 is cheaper and you won't get a dislocated shoulder shooting it. The 44 will kill things just as dead as the 500 too. What am I missing here?



Spanky

[S.E.Ak]

We have had the same two boxes of 500 sitting on the store shelf here sence it came out.Its Hornady and $72.00 a box of 20 rounds.It was special order and the guy moved before the ammo got here

[phatgemi]

Reloading for the 500 makes very good sense money wise......I load  400 gr cast bullets and with my last buy, I am loading for around 31 cents per round....So thats just a little over 6 bucks for 20 rounds. Much more affordable....

I guess the .44 is as good for most situations ( I have a .44 also) but when I originally purchased my handi, .44's were as scarce as hens teeth. I bought the .500 and then got a .44 barrel. Nice to have both.

Just something magical about having a 50......


Oh and IMHO 279 is a bit high. New ones run about 259 around here.....

[Spanky]

Reloading for the 500 makes very good sense money wise......I load  400 gr cast bullets and with my last buy, I am loading for around 31 cents per round....So thats just a little over 6 bucks for 20 rounds. Much more affordable....
I guess the .44 is as good for most situations ( I have a .44 also) but when I originally purchased my handi, .44's were as scarce as hens teeth. I bought the .500 and then got a .44 barrel. Nice to have both.
Just something magical about having a 50......
Oh and IMHO 279 is a bit high. New ones run about 259 around here.....

Have you compared the performance of your cast loads to 44 mag ammo?
I bet it's a wash between the two... kind of defeats the purpose of having a rompin' stompin' 50 caliber don't it?
That's not what I'd call magical.
Just my 2 cents.



Spanky

[cwlongshot]

 

The 500 don't make much sense to me. If you don't reload it'll cost you a fortune to feed it factory ammo. Allot of guys that do reload for it say they load it down to make it more comfortable to shoot. Why not just shoot a 44 mag? Ammo for the 44 is cheaper and you won't get a dislocated shoulder shooting it. The 44 will kill things just as dead as the 500 too. What am I missing here?

Spanky

Spanky,
 Bullet diameter is to a bullet like foot pounds is to a motor, I mean hi velocity numbers are impressive as are high horse power numbers in a sports car, but the foot pounds of torque is where the power is just like the bullet diameter.

Your also 100% correct there is not different degrees of dead and something that dies split second after impact before it hits the ground or something that makes two steps equals the same result, meat in the freezer.

If you haven’t experienced what that huge mepat does to game its an impressive site. Now We all know the physics of energy. I mean only the movies have a 12 Ga that will blow the bad guy out the wall of a house. In reality the force exerted on game cannot be anymore than what is exerted on your shoulder. But the couple deer I have witnessed being shot with the 500 where almost as impressive. You cannot fully appreciate it with you as the shooter, but as a observer…WOW!

Quick story:

My buddy and I where walking the property, hunting but more checking the back border where we have some “issues”. We where about 25-30 yards apart overlooking a opening near the property line. When a couple deer worked up toward us, one of them was a small crooked horn bugger. I know my buddy like to shoot these to get them outta the herd so I watched as he aligned up on him. At about 40 yards out he turned broad side to the 500. BOOM, I watched that deer literally be moved about two feet back and roll when hitting the ground dead!! It was as if a wrecking ball had swung onto him!!! Unbelievable! The profile of a WFN bullet gives you a mepat that bigger than the diameter of a .452 bullet let alone comparing it to a .429 of the 44. Its result to killing power, on game is awesome.

I know the 44 is a great bullet, its killing power is very efficient. But comparing the performance on game of a .429 44 Mag to the .500 500 Mag ALMOST regardless to velocity is a apples to oranges comparison.

CW

[Darreld Walton]

When I'm asked "wutinell're ya gonna do with THAT thing", I get to reply "ANY DURNED THING I WANNA".....
Maybe I have one for the same reason that I seek out older pickups and cars with big block gas motors.  They do what vehicles are meant to do without trying to get a hernia doing it.  They, and the little .500 just loaf along and get the job done.
I do NOT buy over the counter ammunition for anything but .22's and my skeet gun, and only for the shotgun when I've shot up all my handloads. 
The round is impressive in a rifle. 

[phatgemi]

Reloading for the 500 makes very good sense money wise......I load  400 gr cast bullets and with my last buy, I am loading for around 31 cents per round....So thats just a little over 6 bucks for 20 rounds. Much more affordable....
I guess the .44 is as good for most situations ( I have a .44 also) but when I originally purchased my handi, .44's were as scarce as hens teeth. I bought the .500 and then got a .44 barrel. Nice to have both.
Just something magical about having a 50......
Oh and IMHO 279 is a bit high. New ones run about 259 around here.....

Have you compared the performance of your cast loads to 44 mag ammo?
I bet it's a wash between the two... kind of defeats the purpose of having a rompin' stompin' 50 caliber don't it?
That's not what I'd call magical.



Just my 2 cents.



Spanky

I have not "officially" documented the comparison between the two. MY only point was to say that you can certainly load the 500 to plinking levels affordably . For example, my plinkin loads are the 400 gr cast over 12 gr of trailboss. Hot loads would be over about 40 grs of H110. I can do the same type spread with the .44.

And I know it's apples to oranges but you can get loads for the 500 with over 2500 ftpds of energy and the 44 will be about 1600. Now would a deer know the difference? Of course not. But just like anything else regarding the caliber argument, different is better!!!!

If I was starting over would I buy a 500??? Maybe not, but at the time indiana authorized rifles for hunting, you couldn't find a 44 with a search warrant. The 500 was available. Easy solution to me. Your .02 may vary.

[gcrank1]

FWIW, Ive read that the American Bison (PC for buffalo) herds were really done in with the 50-70, predecessor to the 45-70. Could have been because there were rifles chambered for it and lots of milsurp ammo at the time, but people that Ive met who have both today say it is noticably more impressive on big game (and big steel) than a 45-70.

[petemi]

I've got two spare frames and have been thinking of getting .444 and .500 barrels for them.  I also have a .44 reamed to .445 which I think is a fair compromise between the .44 and .500.  I also have a .45-70......so do I really need a .444?  Including the .357 Maxi and .45LC (which may grow to .454 or .460) they're all fun to shoot, so why not.  We only go around once.  I'm almost 70, and my major concern today is not to allow all the guns, ammo, reloading equipment, tools, etc. to be sold at auction.  I want it to go where it can promote the hunting and shooting sports best for youngsters.  My youngest stepson shoots about 20 dollars a year worth of 12 ga. at Grouse and that's all, and the older has no interest in any of it.  I got them in their teens, too late to be a real influence.  If you go the topic "OT Sheds" on this page and look at the picture of the kid sitting on the deer, you'll see where I missed out.

Pete

[AtlLaw]

The 500 don't make much sense to me .... What am I missing here?

Nuthin!  You exactly right!  Most nonsensical cartridge developed this century!  Why didn't they at least make it to shoot a .510 - .515 bullet!?  Nope.  No reason on God's green earth for that cartridge!  

[gcrank1]

Thats exactly why Ive been thinnin' my herd, Pete......they are all fun to play with and learn about, but then what?
Now Im concentrating on what I have been using while the others mostly sit and thinkin' I can save my wife a LOT of trouble by me moving them now.

[petemi]

The 500 don't make much sense to me .... What am I missing here?

Nuthin!  You exactly right!  Most nonsensical cartridge developed this century!  Why didn't they at least make it to shoot a .510 - .515 bullet!?  Nope.  No reason on God's green earth for that cartridge!  

Richard, am I missing something.  I thought smokeless cartridge firearms in this country were limited to .50 caliber??

Pete

P.S.  I still think your mother dresses you funny.

Thats exactly why Ive been thinnin' my herd, Pete......they are all fun to play with and learn about, but then what?
Now Im concentrating on what I have been using while the others mostly sit and thinkin' I can save my wife a LOT of trouble by me moving them now.

Yeah, I think I'll do the same.  I really love my straight walls and I think I'll thin out the rest.  For example, the .308 will do everything the 7mm-08 will do, plus the .30-30, 7-62x39 and in most cases, the '06.  The .223 will do pretty much what the .22-250 will do, and in my rifles it is more accurate and cheaper to shoot.

Pete

[AtlLaw]

am I missing something.

I dunno...    Was I 'spose to be lookin for it?     But I 'magine a 500 NE  or 50 BMG could be considered "distructive Devices..." 

I still think your mother dresses you funny.

Shoot boy!  You ought to see me when I get likkered up!     I don't dress a-tol!   

[Shu]

Yep not owning a 500 you are missing something.

Pops gave me a nice 376 styer built on a mauser 98 steyr action. It is more rifle than what I need. Is it fun to shoot- yes, is it more rifle than 99% of all hunting I'll do -yes, does it cuase grown men to tremble at the shooting range -yes. Thumping steel targets with authority is a hoot.
Could any of this be done with a "lesser" caliber - yes.
Could 99% of our driving be done with a Geo Metro??? I hope not, there in no replacement for displacement. Cars and guns Same principle applies.

[gcrank1]

"Same principle applies".........."there is NO substitute for cubic inches".

[STUMPJMPR]

I have an NEF in .500SW.  I bought it for Mississippi's primitive weapon then got a 45-70.  I just kept the .500 for the occasional Tyranasaraus Rex trying to eat my dog. 

[Shu]

My brother always said there was no need for anything other than a 30-06. He used it for everything.
he's partially right. It was his favorite untill his son introduced him to Mr. 35 Whelen.
I can't begrudge anyones favorite caliber, they pick them for a reason. There is something satisfying about owning a large bore. There is something even more satisfying knowing you have enough gun to hunt anything on the planet.

[geezer56]

I don't know about plinking loads in the 500.  Go big or go home.  If I want to plink, the 30-30 and 115 gr cast bullets over 3 or 4 gr of Unique is great fun.  I also confess to cast bullet plunking with the 45-70.  Not a typo, 500 fr of lead is a big PLUNK, even if it only moves about 800 FPS, or less in some cases.  I may get around to it one of these days, but so far I've not done any downloading for the 500.  I use 440 gr cast bullets over 35.0 gr H-110, Starline brass, W-W LR primers.  I can truthfully say I've never shot a factory load, or jacketed bullet out of that one.  I killed one bobcat, and several yard varmints like coons and possums.  It is perhaps a bit much for such duties, it just always seemed to be the one at hand when I needed a gun.

[blind ear]

geezer56, sorta like high speed bowling huh?     eddiegjr

[Darreld Walton]

I'll be a needin' it fer Zombies and such.........

[gcrank1]

Closest thing to a 'big African rifle' most of us will ever get close to..............

[SwampThing762]

Richard, am I missing something.  I thought smokeless cartridge firearms in this country were limited to .50 caliber??

Pete

That requirement was limited to handguns only.  I am not certain if that rule still applies, as the 500 Linebaugh accepts a .511 bullet.

As for the 500 SW, I no longer load for that cartridge as my 12 gauge slug gun shoots ballistically similar loads without having to worry about overall length.   However, my slug loads are closer to the 50-70 govt than they are to the 500 sw magnum.

ST762

[Darreld Walton]

I believe that the caveat attached at the end of the description of a "destructive device" exempts firearms/cartridges over .500 bore that can be demonstrated to have a "significant sporting purpose".  I'd shoot that .700 H&H Mag with confidence in knowing that you haven't angered the folks at BATFE.  Yet.

[AtlLaw]

I'll be a needin' it fer Zombies and such.........

He says with a nod to "The Outlaw Josie Wales!" 

Closest thing to a 'big African rifle' most of us will ever get close to..............

Oh I don't know...    My 450 Sharps Express (AKA 45-120) is right there!   

I was looking up 500 loads last night.  Doesn't look like you can load it up to the 450SE levels with the same weight bullet.     But then, the bullet diameter is much greater.  So, I guess it would do for thin skinned game... 

[gcrank1]

I did say 'most' of us........we know you (and a few others) are the exception!
Some years back a chap at the shooting club had a custom 1875(?) Sharps (you know, that last 'Sharps' model made) in something like 45-140 that he loaded with smokeless to 458Win. Mag +P type loads using a 630(?)gr. bullet.
I watched him shoot it off the bench about a dozen shots then walked over and asked what it was. He told me, real excited that I was interested, and said,"want to try it?" Well, sure!, but I'll do it offhand.
Aimed at the 100yd. swinging 5/8" steel buff target about 3' long and touched it off...........
I think the rotation of the earth was momentarily delayed by recoil.
And I darn near took the buff off the chains......
One was enough!
Way Cool.

[phatgemi]

Sure seems to be a lot of hate directed to the .500. Some knock the price of ammo and then others mention even more exotic calibers which are way more expensive to use. Bottom line is if you want to talk energy the 500 is reasonably impressive. Reloading makes it very affordable.

I have no problem at all with probably the most popular .45/70 and it's variants. Only problem is that here in Indiana the .45/70 is a senseless cartridge. NOT legal to hunt anything at all with it. BUT the .500 is legal. Easy choice for me and I'm sure others.

I also have a .44 and enjoy it as well.

[AtlLaw]

Lookin at Hornady huntin bullets it seems that the choices are 350 and 500 gr.     I guess it only makes sense to go with the 500 gr. for hunting.     Izzat what y'all use?     Maybe the 500 @ 1500 or so?   

I usually worrry about plinkin loads after I come up with a huntin load!