Why so few choices for a 500 mag?

[Redhawk1]

Mohawk,
I shoot my 475 Linebaugh and 500 Mag every bit as accurate as I do my 357 Mag or 44 Mag.  Yes to me shot placement is everything, no matter what I shoot.  I do surprise a lot of people as to how accurate I can shoot my 500 Mag, and as fast as I shoot it with full house loads and maintain my accuracy.  The reason I shoot it so well is, the amount of time I spend shooting it, and becoming proficient with it..

Our jobs are to embrace all hunters, no matter what they choose to use, as long as it is a round not under sized for the task. No need with infighting as we have enough enemies from the anti-gun and anti hunting community.

Marry Christmas to all of you.

[Mohawk]

Thank you, Redhawk1. You are right. We'll carry on from here. Good hunting and Merry Christmas!

[ole 5 hole group]

Ahhh, Mohawk, you are a small bore shooter and enjoy the 38/357.  That’s a great round no doubt.  I’ve spent many a year shooting that caliber in both revolver & pistol competitions.  I’ve also killed a deer or two with both calibers back in the day when the 357 was a “real” man’s revolver and the 38 Special was considered to be “the” carry revolver.  I haven’t shot competition with the 38 Special in some time now but still punch paper and a few gophers & prairie dogs on occasion with it. 

If you ever shot silhouette you probably know the 44 magnum did a great job dropping those rams but there were those that preferred using the 35 caliber for everything and I mean everything.  There weren’t many 357 mag shooters standing on the award platform mainly due to those stubborn rams.
 
So in the early 80’s out comes the 357 Maximum and some individuals couldn’t understand why it wasn’t available 20 years earlier, as it could reach out there and “caress” a target with authority.  I guess you could say it revolutionized the 35 caliber and whitetails were no longer safe within 200 yards if a pisterlo was behind the trigger.  How do you feel about that particular round?

It sure doesn’t hurt to be a gunpowder junkie/sixgun addict to have a hobby of shooting anything and everything that comes within your reach for either score, meat or just having a great day in the outdoors with the smell of powder in the air.  I love it when the black powder boys get after it.

Merry Christmas to all.

[Mohawk]

What works is what works. We have no charging bears and the .38/.357 does just fine. Eating sausage now that was taken with a .38 Spl .........   But Merry Christmas to you.

[ole 5 hole group]

What works is what works. We have no charging bears and the .38/.357 does just fine. Eating sausage now that was taken with a .38 Spl .........   But Merry Christmas to you.

Yup, that 35 caliber does just fine.  Just recieved 500 brand new 357 Maximum cases I've got to prep after the holidays, which should last me for the rest of my days shooting the 35 caliber on steroids. 

[saddlebum]

All this, "big dog, little dog", macho posturing in this thread is pretty funny!   

Reminds me of people that live in the city and don't own a trailer or haul anything. But they are in debt on a 60 thousand dollar dually pickup with the highest F- rating." My truck's bigger than yours", even if I don't know what the F- rating means. Are we trying to compensate for some area we are lacking in here?   

Ross Syfried has taken elephants and cape buffalo with a 4'' M-29, .44mag and .45 Colt Ruger Bisleys. He claimed that a 325gr .44 LBT slug penatrated 4' of an elephant's neck after being shot in the forehead.
The .500 is overkill. More expensive to produce, buy and feed. More recoil and being a huge gun all add up to a smaller market for the gun. Just common sense. Nothing wimpy about not wanting to go there.

Not bashing anyone for being a fan of them. After all, my favorite handgun cartridge is the .41mag. Many people don't like it either. But I don't consider myself a "bigger dog" than a .357mag shooter........That's just funny!   

If you like the "big dog" then run him! God bless you! But to stay on topic here, the .500 will never have as big a following/market as the "little dogs" for all the above reasons...............arf arf!   

[buck460XVR]

All this, "big dog, little dog", macho posturing in this thread is pretty funny!   

Actually, most all of the posting here has been funny. Not just the "mine's bigger than yours", but the "I'm a better handgunner cause I shoot small bores" crap and the "they're just trying to make up for other shortcomings" baloney. As shooting sports enthusiasts, we should support all forms of the sport, whether it be hunting or targets. What one uses to pursue this endeavor should be irrelevant as long as it is legal and ethical. We want to convince others to support the 2nd amendment, but we can't get along with those that already do? Some folks need to stand back and take a look at the big picture.

[saddlebum]

All this, "big dog, little dog", macho posturing in this thread is pretty funny!   

Actually, most all of the posting here has been funny. Not just the "mine's bigger than yours", but the "I'm a better handgunner cause I shoot small bores" crap and the "they're just trying to make up for other shortcomings" baloney. As shooting sports enthusiasts, we should support all forms of the sport, whether it be hunting or targets. What one uses to pursue this endeavor should be irrelevant as long as it is legal and ethical. We want to convince others to support the 2nd amendment, but we can't get along with those that already do? Some folks need to stand back and take a look at the big picture.

Yep, now that you mention it, I wonder what state permits deer hunting with a .38spl? I know it's not legal in my state. The .357mag just barely qualifies in my state.

[45-70.gov]

any center fire in  florida

[saddlebum]

Never mind, I answered my own question!..........Texas

[buck460XVR]

.....just because something is legal, don't necessarily make it ethical. Just sayin'.

[saddlebum]

.....just because something is legal, don't necessarily make it ethical. Just sayin'.

I won't go there cuz I don't want to start anything, but the Texas regulation is so broad in the way it's written that it looks like you could go out and legally bang away at any game animal with a .32 S&W. Like the Florida reg. mentioned above, ANY centerfire cartridge. No rimfires of any kind.

I personally would feel more comfortable doing head shots on deer with a .22 rimfire rifle. But what do I know.......I ain't from Texas!

My state sets energy and range limits on the cartridge to be used that places a hot .357 mag at the lower limit.

[Lloyd Smale]

now it shifts to bashing guys that dont use enough gun. Give it a rest. To many guys think that they have a right to tell someone else what they should be using on game. The gun should fit into a tight critieria determined by the man who knows everything. Bottom line is few no much of anything and do better typing on a keyboard then they do pulling the trigger of any hangun.

[Mohawk]

Yes, Texas. Anything centerfire.

[Mohawk]

Its all good, Lloyd. Wait till I break out the .38/40 next year. Or the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter looks promising, I used the standard pressure LSWCHP in the avatar deer so the full wadcutter should do well. That's why I love Texas. We don't have non-hunting legislators telling us what to take deer with (:

[saddlebum]

Yep, pretty funny!!   ....................Merry Christmas!!  (albeit from a dummy on a keyboard) 

[Mohawk]

Yes we are a funny crew.... Merry Christmas Ya'll !!!

[Lloyd Smale]

never shot a deer with the 3840. I have with the 4440 though and it did real well and im sure the 3840 with a well placed bullet will have you eating backstraps. Merry Christmas everyone.

Its all good, Lloyd. Wait till I break out the .38/40 next year. Or the Buffalo Bore full wadcutter looks promising, I used the standard pressure LSWCHP in the avatar deer so the full wadcutter should do well. That's why I love Texas. We don't have non-hunting legislators telling us what to take deer with (:

[BCB]

Darn, my e-mail notification stopped or my e-mail is not being retrieved by me server...

I have been missing some of this debate...

So, I'll try to get the notifications started again...

BCy

[Redhawk1]

now it shifts to bashing guys that dont use enough gun. Give it a rest. To many guys think that they have a right to tell someone else what they should be using on game. The gun should fit into a tight critieria determined by the man who knows everything. Bottom line is few no much of anything and do better typing on a keyboard then they do pulling the trigger of any hangun.

Yea, it never stops does it Lloyd!

Then you got the guys that want to push there ethics BS. Ethics is what you do when no one else is around, if it is legal it is ethical period. And the over kill BS, dead is dead, there is no such think as over kill...

[Curtis]

now it shifts to bashing guys that dont use enough gun. Give it a rest. To many guys think that they have a right to tell someone else what they should be using on game. The gun should fit into a tight critieria determined by the man who knows everything. Bottom line is few no much of anything and do better typing on a keyboard then they do pulling the trigger of any hangun.

Yea, it never stops does it Lloyd!

Heh, reminds me of what I heard about traffic ..........If you're driving faster than me you're going TOO FAST and if you driving slower than me then...........well, you know!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Curtis

[Mohawk]

Nothing wrong with a little debate. I think we all use what we want to hunt with for various reasons. Myself, Redhawk, and Lloyd are experienced handgun hunters and we have been debating for years. I think we all have different techniques and reasoning. But it doesn't mean anyone is right or wrong. Would I take a 50yd shot with a Model 10? Nope! But it works quite well within "my" personal limitations, 25 or so yards with standard fixed sights. Same goes for my Model 28 .357. That's just part of being "experienced". It aint all about caliber. I remember my third range instructor. He ignored the typical shooting sequence and had us empty our weapons at 7 feet. That's how we qualified. He had been in three on duty shootings so he passed on what he knew. Our shotgun qual was interesting too. Point is that we learn through debate because I doubt anyone that takes the time to share opinion on this board has at least some experience.

[Mikey]

Buckhammer:  to answer your question, (I hope by now anyhow) I believe it is the demand for the caliber.  I don't think anyone is selling them faster than they can make them.  If the really big heavy calibers were that popular among the average shooter then I think they would be in ample supply by most anyone who makes handguns. I know S&W makes a 500, and so does someone else I think.

I'm sorry it took so long to try and get you a answer but I was simply amazed as to how fast this thread, ummmmm, expanded from your original question, but you sure got a lot of, ummmm, errr, food for thought..............

Merry Christmas. 

[Lloyd Smale]

Problem is mikey not everyone wants one or will put in the time need to master them but smith does make them and im sure does make enough of them to turn a profit so there is guys buying them. Weapons choise and how a guy hunts is a personal thing and nobody has a right to preach against someones legal choise. If you want to preach ethics preach to the guys who shoot deer and waste them. In michigan theres no law against tagging your deer and tossing it in a dumpster. How many here are bow hunters. Ive been bow hunting for 30 years. I know the limitations of my equiptment and hunt within them. But id bet that theres more deer wounded in one year with bows in the US then have been wounded my 38s and 357s in the history of the US. But then theres bow hunters that claim that someone using a crossbow isnt ethical. what it comes down to is theres A^^ H*+_+  that in every aspect of life think they have the only answer and everyone should march in line behind them. Funny thing is a good many of them dont have even a small ammount of experience to back up there opinions. Sad part is that its guys like that that become the law makers in this country. What we dont need is guys claiming some gun is not powerful enough or two powerful to be ethical. Antis cruise these sites looking for ammunition in there fight against guns and hunting and eat that kind of stuff right up. Best thing to do is if you have an opinion based on actuall experience post it but post it in an educational way. If your opinion is just an opinion or an opinion you got from talking to other people or an opinion you learned on the internet keep it to yourself. How many guys here preaching against using big bores or even preaching against the 38 ore 357 have actually used one hunting? What people want is experienced opinions not personal predudices. Tell them to your mommy or someone else that loves you even though you an (censored)

[Mikey]

Pardon the hell outta me and please forget I even made the stupid mistake of trying to answer the guy's question.  And where the hell do people get the idea I'm preaching ethics. 

Why doesn't someone just try anwering the guy's question without all the bs.

[saddlebum]

This just keeps getting funnier...

With all the ranting going on, a person might think that someone had a guilty conscience or something.  

If you guys are in a huff over my posts, try reading them again. I didn't bash anyone. Go back and read it. Your responses make a fella wonder why I hit such a tender nerve without even trying.

If your feelings are hurt cuz I kinda made fun of the "big dog, little dog" thing, then don't set yourself up like that. It's silly!
I didn't even give an opinion about banging away at 50lb deer with a .38spl., except to say I would rather use something smaller in a rifle. I just said it wasn't legal in my state. That's what I'm used to. Get over it!  

As much as "super hunter" has posted about that .38spl bambi kill in the last month, (29 times not counting the ones on the thread he started about it), and putting it on his avatar, you would think it was his first deer, ever. Or maybe we are just looking for a fight........ I don't know. Either way I'm sure he would spend just as much time posting about it if he wounded one and it got away..........right? He seems like a nice guy that way.  

If I don't have enough time on this forum to add my two cents worth to your conversation, then maybe you should put up a warning like, SENIOR MEMBERS ONLY!!
I guess spending years on this forum posting "big dog", "little dog", wizzing matches like this one would tend to make a guy infinitely more wise than someone who spent his time doing something else. Your right, I'll have to be more careful where I jump in at from now on.  

I hope you guys don't lose any sleep over this, it's not that big of a deal. At least to me anyway.  

Man up boys! You'll be alright!!  

[saddlebum]

Pardon the hell outta me and please forget I even made the stupid mistake of trying to answer the guy's question.  And where the hell do people get the idea I'm preaching ethics. 

Why doesn't someone just try anwering the guy's question without all the bs.

Don't be offended Mickey! That was for me!.....I'm purdy sure!

[Redhawk1]

Mikey,
I answered it with my first post. Read my post, it is all in there. Sure I added a few things, like my actually experience with the round etc.. Also I don't think Lloyd way saying you were bringing up the ethics, it was a few of the others on the thread that wanted to start a Pi$$ing contest.

I am amazed of how others want to come to knock someone for there choice.
Yes there are 3 current manufactures of the 500 Mag in handguns, Smith & Weson, Magnum Research (BFR) and Thompson Center for the Encore.

The reason is cost to produce a gun that will handle the 500 Mag round. Taurus gave it a run and failed, the reason was the quality, and low demand for there version.

We all know why there is not a Hugh demand for the 500 Mag, it has been posted several times here already.
Is the 500 Mag going away any time soon, I say no. There is still a market for the round, and no it is not going to out sell the 44 Mag, just like every African hunter does not buy a double rifle in 416 Rigby or 577 T-Rex for Cape Buffalo when a 375 H&H bolt action is the #1 gun for Africa.

[Redhawk1]

saddlebum,
it is funny, when I posted the big dog, it was meant as a joke. You seem to take it and run with it, seeing how you post it in all your post here.. Some of use take it serious when it comes to people wanting to push there ethics or opinion without really having any real experience with the gun they are talking about.

I don't loose any sleep on anything posted here, it is like entertainment for me. I see who actually knows what there talking about, and then I see the guys that get all there information sitting behind a keyboard, and not knowing or experiencing first hand what they are talking about.

[saddlebum]

Maybe you need to change up your meds or something there Red. Can you pull a quote from my posts to prove I am trying to "push there ethics....''.
 
You sure like to make a lot of unfounded accusations about people you nothing about. Oh, that's right, you said,
"I see who actually knows what there talking about, and then I see the guys that get all there information sitting behind a keyboard, and not knowing or experiencing first hand what they are talking about."  Maybe ought to get your crystal ball serviced, cuz you no nothing about me and you got nothing else. Your not pulling me into one of your wizzing matches. I don't have to defend myself or argue with you.

I'm starting to feel creepy like I'm picking on an elderly person or something. So you can have the last word, I'm done. Make it a good one, I can handle it.

I'm sorry your confused and I'm sorry I embarrassed you, joking about our dog thing.