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Author Topic: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle  (Read 1463 times)

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Offline trapper500

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500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« on: June 06, 2011, 12:56:30 AM »
I am going to buy me a Handi Rifle in the 500 S&W Mag just as soon as i finish paying off my Taurus Raging Bull 44 Magnum SS 8& 3.8" bbl .I have always loved the Little Handi's they are extremely accurate & easy to care for less parts to wear or break . Any of you fellas who may have a Handi In 500 S&W Mag let me know how you like or dislike it & i am going to scope mine with a Barska 2.5x10.56mm 30mm tube dia on my handi Rifle 500 S&W mag . I do reload for it because if i had to pay for the Factory loads I would be hurting because  i wont pay what some of the mfgs are asking for just 12-20 rounds I have already loaded 190 rounds for my Handi Rifle 500 Mag can't wait to get it .
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Offline Darreld Walton

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2011, 01:19:05 AM »
Without knowing what you expect out of it, it's tough to say whether you'll be pleased or not with your choice.  With "max effort" heavy bullet loads, it'll wake you up, and maybe hurt a bit in the process!  Fortunately, it's not hard to make loads toned down a bit for it that'll do a variety of tasks and won't hurt you at all.  At some point, you'll likely start casting for it, as it seems that even cast or swaged .500 diameter bullets are priced at a premium. 
It won't shoot across canyons, knock down the timber on the way to a critter, lay it open and whisk the hide off with the wind the bullet creates as it goes by.  It WILL poke half inch diameter holes through anything you're likely to encounter in the lower 48 at reasonable range. 
Honestly, it's a LOT of fun, but realistically, it won't do much that a good .45-70 won't do.
Mine started as a .45-70 "Buffalo Classic", and I sent it in and had .500 S&W and .204 Ruger barrels fitted, giving me a 3-barrel set on one frame and stock set.  Since I got into the BC for an extremely "friendly" price, I've got about $350 tied up in the whole rig, including the glass that I pulled off other projects.
I have no experience with the Barska glass, but I believe personally that the .500 is better off with a quality set of irons.  I tried several fixed power, older Weaver scopes from 2.5 to 6X, and when the bullet weight and powder charge goes up, the closer that objective got to my eyebrow, and the bridge of my nose already has several dandy crescent-shaped cuts .
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Offline Jimbo47

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2011, 04:49:02 AM »
With the 500 S&W Trailboss powder is your friend!
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My culled down Handi's are the 45-70, and then I have a few others to keep it company...357 Mag/Max. .45 LC/.454 Casull Carbine, .243 Ultra, and 20 gauge Tracker II.

Offline petemi

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2011, 05:07:23 AM »
What Dareld Walton said.  You want lots of eye relief on whatever scope you put on it.  I forgot when shooting off the porch rail the other day and almost broke my new glasses, not to mention my nose.

I really don't know why I have a .500 when I have a .445 and .45-70.  I guess because it's there and is a Handi.  It is an excellelnt shooter.

Pete
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2011, 09:36:57 AM »
With TB loads to duplicate the old 50-70 and maybe even a 50-90 it will be 'formidable' enough. It wont be my .577 Snider in frontal area, but in all else it will be a similar hoot.
+1 on the glass thing, with a rear peep and a front glo-sight it will be fast and friendly, easy to carry, and a 'natural' to handle.
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Offline greenrivers

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2011, 10:51:36 AM »
I bought one a few months back. Thought it would be a fun gun to put new wood on and get rid of the plastic. Took it to the range and it fired a couple rounds of .204's just before the locking spring in it broke. Took it back as it was a new rifle. Got my money back and made a vow of never again. The T/C that replaced it has been great.
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2011, 12:29:26 PM »
But, this IS the 'H&R Forum'....... :-\
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
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We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
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45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline Troyboy

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2011, 01:43:48 PM »
I would put a smaller scope on. There have been a few reports of scope ring issues.
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Offline rdlange

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2011, 02:27:08 PM »
Please get a better scope.  All the Barska's I've had were mediocre and didn't last long.  Had problems with holding zero also.  For less money look for an older fixed power Weaver or Redfield,   Mine have lasted decades with serious use.  Slug gun scopes are popular with big bore Handi shooters.  Made for heavy recoil.

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Offline manatee1947

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #9 on: June 06, 2011, 02:38:38 PM »
personally I suggest the Simmons Pro Diamond shotgun scopes, they are inexpensive, very compact and light, durable, and very bright in proportion to the cost. I would love a good set of iron sights, but they cost way more than the scope did, I dont go in for the anti-rhino loads many here do, but a 440 gr home cast  bullet at 1250 to 1500fps and is very accurate will do about anything you need done outside of africa and cost  me the same as 17 HMR Rimfire.
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Offline spikehorn

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2011, 04:44:42 PM »
+1 on the simmons pro diamond shot gun scope only thing I would add is that you spend a little bit extra and get the master series they seem brighter to me.
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 500 S&W Mag NEF Handi Rifle
« Reply #11 on: June 06, 2011, 05:08:55 PM »
The 500 is alot of fun and can be loaded to take everything from rabbits to grizzly bears. Recoil with hot loads is pretty stiff so a scope with lots of eye relief is a good idea. I shoot 370gr. cast bullets with gas checks over Trail Boss powder and can ring the 200 yd. gong all day long so don't think it's for close range only. ;)
I had the barrel drilled and tapped for a set of Remington 700 sights. The Remington sights are alot better than the standard plastic sights they come with.



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