500 S&W

[Jack Ryan]

Does any one have one of these in a Handi or done any testing in this calibur with the Handi?

[quickdtoo]

Check your email and read my reply to your Indiana deer rifle thread.

Another option would be the 45 Colt Carbine, it'll shoot 1½moa with 250gr Speer GDHPs at over 1900fps. Not as much recoil as the 500 S&W which is substantial and the reason lots of Handi owners don't like them, but another bunch that love em!!! Mine shoots the 350gr XTP at 2200fps with max loads of Lil'gun, 2moa scoped.

Tim

[jedman]

This is a question for Quickdtoo, I hope I am not out of line asking you a question on this post but, as I read your many references to bolt thrust... wouldn't the 500 S&W be hard on a handi rifle frame ?
I know its a factory chambered cartridge but if I understand bolt thrust it would seem to be a some what poor choice for a handi.
Have you noticed any frame stretch or loosening of your rifle from shooting max loads ?  Just wondered
                                                               jedman

[quickdtoo]

No frame stretching, have never had that problem, even with the 300WSM project, but frame flex, which is temporary, doesn't happen with the 500, probably due to the fact that max loads are still only about 51kpsi, not the 60kpsi SAAMI MAP.

BUT, there have been several 500s sent back to the factory with loose barrels due to underlug setback, which happens on other chamberings as well. The underlug is the weak point on a Handi, the 500 may compress the pivot slightly causing the barrel to be loose. I bought a used barrel that was way loose on every one of my late model frames, over 20 of em! I improved the underlug with the same technique as I did with the 300WSM, it's holding up fine with max loads of lil'gun so far. See the FAQ for the underlug improvement.

Tim