Author Topic: thinking about 500S&W (Read 1436 times)

frankcastle13 · « **on:** January 30, 2007, 06:23:49 PM »

Well, I'm starting to research different rifles for me to get, and have been looking at the 500 S&W Handi-rifle. My uncle has a Handi-rifle in .223 and I like it alot. I will be hunting whitetail, blacktail, and black bear. maybe elk in the future but will probably upgrade by then. I was thinking about a Savage scoped combo but am leaning more towards the 500 because it's affordable.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2007, 06:37:46 PM »

If you like recoil the .500 will make you happy if you shoot factory ammo, if you handload, you can load it to your liking.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,104336.msg1098290154.html#msg1098290154

frankcastle13 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2007, 06:55:42 PM »

I'm almost 17, 5' 11", 175. Is it comparable to a 30-06? If so then it shouldn't be a huge issue.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2007, 07:09:58 PM »

It's comparable to mid to upper levergun loads in the .45-70, close to a third more to almost twice the recoil of the .30-06, depending on the load. There have been several .500 S&W Handis sold in the classifieds here due to the heavy recoil of the factory ammo of the .500S&W, some would describe it as brutal. A limbsaver recoil pad will help a lot, some weight or an MRR in the stock even more. It's substantially more than the recoil of trapdoor loads in the .45-70 which are 300gr at about 1800fps.

I shoot 300gr Noslers at over 2400fps in my .45-70 Handi and BC, that recoil is about the same as the .375H&H, the .500S&W will push 300gr bullets to about 2250fps in a Handi.

Tim

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

bigchuckie · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2007, 08:12:38 PM »

If you dont handload dont get one the bullets are very expensive. Go with a 45-70

Sourdough · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2007, 08:42:04 PM »

I must have missed something, I thought the .500S&W was a pistol cartridge. So how can recoil be so brutal? Rog

Daniel Laws · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2007, 12:39:58 AM »

How can it kick so bad? That's what I thought the first time I shot mine. Several reasons, I think. 400 gr. plus bullets, moving at from 1500 to 2100 FPS. 7lb rifle. The biggie is the powders used, both in available reloading data and in factory loads. It is fast burning pistol powder, with a rather abrupt burn. Deer season is over here, so I am going to have time to work on finding some reliable data for slower powders for this caliber. The recoil in factory stuff is like getting hit in the shoulder by Mike Tyson when he's really ticked off. I think slower powders would reduce the recoil from a slam to a good hard shove. At least that's what I hope. I want to get recoil manageable to the point that I can shoot enough to get comfortable with the gun at hunting ranges. I want to hammer a deer with it next year.

Guy Pike · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2007, 01:57:29 AM »

6'2",220 lbs. Haven't found a factrory load yet that would stop me from shooting a couple boxes in one session, off hand. Even my 14 year old 5'6" 140lb buddy shoots it without a problem. Bench it, Three's enough for me!

darat100 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2007, 03:28:00 AM »

Everyone has different tolerances for recoil. However, if you look at chuch hawks recoil table, the 500 isn't listed on the rifle table, but you are looking at velocity and bullet weight very close to the numbers for the 450 marlin he has listed there. That is near double the recoil on the 30-06, so I would say quick is dead on.

I know I don't need it. For some, that might be light. For me, that is a serious thump. And a good way to develop a bad flinch.

bajabill · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:03:56 AM »

my guess is that most of the pistols made for this round are compensated. And the few that are not will probably not get much use.

Walks with a gimp · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:15:54 AM »

I've had mine for about two weeks and just last weekend was my first session at the bench with it. It's no where near the recoil of my .338 and I'd say it's about like a 3006 while shooting the UltraMax 325 grain ammo. It's rated at 1400 fps on the box. I'me sure you can find more recoil with different ammo and heavier bullets. I don't know why you would ever need more than 325 grains in bullet weight unless you went for moose or big bears. It's a short range gun and cartridge combo that will pack a punch and anchor game fast with the very large frontal bullet diameter. I have a Bushnell 1.75 X 4 power shotgun scope on mine and it seems like a perfect combination with the 6 inches + of eye relief. I'll probably hand load for mine, found some bullets on Midway for about $17.00 a box of 100 so that shoule ease the pocket book if I think I need to plink too much. A friend of mine has a T/C Encore muzzleloader and shooting 150 grains of powder behind a 250 grain bullet is much more "punishing" than this 500 S&W,, IMO

xhare · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:32:26 AM »

I found a barely used one for $179, so I figured what the heck, I also bought a few boxes of ammo with it. I took it to the range to sight it in and have some fun. After shooting it from the bench I was reminded of why I sold my Savage Safari Express in 458 Win Mag. Of hand however it was not that bad. I figured that I was not as young as I used to be and thought about selling it again.

However, as deer season approached I again thought what the heck, and got the rifle ready. I purchased a peep sight for it and took it to the range again. Nicely accurate, 2" at 100 yards with my 375 grain Ultramax load, but still a big kicker. On my first day out it absolutley flattened a smallish buck at 90 yards. I am not selling it now.

John R. · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:35:58 AM »

That Ultra-max load is a powder puff. I load a 370 gr. LFNGC @ 2160 fps. (still a grain and a half under max with Lil Gun), and I'm here to tell you that load and the Ultramax load are like daylight and dark.

Walks with a gimp · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:03:04 AM »

Seen a 500 S&W barrel go for $180.00 on E-Bay..

Here's a link to John Taffin's article,,

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_1_53/ai_n16866654

motordog80 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:52:13 AM »

what is the range of the 500 for deer hunting?? Indiana will allow a rifle if its using a handgun bullet next year. also how long is the cartrige??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:07:41 AM »

Trim length for the .500 is 1.615".

bigjeepman · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:12:28 AM »

If I am not mistaken, the minutes that I read of one of the hearings/meetings on the proposal to allow cartridge shooting rifles in Indiana only include calibers from .357 to .45. I read this about four weeks ago but I am sure this is what is in the proposal.

motordog80 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2007, 07:37:18 AM »

I know there was a case lenth requirments, but I was unsure of the caliber. Thanks for busting my bubble. I almost had a good excuse to buy a new barrel.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2007, 07:41:45 AM »

motordog80 ...

Buy a new barrel anyway and if I am right, blame it on the dang gov't for putting the screws to you.... lol .... that way you can still enjoy a new barrel ...

Roger_Dailey · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2007, 08:12:06 AM »

Quote from: bigjeepman on January 31, 2007, 06:12:28 AM

If I am not mistaken, the minutes that I read of one of the hearings/meetings on the proposal to allow cartridge shooting rifles in Indiana only include calibers from .357 to .45. I read this about four weeks ago but I am sure this is what is in the proposal.

I don't know if this is the latest, but I got it from the DNR web site:
"(4) A rifle must:
(A) fire a bullet of three hundred fifty-seven thousandths of an inch (.357) diameter or larger;
(B) have a minimum case length of one and sixteen hundredths (1.16) inches; and
(C) have a maximum case length of one and six hundred twenty-five thousandths (1.625) inches.
"

ro · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2007, 11:14:59 AM »

i have a 500 sw handi rifle, killed three deer with it this season, i did some scope trading this past weekend on my rifles, rebore sighted 500 shot it 12-15 times on my range 50 and 100 yard targets good groupes at both, as for rifle kicks, about the same as my 12 ga 3-1/2" turkey gun, not a real killer on me, i was shooting off a rest, when i shot the deer i never felt the kick,as i said about the same as my 12 ga turkey gun, if want less buy the 44 mag ,it is pistol load also for your new law, but i read the 44mag handi has a over size bore?

frankcastle13 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2007, 12:49:23 PM »

Well it's either this or a .300 Win mag. The .300 is about twice as much though, but can make long shots too.

Walks with a gimp · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:23:13 PM »

I had a .338 Winchester mag and I could shoot it about 6 times before my neck started hurting with the loads I had worked up for the rifle (and they weren't max loads). I sold it to my brother in law and he used it that deer season. He ended up shooting a doe the last day of the season, shot the dumb thing 3 times and she would just run off and look around at each shot! He was making good ribcage hits each time and the bullets were just poking through not much more than air. The deer had 6 holes in her when she finally laid down

There just wasn't enough resistance to make those bullets "work" I guess. This .500 might be a different story

Especially where pistol bullets are used at speeds much higher than they are designed for. Seen that using .44 Hornady 300 grain XTP's in my .50 cal muzzleloader.

I get things squared away some day and start playing with it,, I'm gonna try paper patched .50 cal round balls. A 177 grain .495 round ball won't drop through the bore but you can see light through the rifling. What might be cool would be dipping them in a hot plastic coating to take up the gap

quickdtoo · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2007, 04:31:23 PM »

Quote from: Walks with a gimp on January 31, 2007, 04:23:13 PM

I get things squared away some day and start playing with it,, I'm gonna try paper patched .50 cal round balls. A 177 grain .495 round ball won't drop through the bore but you can see light through the rifling. What might be cool would be dipping them in a hot plastic coating to take up the gap

Or just get some .502"s and use em!! .457" would work in a .50 cal sabot, too!!

Tim

http://www.mikeswillowlake.com/45-70_fun.htm

Walks with a gimp · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:14:47 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on January 31, 2007, 04:31:23 PM

Quote from: Walks with a gimp on January 31, 2007, 04:23:13 PM
I get things squared away some day and start playing with it,, I'm gonna try paper patched .50 cal round balls. A 177 grain .495 round ball won't drop through the bore but you can see light through the rifling. What might be cool would be dipping them in a hot plastic coating to take up the gap

Or just get some .502"s and use em!! .457" would work in a .50 cal sabot, too!!

Tim

http://www.mikeswillowlake.com/45-70_fun.htm

If it wasn't so expensive, a guy could use Kerosafe (sp)?? and just pour it into the sabots.. I've got some around heere somewhere

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:18:51 PM »

Heck, just pour it down the barrel, pre-rifled bullets!!

Walks with a gimp · « **Reply #26 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:22:56 PM »

Heck,, I just checked and my Hornady green .44/50 cal sabots mic out at .505 with a 240 grain swaged lead hollowpoint pistol bullet inside. Think that would be too tight? I can shove it in an empty case and it will chamber in my gun??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:37:41 PM »

I think it would go right down the bore!!! If a .308" bullet from a 7.62x39 cartridge will fire thru a .243 Winchester bore of a Handi, I'm sure that slight difference in a plastic sabot won't make much difference!!

Give er a shot for fun!!

Tim

frankcastle13 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:43:21 PM »

Quote from: Walks with a gimp on January 31, 2007, 04:23:13 PM

I had a .338 Winchester mag and I could shoot it about 6 times before my neck started hurting with the loads I had worked up for the rifle (and they weren't max loads). I sold it to my brother in law and he used it that deer season. He ended up shooting a doe the last day of the season, shot the dumb thing 3 times and she would just run off and look around at each shot! He was making good ribcage hits each time and the bullets were just poking through not much more than air. The deer had 6 holes in her when she finally laid down There just wasn't enough resistance to make those bullets "work" I guess. This .500 might be a different story Especially where pistol bullets are used at speeds much higher than they are designed for. Seen that using .44 Hornady 300 grain XTP's in my .50 cal muzzleloader.

I get things squared away some day and start playing with it,, I'm gonna try paper patched .50 cal round balls. A 177 grain .495 round ball won't drop through the bore but you can see light through the rifling. What might be cool would be dipping them in a hot plastic coating to take up the gap

I'm surprised a deer could take that many .338 mag shots.