500 S&W

Who's using it?

I am for one. I love it!

Recoil

How is recoil compared to a 454?

As a matter of fact the recoil is fresh in my mind as I just got back from the range. I put 50 rounds of 400g Sierra's through it at about 1600fps. I have a lot of heavy hitters including a .454 SRH. It mostly depends on the set-up I reckon. I respect it about the same that I do my SRH because it is heavier so it feels about the same to me. My feeling is that if a person can handle a .454 they can handle a .500 as long as the gun weight is increased. That Smith is my most accurate revolver from what I have seen so far. I am going to have my gunsmith see if he can address the latching problem. That is my biggest disappointment to this point. It also broke the Burris base and Burris told me I can have my money back because basically they can make no promises. I told them that if the new base they gave me breaks I will gladly take my money back.

Recoil

Recoil, Willie, I feel the same way. This gun flat out shoots. It's all I've been shooting for the last month. I don't have an unlatch problem, but my gun has locked up twice though. All I have to do is wiggle the cylinder and then it unlocks. It's minor, but S&W should be very embarrassaed just the same. A $700 pistol should function absloutely perfect every time, for a long time!! Anyway, I load 350 Hornady over 42 H110 and 440LSWGC/38 H110 and both shoot right at 3" at 100yds whenI do my part. Worst group so far is only 4". Outstanding for any revolver!! I went high-dollar and put the Warne/QD base and ring set-up and it it has stayed on so far (400rds)! This is going to be my Colorado Timber Stalker this year. I'll still sling my Encore 15" 338-06 on my frame for the longer shot, but I want to get an ELK with this bad boy! Gerry

I agree, I'd like to bust an elk with my .500 Smith. The only problem is that where I hunt around Meeker long shots are the norm. I have neglected my 15" Encore .375-06JDJ as of late in favor of my newest toy, the .500 Smith. I do like that .375-06JDJ. I could bust an elk at 400yds if all was right. My best 5 shot group at 100yds with the Smith so far was 2 5/16" but I'd be hesitant to go over 200yds with it.

Recoil

Have you tried to load any 370gr cast preformance bullets? I have only shot factory loads thus far (330gr and 440gr).
The 440gr shot the best, but do I need to through that much lead? I plan on using it for PA black bear.

I have tried the cast performance 440's and they shoot well. They are going close to 1630fps ahead of 38g of H110. I actually am getting better velocity with the 440g cast performance than I am with the 400g Sierra's. I bet I could get the 400g cast performance going around 1700fps. I seem to lean towards heavier bullets so I will probably shy away from the 370's. I have a feeling that heavier bullets will be more accurate.

Recoil

I always like the heavier for caliber slugs. Even though the 350 Hornady's shoot as well, I like the idea of that reaalll loooong 440 lead slug chomping through muscle and bone. I really believe that a 350 XTP is all you need, but then again so is a 44 magnum?? I have not shot any factory CorBon stuff yet, but this bad boiy shot right out of the shoot. Get one!!

The 440gr shoot great for me as far as target shooting goes! I can only assume that it will be great to hunt with. As you said 440gr crushing a shoulder of a bear! What could be more exciting for a handgun hunter.
What about wear on the gun? I have not had mine for all that long and it has bein too cold here in Pa. to shoot outside. I got some 370gr lead slugs I have to try. I was going to use ww296 to propell them, any ideas or suggestions?

Is anyone going to the Harrisburg Sportsman show next week?

I have a BFR 7 1/2" 500. THe recoil is stout...much more so than the Smith. A good buddy of mine has the Smith.. Interestingly they both shoot unbelieveable groups at 100. Both are scoped and hol less than 2" at 100. My favorite load is the Barnes 275 X with a bunch of H 110

I've been having great luck with Hodgdon Lil' Gun to this point. I have always been a fan of H110 but I think Lil' Gun is a big winner in my Smith. Longevity will have to wait a bit. I have put about 300 full house loads through my Smith so far but this is just the beginning for me. Mine is going to my gunsmith next week to have a heavier bolt spring installed to see if that will address the latching problems with heavy loads. I will keep everyone informed as to the results.

Recoil

You have latching problems with your smith? I have not shot mine enough yet to see weather or not my will show the same. I am starting with ww296 for reloads however I have herd great things about lil'gun and H110. I probable will give them a try soon. Are you using Hodgdon load data or have you found some from another source? As you know data is few and far between.

I have been using Hodgdon data exclusively to this point. I have been using H110 in my .44 mag and .454 Casull and have good luck with it. I am glad that I tried Lil' Gun because I like it in my Smith .500. I may go back and try it in my .454 and possibly my .44 mag. If I had been using just 350g bullets in my Smith I doubt whether or not I would have encountered any latching problems. With 400g and 440g bullets going over 1600fps the problem is quite pronounced. A person could probably tune their load just under the point of the problem but I prefer to shoot full loads at all times. Loading down is not for me as I don't plan on hunting with reduced loads so why practice with them, at least that is my opinion.

Recoil

Hey 'Big Boy'..where is it cold in PA? I live here in Pa and the weather is just cool! HA. I actually love the frigind temperatures cuz it leaves all the gun ranges to me!! Here in tha Telfod (SE Pa) area, there alre only a few us who braved the raw wind and cold, but we had a proverbial blast and no one to complain about the muzzle blast of the big .500 and my TC's with brakes!! Ya gotta Love that!! No one has a good time when I show up cuz I'm always there for a long time, many short guns and a screw-dirver and spotting scope. I can change barrels and shoot all day without having to walk down range!! I have not tried Lil gun yet, only H110 and 350XTP and 440 LSWGC. It's turning inot the gun I turn to most right now. I want to put it onto an Elk this year, so I can't wait for October.

Telford? I am in limerick and no one as well wants to shoot with me either. What club do you shoot at? I just joined boyertown Rod and Gun Club. Keep me informed how lil'gun works. I may try. Have you booked the Elk hunt yet? what outfitter are you using? Have fun and good luck!

Lil'gun seem to be finding a nitch with handgunners. My shooting partner also swears by it. I prefer the heavier 300gr slugs in my 44 mags and 444marlin. The large for caliber slugs seem to work for me. I usually shoot Rugars', so full house loads do not concern me. This is my first smith. I guess I should just load what works in my gun. In the excitement of the new gun I could only get 370gr slugs. So I will shoot them and go on to the 440gr slugs. I was brousing the internet recently and noticed that someone was comming out with 465 plus or minus grain bullets for the smith. Should be interesting.

I like the 440g Cast Performance bullets. I think that they will allow my .500 Smith to reach its full potential. I aspire to the belief that penetration is the key especially when I am using a bullet with .500 diameter. I will definitely use the 440's on elk. I prefer handguns with lots of poop, the more the better. I have lesser calibers but the fun does not really start for me until I get into my .454, 375JDJ, .444 Marlin, 375-06JDJ, and now the .500 S&W. My Smith's latching problems will hopefully be addressed this week by my gunsmith. I want to shoot it full out, that is when it gets REALLY exciting!

Hey Big Boy--outfitter? eeerrnttt!! sorry Hans, wrong answer!! We go it alone. No outfitter. Done our homework, bought some gear and now all I do is take friends. We split all cost of gas/food/ horses-I have teh camp gear and tents, tc. We do it for less than $1000/hunter and Colorado bulltag is $480 of that cost!! We took 3 bulls this year (03) Been back-packing in since 1988 and packing with horseys for the last 2 years. It's the only wany I can afford to do it. Success? since '89 I've taken 4 bulls and guided friends into 20+ others.Since I got my 6x6, I let friends shoot first and I usually buy a cow tag. Only been really skunked 2 years, and that was really bad weather, and one really PITA (pain in the A$$) hunter-friend who will never hunt with me again! My best has been a 6x6 BC315 at 175yds with my 375JDJ. He's on my wall. BTW-I shoot mostly at Harleysville-Souderton F&G, and Branch Valley Sportmans in Perkasie. My address is Telford, but I live closer to Greenlane. I will put my .500 with 440's onto an Elk this year!!

you go and put a 440gr into a elk. I will be pulling for you back here.

Ahhhhh lookie lookie what I found...a thread about those using the 500smith! I love mine! It's got alotta recoil, but it's worth it! I've got a Weigand combat base, weaver rings and a bushnell elite 2X6 on mine. I've been shooting the Hornady 350GR JHP's, I tried the cor-bons but I like the Hornady's better. I took my first deer with it, an average sized doe, just a few days ago, my rangefinder said she was 76 yards away, it just about took her completely off all 4 feet on impact, what a hand cannon! The only downside that i've noticed as of yet is the tendency of the ejector pushrod to jump the cases rather than to push them out...not a major issue but aggravating at times.