First blood for 500 S&W
#187279
12/10/2017 5:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 329
Mech 8
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 329 |
I finally got around to trying the big 500 on an animal this season. I had done some load work earlier in the year and decided I didn't need all the power that the 500 S&W could muster, so settled on a 440 grain WFNGC that is actually from a LEE mold. They are cast by Maplewood bullets and are reasonably priced, and except for the sticky bullet lube are very high quality. I tried some HS-6, Titegroup, and Unique, and finally settled on 14.0 grains of Unique with a Win Large Rifle Primer. With the bullet seated to the top crimp groove the load runs 1060 fps and will completely penetrate 3 gallon jugs of water and 8 inches of packed/folded rags (jeans, towels, etc) at 50 yards. The load will shoot sub 2 inch groups at 50 yards, so I figure that's good enough for my purpose. I had planned a morning hunt with my oldest son joining me for an evening hunt on my family's ranch. The night before brought us snow for the first time since 1985, and I wasn't certain I would be able to get out to the ranch in the event some of the roads would be closed. The alarm went off the next morning at 4:30 and I turned on the TV to see about road closures, but none were reported. So far so good, so I had some coffee and loaded up the truck for the 30 minute drive to the ranch. The snow had stopped some time in the night and left about 2 inches on the ground, and it was a wonderful sight. Made it to the ranch and parked about 1/4 mile from the blind, gathered my gear, and headed to the blind. As it began to get light, the true beauty of the snow dusted trees, cactus, and grass became evident. I have hunted this property for my whole life and never seen it like this. It took a little while for the animals to start moving, they were probably hunkered down in their beds, or perhaps didn't know what the white stuff was all over the ground. Eventually they began travel and next thing I knew there were six doe at the feeder, with a 4 point and a spike. After about 15 minutes a very nice 8 point buck came right by the blind at about 20 yards, but he wouldn't score higher than the 10 point I shot three years ago, so I let him walk. I decided that the spike should be taken out of the gene pool, and waited for the other deer to get out of the way. After a couple of minutes I had a clear shot and let one loose. The spike did a mule kick and headed into the brush to the right, and the rest of the deer scattered. I waited about 10 minutes then went to investigate. I didn't find any blood at the spot he was standing, but was able to follow his tracks and within 25 yard he was piled up in some brush. I pulled the shot, or he took a step during my trigger pull, so I hit him farther back than I wanted. Upon skinning and gutting I found that I had hit the liver, clipped the stomach, and the bullet sailed on through. Normally with a high velocity round, a gut shot would result in a very nasty mess, but with the low velocity it only resulted in a few kernals of corn and about a table spoon of undigested grass stuck on the abdominal wall. There was no blood shot meat on the entrance side and only a little tainted meat from the guts on the exit side. If I would have put the bullet up tight behind the shoulder, you probably could eat right up to the hole. I'll have to test this on something else to verify my findings. http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/data/500/20171208_113300.jpg http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/data/500/20171208_113014.jpgEntrance. Exit.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Mech 8]
#187282
12/10/2017 6:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 554
ratgunner
addict
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addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 554 |
Hunt hard,Shoot straight,Kill clean,Apologize to no one.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: ratgunner]
#187289
12/10/2017 6:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 312
SEAK
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 312 |
Nice job and good eating.
Enjoying to circle of life
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: ratgunner]
#187290
12/10/2017 6:58 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525
Brenden
addict
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addict
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525 |
Way to go! Glad you got to unleash a big slug from the 500
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: ratgunner]
#187292
12/10/2017 7:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 378
BRASF0311
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 378 |
Yeah wow, quite the carnage. Congrats
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: BRASF0311]
#187293
12/10/2017 7:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861 |
The 500's are absolutely Awesome! Everybody needs one. Congratulations
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Franchise]
#187298
12/10/2017 8:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105 |
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Russell]
#187307
12/10/2017 9:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
Elmer Keith always said with the big slow slugs you could eat right up to the bullet hole.Looks like he was right [again].
junebug
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: junebug]
#187308
12/10/2017 10:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543
ruger4570
addict
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addict
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543 |
Congrats. Awesome gun and awesome first blood kill.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Mech 8]
#187314
12/10/2017 10:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 389
bigbore442001
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 389 |
Wonderful. So far I have obtained zero in the game fields
Just curious. How is that revolver to carry? I am impressed but I am wondering what system you are using with it? Thanks.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Mech 8]
#187315
12/10/2017 11:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 329
Mech 8
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 329 |
Thanks for the congratulations guys! I'm carrying this monster in a Uncle Mikes scoped bandolier holster, size 4. It's a tight squeeze but is adequate. The gun spends most of the time in my hand with it being holstered only for the trip up and down the ladder of the stand/blind.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Mech 8]
#187316
12/10/2017 11:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 57
358TC
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 57 |
Very nice rig,and good shooting !
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: bigbore442001]
#187332
12/11/2017 7:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461 |
Wow! Impressive performance! Congrats!
Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: pab1]
#187334
12/11/2017 10:45 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649
dhom
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649 |
Congrats,,,,,that big bullet was perfect performance.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: bigbore442001]
#187340
12/11/2017 1:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Congrats on a fine deer! That's a great looking SW500 you got there, as well.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: KRal]
#187343
12/11/2017 3:20 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 131
BKS
member
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member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 131 |
Awesome. Good looking pistol. Got my 500 and haven't even shot it, have to look into loading similar.
NRA Life Endowment Member
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Re: First blood for 500 S&W
[Re: Mech 8]
#187348
12/11/2017 3:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Quite the thumper. Good shootin'
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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