A buddy of mine just got a new S&W 500 yesterday...Its sweet! I cant wait to shoot it this weekend. I was wondering what kind of range we can expect from it? Also, do any of you hunt with anything this big? The ammo is EXPENSIVE...

I sold my 500 and 460 before I ever hunted with them because of their size but the 500 with a 2X Leupold and 400gr Sierra handloads running around 1600fps would shoot 2" at 100yds. I found that the 500 liked heavier bullets from an accuracy point of view but then again as I've stated here before I have no use for "light for caliber" bullets, I think they are sold to hook shooters who are in awe of a 50 cal bullet running towards 2000fps, to me they are kind of like those fishing lures with the flashing lights designed to hook more fisherman than fish. The cost is high and your friend would be well ahead to buy something along the Lines of Lee Anniversary Kit and a set of Lee dies for under a 100.00 and roll his own, it won't take long with a 500 to pay for the equipment and straight wall cases are easy to learn to load.

I agree, on the reloading thing. To be honest I wish he had gotten the 44 rather than the 500. It would have made more sense to me personally for several reasons but he likes a big bang...

Big bangs are good but they can eat green paper like my knot headed horses eat green grass.

Hahaha, I think I got caught on one of those. Not the flashing light ones though

It's pretty funny that just yesterday on G&A TV Sheriff Jim Wilson and another guy I forget who now, but Jim Wilson was advocating the .44 magnum and the other guy was bragging up the .500 Magnum as both are very nice. But I have to agree with Sheriff Jim Wilson, that a hunter with a .44 magnum is no undergunned handgun hunter.

It's just really funny because I had been thinking about a .500 Magnum, but I have to agree and think I will just get a real nice SBH Hunter and scope it out.

I guess I can just be glad that he dropped the $1000 on the 500...So I can get all the shooting in with it that I want and get the 44 for myself down the road. LOL

The 500 can be very accurate. I shot Bull Elk Hunters 500 at the SWPA shoot a few years ago. After getting holdover I was hitting water filled milk jugs at 200 yards one right after another.

I have not done alot with my 500. I did do some freehand shooting at 50 yards and was hitting the 7" gong with open sights every time I pulled the trigger.

The .44mag is a do it all caliber.

The 500 is a very accurate Handgun if the shooter is doing his or her part .
Like many others have said you can take them out to 200 yards no problem at all and they do tend to like heavy bullets .
I have taken a sitting black bear at 77 yards at an slight angle right through his ticker and the bear did a back flip when hit and was dead before he hit the ground although the bullet was a 700 Grain WFNGC .

The 500's will eat you alive when it comes to feed them,it is best to roll your own to save on the green backs .

Here is a couple pictures of the bear and my 500 PC Hunter 10.5 although the revolver has been refinished since I have taken that bear.

Enjoy

RR

Sweet, very sweet, where are you getting your bullets from?

dertiedawg

I cast and roll my own .
I have a few flavors for the 500 DIA firearms .

RR

Love the refinish Rick!

Thanks Vance.
It is a one of a kind Revolver to say the least!!!!
I like it and the critters killed with it did not seem to mind either !!!!

RR