i work part-time at the local Cabela's store in Illinois and i keep looking at a Smith and Wesson Performance Center .500, with a 10.5 inch barrel that is for sale in the gun library.
Everybody there says that is no fun to shoot and is really uncomfortable during recoil. Now, i shoot a 12" contender in .45-70 with Garrett loads and a 12" contender in .375JDJ and have no problem with those, so my question is, how much does the .500 kick? i see a lot of the .500 used, but not many .460???? Help! I want to buy either a .460 or a .500 Smith????

A guy shooting next at me at the range one day let me shoot his 500 S&W. I had just finished shooting my .45-70 Contender and really did not notice a difference in recoil between the two.

That gun shouldn't be too bad. I have the shorter version of that gun and it's manageable in terms of recoil.

The .500 isn't that bad, its a large gun and recoil is contained pretty well. Recoil is straight back not much muzzle flip at all...could wear you out if shot all day.

My vote would be for the 460 ,may be a more versatile gun than the 500 and a little less recoil which is managable anyway.

If you can live with and enjoy the .45-70 and .375JDJ, you won't have any trouble with the 500 S&W.

Hunlee have 45-70 Contender butt accuracy has ben poor butt recoil is high!!!!!Hunlee never shoot 500 butt Hunlee think recoil be about same as 45-70!!!!!One thing Hunlee fibd is bullit cost is high just like recoil!!!!!Ifin accuracy not come to Hunlee said barrel go to TC factory for warrant work and replacement!!!!!

hunlee

I have the 10.5 and I would not trade it for any other 500 .
The 10.5 is not bad at all . I have over 10,000 rounds through mine and it is just as tight as the day I bought it .
It is a great shooter as long as the trigger guy does his or her part .
Go for it.

RR

I've owned alot of big bore revolvers including one of early 500 S&W and the 460XVR, I also owned a 45-70 BFR and 2 contender barrels, I have 2 475 Linebaughs and I just bought my second 375JDJ barrel and the 500 kicked less than all of them except the 460XVR. Recoil sensitivity is a personal thing but if you can handle max loads out of your contender the 500 is a cake walk. I would often run 50 rounds through my 500 on a single outing and it would never bother me.

Its not bad at all...Theyre definitely shoot able, sweet guns, I have a 500 and wouldnt trade it for anything. I imagine if you can handle a .45-70 you can handle the 500 without a problem.

I have the 10" BFR in 500 S&W and like it alot since I had the magna brake installed. No more muzzle flip and recoil is just a bit more than a .44 MAG using moderate handloaded ammo: 275 gr. Barnes XPB over 42.5 gr. H110 (1875 fps) shoots 1 1/2" 3 round groups at 80 yards. If you want a punisher: 370 gr. Oregon Trails True Shot over 44 gr. H110- crono 2130 fps (nasty recoil)

Regards, Ron