I really like the caliber, currently a friend of mine has an 8", I have a 4". For hunting purposes, would there really be much benefit to an 8" over a 5" John Ross?

The .500 is a large case that holds a lot of slow powder. The longest barrel would be the better choice.

I have a BFR with a 6.5 inch barrel. I bought it because it was a good deal; otherwise I probably would have bought one with a longer barrel for the reason mentioned above.

That out of the way, I really like the gun a great deal and wouldn't change anything now that I've got it. I think the length issue is largely theoretical assuming the particular firearm that you buy doesn't have known barrel length quirks.

Well what do you plan to do with it? That should help determine the optimal barrel length as much as anything else.

since my 3rd shot with a 500 nearly always misses, can i get a 2 shoot with a 4" barrel?

at 4# with a clamshell brake?

With the variety of powders available now, I would doubt whether an 8" barrel would produce significantly greater velocity than a 5" barrel suitably loaded with faster powders.
Peter.

I have no first hand experience myself, but I've been told no matter the barrel length, the same powder will always provide highest speeds.

Tyler
that's not always true .. slow powders do better with long barrels .. fast powders USUALLY do better with shorter barrels.

that's not a rule of thumb to remember ...

in rifles, h335 give great performance in>22" barrels .. but aint bad in longer barrels

but win760 or rel15 CAN go faster in a longer barrel...

Even an 8 inch barrel isn't close to being "long." As barrels get shorter, there is a greater loss of velocity per inch of shortening but, in a 500 S&W Magnum which has so much power (more than would be required for 95% of hunting), I would be just as happy with a 4 inch barrel as with an 8 inch barrel though my preference would be a 5 inch barrel

At least for me, 5 to 6 inch barrels make the gun easier to carry especially when one has to sit with one on with the gun in a belt holster. I think the 500 S&W Magnums with the 2 inch barrels are just plain stupid (sorry if I offend someone who loves them).

Again, I think the use is going to have to be the determining factor. How many of you have handled, let alone carried an 8-inch X-frame in the field? That's a whole lotta gun.

If I were going to be carrying a rifle, and the revolver was to be a sidearm in a belt holster, for backup use or for those instances when I don't have the rifle on me, I would pick the short barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
If I were going to be carrying a rifle, and the revolver was to be a sidearm in a belt holster, for backup use or for those instances when I don't have the rifle on me, I would pick the short barrel.

Precisely!

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
If I were going to be carrying a rifle, and the revolver was to be a sidearm in a belt holster, for backup use or for those instances when I don't have the rifle on me, I would pick the short barrel.

I would pick short barrel for this situation too, but it wouldn't be a short-barreled .500 S&W!

I had 2, the first year(2003) 8 3/8"
(will probably sell)
and the now discontinued 2 3/4".

The long barrel I bought as a hunter.
The shorty was my "get off me" gun for up close.
( owned for 2 years sold recently)

I want the 4" 460 as a replacement for both, more ammo choices, if you loose ammo,.45LC, ,. 454, ,.460.

(yes ,I like the 500 and I hand load for the it , but the 460 wasn't around when I bought my first)

Thanks for the input. I really like the way an 8" feels, and I'm sure it's nice to shoot -- mainly I want it to go pig hunting... I'll try shooting my 4" side by side w. the 8" and see if there's much difference to me.

What I really want is an honest 4" barreled version of my 4"...
Eh, if wishes were horses, etc...

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
I had 2, the first year(2003) 8 3/8"
(will probably sell)
and the now discontinued 2 3/4".

The long barrel I bought as a hunter.
The shorty was my "get off me" gun for up close.
( owned for 2 years sold recently)

I want the 4" 460 as a replacement for both, more ammo choices, if you loose ammo,.45LC, ,. 454, ,.460.

(yes ,I like the 500 and I hand load for the it , but the 460 wasn't around when I bought my first)

;;
.
;
; Did you chronograph your short barreled 500 ??? What velocities were you getting ?????????. The ammo issue is also why I,m interested in the 460 S&W . Plus , I like the yellow grip on the survival gun . and am wondering if I can make up a short 410 shot shell load like the Judge has ... I missed out on 4 Ptarmigan this week because my hunting buddy who said he could easily hit one in the head @ 20 ft. with his Redhawk did NOT .. A half decent close range shot shell would be great !!!!!!!!

I did chrono when doing load development when I first got the snubby--
unfortunately I don't remember the velocity drops exactly,
but I do remember it was not nearly as much as anticipated especially with the lighter weights.


Also the snubby has no break/ports-as do the 4" and longer ones-
the recoil particularly with the heavies (500 to 700) created a markedly notable vertical whip as compared to the 8 3/8.