I am about to get another revolver. I cannot decide between the S&W 500 8-3/8" and the BFR 45-70 7-1/2".
What would be the pros and cons.

Thanks

They are both too heavy for my taste.Buy a BFR in 500 JRH.It will kill anything those other two will kill and is packable.

Well, you have not had much response, so, here goes. What do you need the gun to do? Is for the "cool factor" at the local gun range, or is it to actually do something? What? Long range shooting? Hunting?
IMHO the 45/70 in a revolver is an ugly gun with the cylinder way too long and I am not sure it provides an advantage in any of the above mentioned uses, even assuming you could find a powder that would take advantage of the short barrel. For long range shooting (at what?) perhaps the 460 S&W? I would suggest that you try to find someone who has one of these guns and shoot it.
Peter.

Peter's right, you need to define what the revolver will be used for. If as Peter said you are looking for the cool factor, either will get it, but from a practical standpoint, a revolver that can be more easily carried in a holster would get the nod -- at least for me. The BFRs in both .45/70 and .500 Smith & Wesson I have shot had all exhibited exceptional accuracy. Can't go wrong either way.

Well the revolver is just another addition to the arsenal.
I generally hunt with a rifle but carry a backup as it is almost always in bear country. I now live and hunt in the interior of Alaska. I now carry a 4" Smith 329 with 300gr loads at 1200fps. I just feel the need for another pistol.
Just cannot decide on which of the two. The only advantage i see with the 45-70 is that i would not have to add another caliber to loading and casting. Have not shot factory ammo in 20 years.

I have a 15" Encore in 45-70, never played with a 500.
I know I can load mine up hotter than I want to shoot!! I do love my 45-70s though.
So, for just getting another toy to play with...go with the old 45-70.
Not sure how big of bullets you can take in the revolver though...who cares, it's a 45-70!
She's been around awhile and that's a good thing.

I don't worry alot about "packability" in a primary hunting handgun. If you put an optic on any revolver it loses its "packability" IMHO. I'm hunting deer around home this year with a pair of Ultradot equipped 7.5" Super Redhawks and I don't consider either of them "packing" guns.

So...either of the choices that you mention would work great for a primary hunting revolver. I prefer the feel of double action guns, so my choice would be the 8 3/8" 500 S&W. If I were going to buy a 45-70 BFR, I would prefer it in the 10" version over the 7.5" version and I would have Magnaport install sling studs for carrying it. I would have to agree that neither would be desirable as a backup gun while rifle hunting.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

Am I the last guy on earth that thinks the .44Mag. is about as big as a practical handgun needs to be? Seems to me that much beyond that it's really a "short barrelled rifle". To me a handgun loses its appeal if it can't be comfortably carried in a belt holster.

I have no problem with the "hand rifles". I'm sure they're fun. If I feel a need for something bigger than my 7.5" Super Redhawk i take my handy M77 rsi in .308. Even the Redhawk seems unwieldly at times.

Could be I'm just a wimp!

citori, my .454, .500 Linebaugh, .500 JRH, etc. are no larger in stature than a .44 Magnum, and are no more difficult to carry. None of them feature a barrel longer than 6 1/2-inches, and are definietly no "hand rifles." Now, when you move up to a .460, .45/70, etc. you are definietly talking about a much larger framed revolver to accomodate those large (and long) cartridges.

i really like both calibers but prefer the 500 smith

Whitworth,

You and I are on the same page. What I should have said was anything bigger that the N frame S&W or Ruger Super Blackhawk. As I said, even my Ruger SRH is a bit big for my taste. It's more a function of handgun size than caliber.

Truth be told though, heavy .44Mag loads are about the most recoil I can handle while enjoying the shooting.

Mike

Leaning towards a 500 i think. With that said what would be the recoil difference with the Smith 500 and a
BFR in 500 Linebaugh with a 6-1/2" barrel.

Wow, what a civil discussion! Citori I think you and Whitworth a correct about the frame size issue. My FA 475 is I believe similar in size to a 44mag and 45 Colt. Another writer was correct about the lack of portability once an optical sight is installed, with the exception that FA does make a holster modified for a reflex type sight. I think this basically means a small cutout in the front of the holster. However, if the revolver is the primary hunting weapon then presumably you would hold it in your hand while walking, or have it out and on your lap or ledge while in a stand?
Peter.

My error i meant 500JRH in a BFR and the 500 Smith.
If i am going with a totally new caliber instead of 45/70.

My kid has a 500 Smith.It is pretty dang heavy and with the muzzle brake recoil is not even bad.Ask BFR about the 500JRH,he has one.

To choose one is to deny another. Do you really want that on your conscience? Think you mentioned a 329, with 300 grainers doin 1200 fps.. No expert on either one, normally run 310 WNFPs aroun 1100 out of a 5" Smith 629. I,ve tried the 8 3/8 barrel 500, with 350s, big fun, just made me want to get Ma Bear,s approval to get one home. 440s in a 4" barrel, expected it to be kinda mean, but, to me it felt a lot like the 310s in the 44. Bigger push, but a similar feel.. Thinkin that 329s a lot lighter than the 629, I,m guessin you,d probly get a lot more snap with it, and the loads yer runnin.. All that ramblin on my part aside,if theres any way you could try em both and then decide, that would be ideal. As far as what they,ll do, the guys I know that have the 500s seem to love em.

If you can pick both of them up, see which one feels better in the hand, which ones talkin to ya, then you,re set!..

Of course Muttly is right. The best answer is to buy both! That's the logic that put 60 firearms in my safes.

The good news is that once you get to 20-30, the wife doesn't notice the new ones!

quote:

Originally posted by citori:
Of course Muttly is right. The best answer is to buy both! That's the logic that put 60 firearms in my safes.

The good news is that once you get to 20-30, the wife doesn't notice the new ones!

Olbiker,

Where are you located? I used to vacation in Minoqua. My three sons spent many summers at the BSA camp near Antigo (as did I).

Mike

22Rf,
If you want the best of both worlds, Big and Cool, for the minimum of expense. You need to contact John Ross regarding his Performance center 500 S&W's. They wear a 5" barrel with half lug and no muzzle brake. They are very packable on the hip and still have all the authority you'll ever desire with the 1 in 10" twist for the 700+ grain bullets. All for about half of a custom revolver.
I've shot one of them and was quite impressed as it is still portable, packable, powerful and practical with factory ammo available. Not to mention the price.

Enjoy,

Todd

If the discussion is 500JRH vs 500 S&W in a BFR, I'd go with the JRH b/c it would be on the short cylinder frame while the S&W is on the long cylinder frame. The shorter frame is more packable and better balanced IMHO. MOST people with a 500 S&W will probably do MOST of their shooting with loads that could be equalled with the JRH.
If the question is 500 S&W or 45-70 then I would say it comes down to personal choice. Both can be loaded to hotter levels than you would want for most shooting. Both are on the long cylinder frame so handling & weight would be very similar. 500 gives more diameter but 45 cal bullets are less expensive.

What do YOU want?

Mat

The .45-70 BFR is an awesome combo. My good friend has one that he has put a few thousand rounds through with no issues. reloads loaded hot, factory ammo, etc.

The 500's might do a better job but the 45/70 wins the Coooolness Factor.

Cheers, John

quote:

Originally posted by Phatman:
The 500's might do a better job but the 45/70 wins the Coooolness Factor.

Cheers, John

Nah, the .50 Alaskan does!



LOL!

get them both?

i think right this second, i prefer the 500 ... ask me tomorrow, and i may say the 45/70

if i had the 500, it would be shortbarreled... 4" max ..

i like the 10" TC in 45/70.. that's FUN

My personal choice is the S&W 500 Mag. I have had a BFR 45-70, and the S&W 460 Mag. Sold them, but still have my S&W 500 Mag. Who cares about pack ability if it is your primary gun. But with that said, I have never had a problem carrying my S&W 500 mag hunting with my ultra dot on it. Also if you want to shoot lighter loads, you can always put a 500 special or 500 JHR in the S&W 500 mag.

quote:

Originally posted by graum:
If the discussion is 500JRH vs 500 S&W in a BFR, I'd go with the JRH b/c it would be on the short cylinder frame while the S&W is on the long cylinder frame. The shorter frame is more packable and better balanced IMHO. MOST people with a 500 S&W will probably do MOST of their shooting with loads that could be equalled with the JRH.
If the question is 500 S&W or 45-70 then I would say it comes down to personal choice. Both can be loaded to hotter levels than you would want for most shooting. Both are on the long cylinder frame so handling & weight would be very similar. 500 gives more diameter but 45 cal bullets are less expensive.

What do YOU want?

Mat

I have been shooing the S&W 500 Mag, from the day it came out, I shoot nothing but full load 500 Mags, that is what I practice with, and hunt with. No down loading here! I did not buy the 500 Mag to down load it, if I want to down load it, I would get a different gun. All my buddies as well shoot full house 500 Mag loads.

I'd say the BFR will hold together longer then the Smith 500. Now if you could get the 500 in the BFR that would be the route, sturdier revolver.

They are both heavy, but fun to shoot.
I have a 4" S&W 500 and with factory loads is not too bad to shoot. I think the weight and factory comp help to tame things down some.
I have a 10" BFR 45-70 and factory loads are rather mild. My friends call it the 5 pound gun, lol. With 405's loaded to 1750fps it is not fun to shoot, but is still controllable.
I have a 6.5" BFR in 500 S&W and find it to be rather pleasant to shoot. It balances fairly well and recoil isn't too bad.
I also have a 5 1/4" BFR in 500 JRH and really enjoy shooting it. Heavy handloads can put it into the painful range fairly quickly.

If I had to choose between the S&W 500 or BFR 45-70, I'd probably go with the S&W.

I really like my S&W500
Chasing hounds on bear I've carried mine on my belt and under my arm through hundreds of miles of steep rough timber.
It's a ripper and very very accurate, and the cartridge is very versatile.

Nothing wrong with it in my book.



Cheers
Tinker

I have two 500 S&W's on stretch framed single actions by Reeder. One has a 4" bbl while the other has a 7.5" octagon bbl. and both are much handier than the large frame Smith DA or the BFR in either the 500 S&W or 45/70. The 500 is a better choice overall as far as I can tell, in any platform. The 500 in an Encore w/ a 10" braked bbl is all the fun you can stand though, and it picks up an extra 250fps since it don't have a bbl/cyl gap.

quote:

Originally posted by citori:
Am I the last guy on earth that thinks the .44Mag. is about as big as a practical handgun needs to be? Seems to me that much beyond that it's really a "short barrelled rifle". To me a handgun loses its appeal if it can't be comfortably carried in a belt holster.

I have no problem with the "hand rifles". I'm sure they're fun. If I feel a need for something bigger than my 7.5" Super Redhawk i take my handy M77 rsi in .308. Even the Redhawk seems unwieldly at times.

Could be I'm just a wimp!

I agree, to me anything bigger than a 4" S&W N Frame is just too big for a "carry" gun when primilary hunting with a rifle, IMHO of course.
My FA 475L with its 5" barrel is not too bad, but I prefer a DA for a "protection" revolver.

Also I would not want to shoot one of the hard kickers, like a 475L with one hand, from an awkward hand, wrist, arm position.

Even when I am primarialy hunting with my FA 475L, I still carry the 4" 44 Mag Mountian gun for "protection". Or even sometimes a 1911 if I am hunting in marijuana grow or meth lab areas.