The Accurate Reloading Forums
Review of the 500 S&W.

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2911043/m/627104131

19 May 2004, 13:25
Paul H
Review of the 500 S&W.
Quote:

Sabot
Thanks for the tip on Longshot.I have a lot of experiance with powders like H-110,WW296 & 680.I've just gotten into Lil,gun and it seems pretty good so far.The only problem so far is that Lil,gun seems to build pressure faster with relatively small increments as you approach max loads than H-110 or 296.The idea of using less to get the same will make my wallet ,not to mention my wife much happier.
Thanks again.
GEP



Lil Gun is faster burning than H-110/W-296, so it is a better choice for light and medium weight bullets in magnum pistols, but not the best choice for heavy bullets.
19 May 2004, 14:16
liljohn
Quote:



I have to respectfully disagree that the 500 S&W is easier on the hand then the 454.





I shoot 370 grain bullets at 1700 fps in my 7.5" Freedom Arms 454. I have shot 450, 550 and 625 grain bullets in my S&W 500 at 1800, 1400, and 1350 fps, respectively. I get some shaking and fatigue after just 40-50 rounds from my .454, but I can shoot 150 rounds in one sitting of any of my 500 loads. The 500 is much easier on my hand.





Quote:

I personally see not need to drive the 500 over 1500 fps with 440 gr bullets which I feel are the proper hunting weight bullet for the .500" bore. You really gain little on game performance.





The 300 fps difference between your load and mine will make a TREMENDOUS difference on game. There is about 1000 lb/ft DIFFERENCE between the two loads(yours is 2198 lb/ft with a 440 grain bullet, mine is 3237 lb/ft with a 450 grain bullet)--about as much as a .44 mag factory load. If your hunting whitetails with solid bullets out to 50-75 yards, there my not be a difference. Both will penetrate fully. But if you are hunting large or dangerous game, the 30% greater energy could be the difference between a clean kill and a sloppy one, or perhaps even the life of the shooter.



Quote:

Still, while it was controlable, the 500 hits the hand much harder and sharper then any 454 I have ever fired.





Not in my experience. Way less, in fact. It's a very heavy push, but a push none the less. Much easier to tolerate than the quick snap of my FA. But I think the way the gun fits the shooter will have more to do with the level of pain inflicted under recoil. My buddy feels the same way you do--he finds the recoil to be very uncomfortable after 20 or 30 shots.



Quote:

Now if you load to the level of some of the factory loads like the 330 gr version from Ultra Max, the handgun will hardly move, but then again, they are basically 44 mag equivalent loads, why put up with the size and weight for that level of performance?





I've only ever fired the Ultramax 440 grain loads. They chronographed at 1350 fps, but that still provides an energy level of 1780 lbs/ft; about 500 ft lbs more than a factory .44 mag. These rounds, although underperforming, were easier to shoot than a factory .44 mag--surprising for so much power.



In my experience, the .500 shoots well at high or low velocity, with light and heavy bullets. It can match any .44 mag, 45 Colt, .480 or .454 load with ease. But there is not a handgun cartridge out there that will equal the high-end performance that can be obtained, especially with heavy bullets, as easily and effectively as it can be achieved with the 500 S&W. And it does it in an Encore-size/weight gun with four additional shots.
19 May 2004, 15:04
liljohn
Quote:


My only 50 A.E. is in a 15" Encore handgun. This is a big, scoped handgun designed of deliberate big game hunting..... It is still about two pounds lighter then the 500 S&W yet will flat smoke it in accuracy producing 1" five shot groups at 50 yards.



My 10" .454 Encore weighs as much as my 8 and 3/8" .500 (sure does; check the stats)--how can your 15" be lighter by two pounds?

In regard to the accuracy, you said it yourself. You've only tried one bullet. I've been able to duplicate your encore's accuracy results with my 500 using 440, 450, and 550 grain bullets and three different powders. The best of these loads achieved 30% more power than your load, and I haven't maxxed them out yet.

Quote:

Realistically, a 440 gr bullet at 1500 fps will basically do anything the same bullet at 1700 fps will do, without the extreme recoil problem.



No, it will not. In your example, the faster bullet has 625 more lb/ft. (2823 lb/ft compared to 2198 lb/ft.) This will make a considerable difference. Would you consider a .308 win and a .30-30 interchangeable? I wouldn't, and that's about the difference in performance between these two loads.
19 May 2004, 16:48
laredo kid
liljohn -Amen brother!!!! I know the 500 is big and bad -that's why I got one. I don't have load notes handy ,so far h110 and 350gr. sierra's have proven to be very accurate -50 yd. groups less than 1 in. I have a 4x leupold and burris mount and rings - no problems so far. Recoil is brisk but managable. I took a doe @60 yd.-lung shot- ran 20 yd. and dropped. I plan to use it on hogs this fall instead of a rifle!!