Who's got advice for me? Thinking of trying one of the X-frames with the 8 3/8-inch barrel. Just getting up to speed, I see I want to avoid brass with large pistol pockets, and I need to be able to apply a very good crimp ...

Like any revolver - a good crimp, and a good grip by the case [proper expander die] !

RCBS dies, Starline brass, and buy a nice supply of cast bullets and 296.

You can buy a separate crimping die (which I recommend) as the bullets seem to stay in the case better if you seat the bullet with one die and crimp in a separate operation.

Holsters? I usually just order one from S&W. But it all depends on what style you are looking for.

Bill-

Starline brass - I have a bunch of once fired and will gladly send you some if you get yourself a S&W 500.

I use the Uncle Mikes shoulder holster to fit a scope for my 8.75" when hunting. It facilitates in and out of the hunting vehicle.

If you plan to mount optics, use the Warne mount which will allow use of the irons if you remove the scope. I have mounted both the EOTech holosite red dot and a Bushnell Elite handgun scope in QRW rings. Both will hold up under recoil with the heavy cartridges and return to zero when re-mounted. The 500 is well known to be tough on even the best scopes, so money is not the answer! I'm a big fan of the EOTech and recommend it highly for shots under 60 yards.

Got one of the 8.38 versions not too long ago, try to use Starline brass when I can for revolvers. Use Redding carbide dies, little over board probably, but I use a tiny dab of Hornady Unique case lube just around the top of the brass when sizing. Same thing when crimping, using a Redding profile die. Lighter effort and it seems just a wee bit easier on the brass... Again, probably goin overboard on my part. Powder, so far tried H 110 for full loads, seems to workk pretty well, #9 for midrange loads with mixed results, and Unique and HS-6 for creampuff loads, good results with both of those.
Behind the 8 ball as far as case trimming, think I,ll round up a Wilson 50 BMG case trimmer one of these days, should take care of the 500 S&W and any other larger beasties..

Got a little heavy handed dialing in the crimp die, ended up with 3 rounds that had slight case bulges halfway up the case.Set two I noticed aside, one, with #9, I did not notice until after it was fired. So far, thats been the only case of stricky extraction...

Holsters, been lookin at Galco, Diamond D, and 7X.
Pretty used to a .44,the other day I started with a heavier load. Got a quick reminder this ones got a little more oomph.. But it is a LOT of fun!!!

Appreciate the thoughts guys. Having found a revolver in like-new condition, I ordered some Starline brass, a box of Sierra 350s, a box of Cast Performance 370s and cheapy Lee dies. I figure I will add a taper crimp die. A little surprised Lee doesn't offer a dedicated crimp die for this caliber.
I'll start around 1,000 fps and work up.
For a time I put in a few hours a week at the gun counter of our local Sportsmans Warehouse, and we sold quite a few of the big Smiths. One comment I heard very consistently was how accurate the .500s tended to be.

I've used Lee dies for 4 years with two .500s and no problems with sizing or crimping. Used Hornady brass without problems. 350 Sierras are great for deer size and smaller. 370 and 400 Cast Performance shoot good. Did a brown bear with 375 X. Worked excellant. 325Xs are good with a little less recoil. 275Xs are downright ugly on deer with massive exits and damage. I carry a 6" Smith and 10" Taurus in Quiet Hide belt holsters. Heavy guns make my shoulders hurt a lot with shoulder holsters. Belt holsters don't bother me a bit.

Larry, I'll check out those holsters. Years ago I wore a 10-inch, bull-barreled, scoped Contender in .30 Herrett in the old leather T/C cross chest/shoulder rig and it was not too uncomfortable, but that would have been about 1980 and I expect there are better choices out there now, heh.

The Quiet Hides look very nice and practical. The 7X holsters are gorgeous.

Bill

Check with Rob Leahy of Simply Rugged Holsters as well. Great guy and Great leather.
http://www.simplyrugged.com/

OH, and Mike Barranti too. Also top notch fellow.
http://barrantileather.com/

Dies - I use RCBS dies with my 500 but I have had good results with all of the major die manufacturers.

Brass- I use Starline brass with large rifle primer pockets.

Holster- An alternate opinion here. A scoped 8 3/8" 500 S&W is a large gun, similar in size to a 12" T/C. I use slings on all my T/C's with barrels 12" and longer. So, I chose to let Magnaport install a sling stud in the barrel of my 8 3/8" 500 S&W. I wouldn't really consider carrying this large gun in a holster.

This setup came in handy when my guide, packer, and I were on our hands and knees crawling across the wet tundra between tiny patches of stunted alder, trying to remain out of sight while stalking a brown bear. I was able to adjust the sling to where the gun was held snugly under my left arm, out of the mud.


Just an alternate suggestion for you to think about. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Dang, X, that is a hell of a bear you shot there. Hope those were breathable waders! The way I sweat they would have poured me out of them after a long crawl if not.
That sling makes sense. I hunted deer for a couple of seasons with a scoped Super Blackhawk with 10 1/2-inch barrel and had the butt tapped for a sling stud. It was a very practical way to carry.
What's the scope you mounted on that X-frame of yours?

The waders are 3MM neoprene; definitely not breathable. And yes you will sweat in them...ALOT!!

I mounted a 2X Leupold on a Weigand base with four Weigand rings on my 500.

The couple I've owned I used the weigand base and 4 rings. I used a leupold on one and an ultradot on another. Starline brass and h110. I shot cpb 440's most of the time. These guns are accurate and hit hard. Good luck.