Ended up going with a S&W performance center 500 with a 6" compensated barrel, I don't see it listed on their website yet. My gunshop just got it in this morning had to snatch it up :)

All these intimidating kick stories should stop so people that want one don't
get scared away. Sure it has kick but I have no bruises, my arm is still attached, and the sight didn't get stuck in my forehead :)

really like it a lot, will be getting the loading equipment soon to start handloading

Would you mind sharing the bullet weight you were shooting? How would you say it recoils compared to a heavy 44 mag (325gr @1300 fps) or heavy 45 Colt (350gr @ 1300 fps)?

I handled one for the first time last week. It had the full length barrel and was less, well... less enormous than I had thought. Pretty nice for a larger handgun.

Bill

all there was on the shelf today was the corbon
350gr JHP @ 1700fps, 2338ft/lbs

Plan to get some of the other rounds to try out tomorrow

As for the recoil, the only thing I've shot recently is a .45
acp, .40 sw and .357. Has more kick than those by a fair bit
not suprisingly, haven't done a .44mag in years.

But I can say that I wasn't clamping down on it, used a fairly light grip
(not squeezing a ton), and the muzzle flip was about 25 degrees,
so it's really not all that bad.

rednoise,
I've got a 3.5" barreled 500 Linebaugh conversion on a Ruger Redhawk and while it isn't the most enjoyable experience I've had to shoot it, it's not that bad either IF you wear some gloves. The Ruger factory grips feel like they are tearing your hand off if not.

The loads I've been working with are the BB 525 grain listed at 1125 fps. The gun weighs 2 lbs 13 oz's. Muzzle flip is not an issue, the recoil comes straight back. While I know the S&W 500 packs more powder and is faster, if the Linebaugh isn't too bad with a 3.5" barrel (not ported), I don't think the 6" S&W would be too bad for someone that is experienced with shooting big bore handguns.

Yea I'm not sure if the recoil is coming straight back and my
grip is making the front come up or if it just does it by it's self

This has got soft rubber grip, I imagine if it were a harder
composition I'd feel more slap or sting, but as it is there's
no pain. Can't wait till tomorrow to go out with it again :) :)

Think the biggest effect I noticed is how the concussion
seems to somewhat compress one's sinus cavity :|

When we got in the car to head back my friend announced
that he had dirt in his mouth hehe, coincidence probably
but we got a good laugh out of it

rednoise,
I've got a 3.5" barreled 500 Linebaugh conversion on a Ruger Redhawk and while it isn't the most enjoyable experience I've had to shoot it, it's not that bad either IF you wear some gloves. The Ruger factory grips feel like they are tearing your hand off if not.

The loads I've been working with are the BB 525 grain listed at 1125 fps. The gun weighs 2 lbs 13 oz's. Muzzle flip is not an issue, the recoil comes straight back. While I know the S&W 500 packs more powder and is faster, if the Linebaugh isn't too bad with a 3.5" barrel (not ported), I don't think the 6" S&W would be too bad for someone that is experienced with shooting big bore handguns.

The S&W 500 Mag is my favorite handgun to shoot by far, but just last month I experienced the the double-firing phenomena. It happened while I was wearing a glove and was testing some 335 grain hunting loads (estimated muzzle velocity:2200fps - no chrony). This was the lightest weight load that I have heard of causing this problem; all the others I have heard about were caused by 400 and 440 grain Corbon loads.

I was able to determine that the extra padding from the glove gave it some extra give and bounce causing the gun to pull away from my finger just enough to release the trigger as I was squeezing it after it fired the first time. It then advanced to the next chamber and since I was still squeezing, it fired again. This happened so quickly that I could not react in time. The second shot went off when the gun was pointing up about 20 degrees, and the whole thing happend in what seemed to be less than a milisecond... Very unnerving.

Needless to say, the glove came off. After that I have had no other problems, that was the first and last time I will use a shooting glove with that soft of a grip. I dont realy need gloves with a grip as soft as the sorbathane. When I carry the S&W 500 while wearing gloves in cold weather I will use a wooden grip to eliminate the bounce problem.

My advise to all is to beware of too much padding and pay attention to your grip when shooting the S&W 500.

That's a good idea, Smokin' Joe. The Ruger doesn't have soft or rubber grips. The gripframe is exposed and the grip panels are wood.

My gloves are thin leather gloves, about the thickness of a batting glove or golf glove with an extra strip of leather along the heel of your hand up through the web. Not anywhere near the cushion like you would find in a Pact recoil glove.

Point well taken though, padded gloves with the soft rubber grips on a heavy recoiling DA revolver is probably not a good idea.

The muzzle does come up in recoil. Hotter loads (440 gr) can be uncomfortable. I've been using 370 gr bullets for 'every day' shooting and find the gun enjoyable. It's often hard to get me to stop smiling. I too am looking at getting a set of new grips. There are several makers who will make wooden grips but as of yet I don't want to send the gun off for fitting. I have found myself pulling the trigger on an empty cylinder due to getting my finger back on the trigger during recoil. I have done this with strong and light loads with and without gloves. The only cure seems to be technique, technique and a little more technique.
Hope you enjoy your new weapon.

Congrats on the new 500. I've only had my 8 3/8" standard model since May 21st, but am very fond of it. Handloading is the only way to go with this one, period. I have nice comfortable loads in the 350 grain weight to a good heavy 440 grain hunting load. It certainly helps to be able to choose your fodder from something you create with at least a 75% savings, too. :cool:
Rich

yes I plan to get the gear tomorrow...

I've gone through lord knows how much $ in rounds in the first few days, 5 boxes of cor-bon, 4 boxes of hornady, 1 box of ultramax. The ultramax had powder left behind, the others didn't

cant leave the darned thing alone, fighting the urge to go out right now :)

Rednoise,
The big monster can be addictive, can't it.:D

Be sure to separate your brass. Hornady brass uses Large Pistol Primers while just about all of the others use Large Rifle Primers. All of my brass is Hornady, so I stick with WLP as my primer of choice. I do believe you can ream it to accept Large Rifle Primers, though.
Regards,
Rich

....... !

That's the first I've *ever* heard a report of someone bump-firing a *revolver* :)

yes I plan to get the gear tomorrow...

I've gone through lord knows how much $ in rounds in the first few days, 5 boxes of cor-bon, 4 boxes of hornady, 1 box of ultramax. The ultramax had powder left behind, the others didn't

cant leave the darned thing alone, fighting the urge to go out right now :)

Hurry up and get your reloading gear, you could have bought a lot for the price of all that ammo.

Titegroup is a very good powder for this gun, and it's very economical. However, it does tend to blacken the cases quite a bit.

I can't seem to shoot mine enough either.:D

yes I plan to get the gear tomorrow...

I've gone through lord knows how much $ in rounds in the first few days, 5 boxes of cor-bon, 4 boxes of hornady, 1 box of ultramax. The ultramax had powder left behind, the others didn't

cant leave the darned thing alone, fighting the urge to go out right now :)

I have found that the ultramax leaves powder residue and a lot of filth in the gun. I can fire 50 rounds and switch to the ultramax only to quit shooting after 10 more rounds. I'd like to know how others fare with this.

What causes the powder not to completely burn and yet leave a great deal of soot? Is this powder building pressure so fast not all the powder burns properly?

I have found that the ultramax leaves powder residue and a lot of filth in the gun. I can fire 50 rounds and switch to the ultramax only to quit shooting after 10 more rounds. I'd like to know how others fare with this.

What causes the powder not to completely burn and yet leave a great deal of soot? Is this powder building pressure so fast not all the powder burns properly?

I use Titegroup quite a bit and it seems to be very sooty too, but it shoots great. I usually fire 50 to 150 at a time with no other problems (very accurate powder).

Just ordered the reloading works for it, should be fun