Hi,
A friend just got this humungous hand gun, a 500 S&W! It's beautiful, but it is a hand cannon .We want o try it at our local range without blowing holes though the backstop. Are there "target" Loads commercially available?? Thanks! Al

Al,

First off, let me say that any commercially available load at all for the 500 S & W is going to be a pricey one. With that said, I guess the light 275 gr JHP load by Cor Bon could be considered a lighter recoiling load, but not really a "target" load. I have yet to buy any loaded ammo for my 500. Reloading is definitely a better and cheaper proposition. I load 350 gr. Berry's Plated bullets for target loads, and 325gr. Speer JHPs for hunting. Also there are some good hard cast lead bullets out there for cheaper target fodder. The 500 is a blast to shoot isn't it! :cool:

Doc Holidude

Corbon has the 500 special if your afraid of the backstop. This shoots like a 44 mag.

If you can get a copy of American Handgunner John Taffin has reduced loads for the 500. I trust his work. It appeared around 6 months ago.

Unfortunately I don't have the issue...

Not trying to be a smart guy, but the 500 Mag was not meant to be a pop gun or target handgun. I understand you want do not shoot full house loads into a back stop, but even a light loaded 500 Mag is going to do some damage. :D

Firing that thing in a enclosed range will probably get you thrown out the door !!! Did that once with my 454 Casull after two rounds they said I had to leave!! :) Boy was that place quite though! Everyone stopped shooting!!:)

Firing that thing in a enclosed range will probably get you thrown out the door !!! Did that once with my 454 Casull after two rounds they said I had to leave!! :) Boy was that place quite though! Everyone stopped shooting!!:)

I have never been asked to leave an indoor range with my 500 or 460 Mags. :D

Hogdgon's website has loads using Titegroup and Universal Clays for lead bullets, 325-375 gr. that give 800 - 1000 fps. That is about as mild as it gets in .500S&W.

I've seen some 500 specials loaded by USA, I believe... they're not much cheaper though... At $40 a box it might be a good excuse to get into reloading... 5 boxes of ammo costs as much as an RCBS Partner press and all the stuff you'll need.

Ballistic Supply http://www.ballisticsupply.net/ makes high quality ammo at a fair price. They specialize in 500 S&W. They have at least 8 different loads for it. They range from a 350gr plated, FN bullet @ 800fps, they call their "defense load" to their 700gr hard cast @ 1200fps. The defense load was developed at the request of several indoor range owners who sold 500s in their shop and wanted customers to be able to shoot them without knocking down the walls of their range. Ballistic Supply will also load the defense load with 370gr and 440gr, at your request. The 350gr version allowed me to actually fire my 4" 500 S&W double action and hit tin cans, reliably, at 25 yards. If I sound like a commercial for them, it's because they worked to get some ammo to me, at short notice, when I left for Alaska last fall. Here's a couple of pictures of their big boys. The top pic is their 700gr and the bottom is the 535gr.
http://tinyurl.com/ooh8x
http://tinyurl.com/qpwtp

The weakest production 500 Smith ammo that Ive shot is by Ultramax. That is some weak ammo. 325 grains at around 1400fps. I could shot that ammo all day. The only thing is it burns a little dirty.

I use the Magtech 400gr SJSPF there 1608 fps and 2297 ft lb's.

they alomost feel like shooting a 44 mag

ive got a few boxes they run around $24 to $32 at the local shops in my area. i got a few hornady 350gr and 300gr boxes im keeping then for hunting

Ballistic Supply http://www.ballisticsupply.net/ makes high quality ammo at a fair price. They specialize in 500 S&W. They have at least 8 different loads for it. They range from a 350gr plated, FN bullet @ 800fps, they call their "defense load" to their 700gr hard cast @ 1200fps. The defense load was developed at the request of several indoor range owners who sold 500s in their shop and wanted customers to be able to shoot them without knocking down the walls of their range. Ballistic Supply will also load the defense load with 370gr and 440gr, at your request. The 350gr version allowed me to actually fire my 4" 500 S&W double action and hit tin cans, reliably, at 25 yards. If I sound like a commercial for them, it's because they worked to get some ammo to me, at short notice, when I left for Alaska last fall. Here's a couple of pictures of their big boys. The top pic is their 700gr and the bottom is the 535gr.
http://tinyurl.com/ooh8x
http://tinyurl.com/qpwtp

geesh, them are some big ones.

I have a 4" 500, love it but its cast reloads for my light loads. Realize light in a 500 probably means 44 mag levels...