[emt1581]

The .460 has the advantage of higher velocities and thus flatter trajectories so for a hunting handgun that you want to scope and use with a bipod etc at long range, it would probably be preferable. Don

So it's a faster bullet...right? That means that the only reason the .500mag is better is because it's heavier...meaning more ft./lbs. right?

Plus the 500 is slightly wider/heavier...so more devastating/dammaging impacts/penetrations...right? Again I'm not experienced enough with revolvers/ballistics...which is why I keep saying "right?".

-Emt1581

 

[17z]

He,he,he,he,heeeeeeee,he,he,he,heeeeeeee, .500 S&W 2.5 inch barrel,the new,one shot,one kill,and one hell of a flamethrower at night time gets my gosey jucies flowing. He,he,he,he,he,he,heeeeeeeeeeee.17z

 

[Hydraulicman]

i say get the 500 it can shoot lead, cast, jacketed,. The Eagle can only shoot jacketed

 

[boonyrat]

also know that there is ammo for the 500 s&w...500 s&w "special" which is shorter and weaker...kinda like shooting 38's out of a 357 magnum. it still packs a heck of a punch but no where as bad as a full blown 500 magnum.

 

[DonD]

EMT, both are extremely powerful guns. The .460 has been advertised as 200gr @ 2300fps, nothing that fast in commercial .500 loads.

Both have with proper slugs plenty of penetration for any game animal, it's just that the .500 leans toward heavier slugs @ lower velocities.

I'd just say that if you want to hunt REALLY big stuff, the .500 has a little edge and if you want versatility and flatter trajectory, the .460 has a worthwhile advantage. Don

 

[intheburbs]

My 500 was an impulse buy, not quite sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I just received my scope, rings and base this week, so I'll be taking it out to see what it can do at 50 and 100 yards and beyond.

Mike at Doubletap has two great loads for the 500, at a very reasonable cost.

Here's my setup (and yes, it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot):

The "pea shooter" next to it is my 6" GP100 .357

 

[glock2740]

I don't own either one, but I've shot both the .50 DE and the .500 S+W.

If you want big and powerful skip the DE and get the S+W. There just is no comparison shooting the. The DE feels like a big heavy .45 ACP. The .500 S+W lets you know it's a powerful handgun.

Personally If I was going to buy one I'd get the 460 S+W. Because I'm already set up to reload .45 Colt, the 460's would be much cheaper to shoot. Besides that the chance of me shooting anything larger that a white tailed deer is pretty slim for the foreseeable future.

I agree about the DE. My buddy had the .50, the .44 and the .357 when they were all the rage. At the time, I thought they were extremely overpriced. Their actually cheaper now than they were 15 years ago. He reloaded for all 3 also. He could get a 325gr(if I remember right)Gold Dot to shoot pretty hot in the .50, but the DE in general just has a grip that's made for basketball player hands. It just never felt right to me, and I'm a big guy. The .500S&W is what I was going to get, or a Ruger SRH snubbie .454, but after going through alot of ballistic data, I chose the .460S&W in 5 1/2". It loses very little velocity compared to the 8 3/8" .460, and is easier to carry and draw. I like the fact that it can shoot .454 Casull and .45LC aslo. I have a Ruger RH Stainless 7 1/2", and the .460 handles on par or slightly easier than the RH. One last reason to choose the .460, is that our newly elected king and band of merry bafoons, will almost definately try to ban anything .50 cal, with the possible exception of muzzleloaders. Just my .02. Even if you do go with the .500S&W, you'll absolutely love it. It is fun to shoot. And it's always fun to see the looks you get when you pull it out at the range, then blow one off:supergrin: P.S. wear ear plugs and muffs in an indoor range. Those SOB's are loud as hell!

 

[emt1581]

EMT, both are extremely powerful guns. The .460 has been advertised as 200gr @ 2300fps, nothing that fast in commercial .500 loads.

Both have with proper slugs plenty of penetration for any game animal, it's just that the .500 leans toward heavier slugs @ lower velocities.

I'd just say that if you want to hunt REALLY big stuff, the .500 has a little edge and if you want versatility and flatter trajectory, the .460 has a worthwhile advantage. Don

Now you're saying versatility...meaning what?...Can I shoot rounds other than .460's in the gun? Sort of like .44spl/.44mag and .38spl/.357mag.

Thanks!

-Emt1581

 

[emt1581]

I agree about the DE. My buddy had the .50, the .44 and the .357 when they were all the rage. At the time, I thought they were extremely overpriced. Their actually cheaper now than they were 15 years ago. He reloaded for all 3 also. He could get a 325gr(if I remember right)Gold Dot to shoot pretty hot in the .50, but the DE in general just has a grip that's made for basketball player hands. It just never felt right to me, and I'm a big guy. The .500S&W is what I was going to get, or a Ruger SRH snubbie .454, but after going through alot of ballistic data, I chose the .460S&W in 5 1/2". It loses very little velocity compared to the 8 3/8" .460, and is easier to carry and draw. I like the fact that it can shoot .454 Casull and .45LC aslo. I have a Ruger RH Stainless 7 1/2", and the .460 handles on par or slightly easier than the RH. One last reason to choose the .460, is that our newly elected king and band of merry bafoons, will almost definately try to ban anything .50 cal, with the possible exception of muzzleloaders. Just my .02. Even if you do go with the .500S&W, you'll absolutely love it. It is fun to shoot. And it's always fun to see the looks you get when you pull it out at the range, then blow one off:supergrin: P.S. wear ear plugs and muffs in an indoor range. Those SOB's are loud as hell!

I agree about the DE. A USED .44mag in the case was $1,000 today! I held it and it just didn't have a great grip on it. Way too big for my hands.

Then I went and held the .500S&W...fit me like a glove, sights were great to!

I'll tell ya, I'm really fallin in love with that little 4" model ... But again, I need to know it won't b significantly different from the longer barrels in terms of power to get one. And even if it is, I need to see just how much and then weigh the difference with the weight/concealability/carry-ability differences.

BTW, that 4" model was CHEAPER than the DE .44mag. Something like $1,000 OTD!!

Thanks!

-Emt1581

 

[intheburbs]

Now you're saying versatility...meaning what?...Can I shoot rounds other than .460's in the gun? Sort of like .44spl/.44mag and .38spl/.357mag.

Thanks!

-Emt1581

Yes, you can shoot 460, 454 casull, 45 LC and even 45 ACP with moon clips.

 

[emt1581]

Yes, you can shoot 460, 454 casull, 45 LC and even 45 ACP with moon clips.

WOAH!! Really?

What sort of performance would I be giving up if going with .460 instead of the .500S&W?

Thanks!

-Emt1581

 

[intheburbs]

The hottest 460 I've seen is from Buffalo Bore, 300 grains pushed at 2060 fps for 2860 ft-lbs of energy. Doubletap's 500 ammo pushes a 350-grain bullet at 1975 fps for 3032 ft-lbs. Doubletap also has a 500-grain bullet at 1500 fps for 2500 ft-lbs.

I've seen bullet weights up to 725 grains in the 500. Haven't seen much above 350 grains in 460.

All things being equal, the 460 is probably the better gun to buy - versatility, slightly higher velocities.

However, the 500 is the current king of the hill. It puts a smile on my face every time I pull the trigger.

 

[blucas]

Is that 500 with a 2 1/2 inch barrel the survival pistol Smith & Wesson made I think it was in a kit

 

[bac1023]

Is that 500 with a 2 1/2 inch barrel the survival pistol Smith & Wesson made I think it was in a kit

Welcome and thanks for bringing back a 15-year old thread 🙄

To answer your question, yes it was a kit.

 

[AK_Stick]

Welcome and thanks for bringing back a 15-year old thread 🙄

To answer your question, yes it was a kit.

It’s a bot. Creates an account, posts one time to churn up an old thread and will never post again. Used to drive up metrics and supposedly encourage more posting by “generating” more topics.

 

[DonD]

You left out the .460S&W. It's the baddest mofo of them all.

.460 is certainly a powerful round but still second to the 500. Don

 

[DonD]

Another thing in favor of the 500 Mag is that it can shoot lead or jacketed slugs. Shoot lead slugs in the 50AE and you'll foul the gas system, then it's no workie. Don

 

[Need4Speed]

500 S&W is a beast no doubt. Blows away 50AE. Somebody else stated 44 mag has more juice than 50AE...there is an underwood 44 mag +P+ load that comes close, but the average 44 mag load is nowhere near 50AE in Muzzle energy.

I had a DE in 50AE. Sure it looks cool, but the thing is clunky, prone to failure to feed, and overall not very practical. Not sure if BFR still makes them, but I did pick up one of their revolvers in 50AE, more fun to shoot than a DE if you ask me, and it still puts half inch holes in paper.

 

[DonD]

So it's a faster bullet...right? That means that the only reason the .500mag is better is because it's heavier...meaning more ft./lbs. right?

Plus the 500 is slightly wider/heavier...so more devastating/dammaging impacts/penetrations...right? Again I'm not experienced enough with revolvers/ballistics...which is why I keep saying "right?".

-Emt1581

And if you're adventurous enough, use John Ross's data. I think I'm correct in saying that he loads the 500 Mag cartridge to a longer COAL than factory using more, if not all of the cylinder length. The 460 is already at full cylinder length as far as COAL. Don

Edited to add that the COAL isn't as different as I suggested. With comparable bullet weights, the 500 COAL is 2.05" the 460 2.16" from Hodgdon's data. Don

 

[bac1023]

Don,

You’re quoting 15 year old posts, my friend