hey guys. i just bought one of these, waiting for the transfer to go through. in the meantime ive been looking around online to see if there are any upgrades that are needed to make these a bit better to shoot. went through several pages on here and didnt see anything. ive never fired one so im wondering if it would benefit from a trigger job, and also the brake on the end. the one that i bought has the ports on top of the barrel. its the long barrel version, so im wondering if those ports are sufficient or if i should look for the brake with the side ports as well. i wont have a problem holding on to it but id like to eventually get my wife shooting it as well and would like to make it easier for her to handle.
s&w 500 upgrades?
- Thread starter uchi
- Start date
I think you would be better off just reloading some softer hitting ammo for it and if you don't reload you may want to consider it with that beast. I used to have but sold as the novelty for me wore off and I didn't do any upgrades too it I suggest you actually shoot the gun first before upgrading it becouse the interent told you so.
okcorral1881
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East of Toronto
A good shooting(for recoil) glove! ;-)
I've got a loudener on my r700 already, it hurts peoples bodies ten feet away lol. I plan on reloading for it, bought the dies with the gun and I have a press at home. I'll try the softer loads and some store bought stuff and see what the difference is. Thanks for the help
pageophile
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Edmonchuk, AB
A trigger job might be in order but until you shoot it, hold.off.
Look.up 500 Special loads, a little like 44Spl loads in a 44Mag.
Some people prefer a different grip than the rubber unit that comes on the X-Frame.
I replaced the rubber grip on my 44Mag with a solid unit and find it more comfortable to shoot. I attribute that to a better hand filling shape.
That said, you're mileage may vary with solid grip on the 500. Its a BIG boy!
Look.up 500 Special loads, a little like 44Spl loads in a 44Mag.
Some people prefer a different grip than the rubber unit that comes on the X-Frame.
I replaced the rubber grip on my 44Mag with a solid unit and find it more comfortable to shoot. I attribute that to a better hand filling shape.
That said, you're mileage may vary with solid grip on the 500. Its a BIG boy!
(((Echo)))
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Old Man Land, AB
The only upgrade you need to make with these is [sarcasm]harden the fu©k up[/sarcasm] 
OK, serious now. Mine's been great out of the box. Trigger is typical S&W. Smooth in single and double action, and not too heavy. I haven't measured mine, but it's not like you're pulling the bumper off a car using it.
I have the Performance Center version with the different comp. I don't know if it works any better, but you have to remember, you're shooting a 500 Magnum. It's going to buck and snort, shoot balls of flame and generally create a ruckus on the line. It has it's own built in loudener
I find the grips are acceptable for absorbing the recoil. Get a glove if you want, but I find it's not needed. I use/need a glove for one of my revolvers, and this one isn't it.
Light loads so your SO can shoot are an option, but I consider this sacrilege. It is a 500 Magnum after all.
(E)
OK, serious now. Mine's been great out of the box. Trigger is typical S&W. Smooth in single and double action, and not too heavy. I haven't measured mine, but it's not like you're pulling the bumper off a car using it.
I have the Performance Center version with the different comp. I don't know if it works any better, but you have to remember, you're shooting a 500 Magnum. It's going to buck and snort, shoot balls of flame and generally create a ruckus on the line. It has it's own built in loudener
I find the grips are acceptable for absorbing the recoil. Get a glove if you want, but I find it's not needed. I use/need a glove for one of my revolvers, and this one isn't it.
Light loads so your SO can shoot are an option, but I consider this sacrilege. It is a 500 Magnum after all.
(E)
- Location
- Jameson, SK
If you're anything like me, shoot it for a year so you can say "you have", and sell it!!!!
I love mine, but it's a complete novelty for me and my friends....
-J.
I love mine, but it's a complete novelty for me and my friends....
-J.
That's why I bought it. I've always wanted a nice big revolver and when this thing came out I knew I needed to own one. I'm not afraid of the recoil. My wife has shot my 30.06 r700 pre brake and she was fine, shot my 14" pump with slugs and it wasn't bad for her. She's just too pretty to have her face smashed by this thing and I'd hate to replace her, she makes too much money lol. I'd actually like to find some heavy loads for it just to experience this thing to its fully destructive stop masturbating for a week ability. Is there a set of grips you guys can recommend? I have a small hand, size large glove, so I don't think any anything too thick. I'll shoot her first and decide from there but for now want to keep my options available to me and want to figure out what it'll cost if I chose to upgrade. Realistically this thing won't go to the range and have 100 rounds put through it anyways. I think the hardest to hold onto gun I've shot so far was a single action 460 cowboy style revolver. That thing didn't want to stay in my hand, wood grips too. The 460 desert eagle bucked but wasn't as bad. I can't wait to shoot this thing. All I can think of is robocop at the range, everyone stops and looks lol
(((Echo)))
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Old Man Land, AB
I have a BFR in 50AE that's just ignorant to hang onto. It's the one I need a glove to shoot. Definitely give the stock grips a try. You may like them and not need replacements.
(E)
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I replaced the grips with walnut on mine for a more traditional look. The trigger is awesome. It's a shyts and giggles firearm here in Canada as we can't use it to hunt with. Full loads; let her rip
Went a somewhat similar grip change route with mine.
Found that with the more top end loads, recoil was/could sometimes be painful even with the rubber Hogue grips it came stock with. I had a set of custom Jordon Trooper stocks by Herritt's for the N-frame S&W's that I adapted to fit the 500. When you touch off a shot, you still know you have a 'handful' but the recoil effects are easier to handle.
And, if you
hang on and do your part
The accuracy of this hand cannon is impressive.
If your wife is recoil sensitive I can't think of a worse way to encourage her than to goad her into shooting a full power round right off the bat.
Another thing to consider as well is to never hand the gun to anyone new with two rounds loaded in successive chambers. Check out You Tube for multiple videos of the gun deforming the shooter's hands so badly that they inadvertently end up pulling the trigger again on the next chamber when the gun springs back. And I understand that one lady in the US died when the recoil kicked the gun back so it was facing her and then her hands clutched the trigger the second time and the gun went off.
I was helping out a fair amount at DVC a few years back and saw this "double tap" occur. This led to the policy of not fully loading the cylinder until the shooter proved that they could handle it. A wise precaution.
All the doom spinning aside these can be a hellishly fun gun to shoot. Just a huge grin maker even if they serve no valid purpose up here at all. Just please use it wisely when letting new folks try it. One round at a time only. That way if it gets dropped or turns on them it's no longer loaded.
Given the cost of factory ammo it is certainly a round that demands that you reload your own. You'll want to go with jacketed bullets due to the muzzle velocity for any full power loads. But for reduced power at up to around 1100 to 1200 fps you can also get away with good cast bullets. Or full house loads using heavier bullets that have a safe for cast muzzle velocity. And Bullet Barn has a 350gn cast bullet that would work for the reduced loads.
Another thing to consider as well is to never hand the gun to anyone new with two rounds loaded in successive chambers. Check out You Tube for multiple videos of the gun deforming the shooter's hands so badly that they inadvertently end up pulling the trigger again on the next chamber when the gun springs back. And I understand that one lady in the US died when the recoil kicked the gun back so it was facing her and then her hands clutched the trigger the second time and the gun went off.
I was helping out a fair amount at DVC a few years back and saw this "double tap" occur. This led to the policy of not fully loading the cylinder until the shooter proved that they could handle it. A wise precaution.
All the doom spinning aside these can be a hellishly fun gun to shoot. Just a huge grin maker even if they serve no valid purpose up here at all. Just please use it wisely when letting new folks try it. One round at a time only. That way if it gets dropped or turns on them it's no longer loaded.
Given the cost of factory ammo it is certainly a round that demands that you reload your own. You'll want to go with jacketed bullets due to the muzzle velocity for any full power loads. But for reduced power at up to around 1100 to 1200 fps you can also get away with good cast bullets. Or full house loads using heavier bullets that have a safe for cast muzzle velocity. And Bullet Barn has a 350gn cast bullet that would work for the reduced loads.
Great info thanks a lot for that. I wouldn't have thought about loading one at a time for newer shooters. My wife has tiny wrists so I'd like her to try a gentler load and see how she feels with it. What's the factory ammo price range like? I called my local range but of course they aren't open during the week.
Does the grouping really matter that much when it'll put a fist sized hole in anything it hits? Lol.
Any pics of the bfr?
Those wood grips look great. Give it a nice classy look. Can you imagine dirty hairy with one of these
Does the grouping really matter that much when it'll put a fist sized hole in anything it hits? Lol.
Any pics of the bfr?
Those wood grips look great. Give it a nice classy look. Can you imagine dirty hairy with one of these
I haven't done any upgrades to my S&W 500, and I thoroughly enjoy shooting this gun. Especially fun with reactive targets like 2L or 4L, watermelons, etc. I reload to the max, and don't find the recoil bad at all. My wife, daughter, and son, also enjoying shooting it and they are all under 120 lbs. My 629 magnum if much more painful to shoot than the 500. Obviously they worked there way up to it however. I'm sure you will enjoy it very much just the way it is.
GD
GD
id imagine i would too. the longest period is now waiting for the cfo to approve the transfer and then i have to wait for the mail man. gonna be a long two weeks or so. i dont doubt ill have any issues holding on to it. and the wife has pretty good benefits through work, so if she gets hurt we just need to tell them it happened at work, lol.
bbse120 do you have a brake on yours? and is it the side ports or the top ports if you do
bbse120 do you have a brake on yours? and is it the side ports or the top ports if you do
Urbansherpa
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, Ont
[/B]I've got the 500 Mag in a 6.5" half lug barrel. Great gun. Very well made, quality firearm. I reload low and medium power cast for it. I've only shot it about 100x (50x in one day). I fear the novelty has worn off and I will likely sell it if the right offer comes along.
Gets a LOT of attention at the range.
I bought it hoping to go south for wild hogs, but that seems unlikely!
Gets a LOT of attention at the range.
I bought it hoping to go south for wild hogs, but that seems unlikely!
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Wish Elmer was still with us.
I'd also like to hear his take on it.The BFR?
And,
in the company of its 'partner.
