So I fired the biggest handgun cartridge in the world today.

D

Doc M

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Went to Phoenix to play with my brand-spankin'-new HK USP Compact Tac, and lo and behold there was a couple a few bays down that had a couple 9mm autos (range guns; their first time out). Little did I know that the RO brought out the .500 S&W for a little fun too...

I heard that thump, and came over to see whose gun had just exploded in their hand... More correctly, I wondered who was shooting a .454 Casull. Boy was I wrong - and did I ever go buy a round for that .500 in a hurry! I say "a round" and mean ONE, since the going rate was $8 a shot... and besides, I had come to tickle my OWN trigger, not the range hardware.

But DAMN, that was a nice gun - and on the bright side, if it ever failed to fire during a bear charge, it was heavy enough that you could just throw it at the bear and incapacitate it anyway.

I'd suggest anyone who has access to a range or a friend with a .500 S&W should get ahold of that mammajama as soon as they can... great fun, even with a low round count!

-M
 
Actually, there is a handgun out there chambered for the 50 BMG, and back in the day you could get 577, 600, and even 700 "Howdah" handguns from H&H and other English builders. I've also seen and used 45-70 and 50-70 handguns. The 500, while newer, certainly isn't any more powerful then these numbers. FWIW - dan
 
dan belisle said:
Actually, there is a handgun out there chambered for the 50 BMG, and back in the day you could get 577, 600, and even 700 "Howdah" handguns from H&H and other English builders. I've also seen and used 45-70 and 50-70 handguns. The 500, while newer, certainly isn't any more powerful then these numbers. FWIW - dan
Click to expand...
There's also the infamous .600 Nitro Express revolver
 
Allow me to rephrase then, gentlemen:

"I fired the most powerful thing I can imagine firing out of a handgun without having it lashed to my hand."

Quite an experience, nonetheless.

-M
 
Isn't it accurate to call the .500 S&W the most powerful PRODUCTION handgun though? I don't know how the universe defines "production", but I'm talking mass-produced...
 
X-frame .500 sure wakes you up when fired indoors. The shock wave is like a body slam. One round is all I cared to fire also. Made my S&W29 feel like .22 in comparison.
 
Guy I know fired 30 rounds in one sitting. His face was bleeding from the powder blowback and his hands were cut from the muzzle blast. Looked like he was hit with a load of birdshot in the face. Not a pleasant firearm...
 
Like to see that in a full auto. Fired a Steyr .50 once. Something I'll never forget.

Cheers
 
DAR 701 said:
Guy I know fired 30 rounds in one sitting. His face was bleeding from the powder blowback and his hands were cut from the muzzle blast. Looked like he was hit with a load of birdshot in the face. Not a pleasant firearm...
Click to expand...

I've got one, shot a number of loads through it, and yes, it has the ability to 'inflict pain' at both ends;) , but, " His face was bleeding from the powder blowback and his hands were cut from the muzzle blast"!!! Give me a break!!!:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Doc M said:
Allow me to rephrase then, gentlemen:

"I fired the most powerful thing I can imagine firing out of a handgun without having it lashed to my hand."

Quite an experience, nonetheless.

-M
Click to expand...

Great! I want to try it too. ;)

Jeff.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I've got one, shot a number of loads through it, and yes, it has the ability to 'inflict pain' at both ends;) , but, " His face was bleeding from the powder blowback and his hands were cut from the muzzle blast"!!! Give me a break!!!:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
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Regarding the bleeding face, the porting on the gun I fired DID send a fair blowback towards my face and the face of others nearby.

A close friend of mine not given to exaggeration tells me that he fired a similar gun (same model, diff range) and the RO standing over his shoulder received a cut below his right eye from debris.

I can believe it, after firing the beast - my face got peppered pretty good, and I was quite happy to be wearing safety glasses.

-M
 
Gotta love how that puppy pushes you back. Someone on here has a video of me shooting the 500 and my not insubstantial body getting pushed backwards quite visibly.
 
Doc M said:
Regarding the bleeding face, the porting on the gun I fired DID send a fair blowback towards my face and the face of others nearby.

A close friend of mine not given to exaggeration tells me that he fired a similar gun (same model, diff range) and the RO standing over his shoulder received a cut below his right eye from debris.

I can believe it, after firing the beast - my face got peppered pretty good, and I was quite happy to be wearing safety glasses.

-M
Click to expand...

Yes, safety glasses are a must I admit. I have had the odd bits of powder, I believe, come back & strike my face. Alteration # 2 for me in the not too distant future is to get rid of the muzzle brake. I don't want a muzzle brake on any firearm and especially not on a handgun, just for the blowback reason if nothing else. If there is enough in the way of material coming back that can inflict a cut, then there are other problems that exist.
 
I have one and have fired about 250 rounds out of it and have never felt any blowback on my face. I have been cut by the trigger guard - non firing hand to high on grip and one finger was touching bottom of trigger guard, the muzzle break slams the gun down before it lifts.
 
Doc M said:
Went to Phoenix to play with my brand-spankin'-new HK USP Compact Tac, and lo and behold there was a couple a few bays down that had a couple 9mm autos (range guns; their first time out). Little did I know that the RO brought out the .500 S&W for a little fun too...

I heard that thump, and came over to see whose gun had just exploded in their hand... More correctly, I wondered who was shooting a .454 Casull. Boy was I wrong - and did I ever go buy a round for that .500 in a hurry! I say "a round" and mean ONE, since the going rate was $8 a shot... and besides, I had come to tickle my OWN trigger, not the range hardware.

But DAMN, that was a nice gun - and on the bright side, if it ever failed to fire during a bear charge, it was heavy enough that you could just throw it at the bear and incapacitate it anyway.

I'd suggest anyone who has access to a range or a friend with a .500 S&W should get ahold of that mammajama as soon as they can... great fun, even with a low round count!

-M
Click to expand...
Heheh, Hey, Does this here look familiar?

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n45/GroveCDN/Real%20Steel/?action=view&current=MVI_0112.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2

Took skin right off my hands. ;)

I personally call the 500 S&W the hand of god. Its ####in incredible.

Here's my buddy from Holland firing it.

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n45/GroveCDN/Real%20Steel/?action=view&current=MVI_0113.flv&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

Was his FIRST time shooting, let alone ever holding a gun. Started him on 9mm's, then .44 Magnum then .500 S&W.

He didnt wanna go back home after that.

Dont ya just love the ####in goofy grin it puts on your face?
 
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