500 Magnum Handgun - There are a few things I would put in the “must try” category, and the 500 S&W Magnum is definitely one of them. With 2,600 foot-pounds of energy released, you'd think this gun would be completely unmanageable, but it's not. With an integrated muzzle brake and compensator, the S&W500 revolver is a very extreme shot, but manageable. If you want the most powerful pistol in the world, this revolver is for you! But what if you want to enjoy shooting this great revolver without having to prepare for each shot? In this article, I will go over the basics of reloading a 500 S&W magnum and show both full loads and what I consider to be "comfortable" loads. So let's get into it!
The 500 S&W Magnum is what I call the "ultimate sidearm." Need download data? Go to the end of the pistol charging section and you'll find it! It's the largest diameter bullet for a standard gun, and also the most powerful, so you'll always find it last. But why make such a powerful weapon? Isn't it excessive? Here in North America, there is a need for such a gun - and I can think of no better application for the 500 S&W Magnum than full size Alaskan bears (grizzly/brown bears, not so much black bears). This cartridge and pistol is also ideal for hunting big (extremely big) game anywhere in the world. And finally, it's a lot of fun!
500 Magnum Handgun
In the image above we see an illustration of the size of the 500 S&W Magnum in a "police lineup" of standard handgun cartridges. From left to right we find the following:
Smith And Wesson's Behemoth Magnums
Needless to say, the 500 S&W Magnum is incredibly smooth, pumping 500 grains of bullet at supersonic speeds. It's an amazing feeling that cannot be described in words - you have to experience it in person to appreciate the "experience". Released in 2003, the cartridge is still the most powerful weapon and it's hard to imagine wanting more!
The revolver I am using for this content series is a Smith and Wesson S&W Model 500 with an 8 3/8 inch barrel. I've owned revolvers from several different manufacturers, but I really appreciate Smith & Wesson for their quality, great triggers (I'm a trigger picker), and no-nonsense classic styling. I also appreciate that Smith & Wesson revolvers hold their value *very* well. So I was very pleased to open the "carrying" box this revolver comes in and feel the familiar high-quality trigger, albeit in a much larger package.
At 4.3 pounds, this revolver is solid, and that's good when you expect up to 2,600 foot-pounds of energy in a single shot. The fit and finish of my S&W500 is exactly what you would expect from Smith and Wesson - very good quality. In my experience, the small premium you pay for such a high quality firearm is *worth it* in the end. You don't want to be shooting suspiciously with a magnum shotgun - confidence and safety are paramount - especially when your life depends on it.
When you are carrying a 500 S&W Magnum, it is very important to be able to load and unload your own ammo. Reloading this ammo allows you to "dial" the load for your application and save a significant amount of money over factory ammo. Hopefully this will lead to more shooting with better results! There is a lot to talk about reloading the 500 S&W Magnum, more than can be covered in this article. So we're going to focus on a couple of loads: one light and one closer to full power. In future articles I will cover reloading topics and maybe even revolver improvements (optics and holsters come to mind). Let's take a look at the parts and equipment!
The .500 Bushwhacker: Do You Feel Lucky?
*A quick note about Starline brass: As mentioned in the video, I have been standardizing new pistols at Starline for the past 10 years and am excited to join them as a partner! So look for Starline copper deals and savings soon!
These parts worked very well together on the first load I ran in the 500 S&W Magnum.
This is a setup that can really drain your ammo fast! And this was the first project I completed in the new Ultimate Reloader Mountain Studio (more on that later). Can you imagine being able to load one cartridge, test it, then adjust it, then test it again - all within a 50′ radius? (And an opportunity for me to capture all this action on location). This is a really amazing setup and I'm excited to use this new opportunity for more Ultimate Reloader stories! Back to the 500 S&W Magnum…
One important aspect of ammunition reloading is the chronograph testing of the charges. I use Magnetospeed chronographs and had no problem fitting MagnetoSpeed's V3 to the S&W 500 for testing.
Smith & Wesson 500 Revolver 500 S&w Magnum
I will go into more detail about this testing in future articles, but I will say for now that having the speed data was very important as I ran my own load without the data (at your own risk and with lots of cross references and help from others). By reading velocities, checking primers, and extreme scatter (aka standard deviation or “SD”), you can tell a lot about the performance of ammo.
Here are the load data I used for a 350 grain "light load": (Lower than published load data for common bullets in this weight range, use at your own risk)
You use the upload data at your own risk. Ultimate Reloader is not responsible for any errors in loading data on the website. Always refer to the load data published by the manufacturer.
And here's the load data I used for a 500 grain "full power" load: (90% where full power is compressed)
The Most Powerful Handgun On Earth
I've only just started here, but I'm very happy with the results! A 500 grain load packs a huge punch while still leaving some wiggle room (non-compressed load, not running at full pressure). I might bump the max load to see how the performance changes. Since the 500 S&W Magnum is essentially a rifle cartridge in many ways, it's no surprise that a gun like CFE-BLK produces great results. With a light load, I figured out the corner on the first try. I "pulled" this load from Hodgdon's Load Data Center load that listed Titegroup (faster powder than the CFE Pistol). For this small load I wanted to hit around 800-850 fps and ended up at 850 fps. If there was anything I could do, I would at least lower the load to 800 fps to get the maximum load for sighting, bring new shooters into the 500 S&W revolver, and more. That's the great thing about rebooting—the process of discovery and the ability to "just get what you want."
I really enjoy reloading and shooting the 500 S&W Magnum - and have many more plans for this series. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see? Please let me know in the comments! This week on Wheelgun Wednesday, let's dive down the rabbit hole of the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge. For most gun owners, this is the living personification of the meme. It's just a huge twist that most people can't handle. For the longest time, the .44 Magnum was the largest round ever shown in cinema because of one of the most iconic lines:
I know what you're thinking, "Did he fire six shots or just five?" Well, to be honest, I lost track of all the excitement. But since it's a .44 magnum, the most powerful gun in the world, and it's going to absolutely blow your mind, you have to ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?" What about you, punk? Why the 500 S&W Magnum?…
Ever since Clint Eastwood proclaimed the .44 Magnum the biggest, baddest round on the block in the 1971 film Dirty Harry, there has been a quest for cartridge supremacy! Everyone wanted to be Dirty Harry and own a Smith & Wesson Model 29, and every ammunition manufacturer wanted to push the envelope.
My 454 Casull Next To A 500 S&w Magnum.
. This led to the discovery/creation of many new cartridges for hunting dinosaurs and other bold, massive cartridges.
When the dust finally cleared and the smoke cleared from the ballistics ears, Smith & Wesson sat proudly atop the metaphorical hill with the greatest cartridge ever. It's featured in movies, it evokes thoughts of prehistoric monster hunts, and we've probably seen videos on the Internet where too many unsuspecting people got away with it because they weren't ready to pounce. So, we all know that the cool factor is through the roof with these rounds and revolvers made by Smith & Wesson, but where is the practicality? why
You have to take it against it
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