Popular .460 Mag vs. unpopular S&W .500

[Rodentman]

I am not gonna fire that.

[Ron Burgundy]

I think he should be wearing a helmet

[Ghost]

I've got the 5" 460. It's for my time I spend in Alaska I'm sure the 500 has an edge but the calibers and hunting ability trumped the minute chance I'll have to use it up there. But I've carried much smaller while camping/hiking in Alaska too. I enjoy shooting all three calibers out of it and I agree the 454 is closer to the 460 than the 45. The 460 is such a quality made firearm that it to me is a lot of fun shooting the 45LC especially at the Lakeville Gander where I hate throwing my brass away and an hour of 460 would quickly line up people watching from outside and clear out the other lanes.

I let a friend shoot it last trip to that Gander and I was amazed in the felt concussion while standing back near the glass vs shooting it. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite guns to shoot.

[Rodentman]

I fire the 460 and 500 at BPR in the rifle bay. The concussion is quite impressive. I've blown fuses in the target carrier several times. I have the 8.375" bbl with a scope so there isn't a huge muzzle rise, but a substantial push into the shoulder, which has a constant ache lately.

[xd ED]

I've got the 5" 460. It's for my time I spend in Alaska I'm sure the 500 has an edge but the calibers and hunting ability trumped the minute chance I'll have to use it up there. But I've carried much smaller while camping/hiking in Alaska too. I enjoy shooting all three calibers out of it and I agree the 454 is closer to the 460 than the 45. The 460 is such a quality made firearm that it to me is a lot of fun shooting the 45LC especially at the Lakeville Gander where I hate throwing my brass away and an hour of 460 would quickly line up people watching from outside and clear out the other lanes.

I let a friend shoot it last trip to that Gander and I was amazed in the felt concussion while standing back near the glass vs shooting it. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite guns to shoot.

It's threads like this and posts like yours that end up costing me money

Edited:
How did you holster the 5" 460?
(Just read the relevant woods holster thread)

[Rodentman]

It's kind of offputting at first to see charges in the range of 40g-50g of powder. Quite a change switching to reloading 9mm. Feels like I need a microscope.

[Rodentman]

Here's the 4" X frame 500 in a holster:



And the 460...

[xd ED]

It's kind of offputting at first to see charges in the range of 40g-50g of powder. Quite a change switching to reloading 9mm. Feels like I need a microscope.

I hadn't yet considered that aspect of it, but yes, that's different. You could use a kitchen measuring scoop and motor oil funnel.

[Rodentman]

I have to use an intermediate funnel, so to speak, to charge the cases since the drop tube on the 3BR won't accommodate 50 cal brass. Of course I don't load hundreds at one sitting.

[xd ED]

Here's the 4" X frame 500 in a holster:



And the 460...

Is it shadow/ illusion, or are the grips different?
...and the 4" bbl ends up 11"+....

[Ghost]

Just a word of caution for first time shooters of these. It's a good idea to load only one round or skip load it because when some people fight the recoil they may double fire the gun and sometimes in a less than ideal direction. There was a girl whom was killed from this scenario, her "friends" thought it'd be neat to watch her shoot something she wasn't prepared for.

[gunsmith]

Here's the 4" X frame 500 in a holster:

Do they make a 2" barrel version of this and call it a Bear Gun?

[Ghost]

Here's the 4" X frame 500 in a holster:

Do they make a 2" barrel version of this and call it a Bear Gun?

Yes, they did. Look up Smith and Wesson bear survival kit. I'm on my phone so I can't easily link photos or I would have linked it.

[Seismic Sam]

Yes, there is a 2" snubbie. perhaps the worst idea ever in cutting down the length of the barrel for some minimal loss in weight. You're probably losing 30% or more of your muzzle velocity, and all you'll do if you miss is really piss the bear off because you burned all the hair off his nose. And if you were so foolish as to shoot one of the Smith 500 rounds with the Barnes 500 grain solid bullet, the bullet would probably be longer than the barrel!!

5" is about as low as I would go in a Smith 500, as the 8 3/8" is a bit cumbersome to unholster.

[Lumpy]

Yes, there is a 2" snubbie. perhaps the worst idea ever in cutting down the length of the barrel for some minimal loss in weight. You're probably losing 30% or more of your muzzle velocity, and all you'll do if you miss is really piss the bear off because you burned all the hair off his nose. And if you were so foolish as to shoot one of the Smith 500 rounds with the Barnes 500 grain solid bullet, the bullet would probably be longer than the barrel!!

This violates Lumpy's Revolver Rule: No revolver should have a barrel shorter than it's cylinder.

5" is about as low as I would go in a Smith 500, as the 8 3/8" is a bit cumbersome to unholster.

There's always the Colt Buntline Special.