Smith & Wesson Model 500 .500 S&W
Model: 163501
Smith & Wesson Model 500 .500 S&W
Model: 163501
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is a double-action .500 S&W revolver built for hunting large game. It has an MSRP of $1,699, and S&W calls it the most powerful production revolver in the world, built on the extra-large X-frame to hold 5 rounds of it.
A removable high-efficiency compensator sits at the muzzle, and two interchangeable muzzle brakes come in the box, one for jacketed bullets and one for lead, so the brake is changed when the load changes. The front sight is an interchangeable HI-VIZ red bead. There is no manual safety, which is normal for a double-action revolver, and nothing is cut for an optic. Stainless frame and barrel, a synthetic rubber grip, and 8.38 inches of barrel in a 15-inch gun at 69.1 oz.
If you're cross-shopping, the Ruger Super Redhawk has an MSRP of $1,549 in .44 Magnum, weighs 53 oz, holds a sixth round and comes from the factory ready for a scope, and .44 Magnum is far less work to shoot well. The Smith & Wesson Model 629 Stealth Hunter has an MSRP of $1,979 with a 7.5-inch barrel and is also set up for an optic, so both of the .44s answer the mounting problem this one leaves open.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Two brakes matched to bullet construction, plus the compensator, all swappable with hand tools.
- The HI-VIZ front bead is interchangeable, which helps when the load changes or the light goes bad.
- The cylinder empties in one stroke of the ejector star, where a single-action sixgun of this power clears one case at a time.
- Nothing on it is cut for an optic, and both .44 Magnum hunting revolvers above are.
- Full-power .500 S&W is punishing even through the compensator, which works against a gun that needs practice to shoot well in the field.
- At this weight and 15 inches long it is a burden to carry all day, even slung on a chest rig.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which muzzle brake should be fitted?
The one marked for the bullet being fired. S&W supplies one for jacketed bullets and one for lead, and they are swapped when the load changes.
Can lighter loads be used in it?
Yes. Reduced .500 S&W loads are made for practice and smaller game, and the lead-bullet brake is there for cast-bullet handloads.
Is it too much gun for deer?
For most deer hunting, yes. A .44 Magnum revolver does that job with less recoil and one more round. The .500 earns its keep on large or dangerous game.
What does the X-frame change?
Size. S&W lists the frame as extra large, which makes room for a cylinder of this diameter and the mass to go with it.