My "inner-Dirty Harry" is coming out! 500 S&W

V

Vanguard.45

New member
I have been looking into the 500 S&W Magnum for daily carry, just so I can be prepared for anything from street thugs to Sherman Tanks.

The question is, which length to get? The 8-3/8" model or the 4" model? Obviously the longer version will require a shoulder rig (ala Dirty Harry), while the 4" already has several belt holsters available on the market. However, the 4" model seems to be known for giving off A LOT of muzzle flash. If the SHTF, I want to shoot them, not cook them (although I have never tried fried crook, it might be tasty! ;) ).

For carry, can the 500 Magnum be a viable option? (And, yes, it would be loaded with 500 Specials unless out on the "trail", whereby the magnums would then be in attendance.)

Thanks for your replies in advance!

Vanguard.45
 
I am 6'2" and 200 lbs.

I doubt I am going to be tall enough for the long version, but maybe with the right shoulder rig???

Any experiences out there carrying the 500 Magnum???

Thanks in advance!

Vanguard.45 :)
 
only advise I can add is make sure your target is standing in front of a good chunk of a maple tree!!!!!!!
 
I would keep in mind that as "interesting" a choice that such a gun would be, you are liable for where that bullet goes. I sincerely doubt 99% of the bipeds you would use it on, even with 500 specials, will stop that bullet from penetrating straight through. Good luck and get the 4". Have fun.

.44mag

P.S. While the 500 Magnum has impressive ballistics, you are still way undergunned against a Sherman. :)
 
Im sure you were prepared to hear this but, the .500 on a biped is....well a bit ridiculus. The bullet will have no time for expansion and will in most case scenerios go in and right out with no energy distribution. That will leave a clean .50 cal. hole. It might not have the stopping power you suspect unless your shot is well placed. Its just too much velocity, especially for a typical self defense distance of 7-10 yrds. Plus as stated above the liability of the bullet finding a second target after passing through, including public/private property and or innocent bystandards. You are much better off with your .44mag with JHP. if you want power, dead is dead, and there is no reason why you should feel the need to shoot an ant with a pellet gun.
 
You cant be serious?!?! Have you actually handled a 500 mag?? Even the 4" is a freakin monster! It would take a seriously heavy jacket to even remotely conceil it. Not to mention the muzzle blast would probably kill anyone who might be in the vicinty of whoever your shooting. You would be better off carrying a flame thrower... :rolleyes:
 
i think if you reload you might be allright...you can load those light enough so there isnt a whole lot of a flash to "cook" some body....shot placement is of course what matters...I dont know anything about the 500 specials but i think it would be a fun carry...especially in ALASKA :D and i would go with the 4" hope that helps

Osirus101
 
500, I sincerely hope you're kidding. First off, they're huge even with a 4" barrel (and heavy for CCW). And it's just not a good caliber for man sized/shaped targets. Bigger is not always better. You would be just about guaranteed to do serious damage to other people/objects beyond your target. I couldn't help but notice your location in Chicago, I assume you're looking to carry a gun someplace else. They're not exactly the most CCW friendly officials there.

Brian
 
Thanks for your replies and input!!

I agree that the "hugeness" and the overpenetration factors have entered my mind more than once (It would be hard for them not to with the 500). Here is my (possibly and most likely flawed) reasoning:

1. While "huge", the belt holsters available for the 4" model make it appealing to me if the right cover garments are in season (heavy coats, etc.) As for the weight of it (56 oz.), I used to be a cop and am used to having 20 lbs. of gear around my waist most of the day. I agree the 500 would be nearly impossible to carry in the summertime.

2. As far as the overpenetration goes, I had been looking at the Cor-Bon 275 grain, 1350 fps 500 Specials were I to ever carry the 500 for "personal protection against bipeds", and it seems that I read somewhere that their muzzle energy is only somewhere around 1115 ft/lbs (as compared to the 2877 ft/lbs of energy from the Winchester 400 grain Platinum Tip Magnums). That puts it somewhere in the neighborhood of the 50 AE. My issued weapon, the Sig 229 in 357 Sig, sends a 125 grain bullet downrange at 1450 fps. While considerable lighter than the 500, the 357 is traveling faster and has over half the ft/lbs of energy. Would the greater width of the bullet aid in slowing the round down upon impact? I don't mind if the bullet exits the target (2 holes leaking), I just don't want to harm anyone across Lake Michigan.

3. As far as using the 500 Specials, even Dirty Harry admitted in Magnum Force that he used "light .44 Special loads." Probably a good thing.

4. As far as the Chicago thing goes, government work does have its benefits. ;)

Thanks for your insights so far.

Vanguard.45 :)
 
Vanguard, . . . I can only hope you are kidding.

Carrying a .500 is a pre-conceived answer, . . . prowling the streets for a problem.

Handloads or reduced loads will only exacerbate the question of whether or not it is too much weapon for the problem.

Full power loads will kill anything and everything it hits for the first 2 or 3 people.

If you ever use it, . . . the jury that convicts you and puts you in prison will not see the "good Sgt. Harry", . . . they will only see "Theodore John Kaczynski" using a handgun instead of bombs.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Response to Dwight55

1. No, I am not kidding, but may decide that it is an impractical option during those times when the right concealment/ ammunition are not available.

2. No, I do not believe that the weapon one carries reflects one's disposition in regard to how one will behave or interact in society. As a cop, I met MANY people "prowling the streets for a problem" with .32 ACPs, .38s, 9mms, etc. I am just looking for a definitive solution to the problems these goblins are seeking to create (particularly in my vicinity).

3. A good shoot is a good shoot. The reason Kaczynski was convicted was that the lawyer for the bad guy was able to convince a jury that Kaczynski brought a gun onto the train with the intent to use it offensively rather than defensively. (I am sure those fellas were just hoping to collect for the Girl Scout Cookie Drive!)

At any rate, I did have another question regarding the 500 Magnum/Special for CCW. It seems that the ballistics (for the magnum rounds especially) are approaching, and in some cases exceeding, those of rifle rounds. I hear all the time on this forum and from "expert" firearm instructors that if the SHTF, everyone would rather have a rifle than a pistol. If I can't use the S&W 500 to defend my life, then how could I possibly use a rifle???

I don't see how the portability of the 500 S&W makes it any more "illegal" to use in self-defense than if someone were breaking into my home and I used a shotgun slug or a .308 to stop the threat? Does the power alone make it "too much gun" for bipeds? If so, then why do police carry shotguns loaded with slugs? I know that it is for those cases where the BG gets behind cover, but couldn't that be the case in an attack on a private citizen? Not all attacks are robberies- some are just out and out murders (think gang initiation). When you're in a gunfight and the BG takes to cover, I think having a weapon capable of penetrating that cover is not an altogether bad thing!

Thanks again for the lively discussion!

Vanguard.45
 
Vanguard45

I think the point you are missing, that so many people here are trying to make is that the 500 S&W Magnum has a purpose. It was not designed for CCW carry, neither was the shotgun or the rifle. Having too much power is an issue when it can cause the negligent death of an innocent bystander. Anything that can penetrate “cover” is going to be a hazard to any bystanders. Since you cannot control the circumstances at which time an “assault” would occur, you control the things you can. Things like your gun, your ammunition type, spare ammunition, and a defensive mindset. It is not going to help you one bit if you succeed in killing the Bad Guy that was threatening you, but kill someone’s kid and go to jail for the rest of your life because of a poor choice regarding the gun you used. In other words, choosing a gun that is almost guaranteed to over penetrate is not only negligent, it is very irresponsible, especially for a Police Officer. As a Policeman your first responsibility is to the citizens you protect. Your Dirty Harry complex should be kept for the range with your 500. Have a good one.

.44mag

P.S. My best friend's 50AE shoots straight through everything from 1/4" steel plates to the 400+ pound Hog we find in our area. Just an insight as to what the 50AE type ballistics you mentioned earlier are like in the real world. The 500 Specials are going to be the same way.
 
I appreciate the response, 44 mag

What, then is the most powerful cartridge that is considered acceptable for use against bipeds? Is it the .44 magnum, or something smaller?

Thanks again for the lively discussion!

Vanguard.45
 
To Big

I have 2 S&W 500s and while they are a hoot to shoot they are way too big to carry .I have a 8 3/4 and a 4 inch the Desantis Terminator holster works for field carry with the 8 3/4 I have yet to find a holster for the 4 inch .You would be better served with a high cap compact in .357 sig.
 
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