S&W Model 500
Encyclopedia
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
produced by Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
, firing the .500 S&W Magnum
.500 S&W Magnum
The .500 S&W Magnum is a fifty-caliber semi-rimmed handgun cartridge developed by Cor-Bon in partnership with the Smith & Wesson "X-Gun" engineering team for use in the Smith & Wesson Model 500 X-frame revolver and introduced in February 2003 at the SHOT trade show...
cartridge.
It is built on S&W's largest frame, the X-Frame, which was developed because none of S&W's existing double-action frame designs could handle the muzzle energy and pressures generated by the .500 S&W cartridge. The manufacturer claims it is the "most powerful production revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
in the world today".
The Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver
Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver
The .600 Nitro Express Zeliska revolver is an Austrian single-action revolver produced by Pfeifer firearms. Except for the Giant 1859 28mm Remington revolver, 4.13 feet long, and except for the Thompson Contender .600 Nitro Magnum; the Zeliska may be the largest handgun in the world, weighing in...
is more powerful but it is not a "production" revolver. The Model 500 can fire a bullet weighing 350 gr ( 22.7 g; 0.8 oz) at 1975 feet per second (602 m/s) generating a muzzle energy of over 3030 foot-pounds (4.1 kJ).
Articles, statements, and opinions vary widely on this firearm. Any of the available bullet weights can be relied on to take game at a range in excess of 200 yards (183 m), a feat matched by only a handful of other handguns. The advanced design of the firearm helps in counteracting recoil felt by the shooter. This includes the sheer weight of the firearm, use of rubber grips, the forward balance, and the use of a compensator. On certain S&W Performance Center models the compensator is replaced with a full muzzle brake
Muzzle brake
Muzzle brakes and recoil compensators are devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm or cannon to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire...
.
Like most big caliber handguns the Model 500 is suitable for sport and hunting applications. The high energy of these rounds make it possible to hunt extremely large African game successfully.
Like any gun, proper supervision is required for novice shooters; however, due to the extremely high recoil, novice shooters should be especially coached while shooting this gun.
Another hazard is the gasses generated as they escape the cylinder
Cylinder (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the Cylinder refers to the cylindrical, rotating part of a revolver containing multiple cartridge chambers. The cylinder revolves around a central axis in the revolver to bring each individual chamber into alignment with the barrel for firing...
which can present a risk of injury to a shooter using an improper grip, as demonstrated in an episode of the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
series MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
.
Variants
- Model 500ES : 2¾" barrel, stainless steel emergency survival revolver.(No longer offered as of December, 2009)
- Model 500 : 4" barrel, stainless steel.
- Model 500: 6.5" barrel, half lug, stainless steel with integrated over-barrel compensator.
- Model 500 : 8⅜" barrel, stainless steel with standard compensator.
- Model 500 HIVIZ : 8⅜" barrel, stainless steel with interchangeable compensator.
- Model 500 : 10" Lothar-Walther custom German rifle barrel, matte finish stainless steel.
- Model 460 : version chambered in .460 S&W Magnum
S&W 500 variants on manufacturer's website
Other variants are available through the Smith & Wesson's Performance Center. Like all Smith & Wesson revolvers other "custom" variants are available on special production runs with a minimum order of 500 units. An example is the John Ross performance center 5" which features a 5" barrel with an external muzzle nut and a millet dovetail front sight.
External links
video: individual firing 500 Smith & Wesson- http://www.automagpistol.com/video/Kathryn1.mpeg