.500 S&W Magnum

colspan="3" style="background: lightsteelblue; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"

| .500 S&W Magnum colspan="3" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa; line-height: 1.25em;"

| File:44-500comp.jpg
Comparison of the 500 S&W cartridge (right) to the popular .44 Remington Magnum Type Centerfire (.50 caliber) Place of origin United States colspan="3" style="background: lightsteelblue; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"

| Production history Designer Cor-Bon / Smith & Wesson Designed 2003 Manufacturer Smith & Wesson colspan="3" style="background: lightsteelblue; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"

| Specifications Bullet diameter .500 in (

 mm

)

Neck diameter .526 in (

 mm

)

Base diameter .526 in (

 mm

)

Rim diameter .556 in (

 mm

)

Rim thickness .056 in (

 mm

)

Case length 1.625 in (

 mm

)

Overall length 2.10 in (

 mm

)

Primer type Large pistol colspan="3" style="background: lightsteelblue; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"

| Ballistic performance Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy style="vertical-align:middle; border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

" | 350 gr (

 g)

JHP||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|1,975 ft/s (

 m/s)

||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|3,031 ft·lbf (

 J)

style="vertical-align:middle; border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

" | 300 gr (

 g)

EFT (Jacketed w/Elastomer tip)||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|2,075 ft/s (

 m/s)

||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|2,868 ft·lbf (

 J)

style="vertical-align:middle; border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

" | 440 gr (

 g)

JSP/HCL(Hardcast Lead)||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|1,650 ft/s (

 m/s)

||style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;

"|2,660 ft·lbf (

 J)

Test barrel length: 10 in (254 mm)
Source: Winchester

The .500 S&W Magnum is a cartridge that was developed by Cor-Bon with the "X-Gun" engineering team at Smith & Wesson for use in their Model 500 revolvers and introduced in February 2003 at the SHOT trade show. Currently only a handful of models have been introduced that fire this massive caliber, including the X-Frame Model 500 revolver from Smith & Wesson, Magnum Research's "BFR" (Biggest, finest revolver), the Taurus Raging Bull and German Janz JTL-E 500. Each holds only five rounds to allow for thicker cylinder walls to accommodate the pressure generated by such a large and powerful cartridge. The single shot Thompson-Center Encore and NEF Handi Rifle are also chambered for this round.

Performance

With over 2500 ft·lbf (3.5 kJ) of energy, created with a 440 gr (29 g) bullet travelling at 1650 ft/s (503 m/s), it is claimed to be the most powerful handgun cartridge commercially manufactured, and provides power similar to long established wildcat cartridges such as the .375 JDJ and pistol loadings of the .45-70 Government.

The intended design for this cartridge is for big game hunting and wilderness protection.

Bullet weights available for this cartridge, range from a 265 grain (17 g) jacketed hollow point, to a 700 grain (45 g) cast lead bullet. Moderate velocity, heavy bullet loads from the .500 S&W Magnum are similar in performance to the black powder .50-70 Government.

The recoil of this cartridge is quite strong. Smith & Wesson has incorporated design features into their Smith & Wesson Model 500, including a muzzle brake, recoil reducing rubber grips, and considerable weight to help mitigate the recoil.

See also

• .50 caliber handguns
• .500 S&W Special
• S&W Model 500
• List of handgun cartridges
• 12 mm caliber

References

• "Reloading the 500 S&W Magnum" at ReloadAmmo.com
• "Smith & Wesson’s New .500 Magnum Revolver" by Jeff Quinn at GunBlast.com
• "Starline Product Information & Descriptions" Starline Brass website

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