500 S&W

[Billo]

After thinking less is more over the last few years I've decided to go more is betterer, sold my 357 a couple of months ago and I should pick up a freshly built 500 in the next week or so. This will be my new long range varmint rifle.......

[bladeracer]

After thinking less is more over the last few years I've decided to go more is betterer, sold my 357 a couple of months ago and I should pick up a freshly built 500 in the next week or so. This will be my new long range varmint rifle.......

A falling-block action perhaps? Does anybody do a bolt-action that would feed these?

[colin.rac]

After thinking less is more over the last few years I've decided to go more is betterer, sold my 357 a couple of months ago and I should pick up a freshly built 500 in the next week or so. This will be my new long range varmint rifle.......

A falling-block action perhaps? Does anybody do a bolt-action that would feed these?

Only rifle I’ve seen personally that’s chambered in .500 Smith and Wesson is the Model 89, it’s a lever action I think, it might be bolt but I’m pretty sure it’s a lever action.

Just had a quick google search and it is a lever action, good luck getting one though, couldn’t find any on usedguns.com.au where I got my firearm, definitely wasn’t any (at least on display) at any of my local shops in WA, you never know, may have some luck if you wanted one over east.

[bigpete]

I've seen a martini chambered in one of these for sale

[Billo]

Hey Bladeracer you can do a 500 Auto Max on a bolt gun or AR platform which is the rimless version of the 500S&W case

colin.rac sadly I ain't getting a Big Horn 89 Lever, boy would that be a fun gun.

bigpete single shot is my budget build, just waiting for the Gunsmith to send it my way hopefully next week.

For some perspective top loads for my 357 Magnum was 16gr of powder, the 500S&W takes 49gr

[dnedative]

Mosin, Lee Enfield or a Siamese mauser in rough shape would make a good platform for a 500S&W
All of those will do 45-70 so its about the same work to do one in it.



That would be a fun thing in 500

[Diamond Jim]

Varmint rifle? I'm confused.

[wrenchman]

they are good to look at and fun to shoot a couple times but as big as the hand gun is you might as well carry a rifle

[bigpete]

Thats exactly what he's building.....

[Billo]

Had the 500 a week or so now and ive been getting acquainted

[No1Mk3]

Varmint rifle? I'm confused.

"Hol' still thar, ya Gol'danged varmint!!"

Varmint rifle, also buffalo rifle, elephant rifle (African Elephant has been taken with this rifle/cartridge), Mynah wrecker, rat reducer, all around gun.

[Billo]

Varmint rifle? I'm confused.

Red Polymer tip = Bloody Big Varmint Gun

[Billo]

Not the easiest of rifle to shoot off the bench as the CVA recoil pads are only 20mm thick, starting to find a sweets spot in 1 of the lower lighter loads.

Recoil reminds me a lot like a 45-70 guide gun or 9.3x62

[mickb]

Looks interesting mate. so who did the barrel and work for you? And what calibre did the CVA start out as? Thinking here whether a 50AE would be possibe too.

Wondering what else is the action size capable of and at decent pressures. 50-70? 50 Alaskan?

[Billo]

Looks interesting mate. so who did the barrel and work for you? And what calibre did the CVA start out as? Thinking here whether a 50AE would be possibe too.

Wondering what else is the action size capable of and at decent pressures. 50-70? 50 Alaskan?

The CVA started life as a 44 Magnum, Swan did the work. Anything is possible with these actions if your stupid enough

It has killed 2 scopes and Ive had to upgrade to a steel rings and rail combo. Oh yeah the plastic forend blew up a week ago but I have since repair it with Loctite and Fibreglass. Ive got it shooting a few inches high at 100yd and it an inch or so down at 200yd. Hoping to put something tasty on the ground in the coming month

Ive also managed to grab some 700gr casties to test.....

[deye243]

Good sambar rifle

[mickb]

impressive Billo. Can I ask what loads you are using and what projectile availability is like?
As to questions above, Cleavers brings in the bighorn 89 in 500 S&W. Both 22" and 18" barrels, however they only trickle a few in at a time. You have to be calling at the right time of year to get lucky so to speak. I was interested but they only had the 18" barrel version when I called and I have deleted enough of my hearing with short barrel carbines already.

[Billo]

Hey Mickb Ive been tempted by a Bighorn but they just arent in my price bracket.

I can get Hornady 300gr FTX, 350gr & 500gr XTP locally. I can also get 330gr HRBC but they are leading a little as I'm pushing them over 2200fps. I might do some plinking loads with them and run em at 1100fps, sort of like a bunny round.

Now that I think I've sorted the recoil/scope slipping issue I plan on working towards max loads. Im glad I went with a 22 inch barrel, just a little more speed and it doesnt throw the barrel up like a guide gun does.

[mickb]

Why were the scopes slipping/dying mate? 500 is a big calibre but should be no more dramas than a 45-70 or 338 mag etc. Not really at the level of scope killers like a 460wby

[mickb]

Off my little armchair calculations the 500 S&W should get 4000ftlbs with high pressure loads.
Bonafide big game stomper.

[Billo]

Why were the scopes slipping/dying mate? 500 is a big calibre but should be no more dramas than a 45-70 or 338 mag etc. Not really at the level of scope killers like a 460wby

So I started by sacrificing a Jap made 2-7x35 Tasco and I discovered the rings and scope were not cutting it. Changed to a Burris FF2 3-9x40 that was spare and it struggled also

New Bergara steel picatinny rail, Warne steel ring and an old scope Loopy 6x was the next upgrade. Scope has survived and no slip detected. Energy is around 36-3800ft lbs, but I would like to bump that up to max.

Corbon have a published 400gr loads doing 2340fps from a 22 inch barrel, thats about 4863 ft-lbs, just a wee bit more than a 45-70

[mickb]

yes thats serious horsepower mate. 4800ftlbs is elephant gun territory. not quite the sectional density of the longer classical 510 bullets but whats a few inches less penetration though a cape buff between friends.

[mickb]

Id be keen myself if I had the magnum pistol powders to feed it. I'm thinking only a few types get it full tilt, win296, Lilgun, 300 MP, vectan BA 6 1/2, 2205 maybe? Alliant 2400 gets okay numbers according to the yanks but not all the way to top.
You must have a decent supply of whatever you got anyway Billo

[Billo]

I've got plenty of 300MP for a year or 2, I would like some more thou

[mickb]

nice mate the hallowed ground of 300-MP. Its one powder I never managed to get hold of. The numbers suggest its right there with win296 or maybe better. Never see many user reports of it, so it would be very cool to hear how it does.

[Billo]

I've tested it against both 296 & Lil gun in my hornet and 357 Mag and I got a little more speed from it.

Its also delivered better than expected accuracy.

[Billo]

700gr of Lead love, sectional density is about 0.4

[mickb]

Billo I saw a test of a 700grain and it keyholed at hand gun power levels but probably differenr story at rifle velocities. Not that it matters, that thing hitting a little sideways is going to do damage +

btw where did you get them?

[Billo]

Hey mickb got a box of the 700gr from a fella in QLD, just left overs from when he had a 500.

Yeah no idea what speed I'm likely to get but it should push it to around 1400-1500fps.

[mickb]

Hi billo just wondering how your cannon is doing and how load develpment went mate