About .500 Smith & Wesson

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to talk about .500 Smith & Wesson today. The .500 Smith & Wesson is one of the most iconic and well-known magnum handgun cartridges in circulation. Our goal today is to provide a brief overview of this cartridge while delving into traits, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s talk about .500 Smith & Wesson.

What is .500 Smith & Wesson?

The .500 Smith & Wesson made its debut in 2003 and is ultimately the result of a collaboration between Smith & Wesson and Corbon. Development for the cartridge was spurred by the company’s desire to produce the most powerful production handgun cartridge. The .500 Smith & Wesson cartridge made its debut alongside the large Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver, their first X-frame revolver. Officially, the cartridge is known as the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, often referred to as .500 Smith & Wesson for simplicity.

The cartridge packs a punch and is capable of delivering a staggering amount of kinetic energy. The sectional density of .500 Smith & Wesson projectiles paired with magnum velocities truly allows for superior terminal ballistics. These traits aid the cartridge in being effective as a hunting cartridge for both handgun and rifle use cases. The cartridge is notably one of the most powerful production handgun cartridges in existence and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Relationship with .500 Smith & Wesson Special

After the introduction of the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, Corbon would later introduce a more moderate variation of the loading. This tamer loading came in the form of the .500 Smith & Wesson Special cartridge. These cartridges are notably shorter than their .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum counterparts and produce significantly less recoil and impulse. The relationship between these two .500 calibers is similar to that of the .357 Magnum and .38 Special. Simply put, one can utilize both .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum and .500 Smith & Wesson Special ammo in firearms chambered in .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum.

How Available is .500 Smith & Wesson Ammunition?

Currently, a number of companies produce .500 Smith & Wesson ammunition. These loadings are produced by companies across the globe and are available in a variety of configurations. General purpose loadings and specialty loadings alike can be found for the .500 Smith & Wesson. Companies such as Corbon, Federal, Magtech, Hornady, and Winchester are among the producers of .500 Smith & Wesson ammo.

While cartridge is certainly supported by a number of companies, .500 Smith & Wesson ammunition is going to be less prevalent than more contemporary calibers. For example, one will find loadings for 9mm Luger and .357 Magnum easier than they will if they were looking for .500 Smith & Wesson. .500 Smith & Wesson ammo is not impossible to find by any means, one will just have to look harder if shopping locally. Of course, one’s options expand if they elect to shop for ammo online. If you choose to buy ammo online, you can browse a wider range of loadings and even find some hard-to-find specialty loadings. All in all, one will be able to find .500 Smith & Wesson ammo if they truly want to.

How Available are Firearms in .500 Smith & Wesson?

At this point in time, one will find that there are many firearms on the market chambered in .500 Smith & Wesson. As with ammunition of this type, these types of firearms are not nearly as common as offerings in more contemporary calibers. As mentioned above, firearms chambered in .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum will be able to accommodate both .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum and .500 Smith & Wesson Special ammo. This means that shooters of these firearms will have access to two types of ammo to stock up on.

Presently, a number of companies produce firearms chambered in .500 Smith & Wesson. Companies such as Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and Big Horn Armory are among the notable produces of firearms in this caliber. A majority of the firearms found on the market in this caliber are going to be revolvers. Few rifle offerings exist, such as Big Horn Armory’s Model 89 lever action rifle. Additionally, single shot, break action rifles can be had in the caliber, featuring beefy receivers and chambers to support the cartridge. All in all, one will be able to find a firearm in .500 Smith & Wesson if they truly want to.

.500 Smith & Wesson for Hunting

One of the most common use cases for the .500 Smith & Wesson is going to be hunting. Smith & Wesson themselves dubs their Model 500 as “A Hunting Handgun for Any Game Animal Walking.” This title certainly seems apt when one considers the fact that it can effectively dispatch large, dangerous game. Notably, the cartridge has demonstrated its effectiveness as it has dispatched large African game such as elephants and buffalo. Or course, if large African game can be dispatched with this cartridge, North American big game can also be ethically taken with .500 Smith & Wesson.

Many specialty hunting loadings exist for the .500 Smith & Wesson. These loadings increase the performance of the cartridge and further optimize its performance in the field. As with any type of hunting, one should ensure they are using proper ammunition, firearms, equipment and practices. By doing so, they ensure not only an optimal hunt, but an ethical one as well. All in all, the .500 Smith & Wesson is an incredibly potent and viable hunting cartridge.

Conclusion

All in all, the .500 Smith & Wesson is an incredibly potent and popular handgun cartridge. The cartridge is employed by practical users, collectors, and simply those who want a powerful revolver cartridge. We here at True Shot Ammo offer many types of .500 Smith & Wesson ammo for sale. These loadings cover a variety of use cases and styles, providing shooters with a variety of options. Whether you wanting to buy .500 Smith & Wesson ammo or stock up on ammunition of a different type, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.

Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at [email protected] for more ammo options.

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Tyler Elsberry

Tyler Elsberry is an author for True Shot Ammo, boasting over a decade of experience in the firearms industry. His extensive knowledge and hands-on expertise make him a valuable asset to the True Shot team. Tyler's deep understanding of firearms, coupled with his passion for the ammunition industry, allows him to provide insightful and practical guidance to enthusiasts and professionals alike. His writings often reflect his commitment to delivering accurate, up-to-date information on the latest trends, products, and advancements in the field. Tyler's ability to convey complex technical details in an accessible manner has earned him a loyal following among readers seeking reliable advice and information in the world of firearms and ammunition.