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S&W M500 Mag with image of bear on frame

TWalkerTWalker Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited May 2013 in Ask the Experts
I saw a nice(98%) 4 inch Model 500 S&W 500 magnum revolver for sale at a local shop this week. There were some differences between it and all the other 4 inch Model 500's I've seen. The cylinder was not fluted and there was an image of a bear's head engraved on the frame and bear "tracks" engraved on the cylinder. Otherwise it looked like an ordinary 4 inch compensated Model 500. What can any of you tell me about this revolver? They want $999 plus tax. It has only been fired 20 times(1 box). I couldn't find it any where in Gun Digests. I did find a couple for sale here on GunBroker but no useful information on the gun itself. Thanks for any replies or information.

Comments

  • rsnyder55rsnyder55 Member Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    At one time they had a survival kit that included an S&W 500 or 460, a waterproof case, survival guide and such. I believe those pistols were marked special.
  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It probably is of fairly recent production. The only 4", 500 listed in the S & W Book. Dates to 2004, but doesn't have the features you note.


    As a aside, I shot a 500 years ago at a range. It's a very interesting handgun. Do to it's weight, and price/availability of ammo. It's utility is questionable. The one I shot was the original long barrel version. Because of the long heavy barrel, recoil didn't seem to be too bad.
  • beantownshootahbeantownshootah Member Posts: 12,776 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
    As a aside, I shot a 500 years ago at a range. It's a very interesting handgun. Do to it's weight, and price/availability of ammo. It's utility is questionable. The one I shot was the original long barrel version. Because of the long heavy barrel, recoil didn't seem to be too bad.

    As I see it, the "use" of this is mostly gratuitous excess. This is about as big and powerful as a practical handgun can be, and that reason, in and of itself, is the reason for this. The gun weighs 4.5lbs, nearly as much as a standard construction brick.

    Still, even at nearly 5lbs, this is lighter than any shotgun or centerfire rifle (even the "ultralights") and quite a bit more portable and handy. For that reason, I think something like this is a viable alternative to a longarm for certain applications where portability matters more than accuracy or range.

    So why would you want one? Well, IMO bear defense is a legitimate use, though you can probably get away with less. Something like this is good if you wanted to hunt big things (eg elk, moose, etc) with a handgun. Whether or not you "should" is another matter, but its certainly enough "gun" for that.

    Yes, at around $2.50 - $3.00 each, the rounds are expensive, but they're not "crazy" expensive to the point where its prohibitive to fire the gun.

    As comparison, the bigger rifle magnum rounds (.458 Lott, .338 Lapua, .50BMG) still cost more, and people still fire those "for fun". Even "lesser" specialty rounds like .444 Marlin, and 6.8 Rem SPC cost close to $2 a round if you buy them off the shelf.

    Obviously, reloading can cut your costs dramatically here, and I'd imagine if you're loading the equivalent of .500 S&W "specials" the brass will probably last for dozens and dozens of shots.
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