.500 S/W as a Rifle Cartridge?

rbduck · 01-16-2006, 03:10 PM

[hr]

I see that H/R makes the Handi Rifle in .500 S/W. Any opinions on this as a brushbuster? How about specs as a rifle round? Bullets come in up to 440gr for reloading. I hunt in some real thick stuff from a treestand and was wondering if this would be just the ticket for thick cover.
[/align]Ron

[/align]

James B · 01-16-2006, 06:14 PM

What you would have is very close to the 45-70 in capability. Handloads for the 45-70 can go up to 550 grains or more. At this time there are more bullets available for the 45-70 and when you get right down to it, the 45-70 would offer a bit more performance in a rifle. I have been watching to see if NEF will offer the 500 S&W as an accessory barrel. They do not as yet but I may try one if they do. I already have a couple 45-70 NEF rifles as well as the 44 Mag rifle.

bigbulls · 01-16-2006, 06:45 PM

The other guy I work with just ordered himself one and he got it last Wednesday and sighted it in on Friday. He is out hunting with it this week. I expect him to give a report come Monday.

Roskoe · 01-16-2006, 07:29 PM

What you have here is a .50 caliber magnum muzzleloader that can firea second roundin less that two minutes. This would be a great brush rifle as well as an ideal "guide gun" for Alaska. Marlin 1895 in stainless?? Put me on the waiting list.

bigbulls · 01-16-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Marlin 1895 in stainless?? Put me on the waiting list.

How sweet would that gun be?! A 50 caliber bullet at 2000+ fps and one more bullet in the magazine.

I bet if Marlin jumped on this then the ammo makers would also start offering loaded ammo tailored for use in an 18" or 20" rifle barrel rather than a 10" revolver barrel. Or at least reloading data for rifles.

papacierra · 01-28-2006, 12:33 AM

Factory ammo that I know of goes up to 500 gr. If you handload you can go up to about 720 gr. The Hornady 300 gr Evolution Ballistic tip comes out of a handgun at 2050 fps. The 350 gr xtp Hornady's in a handgun are 1900 fps. I'd love to have a lever gun in a 500.

whelen36 · 01-28-2006, 01:11 PM

i don't think the marlin 1895 receiver is wide enough in it's present form to handle a cartridge as wide as the .500 s&w is at the rim. But , it would be really great to see some .50 caliber hunting rifle cartridges be re-intro/introduced for modern hunting rifles

and i know about the .50 alaskan that's available but , that m1895 is modified to handle it , it's not a true factory production stock 1895