Range day with .500 S&W carbine

[BigBolt]

Was at a buds range this morning; he has metal targets out to 200 yards. This time I brought some targets to see where I am hitting. I had my carbine already set for 100 yards. The first target I shot was what I have expected in the past. The next target was at 150 yards and felt I did OK. I am shooting with skinner peep sights with a #42 aperture. At 100 yards the front bead covers the entire target circle at 150 yards the target is bare visible. The green part of the target is 6" in diameter. I shot standing with a sling military style to steady the best I could. Was shooting 350 gr Berrys, with 40 grains of H-110 and Berrys 350 grain with 46 grains of CFE BLK.

 

[LAH]

Looks pretty good for a boomer. Picture of the carbine please.

 

[BigBolt]

Looks pretty good for a boomer. Picture of the carbine please.

The Big Horn Armory carbine also has the fancy walnut stock, and the revolver is a Magnum Research BFR .500 too.

 

[Leeinmichigan]

I like the 500 S&W. I shoot it in a T/C Encore with 18” barrel with the Hornady 300 grain FTX and/or the 325gr. Swift A-Frame with Lilgun powder to around 2300 and 2200 fps, respectively. It does a job on Whitetails. LOL!

 

[BigBolt]

I like the 500 S&W. I shoot it in a T/C Encore with 18” barrel with the Hornady 300 grain FTX and/or the 325gr. Swift A-Frame with Lilgun powder to around 2300 and 2200 fps, respectively. It does a job on Whitetails. LOL!

I have some 500 gr HCGC loaded up 30 grains of H110 they knock the heck out of deer.

 

[WV Hitman]

I have 2 .500s, but not long guns. A S&W 6" & a Taurus Raging Bull 10" Killed a brown bear with it in AK at 129 yards-1 shot, 375 gr. X. The Taurus shoots around 2 1/2" at 100.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I like the 500 S&W. I shoot it in a T/C Encore with 18” barrel with the Hornady 300 grain FTX and/or the 325gr. Swift A-Frame with Lilgun powder to around 2300 and 2200 fps, respectively. It does a job on Whitetails. LOL!

I was running the same rig for a while. That thing was brutal. It would shoot one day and not the next. I tried everything to find a consistently accurate load but it just wasn't meant to be. I had the same set-up (Katahdin) in 45-70 and it shot very well. I took numerous pigs and bears with it.

I thought that maybe the 500 S&W was just too much for the Encore platform but who knows? Maybe it was just me.

 

[LiveFire]

I had a handi rifle in 500sw mag for a while. I loaded some 700gr cast lead for fun one time. It wasnt fun

 

[Leeinmichigan]

I was running the same rig for a while. That thing was brutal. It would shoot one day and not the next. I tried everything to find a consistently accurate load but it just wasn't meant to be. I had the same set-up (Katahdin) in 45-70 and it shot very well. I took numerous pigs and bears with it.

I thought that maybe the 500 S&W was just too much for the Encore platform but who knows? Maybe it was just me.

Your inconsistency maybe resolved by adding a little amount of crimp on the brass when seating your bullets. I noticed this when I shoot the Swift A-Frame bullets.

 

[Charlie-NY]

Your inconsistency maybe resolved by adding a little amount of crimp on the brass when seating your bullets. I noticed this when shoot the Swift A-Frame bullets.

All of my ammo was roll crimped IIRC. I shot a load of c&c bullets and a few boxes of Barnes before I gave up. I also tried a few different powders but it just didn't pan out. I even replaced the scope with a Leupold 2x, which are fairly indestructible, but it wasn't the scope at issue.

In the end I settled on a Marlin 1895SBL which shoots surprisingly well but it isn't chambered in 500 S&W. LOL

 

[tominboise]

I'd say you are a pretty damn good shot. Holding inside 8" at 150 yards off hand standing with peep sights and a lever gun is impressive. Lovely rifle, too!

 

[BigBolt]

I was running the same rig for a while. That thing was brutal. It would shoot one day and not the next. I tried everything to find a consistently accurate load but it just wasn't meant to be. I had the same set-up (Katahdin) in 45-70 and it shot very well. I took numerous pigs and bears with it.

I thought that maybe the 500 S&W was just too much for the Encore platform but who knows? Maybe it was just me.

The .500 has far less recoil in a rifle than a 45/70 the attached is a good article on comparisons between the two. I have a 45/70 Henry and have noticed the differences between the two.

45-70 vs. 500 S&W | Caliber Comparison - Nifty Outdoorsman

When it comes to heavy-hitting firearms, the 45-70 Government and the 500 S&W Magnum are two popular choices among hunters and shooters. Both cartridges are known for their impressive stopping power, but they have distinct differences that make them suitable for different types of applications...

niftyoutdoorsman.com

 

[Leeinmichigan]

The .500 has far less recoil in a rifle than a 45/70 the attached is a good article on comparisons between the two. I have a 45/70 Henry and have noticed the differences between the two.

45-70 vs. 500 S&W | Caliber Comparison - Nifty Outdoorsman

When it comes to heavy-hitting firearms, the 45-70 Government and the 500 S&W Magnum are two popular choices among hunters and shooters. Both cartridges are known for their impressive stopping power, but they have distinct differences that make them suitable for different types of applications...

niftyoutdoorsman.com

If you hand load the 500S&W you can achieve much higher velocities than those shown in the article’s chart. Which will make the cartridges much more similar In their performance.

 

[3Ackleys]

I was running the same rig for a while. That thing was brutal. It would shoot one day and not the next. I tried everything to find a consistently accurate load but it just wasn't meant to be. I had the same set-up (Katahdin) in 45-70 and it shot very well. I took numerous pigs and bears with it.

I thought that maybe the 500 S&W was just too much for the Encore platform but who knows? Maybe it was just me.

I don't think the 500 is too much for the Encore. I have one in 416 Rigby, it pushes a 400 gr. bullet about 800 fps faster than the 500 S&W. Mine shoots very well- from a 50# lead sled.

 

[Charlie-NY]

The .500 has far less recoil in a rifle than a 45/70 the attached is a good article on comparisons between the two. I have a 45/70 Henry and have noticed the differences between the two.

45-70 vs. 500 S&W | Caliber Comparison - Nifty Outdoorsman

When it comes to heavy-hitting firearms, the 45-70 Government and the 500 S&W Magnum are two popular choices among hunters and shooters. Both cartridges are known for their impressive stopping power, but they have distinct differences that make them suitable for different types of applications...

niftyoutdoorsman.com

I have owned both in a T/C Encore Katahdin 18" rifle. The 500 S&W had significantly more recoil and muzzle rise. There really was no comparison.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I don't think the 500 is too much for the Encore. I have one in 416 Rigby, it pushes a 400 gr. bullet about 800 fps faster than the 500 S&W. Mine shoots very well- from a 50# lead sled.

I'd suspect that the max pressure was much less in your 416 Rigby, but I don't really know.

 

[BigBolt]

I'd suspect that the max pressure was much less in your 416 Rigby, but I don't really know.

Rigby max average pressure 39,000 350 grain
.500 S&W max average max pressure 54,400 with 350 grain

 

[BigBolt]

If you hand load the 500S&W you can achieve much higher velocities than those shown in the article’s chart. Which will make the cartridges much more similar In their performance.

I do hand load and typically use 350 grain Berrys.

 

[BigBolt]

Your inconsistency maybe resolved by adding a little amount of crimp on the brass when seating your bullets. I noticed this when I shoot the Swift A-Frame bullets.

The crimping of the 45/70 and .500 definitely play a big part in accuracy. I was initially having some inconsistent accuracy issues with the .500 with hand loads as I got the rifle in 2022. When I used any of the manufactured ammo accuracy improved greatly. I did notice OEM ammo had a very light crimp. I started backing off on my crimping and to my wonder I was able to get ever better accuracy than OEM ammo. Also, the lighter crimp worked across all the bullet weights from 300 to 500 grain.

 

[BigBolt]

Range day with the .500 S&W 100 yards.