Getting into the handgun hunting game. 500 S&W

Backyardsniper · Feb 11, 2026

Mauser3000 said:
I have a lot of experience shooting the 500 S&W in the X frame and I’ve had a half dozen .44s. I didn’t care for the X frame for shooting off had at extended ranges. I am in the same place you are and recently purchased a FA model 83 in 454 casull.

How is the recoil on the 454 compared to the 500. I was looking hard at the 500 but BFR and Field Ethos are doing a collaboration on a 5 inch octagon barrel 454 cut for an aimpont acro. It looks really good. Everybody says the 454 recoil is so bad, although since I'm reloading I guess it doesn't really matter. I can make them at whatever level I want. I saw that FA in the classifieds. That was a good snag!

Scott CWO · Feb 11, 2026

I will put you in touch with my buddy, Jim. He’s been a serious handgun hunter for years. Here’s the link to our hunt where he took several animals with handguns, including a .500 S&W.

Thread 'TANZANIA: Splitting a Full Bag In Tanzania'

Dec 17, 2023

Planning
Several years ago, I booked a lion hunt in Zimbabwe in the Save Valley Conservancy after hunting plains game there in 2012 but due to past USFWS lion import issues and other safaris getting in the way, I have not made it there for lion, yet. In the meantime, I have done several other safaris including a great trip to Massailand in Tanzania for the unique endemic plains game species found there. Even though I really enjoyed all my trips to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia, I really liked Tanzania, as did my wife. After our hunt in Massailand in 2017, we toured...

Mauser3000 · Feb 12, 2026

Backyardsniper said:
How is the recoil on the 454 compared to the 500. I was looking hard at the 500 but BFR and Field Ethos are doing a collaboration on a 5 inch octagon barrel 454 cut for an aimpont acro. It looks really good. Everybody says the 454 recoil is so bad, although since I'm reloading I guess it doesn't really matter. I can make them at whatever level I want. I saw that FA in the classifieds. That was a good snag!

I have used a 4 5/8 inch barrel 454 casull model 83 and it recoils “faster” than any other handgun cartridge I’ve fired. I would say it feels similar to the 525 grain bullet in the S&W Frame 500. I haven’t shot any of the 50 caliber cartridges in a short cylinder gun like the JRH, linebaugh, or Wyoming express for a comparison. I also have a thing for freedom arms because they’re single action and because of their manufacturing standards and accuracy reports.

Tex .416 · Feb 12, 2026

One safety warning wearing my pistol instructor hat, large revolvers with longer and heavier barrels such as the .500 S&W have a tendency to balance far forward depending on barrel length.

Be very careful and mindful to keep hands and fingers back and nowhere near the forward face of the cylinder. Flames coming out the side are capable of cutting deeply into fingers and causing serious injury.

Here is a good photo showing the issue.

Backyardsniper · Feb 12, 2026

Mauser3000 said:
I have used a 4 5/8 inch barrel 454 casull model 83 and it recoils “faster” than any other handgun cartridge I’ve fired. I would say it feels similar to the 525 grain bullet in the S&W Frame 500. I haven’t shot any of the 50 caliber cartridges in a short cylinder gun like the JRH, linebaugh, or Wyoming express for a comparison. I also have a thing for freedom arms because they’re single action and because of their manufacturing standards and accuracy reports.

I have been back and forth over this with every conceivable combination of caliber/load/barrel length/grip style. Ha ha. I am looking hard at the BFR 45/70 with a 6" barrel. From what I can see the lower pressure of that round seems to tame the speed of the recoil a bit. There is a plethora of loads and load data from way mild to way wild. I also have a 45/70 lever gun so the reloading components and equip are already in the basement. The Lipsey special run with the 6" barrel and rosewood grips looks like a good cross between power and portability/off hand shootability. They come with a rail so I can put an RMR ON it. Still thinking, but I like the looks of it. Also still waiting for FE to release thier BFR collab. That 5" octagon barrel with the reciver cut for the ACRO would be a hard package to beat as well.

Backyardsniper · Feb 12, 2026

Tex .416 said:
One safety warning wearing my pistol instructor hat, large revolvers with longer and heavier barrels such as the .500 S&W have a tendency to balance far forward depending on barrel length.

Be very careful and mindful to keep hands and fingers back and nowhere near the forward face of the cylinder. Flames coming out the side are capable of cutting deeply into fingers and causing serious injury.

Here is a good photo showing the issue.

View attachment 745366

That is impressive!

Bush Buck · Feb 15, 2026

The handling characteristics of a revolver mean a lot to me when I'm hunting. I've shot the S&W 460 and handled the 500 and I just don't care for them. They are bulky and awkward - really made to shoot from a rest.
I want to be able to shoot well offhand with my hunting revolver - nothing does this better than a Freedom Arms for me. You can find a good deal on a used 6" 454 and load it to your comfort level. You can make accurate and effective loads down to 44 magnum power or load it up as heavy as you like.
If you handle the S&W X frame and the FA 83 side by side the difference is amazing.

FA also makes an excellent bombproof mount for the Trijicon RMR.

I suggest wearing deer skin shotgunning gloves when shooting the FA. It improves grip and takes out a little of the sting. I wear them hunting too.

Backyardsniper · Feb 15, 2026

I'm glad you mentioned the RMR mount. That was one thing holding me back on the FA. I didnt know how much trouble it woukd be to find a way to mount an RMR on it. The FA may be the way to go. Does the FA 454 have a really shprt cylinder like their 45 colt?

Flewis · Feb 15, 2026

My FA has 2 cylinders, 45colt and 454and they are the same length. If you can find the old load data you’ll see it’s much hotter than most of the newer data. I believe those pressures are in the mid 60k range if I remember correctly. To me the recoil is heavier and faster than the 460 or 500.

Leadwood · Feb 15, 2026

@Backyardsniper

I have been hunting with the 460 XVR for a
few years.
I agree with @Bush Buck re the offhand shooting characteristics of the big 'Smith.
MIne is the 10 inch version and certainly not easy to shoot accurately off-hand.
Off my rest however, they are great and very accurate.
My first kill on a mountain walk & stalk was a blesbuck at 237 yards.
For bushveld use I found the 460 to be perfectly adequate up to eland, provided handloads are used.
I do believe that a 500 in 7 or 8 inches would be a better hunting setup.
FA are terrific handguns.....cannot go wrong with them.

Regards

Hyena · Feb 15, 2026

Backyardsniper said:
I am making a dedicated move into handgun hunting. I have owned a Redhawk 44 magnum for a long time and I have a lot of experience with it. However, I am looking to get into a more specialized hunting pistol and cartridge.
The questions I have for any of you with experience with this caliber or these particular revolvers are as follows;
Is there any particular difference in performance between the 7.5" and 10" performance center pistols. I will be running this with a trijicon RMR and I like the fact that the pic rail is machined in and sits lower on the 10" so that is the pistol I'm leaning towards.
Is there any reason to look at any of the other revolvers available. The BFR, or Freedom arms?
Would there be any reason to look into another type of specialized pistol for this task, the task being able to handle large game up to bear, elk/moose, and or even large African antelope such as Kudu or Eland, Wildebeest.
I do reload so I can control power level for training purposes. I plan to use the Sierra 400 grain, at least I think that looks like one of the better options. I live about 15 min from a great outdoor range and can also shoot out to 50 yards in my back yard so having the ability to train and practice with it will not be an issue.
I am looking at the 500 because the 500 seems to have a better selection of heavy duty hunting bullets and since I reload I can control the power level, while it is handy that the 460 shoots the 45 and 454 once I buy the brass and bullets for the 500 I can make training rounds with that.
All opinions and suggestion are welcome.
Thanks.

I have both. S&W 500 and RSRH in .454 Casull. I am not recoil shy or small framed, and find the 500 milder in recoil with heavy loads. Both are accurate. Depends on which fits you best in the hand and what you can control.

Bush Buck · Feb 15, 2026

When you hear people talking about the short 45 Colt cylinder they are talking about the FA 97 which is a smaller revolver (super nice in 44 special and 41 magnum).
The 454 Casull was designed along with the FA 83 revolver - which is their full size revolver. The 83 also makes an excellent 44 magnum that can handle a steady diet of very heavy loads.

I think it's true that you can get more power with less recoil from a S&W 500 but these firearms are nothing alike. I want revolver that will carry in a holster and can be used fairly quickly if a shot opportunity arises.
But I am sharing what I prefer. I may well be in a minority.

I should also say that I prefer single actions hunting - not everyone does.
I have enjoyed and taken a deer with a S&W 629 Classic 5" in 44 mag. That's a nice double action for holster carry and deer/hog hunting.

Backyardsniper · Feb 15, 2026

Bush Buck said:
When you hear people talking about the short 45 Colt cylinder they are talking about the FA 97 which is a smaller revolver (super nice in 44 special and 41 magnum).
The 454 Casull was designed along with the FA 83 revolver - which is their full size revolver. The 83 also makes an excellent 44 magnum that can handle a steady diet of very heavy loads.

I think it's true that you can get more power with less recoil from a S&W 500 but these firearms are nothing alike. I want revolver that will carry in a holster and can be used fairly quickly if a shot opportunity arises.
But I am sharing what I prefer. I may well be in a minority.

I should also say that I prefer single actions hunting - not everyone does.
I have enjoyed and taken a deer with a S&W 629 Classic 5" in 44 mag. That's a nice double action for holster carry and deer/hog hunting.

Thanks for clearing that up about the 97/83 size difference. That makes sense.

Wyatt Smith · Feb 15, 2026

I long for a 97 in 44 special. It would seem perfect to me.
I worked up a load for my buddy’s flat top Ruger doing 1130 feet with a 260grain semi wad cutter. That load will take care of 95 percent of what sixguns are asked to do.

Tradmark · Feb 21, 2026

If u want a 500sw to hunt with i wouldnt forget the bfr with the bisley grip. Itll give you quite a bit higher velocities.

Bush Buck · Feb 27, 2026

Wyatt Smith said:
I long for a 97 in 44 special. It would seem perfect to me.
I worked up a load for my buddy’s flat top Ruger doing 1130 feet with a 260grain semi wad cutter. That load will take care of 95 percent of what sixguns are asked to do.

I love the FA 97 in 44 special.
The FA 97 is a 5 shot and makes a very strong 44 special. You need to reload to get the best out of it.
I've taken several deer with mine. It gives up little to the 44 mag for deer size game.
I like the flat top Ruger too - but the sight and RMR mount options for the 97 are superior - which makes a big difference when hunting.

Wyatt Smith · Feb 27, 2026

Bush Buck said:
I love the FA 97 in 44 special.
The FA 97 is a 5 shot and makes a very strong 44 special. You need to reload to get the best out of it.
I've taken several deer with mine. It gives up little to the 44 mag for deer size game.
I like the flat top Ruger too - but the sight and RMR mount options for the 97 are superior - which makes a big difference when hunting.

After shooting my Colt SAA today I am really wanting a Colt new frontier 44 special.

frog stealer · Feb 27, 2026

Backyard, if you end up with a 500, I have brass and bullets to horse trade with if you are interested. Just shoot me a PM.

Backyardsniper · Feb 27, 2026

frog stealer said:
Backyard, if you end up with a 500, I have brass and bullets to horse trade with if you are interested. Just shoot me a PM.

Thanks man. I appreciate it. I'm still shopping around and I want to try to.get my hands on a couple different ones and shoot them. I may see if I can find an indoor range that has some available to rent.

Bush Buck · Feb 27, 2026

For someone experienced in handgun shooting but new to handgun hunting I would strongly recommend staying with the 44 magnum and moving to a better hunting platform that will allow you to mount an RMR ( or other red dot ) securely.
The 44 mag allows for lots of practice and is enough for hogs, deer, elk and moose with proper loads at reasonable ranges.
Actual hunting practice at home would be invaluable before heading to Africa.

Getting into the handgun hunting game. 500 S&W

Backyardsniper

Scott CWO

Thread 'TANZANIA: Splitting a Full Bag In Tanzania'

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