Smith & Wesson Model 500

Smith & Wesson Model 500
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	2002–2003
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Produced	2003–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	56 oz (1.59 kg) to 82 oz (2.32 kg)
Barrel length	4 in (102 mm) (500S) 8¾ in (213 mm) 10.5 in (267 mm)
Cartridge	.500 S&W Magnum
Action	Double action
Feed system	5-Round Cylinder

S&W Model 500 being fired at night

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is a five-shot, double-action revolver produced by Smith & Wesson, firing the .500 S&W Magnumcartridge.It is built on S&W's largest frame, the X-Frame, which was developed because none of S&W's existing double-action frame designs could handle the muzzle energy and pressures generated by the .500 S&W cartridge.It is the most powerful production revolver in the world today, and it is being marketed as being "the world's most powerful handgun" by the manufacturer.There are a few other larger revolvers like for instance the Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver, however none of them are a "production" revolver. The Model 500 can fire a bullet weighing 350 gr ( 22.7 g; 0.8 oz) at 1975 feet per second (602 m/s) generating a muzzle energy of over 3,030 foot-pounds force (4.1 kJ).

Articles, statements, and opinions vary widely on this firearm. Any of the available bullet weights can be relied on to take game at a range in excess of 200 yards (183 m), a feat matched by only a handful of other handguns. The advanced design of the firearm helps in counteracting recoil felt by the shooter. This includes the sheer weight of the firearm, use of rubber grips, the forward balance, and the use of a compensator. On certain S&W Performance Center models the compensator is replaced with a full muzzle brake.

Like most big caliber handguns the Model 500 is suitable for sport and hunting applications. The high energy of these rounds make it possible to hunt extremely large African game successfully.

Like any gun, proper supervision is required for novice shooters; however, due to the extremely high recoil, novice shooters should be especially coached while shooting this gun.Another hazard is the gasses generated as they escape the cylinder which can present a risk of injury to a shooter using an improper grip, as demonstrated in an episode of the Discovery Channel series MythBusters.