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The .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum (500 S&W Magnum, 500 S&W MAG) thundered onto the market in 2003 as a collaboration between Smith & Wesson and COR-BON as a hunting handgun for all North American species, including elk, moose, bison, and brown bear. They also wanted the bragging rights for having the most powerful production handgun cartridge.
Due to the sheer power of the recoil generated by this handgun ammo, it definitely isn't for the inexperienced. However, used in its intended design by a skilled handgun hunter, it's highly capable of ethical one-shot-drops on large game. It's even been used successfully in Africa's dangerous game within reasonable ranges and proper shot placement.
The 500 S&W Magnum is usually chambered in revolvers and single-shot handguns, but they are sometimes found in both single-shot and repeating carbines and rifles.
As of 2022, the .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum (500 S&W Magnum, 500 S&W MAG) is the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world.
Very, very powerful. The 500 S&W Mag pushes a 300-grain Hornady FTX bullet at 2,075 fps (feet per second), with a muzzle energy of 2,868 ft-lb (foot-pounds). Beef that bullet up to a 500-grain(!) Hornady FP XTP and you're looking at 1,425 fps with 2,254 ft-lb. To give some basis for comparison, Dirty Harry's venerable .44 Magnum hand cannon "only" ranges around 1,180-1,550 fps and 741-1,500 ft-lb using bullets from 240gr to 340gr.
That's maximum muzzle energy of 2,078 J (Joules) for the .44 Magnum and 3,888 J for the 500 S&W Magnum.
According to SAAMI (Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute), the U.S. authority on Generally Accepted Firearms & Ammunition Interchangeability that can be fired through certain calibers, a revolver or single-shot chambered in .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum (500 S&W Magnum, 500 S&W MAG) can also use 500 Special (500 SPL) ammo.
As for brands, there are top names like Hornady 500 S&W Magnum Ammo, Winchester 500 S&W Magnum Ammo, Cor-Bon 500 S&W Magnum Ammo, and several others currently producing 500 S&W Mag Ammo.
Shop at OpticsPlanet for all of your Handgun Ammo, including 500 S&W Magnum! If you'd like to learn more, check out the Handgun Ammo Guides from our own in-house experts and enthusiasts. Don't wait, stock up on ammo before it's too late!
Click here for answers to Ammo Buying Frequently Asked Questions, and for more information check out our State of the Ammunition Industry page.
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