.500 S&W Deer Rifle?

[bigblue]

I've been pondering the NEF .500 S&W rifle. My local dealer has several and they've been haunting me ever since I've seen them. I would like to use one as a rainy day iron sighted deer and bear rifle. Still being somewhat new, the .500 has only lately been coming around with a good selection of bullets to load for it. From Hornady's 500gr. XTP, to 400+ gr. cast bullets. The brass is somewhat expensive, but I don't think I'd spend too much time plinking with it. It should make for a really good deer and bear rifle at close range.
Don

[DocHolladay]

I think you are right on that BB. I think you might also get better ballistics out of a rifle than a pistol, but I havent seen any charts to verify that. If you get it, let us know how it shoots and maybe some ballistics for us to compare to what is published for pistols.

[bigblue]

admin said:

I think you are right on that BB. I think you might also get better ballistics out of a rifle than a pistol, but I havent seen any charts to verify that.

Doc,
I've looked into it a bit more and the Remington ballistics page in their catalog as well as on the net, shows a 20FPS gain for every additional 1" of barrel length. With listed loads in the new Hodgdon Annual Manual showing a 440gr. cast bullet at 1650FPS from a 10" barrel, the additional 12" of barrel length in this rifle should have that same 440gr. bullet close to 1900FPS. By way of comparison, the 458 Winchester Magnum rifle data lists a 450gr. bullet at 2200 fPS. While this rifle wouldn't quite equal a 458 Win Mag, it is awfully close to it.
Don

[quigleysharps4570]

You're planning on shooting those big bullets and hot loads out of a 22" NEF? Been through that lately with a guy at work. That was just with a 45-70 shooting 550gr. flatpoints. First shot the rifle hit him between the horns and second shot knocked him off his bucket.

[bigblue]

quigleysharps4570 said:

You're planning on shooting those big bullets and hot loads out of a 22" NEF? Been through that lately with a guy at work. That was just with a 45-70 shooting 550gr. flatpoints. First shot the rifle hit him between the horns and second shot knocked him off his bucket.

Actually I was even thinking of chopping it down to a 16 1/4" barrel! Then again my bucket may be better anchored with 250lbs. sitting on top of it. I shoot a 27" barreled 45/70 rifle now and would like something a bit shorter and handier for the woods. I love the way the level two 45/70 loads make that rifle leap off a shooting bench.
Don

[quigleysharps4570]

You aren't far off from his bucket weight. He doesn't have a problem shooting that load out of his Buffalo Classic...none to speak of anyway. But out of the short one he really whined. Will sure want to hear a report if you get the .500 S&W. Here's a pic of that 550gr. flatpoint. The one on the right is my favorite 535gr. Postell. These are loaded with 70grs. of Goex Cartridge. The ones I made up for him were smokeless.

[bigblue]

I was at the gun dealer on Thursday picking up another rifle and had all I could do to pull myself away from that .500. I don't think I'll make it through this week without going back for it. I have a real nice oil finished laminated stock from an Ultra Varmint. I'll bet that .500 would look great sittin' in that stock.
I never tried cast bullets in the 500+grain weight class from my Buffalo Classic. I'm actually a bit surprised they fit in it. What kind of velocity do you get with them? My favorite handload for deer uses Hornady's 350gr. RNSP bullet over 60.0 gr. of Varget. I have tried some 420gr. hard cast from Cast Performance, but didn't get the accuracy from them that I get from jacketed bullets. I had modified my BC a bit. I cut the barrel down to the current 27" and recrowned it, I cut the stocks butt straight and installed a X-coil recoil pad, added a Leupold 3X scope, and refinished the stock using about 40 coats of hand rubbed tung oil. When the BC was in it's original configuration, I used to cut my shoulder on that #@^%*$%# steel butt plate. I had even made up a 8" piece of 3/4" copper pipe filled with lead to fit in the butt stock. It helped tame the recoil a bit, but no where near as well as that recoil pad does.
Don

[bigblue]

I checked with someone that owns an NEF Handi in .500 S+W. Luckily he also owns a chrono. He's using Cast Performance 440gr. WFNGC bullets and has tried eight different powder loads with that bullet. His best was 2329 FPS using 33.3grs. of Accurate Arms 4100. Even with 36.0gr. of Hodgdon H110 he was able to reach 2040 FPS.
Don

[quigleysharps4570]

bigblue said:

I never tried cast bullets in the 500+grain weight class from my Buffalo Classic. I'm actually a bit surprised they fit in it. What kind of velocity do you get with them?

I used an OAL gauge to check his before I loaded them. Haven't had them on a chrony. For those 550gr. flatpoints in his rifle...got a load from an oldtimer. Said 39grs. of IMR3031 would be a thumper in his rifle. Appears it was. Loaded the 535gr. Postell the same way for him. Now in my rifle...it's a heavier charge of 3031 with the Postell. My only smokeless load...shoots flat for that big of bullet...10 moa for every 100yds out to 700 yards.
2000+fps for that .500 S&W oughta be a terror on deer.

[bigblue]

quigleysharps4570 said:

For those 550gr. flatpoints in his rifle...got a load from an oldtimer. Said 39grs. of IMR3031 would be a thumper in his rifle. Appears it was. Loaded the 535gr. Postell the same way for him. Now in my rifle...it's a heavier charge of 3031 with the Postell. My only smokeless load...shoots flat for that big of bullet...10 moa for every 100yds out to 700 yards.
2000+fps for that .500 S&W oughta be a terror on deer.

Are you casting those bullets yourself or could you recommend a good source for them?

It's funny, but when I saw your name with Junior Sportman under it, I thought this can't be a kid posting this. So I looked at your profile and low and behold we share a good year to be born, but your a lot older than me, by seven months. It never dawned on me until later that it was a reference to the number of posts you had made.
Don

[quigleysharps4570]

Yep we share a good year. Don't seem like us old dogs are gonna be 50 before very long!
As for the bullets...I'm casting them myself. I've got plenty laying around if you'd be interested in trying some. PM me your address and I'll get some headed your way this weekend. Buffalo Arms sells the 535gr. Postell...but you won't find the 550gr. flatpoint for sale anywhere that I know of. It's an old Lyman mould.
Here's the Buffalo Arms link www.buffaloarms.com/

[bigblue]

quigleysharps4570 said:

As for the bullets...I'm casting them myself. I've got plenty laying around if you'd be interested in trying some. PM me your address and I'll get some headed your way this weekend.

Boy, I sure appreciate that offer, but I couldn't put you through that expaense on my behalf. I will use that link however and see what he has.
Thanks so much!
Don

[psycho]

If I can suggest a caliber for you..the marlin 450 is great.. Much hotter than the 45-70 and more punch than a 500S&W...

I bought one this year and it is awesome..I bought it for upclose and personal bear and hog hunting... This will out shoot the 500S&W everyday of the week...

[TnHunter]

I saw a couple of posts on the big 5 at another shooting forum, and the way they talk the NEF is a good gun for this round, but they do warn that the recoil is pretty brutal.Just get ready for busted nose and splintered clavicals.
Seriously, let us know how the cannon shoots.