.500 S&W (.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges

This cartridge is the most powerful factory load ever developed specifically for handgun use. It was developed by Cor-Bon with the 'X-Gun' engineering team at Smith & Wesson for use in their Model 500 series revolvers. The .500 S&W Magnum can develop over 2600 ft-lb of muzzle energy, nearly three times as much as the 900 ft-lb generated by the .44 Magnum.

 

.500 S&W (.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum)
.500 S&W (.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges

 

Cartridge Specifications
Case Type: Semi-rimmed, straight
Introduced: 2003 Made For: Revolver
Cart Len: 2.250-in Case Len: 1.625-in
Case Dia: 0.530-in Bul Dia: 0.500-in

 

Ballistics measured with:
8.375-inch revolver barrel

 

Cartridge Variants:
Weight Velocity Energy
From: 275 gr 1665 ft/sec 1688 ft-lbs
To: 500 gr 1500 ft/sec 2498 ft-lbs

 

Cartridge Used in Database:
Weight Velocity Energy
500 gr 1425 ft/sec 2254 ft-lbs

 

Rankings for Cartridge Used in Database
PF: 712500 TKO: 50.893

 

**See below for further reference regarding the power rankings listed in the tables above:

MV-Muzzle Velocity
Muzzle velocity when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in feet-per-second.

ME-Muzzle Energy
Muzzle energy when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in foot-pounds.

PF-Power Factor
In shooting competition the Power Factor is used to determine the competitive division in which a particular handgun/cartridge can be used. A simple calculation of the bullet's mass times its muzzle velocity.
PF = bull. mass x muzzle vel.

TKO-Taylor Knock Out Formula
Developed by big-game hunter John Howard Taylor in the 1940's. Calculates the relative effectiveness of bullets for hunting game.
TKO = (bull. mass x muzzle vel. x bull. dia.)/7000

Quick Link Table of Most Common Handgun and Rifle Cartridges in South Africa 

Click on the image or link below to read more about the specific cartridge ballistics, measurements and specifications:

.22 LR “.22 PF: 44267
.22 Short  .22 Short Handgun Cartridges PF: 29470
.223 Rem .223 Rem (5.56x45 mm NATO) Rifle Cartridges PF: 134635
.25 Auto .25 Auto (6.35mm Browning) Handgun Cartridges PF: 64255
.30 Super Carry 30 Super Carry Handgun Cartridges PF: 125000
.32 Auto .32 Auto (7.65 mm Browning) Handgun Cartridges PF: 64255
.32 Mag .32 Mag (.32 Harrington & Richardson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 91541
.357 Mag .357 Mag (.357 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 195130
.357 Rem Max 357 Rem Max (.357 Remington Maximum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 195130
.380 Auto .380 Auto (9mm Browning Short) Handgun Cartridges PF: 90000
.38 Special .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) Handgun Cartridges PF: 119290
.38 Super .38 Super (.38 Super Auto Colt) Handgun Cartridges PF: 157950
.40 S&W .40 S&W Handgun Cartridges PF: 180000
.41 Rem Mag .41 Rem Mag Handgun Cartridges PF: 285600
.44 Rem Mag .44 Rem Mag Handgun Cartridges PF: 312000
.44 S&W Special .44 S&W Spl (.44 Smith & Wesson Special) Handgun cartridges PF: 184000
.45 Auto .45 Auto (.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)) Handgun Cartridges PF: 195500
.45 Auto +P .45 Auto +P (.45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) +P) Handgun Cartridges PF: 218500
.45 Colt .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt) Handgun Cartridges PF: 212500
.45 GAP .45 GAP (.45 Glock Automatic Pistol) Handgun Cartridges PF: 202400
.45 Win Mag .45 Win Mag Handgun Cartridges PF: 312000
.460 S&W Mag .460 S&W Mag (.460 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 525000
.480 Ruger .480 Ruger Handgun Cartridges PF: 480000
.50 AE .50 AE Handgun Cartridges PF: 450000
.500 S&W .500 S&W (.500 Smith & Wesson Magnum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 712500
5.7x28 FN 5.7x28 FN Handgun Cartridges PF: 67000
7.62x39mm 7.62x39mm Rifle Cartridges PF: 182715
9mm 9 mm (9 mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges PF: 142600
9mm +P 9 mm +P (9 mm Parabellum +P) Handgun Cartridges PF: 148800
10 mm 10 mm Handgun Cartridges PF: 207000

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