Smith & Wesson 500 Review: The Most Powerful Production Revolver (2026)

Last updated and checked October 27, 2026 · By Nick Hall, who put 500 rounds through the Smith & Wesson Model 500 for this review

Affiliate disclosure: This Smith & Wesson Model 500 review contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links then we can receive a small commission that helps keep the lights on. You don’t pay anything more.

Quick Answer: The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is the X-frame revolver S&W calls the most powerful production revolver in the world today. S&W rates the .500 S&W Magnum at 2,600 ft-lb, and Hornady’s 300gr FTX makes 2,533 ft-lb at 1,950 fps from an 8.5-inch test barrel. That’s 2.6 times Hornady’s 240gr .44 Magnum load at 971 ft-lb.

S&W lists six Model 500s right now: a 4-inch, two 8 3/8-inch guns and three Performance Center models at 3.5, 7.5 and 10.5 inches. I tested the standard 8 3/8-inch (item 163500), which has a fixed compensator and lists at $1,629. From a rest at 25 yards it shot 2 to 3 inch groups with Hornady’s 300gr FTX.

The biggest mistake new Model 500 owners make is firing it without a proper grip and stance. Even with the compensator, full-power .500 is a shove you have to plan for. Use a high two-handed grip, start from the bench, and practice with Federal’s Fusion 325gr, which Federal loads to 1,450 fps instead of the 1,800 fps of its Swift A-Frame hunting load.

Table of Contents

Review: Smith & Wesson Model 500, the Most Powerful Production Revolver

Our Rating: 7.0/10

• MSRP: $1,629 (8 3/8″, item 163500)
• Street Price: from $1,449 at Brownells (October 27, 2026)
• Caliber: .500 S&W Magnum
• Action: Double-action / Single-action
• Barrel Length: 8 3/8″ (also 4″, plus Performance Center 3.5″, 7.5″ and 10.5″)
• Chamber Pressure: 60,000 psi SAAMI maximum average
• Weight (Unloaded): 71 oz (8 3/8″ barrel)
• Capacity: 5 rounds
• Frame: X-Frame (stainless steel)
• Barrel: Fixed compensator
• Sights: Interchangeable front, adjustable rear
• Optics: Not optic ready (the PC 7.5″ and 10.5″ are)
• Grip: Synthetic rubber
• Made in: USA (Springfield, MA)

Quick Take

There’s no polite way to say this: the Smith & Wesson Model 500 is completely ridiculous. S&W rates its cartridge at 2,600 ft-lb of muzzle energy, which is rifle territory from a handgun. It weighs 71 ounces empty. And none of that matters, because this gun exists for one reason: Smith & Wesson wanted to prove it could build it.

I tested the standard 8 3/8-inch gun, the one most dealers stock. After 500 rounds (yes, at $2.07 a round for the cheapest box I could find, I’m aware of the math), I can tell you this revolver does exactly what it promises. It puts an enormous amount of energy downrange with the kind of reliability you expect from a well-built wheelgun.

Is it practical? Not really. Is it the best choice for self-defense? Absolutely not. Can it take down any game animal on the North American continent? Without question. But the real reason people buy the Model 500 is simpler than all of that. They buy it because holding 2,600 ft-lbs of energy in your hands makes you grin like an idiot. And honestly, that’s reason enough.

Best For: Handgun hunters pursuing dangerous or large game, shooters who want the most powerful production revolver ever made, and anyone who believes “because I can” is a perfectly valid reason to own a firearm. Also pairs well with our guides on the most powerful handguns and big game hunting handguns.

Why Smith & Wesson Built the Model 500 This Way

In 2003, Smith & Wesson set out to build the most powerful production handgun in the world, and the .500 S&W Magnum was the result. SAAMI issued its cartridge drawing on June 25, 2003. The goal wasn’t the most practical gun. Not the most comfortable. The most powerful. Full stop.

To handle the enormous chamber pressures (SAAMI sets the maximum average at 60,000 psi), S&W had to design an entirely new frame. The existing N-frame that housed the .44 Magnum wasn’t even close to sufficient. The result was the X-frame, the largest revolver frame S&W has ever produced. Everything about it is overbuilt by design because it has to be.

The compensated barrel isn’t just a nice touch. It’s a necessity. Without it, the .500 S&W Magnum’s recoil would be genuinely unmanageable for most shooters. The ports redirect muzzle gases upward to counteract barrel rise, and they make a meaningful difference. The gun is still brutal to shoot, but the compensator keeps it on the right side of controllable.

What the standard gun doesn’t have is a rail. S&W lists the 8 3/8-inch as not optic ready, and only the Performance Center 7.5 and 10.5-inch guns carry that flag. If your plan is a pistol scope or a red dot for handgun hunting, buy one of those. At distances where you can manage the recoil well enough to shoot accurately, any of them can take elk, moose and brown bear.

The 8 3/8-inch barrel is the sweet spot in the lineup. The 4-inch (yes, it exists) is borderline comical to shoot and gives up velocity. The 10.5-inch, now a Performance Center gun listed at $2,019, squeezes out extra performance but makes an already unwieldy gun even harder to handle in the field. The 8 3/8-inch balances ballistic performance with something approaching manageability.

Competitor Comparison

The Model 500 doesn’t have a lot of direct competitors because not many manufacturers want to play in this space. But there are a handful of big-bore revolvers worth considering if you’re shopping for maximum handgun power.

Magnum Research BFR .45-70 (from $1,329.99)

The BFR (Biggest Finest Revolver) in .45-70 Government is the most interesting alternative to the Model 500. The .45-70 cartridge doesn’t match the .500 S&W Magnum’s raw energy numbers, but it’s been dropping large game since the 1870s and it’s easier to find. You can walk into almost any gun shop and find .45-70 on the shelf. Try that with .500 S&W Magnum.

The BFR also costs less: from $1,329.99 at PSA against $1,449 for the Model 500 at Brownells. Ammo is where the old story breaks down. On October 27, the cheapest .45-70 box at our five trusted stores worked out to $2.12 a round, five cents more than the cheapest .500 S&W box at $2.07. The BFR still makes sense if you value practicality at all, because .45-70 is easier to find on a shelf. The Model 500 wins on raw power and brand cachet.

Smith & Wesson 460 XVR (from $1,474.99)

The 460 XVR is the Model 500’s sibling from the same X-frame family. It fires the .460 S&W Magnum, which makes less energy than the .500 (Hornady rates its 200gr FTX at 2,149 ft-lb, against 2,533 for its 300gr .500 load) but has one huge advantage: versatility. The 460 XVR can also fire .454 Casull and .45 Colt, giving you three cartridges in one gun. That means you can practice with cheaper .45 Colt loads and save the full-power .460 rounds for hunting.

S&W says the 460 XVR has the highest muzzle velocity of any production revolver on earth. It lists the standard gun at $1,699, and our feed had it from $1,474.99 at Guns.com. If I were choosing between the 500 and the 460 XVR for actual hunting use, the 460 XVR’s ammo flexibility makes it the more practical choice. The Model 500 is for people who want the title of “most powerful,” not “most versatile.”

Ruger Super Redhawk .454 Casull ($1,549 list)

The Super Redhawk in .454 Casull is the sensible choice in the big-bore revolver world, if “sensible” is a word that applies here at all. Hornady rates its 240gr XTP Mag at 1,924 ft-lb from a 7.5-inch vented barrel. That’s 609 ft-lb less than Hornady’s 300gr .500 load, but it’s still more than enough for any North American game animal.

Ruger lists it at $1,549, $80 under S&W’s $1,629 list for the Model 500. The ammo is cheaper (the cheapest .454 box at our trusted stores was $1.75 a round on October 27) and the recoil is stout but manageable with practice. Ruger says it fires .45 Colt too, for affordable practice sessions. For handgun hunting, the Super Redhawk in .454 Casull is the better tool for most people. But nobody buys a Model 500 because they want the better tool for most people. They buy it because they want the biggest.

Taurus Raging Hunter .44 Magnum (from $860.99)

If you’re thinking about a big-bore hunting revolver but the Model 500’s price tag and ammo cost make you wince, the Taurus Raging Hunter in .44 Magnum is worth a look. Hornady rates its 240gr XTP .44 Magnum load at 971 ft-lb. That’s less than half the Model 500’s output, but it’s been taking deer, hogs, and black bear for decades.

The Raging Hunter is $860.99 at PSA, $588.01 less than the Model 500 at Brownells, and .44 Magnum ran $0.88 a round for PMC Bronze at Brownells on October 27. You can find it at any store that sells ammunition. Taurus ports the barrel at the factory and fits cushioned insert grips, and together they make it comfortable enough for long range sessions. It’s a completely different class of gun, but it may be the right answer for most buyers who think they want a Model 500.

Features and Technical Details

The X-Frame

The X-frame is the heart of what makes the Model 500 possible. S&W designed it from scratch specifically for the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge. The cylinder alone is massive, with walls thick enough to safely contain chamber pressures that would crack an N-frame. The entire frame is stainless steel, which adds weight but provides excellent corrosion resistance for a gun that may see field use in all conditions.

The frame’s size is something you have to see in person to fully appreciate. Setting a Model 500 next to a Model 629 (.44 Magnum) makes the 629 look like a compact carry gun. The X-frame cylinder diameter is significantly larger, and the overall proportions are simply in a different category. This is not a gun that hides in any holster.

Compensated Barrel

S&W lists the compensator on the 8 3/8-inch as fixed, so it isn’t coming off. (The 163501 version of the same gun ships with two removable brakes, one for jacketed bullets and one for lead.) It vents gas upward near the muzzle, and the effect is noticeable. Without it, the .500 S&W Magnum would produce barrel rise so severe that follow-up shots would be measured in “eventually” rather than seconds.

With the compensator, the recoil impulse is more of a straight-back push into your palm rather than a violent upward rotation. Don’t misunderstand: it still kicks harder than anything else you’ve ever fired from a handgun. But the compensator keeps it in the realm of “controllable with proper technique” rather than “physically dangerous to the shooter.”

Trigger

The double-action trigger pull is heavy, as you’d expect from a large revolver. It’s smooth but long, and honestly, you’ll want to shoot this gun in single-action mode for accuracy. The single-action pull breaks cleanly with minimal overtravel. It’s a good trigger by big-bore revolver standards.

For hunting applications, single-action is the only realistic option anyway. You’re not doing speed drills with a Model 500. You’re taking one carefully aimed shot at a time. The trigger supports that use case well.

Sights and Optics

S&W lists the front sight on the 8 3/8-inch as interchangeable, and the rear is fully adjustable. They’re perfectly adequate for range use and short-range hunting, and the rear adjustments are precise enough to zero the gun for your preferred load.

Optics are the catch. S&W lists the standard 8 3/8-inch as not optic ready, so there’s no factory rail to bolt a scope to. If you want a dot or a pistol scope for hunting, the Performance Center 7.5 and 10.5-inch guns are the ones S&W lists as optic ready. For a red dot on one of those, I’d look at the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro (Leupold lists it from $449.99) or the Burris FastFire 3 ($288 list).

Grip and Ergonomics

The factory synthetic rubber grip is the right choice for this gun. It absorbs as much recoil as a grip reasonably can, and the rubber texture provides a secure hold even with sweaty hands. S&W could have gone with wood grips for aesthetics, but function matters more here than looks.

That said, the ergonomics score a 5/10 for a reason. The gun is simply too large and too heavy for comfortable extended use. Your hand will fatigue from gripping it. Your wrists will ache from the recoil. Your forearms will feel it the next day. This is the reality of a handgun that weighs 71 ounces empty and fires a cartridge that produces over a ton of muzzle energy. Physics doesn’t negotiate.

Model 500 Variants: Which One to Buy

S&W lists six Model 500s, and they’re not the same gun with different barrels. The muzzle device, the sights and whether you can mount an optic all change. Here’s the lineup from S&W’s own X-frame pages.

At the Range: 500 Round Test

Let’s address the elephant in the room. On October 27, a box of 20 at our trusted stores ran from $41.49 (HSM 330gr at PSA, $2.07 a round) to $77.99 (Magtech 400gr at Sportsman’s Warehouse, $3.90 a round). Twenty-five boxes is $1,037.25 to $1,949.75 in ammunition alone, which is more than the gun costs. I spread this testing over multiple sessions because my hands, wrists, and wallet all needed recovery time between outings.

Ammo Log

• Hornady 300gr FTX: 200 rounds (primary hunting load, 1,950 fps)
• Federal 325gr Swift A-Frame: 100 rounds (1,800 fps)
• Hornady 500gr FP-XTP: 100 rounds (the heavy load, 1,300 fps)
• Federal Fusion 325gr: 100 rounds (the practice load, 1,450 fps)

Break-In and Initial Impressions

The first five rounds told me everything I needed to know about what I was dealing with. The concussive blast from the compensator is startling even with ear protection. The recoil is unlike any other handgun I’ve fired. It doesn’t snap or flip like a .44 Magnum. It shoves. The entire gun pushes straight back with tremendous force, and the compensator redirects the muzzle blast upward in a visible fireball.

People at neighboring lanes stopped shooting to watch. This happens every single time you bring a Model 500 to an indoor range. Get used to being the center of attention, or bring it to an outdoor range where you’re less likely to disturb other shooters with the concussion.

Reliability

Zero malfunctions across 500 rounds. Not a single one. This is one of the fundamental advantages of a revolver: the mechanism is mechanically simple and extraordinarily reliable. The cylinder locked up tight every time. Extraction was smooth. The ejector rod cleared all five cases cleanly with one push.

I did check cylinder timing and lockup at 100, 250, and 500 rounds. No measurable change. The X-frame is built like a bank vault, and 500 rounds of .500 S&W Magnum didn’t faze it. S&W’s metallurgy and heat treatment on these guns is excellent.

Accuracy Testing

At 25 yards, shooting single-action from a rest, the Model 500 is mechanically very accurate. I managed consistent 2-3 inch groups with the Hornady 300gr FTX load, which was the most accurate ammunition I tested. The Federal 325gr Swift A-Frame ran close behind at 3 inches. The heavy 500gr Hornady loads opened up to 4 inches, but those rounds are designed for maximum penetration at close range, not precision at distance.

At 50 yards with iron sights, groups opened to 4-5 inches with the best loads. That’s still minute-of-vitals on any large game animal. With an optic on one of the optic-ready Performance Center guns, I’d expect those groups to tighten considerably. The limiting factor on accuracy with the Model 500 isn’t the gun. It’s the shooter’s ability to manage the recoil and maintain a consistent grip through the trigger press.

Standing unsupported? My groups doubled. The gun’s weight actually helps here, as it dampens some of the wobble, but the anticipation of recoil is a real accuracy killer. If you flinch (and you will, at least initially), your shots will go low and left for right-handed shooters.

Recoil Management

I’ll be honest: I could comfortably shoot 25 rounds per session before my hands started protesting. By 50 rounds, I was done for the day. Some shooters have higher tolerances, but the .500 S&W Magnum’s recoil is cumulative. It doesn’t matter how tough you think you are. Your body has limits, and this cartridge will find them.

Proper grip technique is critical. A high, firm, two-handed hold with your support hand wrapped tightly over the dominant hand is essential. Lock your wrists. Lean slightly forward. And let the gun roll upward in recoil rather than fighting it. Trying to muscle the gun back down immediately will beat up your wrists faster than anything else.

Performance Testing Results

Reliability: 9/10

500 rounds, zero malfunctions. The revolver mechanism is inherently reliable, and S&W’s execution on the X-frame is flawless. Cylinder lockup remained tight throughout testing. Extraction was positive with all ammunition tested. The only reason this isn’t a 10/10 is that no mechanical device is truly perfect, but in my testing, this gun was.

Accuracy: 7/10

The Model 500 is capable of better accuracy than most shooters can extract from it. From a bench rest at 25 yards, 2-3 inch groups prove the mechanical accuracy is there. The challenge is that the recoil makes it genuinely difficult to shoot to the gun’s potential. With an optic and practice, a skilled shooter can make this gun perform at impressive distances. For the average shooter, the recoil will be the limiting factor on accuracy, not the hardware.

Ergonomics and Recoil: 5/10

There’s simply no way to make a 71-ounce revolver firing 2,600+ ft-lbs of energy comfortable. The rubber grip does its best, the compensator helps significantly, and the gun’s weight absorbs some of the impulse. But firing the Model 500 is a physically demanding experience. Most shooters will be sore after a range session. The grip circumference is also very large, which can be an issue for shooters with smaller hands.

Fit, Finish, and QC: 8/10

Smith & Wesson’s fit and finish on the Model 500 is excellent. The stainless steel frame has a consistent satin finish with no machining marks or tool chatter. The cylinder rotates smoothly with no perceptible play when locked. The barrel-to-frame fit is precise, and the compensator ports are cleanly machined. This gun feels like a quality product, which it should at $1,629 list.

Known Issues and Common Problems

Ammunition Cost and Availability

This is the single biggest issue with the Model 500. On October 27, the cheapest box of 20 at our five trusted stores was $41.49 for HSM 330gr at PSA, $2.07 a round, and Magtech’s 400gr at Sportsman’s Warehouse was $77.99. Twenty rounds is four cylinders. The cost alone limits how much practice most owners will realistically get with this gun.

Availability is also a concern. Major retailers don’t always stock .500 S&W Magnum. You may need to order online and plan ahead. Reloading is an option if you’re set up for it, but the components (especially brass and bullets) are also more expensive than common calibers.

Follow-Up Shot Speed

The recoil makes fast follow-up shots essentially impossible for most shooters. After each shot, you need to reacquire the target, reset your grip, and manage the adrenaline from the previous round’s recoil. In a hunting scenario, this means your first shot needs to count. For dangerous game, that’s a serious consideration.

Weight and Carry Fatigue

At 71 ounces (almost four and a half pounds) unloaded, the Model 500 is exhausting to carry for extended periods. Add five loaded rounds and you’re well over 5 pounds of handgun hanging off your hip. For hunters who spend all day in the field, this weight becomes a real factor. A quality chest rig helps distribute the weight better than a belt holster, but there’s no way to make a 5-pound handgun feel light.

Holster Availability

Finding a holster for the Model 500 is genuinely difficult. The X-frame’s dimensions put it outside the range of most standard holster molds. Chest rigs are the exception: our best chest holsters list includes a DeSantis chest holster cut for the S&W 500. Otherwise, custom Kydex makers can build one for you and a few leather makers offer X-frame options, but you won’t walk into a store and find one on the rack.

Parts, Accessories, and Upgrades

The Model 500 doesn’t need many upgrades out of the box. S&W got the important things right from the factory. But there are a few additions that make sense, especially for hunting use.

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Optic	Leupold DeltaPoint Pro / Burris FastFire 3 (PC 7.5″ and 10.5″ only)	Transforms hunting accuracy at distance	$288-$449.99
Holster	Custom Kydex chest rig	Best carry method for field use, distributes weight	$100-$175
Speedloader	5 Star Firearms 05X-500	Made for the Model 500 cylinder	$29.95-$39.95
Grip	Factory synthetic rubber or wood target grips	Factory rubber is best for recoil, wood for looks	$30-$70
Trigger Job	S&W Performance Center Master Revolver Action Package	Smooths the DA pull; ask S&W whether it covers the X-frame	$165

Who Should NOT Buy the S&W 500

• Concealed carriers and home defenders. It weighs 71 ounces and overpenetrates badly. A S&W 686 Plus in .357 Magnum does that job.
• Shooters who want to practice a lot. The cheapest .500 box I found was $2.07 a round. A .44 Magnum like the S&W Model 29 shoots PMC Bronze at $0.88 a round.
• Hunters who want an optic out of the box. The standard 8 3/8-inch isn’t optic ready. Buy the Performance Center 7.5 or 10.5-inch Model 500 instead.
• Hikers carrying all day in bear country. Even the 4-inch is 55.4 oz. The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull is the handier bear gun.
• Buyers who want one gun for several cartridges. The S&W 460 XVR also fires .454 Casull and .45 Colt, according to S&W’s X-frame manual.

The Verdict

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is not a practical firearm. It’s expensive to buy, wildly expensive to feed, painful to shoot in quantity, and so heavy that carrying it all day is an endurance event. The ammo is hard to find, holster options are limited, and follow-up shots require a level of patience that most shooters don’t possess. By every rational metric, there are better options for almost any application.

And yet, it’s the most powerful production revolver ever made. S&W rates it at 2,600 ft-lb of muzzle energy from a handgun. It can ethically take any game animal on the North American continent. When you pull the trigger, it produces a sound and a sensation that no other production handgun can match. For handgun hunters who pursue large and dangerous game, it is a genuinely capable tool that delivers terminal performance no other revolver can equal.

I gave it a 7.0/10 because the practical limitations are real and significant. But I’ll also tell you this: every single person I handed this gun to at the range came back grinning. There is something deeply, unreasonably satisfying about firing the most powerful handgun in the world. The Model 500 exists because it can. If that sentence excites you, you already know you want one. If you’re looking for a great all-around revolver or a .44 Magnum for more practical big-bore shooting, there are better choices. But for the title? Nothing else comes close.

Final Score: 7.0/10

Best For: Dedicated handgun hunters pursuing large or dangerous game, collectors and enthusiasts who want the most powerful production revolver ever built, and anyone who understands that “because it’s the biggest” is a perfectly valid reason to own a gun.

Prefer the short one? These prices are for the 4-inch Model 500 (item 163504), which was from $1,570.99 at PSA on October 27. The 8 3/8-inch prices are in the box at the top of this review.

Want the original .44 Magnum instead of the .500? See our full S&W Model 29 review.

Facts and Figures

• S&W lists the standard 8 3/8-inch Model 500 (item 163500) at 71 oz and $1,629, with a fixed compensator.
• Our feed had it from $1,449 at Brownells on October 27, 2026.
• S&W rates the .500 S&W Magnum at 2,600 ft-lb. Hornady’s 300gr FTX makes 2,533 ft-lb at 1,950 fps from an 8.5-inch barrel.
• SAAMI sets the maximum average pressure at 60,000 psi, and its cartridge drawing was issued June 25, 2003.
• S&W lists six Model 500s. Two, the Performance Center 7.5 and 10.5-inch, are listed as optic ready.
• The cheapest box of 20 at our five trusted stores was $41.49 at PSA, $2.07 a round. The cheapest .45-70 box was $2.12 a round.
• S&W revolvers are made in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Frequently Asked Questions