.500 S&W Special

.500 S&W Special
TypeHandgun
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerCor-Bon/Glaser
Designed2004
Produced2004–present
Specifications
Parent case500 S&W Magnum
Case typeSemi-rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.500 in (12.7 mm)
Neck diameter.526 in (13.4 mm)
Base diameter.526 in (13.4 mm)
Rim diameter.556 in (14.1 mm)
Rim thickness.056 in (1.4 mm)
Case length1.274 in (32.4 mm)
Overall length1.733 in (44.0 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
350 gr (23 g) FMJ 1,100 ft/s (340 m/s) 941 ft⋅lbf (1,276 J)
350 gr (23 g) JHP 1,250 ft/s (380 m/s) 1,215 ft⋅lbf (1,647 J)
Test barrel length: 8.375 in
Source(s): Cor-Bon[1]

The .500 S&W Special or 12.7x32mmSR is a .50 caliber revolver cartridge developed by Cor-Bon/Glaser (at Smith & Wesson's request) in 2004.[2]

Description

It is a shorter version of the .500 S&W Magnum, with a drastically reduced load, much as the .38 Special is to the .357 Magnum. However, unlike the .357 Magnum being developed from the less powerful .38 Special, the .500 Special was designed after the more powerful .500 Magnum.

The purpose of the .500 Special is to be able to shoot less punishing loads, with a muzzle energy closer to that of the .44 Magnum cartridge, in firearms chambered for the .500 S&W Magnum. It is possible that firearms chambered for only the .500 S&W Special will be developed by Smith & Wesson.[3] The Magnum Research BFR is offered in a .500 S&W Special only variant.[4] Smith & Wesson has been urged by author and gun rights activist John Ross to produce their largest "X-Frame" in a shorter version to handle this cartridge.[5] Ballistics are slightly superior to the .480 Ruger.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cor-Bon/Glaser". Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
  2. ^ .500 S&W Special, 2007-01-07, archived from the original on 2007-09-27, retrieved 2007-08-23
  3. ^ a b Christian, Chris (2007-05-01), "New loads for '04", Outdoor Life, archived from the original on 2004-12-04, retrieved 2007-08-23
  4. ^ "OVERVIEW: BFR". Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  5. ^ "The Development of the Powerful Big-Bore Revolver in General and the .500 S&W Magnum in Particular and the Development of the John Ross/Performance Center 5" .500 S&W Magnum" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-01-26.


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