Posted on 02/13/2003 8:33:17 AM PST by RCW2001
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb 13, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The legendary 150-year-old handgun maker, Smith & Wesson Corp., a subsidiary of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation ( AMEX:SWB) today introduced the largest and most powerful production revolver ever made along with eight other new products at the 2003 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Orlando, Florida.
The new 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) revolver is chambered for the new .50 caliber 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) cartridge.
"The 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum is a natural progression of our leadership role in handgun development," said Roy Cuny, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson Corp. "Smith & Wesson has a strong customer contingency of hunting and shooting enthusiasts that are continually looking to us for innovation. We produced the original Magnum(R) revolver with the introduction of the .357 Magnum in 1935 and 20 years later amazed the shooting world with the .44 Magnum. Now in 2003, we have once again produced a premier hunting revolver with no equal."
The newly introduced 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum cartridge produces nearly three times the muzzle energy of the .44 Magnum round, which far exceeds all other handgun cartridges.
Based on orders to date from Smith & Wesson dealers, production on the new .50 caliber revolver has been increased. "The demand has far surpassed our original expectations," said Cuny.
Industry Response
Recently editors and writers from the firearm industry and outdoor publications previewed the new 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum revolver and the 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum cartridge at the Smith & Wesson state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. "I have no doubt that within a year our members will have used this new Smith & Wesson revolver and cartridge in Africa on the world's most dangerous game", said Steve Comus, director of publications for Safari Club International.
"This firearm offers the confidence required when hunting the world's most challenging animals with a handgun," Comus concludes.
"The new Smith & Wesson Corporation has proved its capabilities, not only with the introduction of the 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum(R) revolver, but with the extensive line of products it is bringing to market in 2003," said Roy Huntington, editor of AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. "The Company, under its new leadership, has made a commitment to its core products - and to its customers."
Russ Thurman, editor of SHOOTING INDUSTRY, an industry trade publication stated, "It is exciting to see so many new products come from one manufacturer in one year. I believe dealers and consumers will find this line- up of products quite interesting."
More New Products
Smith & Wesson will also be launching the most extensive introduction of new products seen in over a decade at the 2003 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida, February 13-16, 2003. In addition to the 500 Magnum press, dealers and distributors will see the latest in the Scandium Series revolvers, the SW1911, new rimfire revolvers and new SW99 pistols. For more information, visit the Smith & Wesson website at http://www.smith-wesson.com.
If so they have gone to much higher quality steels.
Anyway in the mid 50s a police officer on the job came in with a pistol and asked me if I wanted to shoot it. We went to a sand pit. I do not hold a gun tightly even a 45 so I had this pistol in my hand in what would be a normal hold. When I pulled the trigger I damn near lost the gun out of my hand.....It was a new 44 magnum. If the recoil is proportional ,I can't imaging a 50 magnum. You are definately going to have to hang on. -Tom
(Be still, my testosterone-production glands...)
.500 Linebaugh: 400gr Cast LRNFP, 37.5gr "Li'l Gun", 1608 fps, 43900PSI
.500 Linebaugh: 400gr Cast LRNFP, 33.0gr H4227, 1358fps, 32400PSI
Nothing else comes close. They have at least one .475 Linebaugh 1700fps load, but that uses a 325 gr bullet.
| Specifications | |
| Model: | 500 |
| Product Code: | 163500 |
| Caliber: | 500 S&W Magnum® |
| Capacity: | 5 Rounds |
| Barrel Length: | 8-3/8” |
| Frame Size: | X-Frame |
| Action: | Single Action/Double Action |
| Front Sights: | Interchangeable Black Blade |
| Rear Sights: | Micrometer Click Black Blade |
| Grips: | Hogue Rubber-Energy Absorbing |
| Material: | Stainless Steel |
| Finish: | Satin Stainless |
| Overall Length: | 15” |
| Weight: | 72.5 oz. |
| Other Features: |
|
| UPC: | 022188635003 |
You don't do home defense with a pistol with too much recoil to allow double taps. Stick with the .45ACP.
And you don't have to lock the silly lock if you don't want to. I threw the key away on the one new Smith I have.
Weight is 72oz. compared to 52oz on the comparable .44 mag. This is a new "X" frame and has to be huge. The guy holding the prototype must have hands like catchers mitts.
Beat me to it bump...
I won't buy from the one company who caved to the Clinton's demands. It put all of the other companies in a bad spot.
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