Subject: Smith & Wesson Model 500 failure pictures.

 

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Smith & Wesson Model 500

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 is a five-shot,

double-action revolver produced by Smith & Wesson,

firing the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge.

It is built on S&W's largest frame, the X-Frame.

The manufacturer claims it is the "most powerful

production revolver in the world today".

[1] The Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver

is more powerful but it is not a "production" revolver.

The Model 500 can fire a bullet weighing 350 gr

( 22.7 g; 0.8 oz) at 1975 feet per second (602 m/s)

generating a muzzle energy of over 3,030 foot-pounds

force (4.1 kJ).[citation needed]

Articles, statements, and opinions vary widely on this

firearm. Any of the available bullet weights can be

relied on to take game at a range in excess of 200 yards

(183 m), a feat matched by only a handful of other

handguns.[citation needed] The advanced design of the

firearm helps in counteracting recoil felt by the shooter.

This includes the sheer weight of the firearm, use of

rubber grips, the forward balance, and the use of a

compensator. On certain S&W Performance Center models the

compensator is replaced with a full muzzle brake.

Like most big caliber handguns the Model 500 is suitable

for sport and hunting applications. The high energy of

these rounds make it possible to hunt extremely large

African game successfully.[2]

Like any gun, proper supervision is required for novice

shooters; however, due to the extremely high recoil,

novice shooters should be especially coached while

shooting this gun.[3] [4]

S&W Model 500 being fired at night

As seen in the above picture, the recoil from the large .500 S&W caliber cartridge is very strong.

Specifications:

Weight     varies,

Barrel length    

    * 4 in (102 mm) (500S)

    * 8¾ in (222 mm)

    * 10.5 in (267 mm)

Cartridge .500 S&W Magnum

Action     Double action

+================================================================+

Photos from ST-Machine Shop. 10/18/09

This is about the S&W .500  it happened about a week ago. . At a pistole range.

Steve's Son AKA Bear, was shooting his S&W .500 and it came apart the photos

shows the possibility of a weapon with so much power that stress may have been the cause for failure

of this magnitude.. He sent the weapon back to S&W for the full analysis .. He just wants it replaced..

He is right now waiting on S&W to give him the conclusion for the failure of the S&W .500

I am going to paraphrase what Steve told me as I display the pictures in this info. on S&W .500

His son only receive a minor cut from a piece of the shrapnel on his right arm...

I am amazed that is the only damage to himself after you see these pictures..

He said his son took the shooting stall a as far away from the rest of the people on the range,

the noise from this thing is tremendous. 

It may have paid off in the long run that no-one was injured is amazing..

Here we go..

The cylinder just split in half and blew apart into two stalls left and right.

The top blew through the tin roof and was never found..

Bent the frame and steel shaft the cylinder was rotating on..

Barrel was completely in tact.

Right now the failure is pending S&W results of testing the metal ..

Steve AKA Bear is very lucky that the only damage he received was a small cut on his left arm...

This life is preparation for the next.

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