Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 500 .500 S&W Magnum 10.5” Revolver

SOLD FOR: $1,250.00

LSB#:  WY250417ES011.1

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: 500 Hunter, Performance Center

Serial Number: JNM1654

Year of Manufacture: 2003

Caliber: .500 S&W Magnum

Action Type: 5-Shot, Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Hand Ejector Revolver.

Barrel Length: 10 1/2”, 12″ to the front of the compensator.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ramped blade with an orange insert dovetailed to a ramped base integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a white-outlined square notch S&W micrometer sight that is mounted on the topstrap. Under the rear sight, the topstrap is drilled and tapped. The barrel has an integral picatinny rail.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a one-piece S&W monogram pebble-textured Hogue Monogrip with finger grooves and a sling stud on the bottom (there is an additional mounting point on the barrel under-lug). The grip has some light scuffs and some light rub wear to the texturing. There is some more notable wear around the sling stud. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Matte Stainless Steel

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the Electro Chemically Machined rifling is strong. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly in scattered spots of very minor oxidation. There are some minor scuffs and light handling marks. The action shows light operational wear and the cylinder has a thin turn-line. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a cardboard S&W box with serial-matching label and a black Performance Center zipper case.

Our Assessment: The S&W 500 is built on S&W’s largest frame, the X-Frame, which was developed because none of S&W’s existing double-action frame designs could handle the muzzle energy and pressures generated by the .500 S&W cartridge. It is one of the most powerful production revolvers in the world today, and it is being marketed as being “the world’s most powerful handgun” by S&W. The Model 500 can fire a bullet weighing 350gr at 1975 feet per second generating a muzzle energy of over 3,000 foot-pounds force and a momentum of 13.7 Newton seconds. The Smith & Wesson .500 Special is a shorter cartridge that is fully compatible with this pistol and will be a little easier on your wrists.

This example was hand-crafted by S&W’s Performance Center and is the “Hunter” model with a 10 1/2″ barrel, compensator, integral picatinny rail on the barrel, and provision for sling-mounts. The revolver looks to have seen limited and responsible use over the last two decades and comes with its original box. If you’re looking for your next hunting handgun, this one should take just about anything in North America, and probably the rest of the world. 

Please see our photos. -C.B.