.500 S&W Special
Revolver cartridge designed by Cor-bon and Glazer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| .500 S&W Special | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Handgun | |||||||||||
| Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||
| Designer | Cor-Bon/Glaser | |||||||||||
| Designed | 2004 | |||||||||||
| Produced | 2004âpresent | |||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||
| Parent case | 500 S&W Magnum | |||||||||||
| Case type | Semi-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 length | 1.274 in (32.4 mm) | |||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.733 in (44.0 mm) | |||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Test barrel length: 8.375 in Source: Cor-Bon[1] | ||||||||||||
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] 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.[4] Ballistics are slightly superior to the .480 Ruger.[3]
