Lindcott Armory Compare / .500 S&W Magnum vs .500 S&W Special
Cartridge comparison
.500 S&W Magnum vs .500 S&W Special
.500 S&W Magnum is faster (1,900 vs 1,350 fps); .500 S&W Magnum carries more energy (2,900 vs 1,322 ft·lb); .500 S&W Special recoils less.
.500 S&W Magnum →Representative trajectory · 100 yd zero0–500 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.500 S&W Special →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .500 S&W Magnum | .500 S&W Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Pistol |
| Introduced | 2003 | 2003 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.5″ | 0.5″ |
| Case length | 1.625″ | 1.28″ |
| Velocity | 1,200–1,900 fps | 1,000–1,350 fps |
| Energy | 1,500–2,900 ft·lb | 611–1,322 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 60,000 psi | 45,000 psi |
| Recoil | 65–90 ft·lb | 20–30 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 200 yd | 75 yd |
FAQs
- Is .500 S&W Magnum faster than .500 S&W Special?
- .500 S&W Magnum is faster — up to 1,900 fps versus 1,350 fps.
- Does .500 S&W Magnum hit harder than .500 S&W Special?
- .500 S&W Magnum carries more muzzle energy (2,900 vs 1,322 ft·lb).