.500 jrh is it here to stay?

[blndcrplncrzy]

I was talking with a certain MRI person.....no names....on 28th just before I made the decision to purchase a .454.  During this chat he let slip they are thinking about bringing the 500jrh back into production. If this person was just talking out his Asterisc or not I don't Know. If not it seems to me that if you would like it to happen then all it would take is 2 to 3 gozillion  phone calls asking for it....I have whittled that figure down by a smidge today, I could use some help because after paying for the 454 yesterday and my phone bill all I have left to put towards a new BFR in 500jrh is $67.36  I will have to look in the couch. Haha  Although, a caliber conversion is $700.00 by a certain gunsmith. Custom shop gun starts at $2050.00  and production gun had @ $800+-   Ok ill shut up now...

[whitworth]

I believe it is here to stay. I have had a few of them (four?) over the years, and for me at least, it is the most logical of the .50 caliber revolver rounds. Fits where the .500 Linebaugh doesn't, and uses more common bullets. Plus, brass can be made in a pinch. However, I am still a huge fan of the .500 Linebaugh and am having two of them built (that is how much I love them!). As far as I know, the JRH will remain a Precision Center option, but I would sure like to see it a production item again.

[curmudgeon]

of uses. Now for collectors or wannabes, each has his or her own idea of what is important. That's why there is a market for all speciality items and do dads in custom variation.

I have narrowed my stable to 1 each of the following based on 80 years of living with and hunting around the world with various and sundry pistolas.
Mod 17 S&W....Old Mod Ruger flattop 44 Mag....New Mod Stainless Bisley 45 Colt convertible.....500 Linebaugh Ruger Bisley...for PP and consealed carry. Mod 1911, its a Rem R-1S.... I didn't ask anybody for help it choosing these, based on experience and or personal desires. FWIW dept
There are guns and cartridges that will be around as long as the Laws allow. Even many after that.

[dmize]

Now Mr. Jurras think about how boring those 80 years might have been without shooting all those different guns and calibers to gain the experience required to narrow your stable?

[blndcrplncrzy]

I agree with everything that you have said. I should have not asked if it is here to stay....As this is more about MRI bringing the 500 jrh back into a production gun. That said, I would like it to happen. Sorry

[blndcrplncrzy]

By the way, I know you can only shoot one at a time. unless you are John wayne, Rambo etc.. but I only have 5 revolvers I need a even half dozen. I have to keep up with the whitworths and such or they will kick me of this forum..Haha

[bigbores]

Boy I hope so,...but the 500WE seems to be winning the tug-of-war so to speak with a production gun,brass availability, and no case reaming for heavy (440GR +) long bullets.

I've got 2 of them and some 500S&W's which shoot the JRH really nice.



P.S. I wonder how many BFR's left the factory chambered in the JRH, I would bet not many.

[seancass]

Not all of us have as many hand cannons as Whitworth! And Whit isn't half as crazy as some folks! (at least in the realm of gun purchases, I can't say in any other regard)

I have a JRH, but as bigbores points out, the 500WE has it beat in brass availability at the moment. I hope they both fight it out for YEARS to come. But in reality, i think the JRH is a more logical round.

[mark500]

Mine is here to stay....

[whitworth]

May 29, 2014 19:02:23 GMT -5 seancass said:

Not all of us have as many hand cannons as Whitworth! And Whit isn't half as crazy as some folks! (at least in the realm of gun purchases, I can't say in any other regard)

I have a JRH, but as bigbores points out, the 500WE has it beat in brass availability at the moment. I hope they both fight it out for YEARS to come. But in reality, i think the JRH is a more logical round.

That's because there are (I bet) more .500 JRHs in circulation and the brass was quickly scooped up by folks.

[Encore64]

I believe the 500 JRH is here to stay simply because it is the most logical choice of the 50 caliber rounds.  It shoots bullets readily available for the factory 500 S&W or 50 AE.  I bought the last 100 rounds of Starline brass that Jack had in stock, but have never used it.  I use Hornady 500 S&W trimmed to 1.4" since I have no use for bullets heavier than 400 grains and those do not bulge my cases.

Both of mine are Magnum Research BFRs so no turning down of the rim is necessary.  I also have some Starline and MagTech brass that I am going to try.  Measures up closely to the Hornady, but the Hornady rim is a bit thicker and reduces headspace to nothing.  This reduces the "hammering" on my frame, so it's my first choice.

My bullet of choice, so far, has been the 350 grn Sierra HP.  I believe this to be a great bullet for the 500 JRH.  Also, been experimenting with various cast bullets from 330-400 grains and all have worked well.

I would like to see the 500 JRH brought back into production by MRI, but who knows what will happen with the bean counters involved.

[unclezeb]

If MRI does another run I will have to get a second and possibly sell off something smaller. I firmly believe the 500 jrh is the one of the most versatile handgun cartridges out there. Bone crushing power at the top end and fun rock slinging on the bottom end. I would like to see them offer more then just one barrel length. I think if they did the "5 inch" barrel like they do on their 44 I'd need that.

[whitworth]

unclezeb, my latest one, a production .500 JRH has a 5 1/2-inch barrel - sorry for the lousy cell phone photo.

[schmidty]

May 29, 2014 22:58:08 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

I believe the 500 JRH is here to stay simply because it is the most logical choice of the 50 caliber rounds.  It shoots bullets readily available for the factory 500 S&W or 50 AE.

Somebody educate me here. What makes the 500JRH the most logical choice...or more specifically, why is it preferable to the more common - and more abundant .500 S&W? A lot of casual shooters out there own S&W 500's....but the 500 JRH, not so many. I believe this is what drove MRI to recently discontinue the chambering. I don't recall ever seeing 500JRH on the ammo shelves at any of my LGS's...but I regularly see 500S&W in both factory ammo and sometimes brass, bullets and dies. I'm no expert on the market, but I don't forsee the JRH ever overtaking the S&W500 in popularity.

[bigbores]

May 30, 2014 13:58:34 GMT -5 schmidty said:

May 29, 2014 22:58:08 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

I believe the 500 JRH is here to stay simply because it is the most logical choice of the 50 caliber rounds.  It shoots bullets readily available for the factory 500 S&W or 50 AE.

Somebody educate me here. What makes the 500JRH the most logical choice...or more specifically, why is it preferable to the more common - and more abundant .500 S&W? A lot of casual shooters out there own S&W 500's....but the 500 JRH, not so many. I believe this is what drove MRI to recently discontinue the chambering. I don't recall ever seeing 500JRH on the ammo shelves at any of my LGS's...but I regularly see 500S&W in both factory ammo and sometimes brass, bullets and dies. I'm no expert on the market, but I don't forsee the JRH ever overtaking the S&W500 in popularity.

I've always found it strange how we defend "the best" or "the most logical".
We see it with the 41mag vs the 44mag or the 45colt vs the 44mag.
How about the 475LB vs the 500LB.

I for one like the 500S&W, just don't care for the overly large gun's it comes chambered in.
Having 2 custom's chambered in 500S&W that weight a little over 3 LBS, they are by far my favorite guns.
One thing nice about having a 500S&W and a 500JRH is when the 500S&W cases start spitting I simply cut them down to form a 500JRH.

Some people don't like the 500WE because of the belt, others because FAs copied the the JRH, stealing Jack Huntington's work.
I simply find the 500WE a great fit for model 83's where as the JRH is a tad long with most bullets I shoot.