The .500 S&W Magnum was originally designed to be primarily a handgun hunting cartridge.
The creation of Big Horn Armory's Model 89 lever action rifle has changed it to a serious big game hunting rifle cartridge.
In that platform, the cartridge is capable of taking any animal on earth.
It also serves a secondary purpose as a back-up survival handgun cartridge as a defense against the large bears of North America.

The .500 S&W Magnum’s success with large, dangerous game is in part due to the availability of heavier bullets with exceptional sectional densities.
 Bullets above 500-grain (32 g) have the sectional densities required for hunting heavier African dangerous game.
 As a hunting cartridge the .500 S&W Magnum has been found to be effective against elephant and African buffalo as long as ranges are kept within reasonable limits.
 Bullet selection is extremely important when hunting thick-skinned dangerous game.
 Smith & Wesson bills the Model 500 revolver as "A Hunting Handgun For Any Game Animal Walking".
Big Horn Armory bills its Model 89 rifle as the most powerful lever gun currently made.

In North America, it serves the purpose of hunting all North American big game species.
The cartridge has had success in taking Alaskan brown bear, American bison, moose, and elk.
It is also used to hunt black bear, whitetail deer, wild boar, and feral hogs.
The cartridge gained some notoriety as being the cartridge which was used to hunt the supposed Monster Pig.

Bullets ranging from 275–325 gr (17.8–21.1 g) can be used for light CXP2 game species.
Bullets heavier than 350 gr (23 g), including Winchester’s reduced-load ammunition, are appropriate for use with CXP3 game species.
Bullets over 500 gr (32 g) can be used for dangerous game.
Hornady’s 500 gr.
SP load is rated for CXP4 class dangerous game by Hornady out to 200 yd (180 m) against dangerous game, based on Hornady Index of Terminal Standards (H.I.T.S.) calculations.

The .500 S&W Magnum is available in firearms more convenient to carry than a full-sized rifle.
This lends to its use as a defensive carry firearm in areas where dangerous predatory species may be encountered.
Big Horn Armory's Model 89 carbine is a 37" long rifle suitable for close quarter use in heavily wooded areas or where brush may predominate.
This lever action rifle is often carried in Alaska for defense against bears.
The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge has found use in survival guns such as the NEF Handi Rifle and the S&W Survival Kit.
 Smith & Wesson manufactured a 2.75-inch-barrel (70 mm) version of the Model 500 revolver (model 500ES, whose production ended in December 2009), which was included in the S&W Survival Kit.
This shorter-barreled revolver is handier, weighing 56 oz (1.6 kg), and has no muzzle brake as are included with the more common S&W 500 revolvers such as the 8.38 in (213 mm) model.
The .500 S&W Magnum was originally designed to be primarily a handgun hunting cartridge. The creation of Big Horn Armory's Model 89 lever action rifle has changed it to a serious big game hunting rifle cartridge. In that platform, the cartridge is capable of taking any animal on earth. It also serves a secondary purpose as a back-up survival handgun cartridge as a defense against the large bears of North America.
The .500 S&W Magnum’s success with large, dangerous game is in part due to the availability of heavier bullets with exceptional sectional densities.  Bullets above 500-grain (32 g) have the sectional densities required for hunting heavier African dangerous game.  As a hunting cartridge the .500 S&W Magnum has been found to be effective against elephant and African buffalo as long as ranges are kept within reasonable limits.  Bullet selection is extremely important when hunting thick-skinned dangerous game.  Smith & Wesson bills the Model 500 revolver as "A Hunting Handgun For Any Game Animal Walking". Big Horn Armory bills its Model 89 rifle as the most powerful lever gun currently made.
In North America, it serves the purpose of hunting all North American big game species. The cartridge has had success in taking Alaskan brown bear, American bison, moose, and elk. It is also used to hunt black bear, whitetail deer, wild boar, and feral hogs. The cartridge gained some notoriety as being the cartridge which was used to hunt the supposed Monster Pig.
Bullets ranging from 275–325 gr (17.8–21.1 g) can be used for light CXP2 game species. Bullets heavier than 350 gr (23 g), including Winchester’s reduced-load ammunition, are appropriate for use with CXP3 game species. Bullets over 500 gr (32 g) can be used for dangerous game. Hornady’s 500 gr. SP load is rated for CXP4 class dangerous game by Hornady out to 200 yd (180 m) against dangerous game, based on Hornady Index of Terminal Standards (H.I.T.S.) calculations.
The .500 S&W Magnum is available in firearms more convenient to carry than a full-sized rifle. This lends to its use as a defensive carry firearm in areas where dangerous predatory species may be encountered. Big Horn Armory's Model 89 carbine is a 37" long rifle suitable for close quarter use in heavily wooded areas or where brush may predominate. This lever action rifle is often carried in Alaska for defense against bears. The .500 S&W Magnum cartridge has found use in survival guns such as the NEF Handi Rifle and the S&W Survival Kit.  Smith & Wesson manufactured a 2.75-inch-barrel (70 mm) version of the Model 500 revolver (model 500ES, whose production ended in December 2009), which was included in the S&W Survival Kit. This shorter-barreled revolver is handier, weighing 56 oz (1.6 kg), and has no muzzle brake as are included with the more common S&W 500 revolvers such as the 8.38 in (213 mm) model.
.500 S&W Magnum