[Stoat]

In response to concerns about bears, Smith and Wesson has been marketing a survival kit for the past couple of years which includes their model 500ES hand cannon, a book on bear attacks and other items all packed in a stylish and watertight case

Product Model 500ES - Emergency Survival Kit

[Myrddin]

That's the CCW model with the short barrel. My version has the 10 1/2 inch barrel with the Picatinny rail on top. The bear isn't going to wait for you to open the pretty orange case. Get some good leather and practice shooting some of the 440 gr stuff. It's going to smack your hand pretty hard in that lightweight configuration. You don't want a bear encounter to be the first time you have that experience.

My plinking rounds for the 500 S&W are either 275 gr Barnes XTP (factory) or 325 gr Speer GoldDot (hand loads). Both are accurate and pleasant to shoot. There is a 500SPL lightweight "special" load for the recoil averse. It's makes for a more tolerable experience with the shorter barrel (lighter weight) versions of the 500 S&W revolvers.

[xsrdx]

Smith and Wesson has been marketing a survival kit

Now that is cool...