Hi all,

So I've always been curious to know actual real world, Apple's to Apple's comparisons of the .500 magnum and 460 v.s. other big bore pistol rounds and smaller rifle rounds. What I have found is a lot of anecdotal evidence, caliber favoritism and more than anything, incorrect tests. For instance, I found a penetration video on YouTube comparing the 500 v.s. the .460, but they were using different bullet designs and weights v.s. the other.

What I am looking is from you handy dandy, been around the block type experts that can give us real comparisons. With chronos, gel test or first hand experience be it not backed by chrono etc is fine for this experiment, just to get folks talking/sharing data. Folks that make their own loads. And for those that own competing calibers.

Please save the regurgitated nonsense that isn't backed by any actual facts or first hand experience, I.e. 460 flatter shooting than the 500...where is the data? have you shot both?? Above all, no fanboyism please

For the sake of keeping the caliber count to a reasonable amount, I'd say anything 454 casull and up for the pistols, include whatever rifle data compares to either of these large bore monsters.

I've owned the 500 for a while. From my own observations, again nothing with a chrono or gel testing, just shooting random stuff, is that the 440 grain hardcast stuff performs the best. I've shod all sorts of ammo, all factory or commercial boolits (no self handloads). The 700 grain for as cool as they are, have real **** performance. The 440 grain penetrate better and the 700 grain is a very inaccurate round for me. Specifically the hornady 440 grain are my favorite, go to ammo. I've punched holes clean through reinforced concrete slabs with this round. Another round that hits very nice with the 500, are the hornady xtp. I like these over the ftx from hornady, they seem to be more Accurate. Although the ftx makes a very nice show with the massive fireball that comes out of the barrel. In terms of big bore in this conversation, the only other round I've fired was the .460. My limited observation/experience with it, was that while the recoil wasn't as painful (both were short barrels) the surrounding blast was noticbly louder! Obviously due to the bullet speed. I was shooting 300 grain ammo and it was zipping!!!

Sorry for any typos, typed this on my phone.

Too involved of a question, no interest in spending a massive amount of time on it. Trying to get definitive answers to all you ask would be a PITA.

You might look up John Linebaughs penetration tests. Linebaugh knows a bit about big bore revolvers and has tested them and big bore rifles many times. Don

NOTHING in double action revolver compares to S&W XFrame..
lts possible to find some powerful revolver cartridges In custom
single action calibers like 50 Alaskan by John Limbaugh.. BFR
makes some super powerful rds in their guns like 45-70 or
450 Marlin.. Dan Wesson used to make some powerful rounds in
their SuperMag series..l think Da Wessons are out of production

No such study exist. (next best thing out there would be Max's Big Bore Revolver Book, he has a new book coming out soon also)

It would fairly easy (but time consuming) to do an external ballistic comparison - just gather all the cartridges in a spreadsheet and list parameters.

As stated any penetration comparisons need to done using same bullet design, weight, and distance. Few of these cartridges have bullets that meet that criteria so test will be antecedal at best.

Last but not least all persons/manufactures have a favorite and testing done will be designed to that end.


You did not mention the cartridge effectiveness or use in your requirements and that needs to stated.

None of your comments have any value in the study you want. You mention 440 grain as the best, but fail to mention best at what - and what did you compare it to, what factory ammo? get my point.

As these guns are intended as hunting revolvers I will go there.

All that said, you can find all the big came animals have fallen to these revolvers and that is the proof in the pudding.

Shoot them when you get a chance, choose one and practice and it does take practice to become proficient with these guns.

For clarification I currently own and hunt with 460 S&W, own and rarely hunt with 500 S&W. I have them in single action, single and double action guns.

I have owned or shoot 475 Linebaugh, 480 Ruger, 500 Alaskan, BFR in 45-70 and several others, all capable guns.

With guns producing this much energy pick one you can shoot, a few hundred ft/lbs don't mean much.

If you can't feed it don't bring it home.

Shoot'em if you got them.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I'm afraid I, too, can't offer an answer to any of your questions. I shoot the 500 PC 10.5" barrel, and have run everything from 300 to 500 grain pellets through it. Which one's best? Depends on the need.

If I were going to get another big one it would likely be the Freedom Arms Model 83 in .454 or .500 Wyoming Express and that's only because they're made about 150 miles west of me and there's no fed form to fill out.

I guess for somebody who might be able to give you insight it would be good to know whether you're looking out of curiosity for gee-whiz numbers or have a goal in mind to help you decide which one to buy next. Are you going elephant hunting or do you plan to shoot an American Bison?

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Gotta laugh - you demand time from people wanting more than just perceptions, demanding 'proof' in a rather insulting tone, then all you offer are perceptions stipulating you have no facts to back it up. And you expect someone, after that, to spend their valuable time explaining things to you lol

And the info is out there online

I have/had most of the big bores including 3 or 4 S&W 500's as well as a couple of 460's, 500 JRH, 480 Ruger, 475 Linebaugh, 454 Casull and numerous 45 Colts and 44 mags. Have shot game with the Casull up to and including Alaskan moose.
For hunting in the lower 48 the 45 Colt and 44 mag will give you all the performance you need. If I still lived in Alaska the 500 JRH or 480 Ruger would shine. There is simply nothing to be gained by going to a larger case above these two if you are shooting good hard bullets.
I wont debate this with you. Buy one of each and shoot a couple of large animals with each caliber and formulate your own conclusions.

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Tennessee

Spend some time on the internet and if any of these "demands" you have can be answered you can post them so the rest of us don't have to spend many hours finding info you demand.

What did he DEMAND? Nothing!

Well, i'm sorry but I guess I have no added value to this conversation as I enjoy reading recreational forum "regurgitated nonsense and fanboyism". I've only owned my 460XVR for a little over a year so at this point, regurgitated nonsense and fanboyism is all I know !

Hey all,

Sorry for the delayed reply. Had some stuff going on this week...anyways, after reading the replies I realized how impossible and left field it would be. I think mental fatigue got the best of me when I made this thread and I had something folks refer to as a brain fart when making that post. Anywho, thank you to all who answered, constructively that is.


For those of you who perceived it as a demand and or got somehow offended, I'm sorry. I offer you both my sincere apology and a voucher for a box of Midol so you can relax a bit.
Demanding and insulting were the furthest things that this thread was.. Was it stupid and unorganized? Yes...insulting and demanding, um no.

The 500 460 480 454. All will get the job done on anything on this continent. Its like asking what was better? fat man or lil boy?
The big difference will be your blast radius of soft tissue splatter.
At 400 yds my 405g 460 payload still has more muzzle energy than a 5.56 at the muzzle. Hunting with my high muzzle energy 460 load, well you will be spitting out jacket and lead with your venison.
The question is, how smooth and controllable and reliable are the actions they are coming out of? I'm liquidating my other makes and sticking to SW. Except for my python.
I know I didnt answer your question but a definitive answer would only be possible with a huge chunk of data. Which likely doesnt exist given the relative scarcity and cost of testing. You can probably extrapolate from old military data that used similar loads.

I've only shot dedicated loads out of 460 and 500. Loads are mission specific. Heck even a 3" and 12" 460 are mission specific.

Very good analogy. Thanks for your info on the 460. There seems to be more info online on the bigger sibling than the 460. Very impressive in regards to 5.56 round.