Difference of .460 vs .500 Magnum

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

I have 2 .460's. And was thinking about getting a .500 8 3/8".
My .460V & 460XVR pack quite a wallop. How much different is the .500 Magnum compaired to them........Thanks

 

[DCWilson]

Easiest way to find out is probably go to a range where you can rent one and try it out. If that's not possible, I'm not sure anyone's personal experience will necessarily be a good guide for you.

But the numbers may be a guide. The hottest .500 load is maybe 20-25 percent punchier than the hottest .460 load, and I'm not sure the pain discrimination circuits in my wrist would easily tell the difference between them. Nor would I necessarily be able to see that a gallon water jug many yards away exploded more forcefully with the .500 than one did when hit by a .460.

It also kind of depends on what you mean by wallop. Fortunately the .460 chambers a bunch of different rounds with different power levels, and the .500 is a reloader's cartridge anyway. You can tune the loads to get a lot of oomph for a sound and recoil level that is tolerable to you.

There are YouTube videos showing people touching off both guns. You can probably get a feel for the difference from those. If you can find it, check out the one where a guy shoots a 700-grain grizzly tamer from a four-inch 500. Watch what happens to the geometry of his wrist. I didn't know hands could bend 90 degrees in that direction.

I have both a .460XVR and a four-inch .500. I have not shot anything near max loads in either one yet, and I'm not sure I care to.

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

The 500 can shoot up to 700 grain (maybe more) so there is no comparison between the two. The 500 can do anything the 460 can plus with more power. If you are a reloader, and buy/make your own bullets, then the 500 can do anything the 460 can, with power in reserve. Depending what you shoot out of the X frame, the recoil could be fun or severe.

 

[7P's]

Yes, you can load that 500 to severe recoil levels and it will sting your hand and if you go the non-ported route either custom or the John Ross model your wrist will get a work out as well with the super loads. I would recommend a good pair of shooting gloves and you will be amazed at the difference in "felt" pain levels. Some people can use the PAST gloves without a problem but I've ruined 2 pair real fast with the 500 loaded over the top. I now use Grip Swell gloves and I think they will work for me. I received the gloves yesterday and fired 60 rounds of full house plus rounds and the gloves held up (that's 50 rounds more than the PAST gave me). The Grip Swell is a little "bulkier" than the PAST and the trigger finger is covered but I didn't find that to be a problem. With my single action 50's my 1st knuckle on my trigger finger takes a bloody beating with anything much over 1,300fps, so the covered trigger finger is a plus. I'm thinking about cutting a hole in the bottom of the trigger finger, so I can feel the trigger better but I'll wait awhile to see if I can get use to the "leather" feel before I start cutting on a very expensive glove. It really doesn't matter what magnum handgun you shoot, you'll control it a little better (for some this isn't a big deal) and you'll enjoy shooting the heavy rounds more, as the padding soaks up the "felt" pain and all you soak up is the concussion and body jolt for lack of a better term.