The .500 mag is no more

[jeager106]

It's only an intersting discussion Scott.
It's only the internet.

[wolfsong]

Great debate, and it stayed fairly civil all the way through! Good job, guys. Now for my two cents' worth: I propse that we all get together, everyone bring their primary "argument gun", Rifle or revolver or whatever, then we hit the woods and we all fill our tags and meet back at camp and partake in feasting on backstrap sandwiches and ice cold beverages of choice!  Now let me start the next contorversy: which deer tastes better, all things such as type of feed,  browse availability, age, and shot placement/quick death factors being equal? Columbia Blacktail, Rocky Mountain Mulies, or Midwestern Whitetails? My vote, from experiance such as it is, is that the Blacktail is by far the best. Just a little diversion, fellas, I'll eat any game! Peace and God bless, Wolfsong.

[MePlat]

I'll go even further and say the 500 S&W is not as effective as a 22 rimfire if the person shoots the deer through the floppy ear with the 500 and the 22 rimfire person center punches the brain with his.
Do I get any agreement on that?

[Redhawk1]

I'll go even further and say the 500 S&W is not as effective as a 22 rimfire if the person shoots the deer through the floppy ear with the 500 and the 22 rimfire person center punches the brain with his.
Do I get any agreement on that?

Now you all are getting way out there.  :wink:

[jro45]

I like owning the most powerful handgun in the world. And you are right with open sights most eyes can see to 100 yds maybe 150. Myself I shot the bullseye at 200 yds open sights rifle twice.

["TEXAS"]

Ok. On my lease in Texas we have killed about 64 deer a year for the last 14 years, I get to see alot of deer shot, and a lot dressed.

1. Dead is dead.

2. Bigger hole deer dies quicker.

3. Higher veolcity deer dies quicker.

4. Bigger hole and higher veolcity deer dies quicker.

5. Good shot placement deer dies quicker.

6. Bad shot placement deer dies slower.

The big ones kill faster than the smaller ones under the same conditions!

A 500 Super Ultra Wizz Bang will not often bring home the meat when a plain vennella fails but it does and will happen.

TEXAS

[jeager106]

Ok. On my lease in Texas we have killed about 64 deer a year for the last 14 years, I get to see alot of deer shot, and a lot dressed.

1. Dead is dead.

2. Bigger hole deer dies quicker.

3. Higher veolcity deer dies quicker.

4. Bigger hole and higher veolcity deer dies quicker.

5. Good shot placement deer dies quicker.

6. Bad shot placement deer dies slower.

The big ones kill faster than the smaller ones under the same conditions!

A 500 Super Ultra Wizz Bang will not often bring home the meat when a plain vennella fails but it does and will happen.

TEXAS

With that kind of experience you certainly have my attention!

[S.S.]

I saw in a movie called "DEATH WISH" where some one
stated that Guns were thought of as an extension of one's (censored word)
Well if that is the case, wouldn't you want a "BIG ONE" ?....
(sorry, just trying to create a little humor here)
I do not think there is a single handgun made that is Perfect for every
hunting situation. This all comes down to personal preference,
Not which caliber is better than the others. I personally carry nothing any larger than a .44 magnum for hunting, but does that mean that I think it is the best. No, it simply means that I do not like getting the crap kicked out of me by a hand held cannon on a regular basis. Do I like shooting a cannon on occasion? Yes, My testosterone does get the best of me every now and then. There are too many variables that come into play to make a blanket statement about what is the better caliber.

[Game_Stalker]

All I can say is wow... this thread has been a GREAT read and my hat's off to everybody who is participating. I laughed, I cried, I had gas... well... not that second one... :wink:

For personal preferences, I don't think I could use a cartridge larger than a .44 Magnum. Not because of anything stated here (unless I missed it), but because I own a Win 94 in .44 Mag (which will be accompanied by a Blackhawk when I can scrape together the funds). IMO, and this is just my own, you do what you can with what you've got. I specifically picked the .44 Mag to be an all-purpose cartridge for anything I'm likely to hunt in MO. I'll admit, part of me wants to get lots of different chamberings (which is why I own an Encore... just in case), whereas the rest of me wants to use the money saved to shoot more of what I DO have.

In the end, to each his own, and when you sit next to me and tag that deer at 250yds, while I won't even try for a shot that far out, I'll still shake your hand, pat you on the back and eat your backstraps for you. :-D

[Scott T]

Game Stalker,

I think you have the right idea.  I only have one big game pistol, and it happens to be a .500 Linebaugh.  I have a bit over 1000 pieces of brass and I shoot a 400gr WFN at just over 800fps.  

I quit worrying about buying other hunting handguns five years ago and I spend my money and time shooting this particular gun and this particular load.  It does not bother me that folks can make this same bullet go a lot faster, I like it because it is accurate and has less apparent recoil than a .44 mag in a Smith 29.  It feels good to me and it takes game without any fuss or trouble.

Once you find what works for you, concentrate on loading that brass and burning plenty of powder.