I posted this in the reloading section but thought it might be useful here too. Last Saturday I loaded up some 460 Smith's using the 260 grain Nosler Partition and H110. 52 grains was max in my gun and ran an average of 2160 for four over my chrono. They grouped very nicely at under an inch for the first three, with the fourth opening the group up another inch. It was a stiff load with as much recoil as I care for, so that last shot mighta coulda been influenced by a little conscious anticipation otherwise known as flinch. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That was at 75 yards using a non-magnifying holosight.
I was pretty pleased with that load until I set the 260 Nosler next to a .500 275 grain Barnes. The big half-incher dwarfs the Partition. While a 260 grain Partition 45 caliber slug moving at 2160 is nothing to sneeze at, the visual of the two side by side makes me believe the .500 has an obvious edge in killing power and I like the bullet construction of the Barnes over the Nosler, too. Such comparisions are perhaps academic and moot until very large and tough game is considered. I doubt the most discerning whitetail or even elk would be able to tell the difference. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I sure do like the 460 but it may be hard to justify it and the 500, too. Particularly when lots of guys wouldn't want either one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
It's been a while since I worked up loads for the 500. I may have to check it out again for a good comparison.
