.460 magnum or .500 magnum

[envonge]

Which of the following would have the loudest bang and muzzle flash?

.500 S&W 4" barrel
Hornady Evolution Ammunition 500 S&W Magnum 300 Grain Elastomer Flex

or

.460 S&W 4" barrel
Hornady Custom Ammunition 460 S&W Magnum 200 Grain Super Shock Tip

 

[ARTiger]

Bang: .500
Flash: .460 (doubles as a flamethrower)

 

[Rampant_Colt]

Probably the .460 because you're burning more powder under a lighter bullet

 

[NavyLCDR]

.460 - handloads - 48 grains of Lil' Gun behind a 240 or 250 grain bullet with Large Rifle Magnum primer. Muzzle blast will knock stuff loose out of the ceiling of the indoor range where we shoot.

 

[Smurfslayer]

I've only compared to the 8" 460, but the 350 grain handloads I fire from my 4" 500 were more than adequate to "win" in both bang and flash. IIRC, the 460 was firing 250 gr. handloads as well...

Muzzle blast is subjective. You have to consider the quantity of the flash, quality, unifority, brightness, as well as the collateral damage. A fine example of this is that H110 produces a broader fireball, but Lil gun a brighter flash. YMMV of course.

 

[jflimbach]

If the .500 is more fun than my .460 I wouldn't be able to stand it.