I live, work and play right smack dab in the middle of Grizzly (and cougar, black bear, wolf and moose) country. I ALWAYS carry a holstered pistol when I am outside my house. Anyway, I have carried a Freedom Arms .454 for a number of years loaded with LBT 325gr hardcast slugs at 1500fps. I like the gun but have never felt particularly comfortable with single actions in an emergency situation.
I carried S&W revolvers for 24yrs as a Deputy so when the new Model 500 came out it looked like the perfect gun. I carry factory Hornady 500gr at 1150fps (4" barrel). I love this revolver and for my very specific need of a close in fight stopper that can be fired double action or in a real pinch with one hand it is near perfect.
I have fired both of the above loads into a variety of mediums (but no carcasses), the .454 usually gets about 15 percent more penetration than the .500 does.
My question is at distances of 10 yards and less do you think that the 500gr .50cal bullet (slower but bigger) would strike with more "energy" or "stopping power" than the 325gr .454 bullet.
I know this is purely hipothetical and that a well placed shot from either one would be devastating to the recipient but just curious what your thoughts are.
I carried S&W revolvers for 24yrs as a Deputy so when the new Model 500 came out it looked like the perfect gun. I carry factory Hornady 500gr at 1150fps (4" barrel). I love this revolver and for my very specific need of a close in fight stopper that can be fired double action or in a real pinch with one hand it is near perfect.
I have fired both of the above loads into a variety of mediums (but no carcasses), the .454 usually gets about 15 percent more penetration than the .500 does.
My question is at distances of 10 yards and less do you think that the 500gr .50cal bullet (slower but bigger) would strike with more "energy" or "stopping power" than the 325gr .454 bullet.
I know this is purely hipothetical and that a well placed shot from either one would be devastating to the recipient but just curious what your thoughts are.