When It first came out, I thought the 3" (That last inch is a comp...) .500 with 440gr LWFN at 800 fps would be a great bg stopper. That works out to 625 ft-lb - and, in a bigger bg, one devastating hole. I couldn't swing the $880 my pusher wanted, so I went home to 'develop' a similar load in something I had - a 629MG. I ended up with a 300gr LSWC pushing 885 fps for 520 ft-lb, probably sufficient.
Well, I already had a sufficient home protector - and went back to it - 200gr GDHP's in .44 Special at 805 fps frrom my 2.5" 296. Now, I carry a 'spare' 625MG in .45 Colt loaded with 255gr LSWC and thin walled 250gr GDHP's - at 875 fps. Then I saw the advert on the 'Outdoor Channel' for 'The Judge' by Taurus - a long cylindered shorter barrel .45 Colt/.410 five-banger. If it was as well made - and had the good trigger - of the .45 ACP Tracker a friend had, it would make a good car/house gun... even a .410 makes an interesting pattern at 5yd when spun by rifling... neat ad.
I guess I talked myself out of the .500 Magnum... mainly the cost. My reloading would bring the price down - but not to .44-.45 levels. Plus, I'll admit it... the years are adding up... that .454 SRH I had for years, shooting hundreds of 240gr XTP's at ~2k fps and thousands of hot .45 Colt loads from, was traded away nearly two years ago - for a new 5" h-l 686+. My Magnums are all loaded @ <1k fps. I even put Hogue .500 Magnum grips on my 629's. Carpal tunnel problems and arthritis have taken their toll... I have become a recoil weenie... heck, I even bought a Ruger BHG SSM and reload .32's for it... nothing like a .312" 115gr LRNFP at 730 fps...
No. I wouldn't use a 3" .500 for protection... maybe replace a mushroom anchor for a small boat, however...
Stainz
PS The worst recoiler to me is a .50AE DE... not the straight recoil, but that severe twist when the bolt slams hurts!
