Surprising Lesson at the Range

I took my 500 JRH and my 460 S&W to the range today. Here's my numbers (5 shot averages):

500JRH. 5.5" barrel Ruger Super Blackhawk. 29.1gr H110. 440gr WFNGC. Winchester Large Pistol Primer. Starline brass. 1231 fps. 1,478 FPE.

500JRH. 5.5" barrel Ruger Super Blackhawk. 10.6gr Titegroup. 440gr WFNGC. Winchester Large Pistol Primer. Starline brass. 985 fps. 948 fpe.

460 S&W. 14" MGM ported barrel on TC Pro Hunter. 40.5gr H110. 300gr XTP MAG. CCI Large Rifle Primer. Hornady brass. 1948 fps. 2,528 fpe.

Here's what I learned, that I was surprised with-- The 300gr bullet out of the 460 S&W hits HARDER than a 440gr bullet out of the 500 JRH, even though the 500 JRH is a much heavier bullet! The 440gr WFNGC is almost 50% heavier than the 300gr XTP MAG! I didn't know that velocity would make up THAT much difference! I mean, we are talking a difference of just over 700 fps, but it translates to a difference of 1,050 fpe! I would NEVER have expected those numbers!!!

And all this time, I thought the 500 JRH was the hammer!

Energy is over-rated ;-)

Kinetic energy is based on the mass times the square of the velocity, or mass x velocity x velocity. For that reason, velocity has a greater influence on kinetic energy than mass.

I didn't intend on starting any arguments, so please keep this stuff low key. I was just meaning that I was shocked to see such a large difference. I am a numbers guy, and that is the only reason I posted my findings. Not to start any heated debate over energy, be it kenetic or otherwise.

Please don't get this going in the wrong direction.

You may have smarter deer than the rest of us . If they read up on this kinetic energy stuff you may not be able to kill them with that wimpy .500 any more. It will make a good rabbit gun though,they don't read much.

Roy Weatherby came up with his "super" line of cartridges by taking relatively standard cartridges but increasing case capacity and therefore greater velocity and more KE...

But the HAMMER of your two is still the .500 JRH, IMO. Heavy and slow gets the job done better than light and fast. Especially on big heavy game. Again, JMHO.

Our deer out here are the dumb ones... Its the elk that are smart! And the rabbit, I leave those to the specialists, like Anaya.

I was just meaning that by the numbers, the 460 is the hammer. But yeah, I'd still take the heavy and slow 500 JRH as the "true" hammer. Either one is gonna get it done though.

I was just surprised at the numbers. That's all I was getting at. We all known it is the placement that matters. Numbers never killed a thing.

I believe it was Elmer Keith who thought the 270 Winchester was only big enough for coyotes.

Thats because of the relationship he had with Jack O"conner.

Say whaaaaat? Guess I should have used another gun to one-shot kill most of my deer, icluding a massive New Zealand red stag. Clearly, my 270 was too small.

Numbers don't lie, Paul. And those are some impressive numbers. But, the issue I have with "energy" is that it is derived from a formula that only takes mass and velocity into account. No consideration is given to bullet composition, diameter, nose profile or meplat, etc.

Raptortrapper, you didn't start any arguments just some good 'ol campfire sparks flying around by good 'ol Boys. Thanks for starting the fire the coals were die-ing out.

[numbers never killed a thing] AMEN to that!!!!
Now thats settled. Didja ever do anything to the trigger on that Encore ???????? Remember life's to short to shoot a bad trigger.How did the new and improved Brute Squad do with the new tube?

No, haven't done the trigger on the TC Pro Hunter yet. I can't handle having three guns gone. Two is bad enough!! Although the Brute Squad is back, so I suppose I COULD send off the TC now and have it done. But Jack still has my 45 Colt, and I just got the 500 back, so I can't bring myself to send another one off just yet!