I just might have met my match. I've been playing with big bore Encores including one 458 Lott but it was on a heavy taper blank with a rifle forend and scope. I decided to take an old 45-70 pistol barrel and rechamber it. I went out today just to test it for function and with the brake and 458 Win loads it wasn't too bad. I also ran a couple Lott rounds with 350gr Hornady RNSP's through it and it was still tolerable. I had one full house Lott round with a 500 rnsp Hornady so I fired it across the chrono and it hit 2100fps with recoil energy of 140ftlbs. I can tell you that got my attention in a big hurry. It was still controllable in a violent sort of way but I can't tell you it was fun or that I'm looking forward to sitting at a bench sighting it in with loads like that. I have some 405gr spire points to load up for it and once it's sighted in I don't know that it will get much use. I'll post some pics when it's outfitted. Right now it doesn't have a scope or base on it, just the barrel and forend for a weight of 4.4lbs.

Rod,
You are just glutton for punishment! I have a Ruger #1 Tropical in 458 Win Mag I had cut down to 18" with no brake, and it shovels me around enough. I couldn't imagine pulling the trigger on anything lighter in this caliber, especially without planting a shoulder into an extra thick recoil pad! Your nutz!

This is where I draw the line: 2 hands, a shoulder, and still probally weights 8 lbs!

I thought you had wrist problems, Rod, with a history of surgeries?

I wonder why?

yeah, I'm a masacist what can I say. That's why I bought a 45LC to do my plinking with. I'll have to say I doubt I'll use anything more than my 300 on game here in the lower 48 but who knows maybe someday I'll go to the Dark Continent and bring black death to it's knees with the Lott.

I'm recoil sensitive, to much Joo-Joo-Juice in a lightweight package for me.

Rod, what are you thinking?? You've got to take care of your wrists and hand, my man! Guess you had to try it, but you should be satisfied now and you can move back down to more "reasonable" loads.

I know, I'm still going to get it sighted in but I'm going to try some special gloves I have specifically for carpal tunnel and I'll probably tape my right wrist. it's a little stiff this morning and I only fired 4rds. I need to find something "BIG" to shoot with this thing, like a ground squirrel

Pour the smoke to her Rod,I'll wince a time or two for ya,haha

I have to admit it. Some of you single-shot guys really get with the program! 458 Lott= formidable!

= crazy

LOL! Yeah, I know, pot calling the kettle black.

Rod thinks its fun getting by a mule in the head so he doesn't count when comparing.

Shoot I better erase that. He may not think that to funny and he'll convert my 475 build hes doing into some fire breathing dragon that splits what little hair is left on my head. You know I was just a foolin Rod. Don't youuuuu?

Haha! Payback!

Just so some of us fellows that have only been handgunning a short time can understand , could somebody tell me what a 300gr xtp, factory load, in a 7.5" super blackhawk equates to in recoil lbs? Just a ballpark figure to get an idea of the insanity of 140 lbs of recoil would be? I know, I know, a 44 is only good for girls, who are squirrel huntin', but I'm just curious. Lol. Evidently, I am gonna have to invest in reloading equipment, so I can afford to load some bigger stuff!

Well, I have shot handloaded 300gr XTP’s at 1400fps with H110 and the XTP’s on the second crimp line out of my 9.5in scoped SRH. I would say that the recoil is comparable to that of my scoped 308 Encore handgun shooting a 150gr SST at 2650fps. If that helps any.

the 44 will be around 25ftlbs, to put it in perspective the 460 Weatherby in a full weight rifle is around 110. Here is a link for a recoil calculator http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

25 lbs?!? So, in effect, that 458 of wapitrod's would be kin to lightin' off all 6 of my 44 rounds at the same time? Couldn't you just get a buddy to whack your palm with a sledge hammer? Holy smoke, that thing has gotta be violent! What kind of energy does it carry at 100 yds or so?

I haven't run it through my ballistic program yet but it's 4900ftlbs@ the muzzle. I'll run it through when I get a chance and let you know what the numbers are.

Well, now that you've done it, someone, somewhere, is going to say it isnt big enough! Lol. That thing has GOT to be a serious handful! I'd like to shoot one, ONCE, just to feel a magnitude 7 earthquake in my hand. I cant imagine any critter, on the face of the planet, that has enough bone/meat/fat/muscle to ever recover a slug from that cannon.

That factory load is only rated at about 1,150 fps and it's quite mild from a recoil standpoint -- even for a little girl caliber. LOL!

I know of a couple guys with 470NE's and I was in Bellms shop when he was doing one of his integral brakes on a 470 Capstick for MGM. I'd like to eventually build a 500NE just for fun and you can bet there will be those who will want one. The problem I have is I'm not set up to machine or mount my own lugs so I need to find someone that will sell me unchambered blanks with the lugs already in place.

No joke, the 300's do seem to kick less than the 240's. I know the bigger slugs are moving slower, but they are heavier. My particular Ruger shoots the 300 better than the 240, for whatever reason. I don't handload, so I'm at the mercy of manufacturers. I wouldn't mind something a little hotter than the xtp loads, but after "you tube" on a 45-70 bfr, I'm for sure sticking to my 44, and with the cost of ammo, I kinda figure the xtp was my best bang for the buck. You guys may be brave, superhuman, and loaded for godzilla with them cannons, or yall may just be nuts!! Lol. I figure if I cant kill it with a well placed 300gr slug, from a 44, I'll shoot twice? Lol.

Reeder has a new 500 NE barrel with his brake (which he claims. reduces the recoil to warm 45-70 loads) for around $500. He also has a 470 NE in stock as well. Might be cheaper to go this route?

I found Hornady's 300 grain .44 load to be exceedingly accurate the last time I tested that ammo. It's good stuff.

240, for $500.00 I would go with an SSK... JMHO... LOL

Tex,
Good luck getting J.D. to price match! haha While I do admire his work, He is still $100 or so more by the time you get the brake on it.

LOL, fair enough.

Lets just say "I" can never own another Reeder barrel.

Are you in exile? If so, I know your not the first, ... or the last.

I have said enough... LOL

Mr. Ernie, that was funny!!
(Ps, Mr. Ernie knows what happened. And lets just leave it at that.)


So, where were we again???