I can very honestly say, I don't know it all. To be honest, I'm probably in the slightly above average when it comes to gun knowledge. But, what I'm trying to get at is. I have noticed that a majority of the used bigger bore handguns out there on the market look like they've been hardly used. I believe that a lot of folks out there buy these guns, in hopes of impressing their friends, only to find out that they really can't handle the recoil. Now I'm sure that there is a few used guns out there that debunks my theory. But I'm guessing they're few and far between.
I'm curious if anyone else has noticed this?

Same is true of heavy kicking rifles.
Not sure of the heart or motives of why they buy them in the first place, but the results are the same.
Picked up a "used" beautiful LH model 700 300 RUM rifle recently for under $300 at a auction of all things-Looks brand new.

I actually own a 300 RUM, that is BY FAR my favorite rifle. She has been to Africa with me, and has taken game out to 425yrds. I wouldn't give her up for anything.
The thing that got this whole thing started, was a 500 Linebaugh, that's on an auction website right now. The gun looks like it was hardly ever shot, if it was shot at all. There is hardly even a shadow of a mark on the cylinder, where there's usually a defined line from working the action.

It's not a handgun, but I noticed the same thing when I bought a used Mossberg 835 for $220. It didn't look all that new, but it sure as heck wasn't heavily used. Somebody probably bought it so they could use 3 1/2" shotgun shells, and found the recoil too heavy for them.

Well, think about it. If they bought it and liked it, it won't come up for sale until their heirs decide to unload it. My T/C in .270 was 'like new'. They guy was kind enough to shoot it enough to scope it in for me though.

I think another thing might be cost of ammo. If they aren't into the heavy hitters, they probably aren't reloading either. The non-mainstream ammo is 'spensive.

I used to know a guy down at the shop where I used to work. Any hand gun conversation that he heard going on he would commander with 'he has a .500 so he wins' type statement. He didn't hunt either. My guess is his gun saw way less action than his mouth.

But it is a good thing. It helps keep the cost down for us fools who buy more safes instead of selling guns.

db

It's like when folks go through the buffet line, and their eyes are bigger than their stomach.

I actually have that gun also. And I will say this, that 3 1/2 " will sure knock the snot out of an old Tom at more then a few paces.

👍. Couldn't have said it better myself.

It'll knock the snot out of your shoulder, too. Kills on one end, wounds on the other.

She does pack a little punch. But I've only had two guns, in my life that really gave me recoil flinch. 1- a stripped down 700 bdl 338 RUM. The scope hit me so hard, I though I was in another world.
2- 500 nitro. When they say a big push, they mean if your being pushed by a Mac truck.

I have 4 Freedom Arms revolvers, bought all of them used. They are still just as tight as the day they left the factory and shoot better than I can hold. All were GREAT deals, better than I could get buying new. Two of them came with Leopould scopes, about $1,400 ea. and another was customized from .454 to .475 by JRH along with his extended grip treatment ($1,600). I believe 2 of these guns were bought, shot with 10-20 rds of full power loads then the owner said forget this and put it on the market. If one is not in a hurry, takes his time shopping, and sets his $$ limit he can find really good deals on really good guns. I've been fortunate to find good deals online from the likes of gunbroker.com

This is exactly what I was referring to. I know when I bought my 454, many years ago. I bought her used, and it looked like she had hardly been shot. I guess one mans thumper, is another mans enjoyment. 😄.

YUP! after shooting a F.A.454 i knew my lil 44 was all i needed thank you vary much. for me if i need anything bigger than a 44 mag ill just use a rifle.

I believe that many who buy .454's and .475's, etc. are intrigued with the thought of power, then when they shoot it they realize Newtons law of relativity is real. The previous owners of these guns probably don't hand load and feel that running full throttle loads is the only option. For hunting I load 300 gr hard cast in .45 & .454 at 1,100 -1200 fps and 400 gr. hard cast in my .475 at the same velocity. This makes these biggies reasonable, usable and enjoyable in my opinion.

This happened when the .44 mag was first introduced. At the time it was the biggest/baddest thing around. Lots of guns were only shot once or twice and sold soon after. As bigger/more powerful rounds are introduced it keeps happening. The biggest part of the problem is that people who have no experience with big bore handguns jump right into the biggest round out there.

I really hate the videos out there of people giving their friend (often some tiny girl) a 500 S&W to shoot when they have no experience with handguns with heavy recoil. Its dangerous for the person shooting and anyone else nearby. In my opinion its best to work your way into bigger rounds. If I have not shot any of my guns with heavy recoil in a while, I usually like to work my way back into them. I'm beginning to see that years of shooting heavy recoiling rounds (especially off the bench) along with running jackhammers/using sledgehammers breaking concrete working construction has taken a toll on my hands. Because of this I find myself enjoying the lighter recoil of my .44 mags more and more as time goes by. I don't see an 825 Magnum (see below) in my future!

I have also got some good deals on used big bore guns that do not appear to have been shot much. A few .454 Casulls as well as several Encore barrels.

I know, we've shown it here before. For anyone not familiar with it, here is an article on the 825 Magnum. Enjoy!

825 Magnum

There are lots of slightly used big-bore revolvers for sale on the used gun market. Often they come with a partial box of ammo..... I've purchased a number of these slightly used big-bores.

You can test your theory when people at the range are offered an opportunity to shoot a 44mag.

Most, not all, will put a couple of shots downrange and hand the gun back saying that it is more recoil than they are comfortable with. These folks fall into the majority of those who would have a nearly mint .44 -> .50 up for sale still with half of the first box of ammo they bought.

A few get this silly grin on their face after touching off the first round of a big boomer, we refer to this as the "Whitworth" reaction. In more severe cases a bit of girlish giggling ensues. Those people are the ones who will eventually own well worn big bores.

Hey, wait a minute. I resemble that remark😉.

Pab1 - Thats a great article on the 825 Magnum. Maybe we can fit it on an Encore! Now you have me worried about my 44 Magnum slugs bouncing off of a 21st century Whitetail!

If I can't killem with my .45 looooong colt I'll just stay on the porch with the rest of the small dogs.

What he said ^^^ ;-)

Was in a local vs a few years back and this guy was looking at a ruger "Alaskan". He was going on a bear hunt in northern maine & "just had to have it! He had read about it in his favorite gun magazine. I asked him if he was hunting with it and he replied he wanted it for back up if the bear came into his freestand! He bought it new and three days later it was back in the store in the "used"case. He told the owner it scared the devil out of him,kicked a lot more than his 38! Lol! Live and Learn I guess!

It's a 454 with a 2 1/2" barrel....what did he think it was going to feel like?

I have to laugh because that was almost me a few years ago. Bought my first revolver. Sbh 44 mag. Liked the kick .. big silly grin.... after a couple boxes of ammo didnt like the bite of the trigger guard put on hogues. Liked shooting it even more. Swapped it for sbh hunter in 44mag. Picked up my srh 480 in February ... first guy bought it shot it a few times and it set in a safe for 10 years. It was traded at a gunshow on saturday shot and returned on sunday , where i bought it with 2and a half boxes of hornaday ammo. Im thinking its got a permanent home..