Hello,
I am new around here. I currently hunt with a SBH Hunter .44 from the first run. I am thinking of adding to my collection.
Any one have any experiance with the .500 Linebaugh cartridge?
I have a chance to pick one up for 1100 it is a Ruger Blackhawk .45 converted by Linebaugh.

Shawn

Welcome Aboard Elkbelch. That SBH 500 Linebaugh should be a shooter. Don’t have any recommendations… but could you post pictures?

I do not have the gun yet.
I may purchase it Tuesday.
My intentions would be to hunt elk in close cover with iron sights. For all its power it is very light and only a 5.5 inch Barrel.

Shawn

1100.00 for a linebaugh built gun is excellent, last time I looked he was getting about 2500.00 to convert your gun. I'm partial to the 475 but plan to add the 500 eventually. The 500 would be excellent for close up elk hunting but you are primarily limited to hard cast bullets and hand loads. There are a couple of companies that do load for it but if you want jacketed bullets to load the only ones I know of personally are the Hawk bullets.

Hornady makes a couple of XTP .500 slugs, 350 and 500 grain IIRC.

i used to have one but the nice guy i am i gave it to my brother in law as a birthday present. it was fantastic as a close range hunting caliber. i used all hard cast for it and it smacked a bull elk for my brother in law i bought it and gave it to him he always talked about one now all he talks about it the recoil what a sisssy. any way i would say go for it and at that price its a steal. like i said i never shot it but when i saw what it did to and elk at 35yrds i wouldnt hesitate to buy one for myself if i lived out west.

Well.. I don't live out west but it makes a great excuse.

Shawn

I shot one once...just once. I was heading to AK for a handgun moose trip. I would be shooting a 358 JDJ. My friend wanted me to take his .500 along in case of a bear attack. This Linbaugh was just as you described. One touch of the trigger and I was done. Too much recoil for me. I'm no stranger to recoil but in that light gun it just hurt, not fun. I got my moose with the .358 and didn't miss the .500. I couldn't imagine sitting at the bench and sighting that gun in with 20 rounds or so. The .500 S&W was much more controlable but there is ALOT more weight there.

I know a lot of guys shoot them but a lot of elk and bear are taken every year with guns that are easier on the wrist and ensure more practice. More practice equals better bullet placement. I doubt that anything in the lower 48 would know the difference between a .44 and a .500 if it is hit correctly.

My experience is about the same .
I do not own one but a good friend of mine does have one just like the one you described .
We went to his shooting area and he loaded up the cylinder, bullet weight unknown , I shot them all no problem then he said here load these up these are my hunting rounds I proceeded to shoot only two rounds , My hands had never hurt so bad .
That was the last time I shot one although he shoots it all the time .
I do own a full length 500 S&W and have shot over 10,000 through it and 3/4 of them were heavy 700 Grain cast loads and my hands have never hurt like that Linebaugh .
The S&W is much heavier and it does not have wood grips like the Linebaugh had ....thus easier on the hands..

I would get it myself , just the resale value is good for that piece of iron !!!! plus I like Linebaugh's .

RR

the xtp's won't work for the linebaugh they are only .500 cal and the linebaugh is a .511 cal

The 500 Linebaugh is .510" bore diameter. That pretty much makes it a cast bullet ony gun. Like Rod said Hawk does make a jacked bullet in .510", a 350 and 450gr flat pioint and hollow point.

If you don't buy it, sen me the name of the guy who has it. I don't even need one, but a Linebaugh built 500 for $1100, unless it is completely shot loose and worn out, is a steal. In addition to paying $2500 to have one built, expect to wait at least a year to get it.

Sorry to report the .500 Linebaugh was sold today... not to me.
I procrastenated too long. It was at Cabelas in Kansas.
I was so up set that I stoped at another gun shop on the way home
and saw a Freedom Arms .454 with a 4 7/8" barrel - 1250.00
To be honest I had never handled one before and could not believe how tight it was.
Once again I left empty handed- no deposit. Oh well we will see what tomorrow brings. I am looking for a packable (hip holster) revolver. Thye Casull was not nearly the deal that the Linebaugh was but the brass and componets are more readyily avalible. I am sure this would work for elk to say 75 ydsb (no scope).

Shawn

The FA is an excellent gun the and the 454 will do what you want. Is the FA a field or premier grade?

Field grade, 4 3/4inch barrel no box, but tighter than a drum.

Shawn

1250.00 seems a little high for the field grade, you might try to work him down a little. I'm not an expert on the cost of FA's because I have a personal preference for customs but I think if your patient you might find a premier grade for that much. You might also try working them down on the price but some of the other guys like Gary and James and others can probably tell you better on what's fair.

Its about $200-$300 too high IMO.