My name is Ted. I am 46 yrs. old, live close to Atlanta Georgia. I have handgun hunted for many years. I have always used a 44 magnum, either a SBH or a Dan Wesson. Last year, I got my first 500 magnum, a Smith PC 500 with a 10.5" barrel. It was not really working for me, very heavy and unwieldy with a scope on it. So, I traded it for a nice bench rifle.

I just picked up this BFR in 500 mag. It has had the barrel cut to 6" and been Magnaported. The prior owner said that it has had a trigger and action job, but I can't tell one way or the other. It shoots like a dream, and recoil is very strong with full power loads. I hand load, so, I like to shoot 370 gr. gas checks, with 32 gr of H110. This gives 1452 fps. and 1730 ft. lbs and the muzzle. This is a low recoiling load, and I like it. I will be going to Lamar County in a month or so, getting ready for opening season for whitetail. There are some hogs down there as well. I'd like to get one. Here are some photos.



Here is a range video, with Corbon 440 grain hardcasts, one of the strongest loads out there for this bullet weight. It is moving at around 1650 fps, with 2580 ft. lbs. it is a monster to shoot with these loads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z_5XUbMJEk

Howdy and nice rig!

Man, I didn't like how close that handgun was coming to your head... Wolf... I thought you had been hit at first. LOL

Ted welcome to HH.
That is a big boomer for sure.

Welcome aboard.

Teddy, That is sure as hell a ass kicker on both ends...Let us know how she performed on the hogs....Good huntin.

Ted,the new Lyman manual gives some reduced loads with Unique powder,would be a lot more pleasant to practice with and still have plenty of power for your whitetails.

I think I would Google camo hard hats.

Ted,

That's a thumper for sure - Good luck with your handloads on the GA hogs! Let us know how they do.

Welcome aboard Ted!!!!!!!!

I shot a 500 BFR with the 440gr loads and no magna-port and it was very brutal. Just like you the gun was straight up and I had all I could do to keep it from going further.

Good luck on the hunt and keep us posted with pics.

Welcome to the site. I am sure you will like it, I sure do.

That 500 looks like a hand-full! I bet the muzzle blast hits hard too

Welcome aboard! That's a really neat piece you've got there!

nice looking gun,welcome to the site

Hi James, you are quite right. At the range, I shot all of my 45 acp ammo, my carry gun, had a couple of boxes. On the way home, I told my friend, DeeDee, that I prayed we did not need to use a gun until I got back to the house. I had 31 rounds of the Corbon 440 hardcast left, for the 500, and that was all that was on board.

I sure would have dreaded having to use it.

I like yours as well! What caliber is it?

Welcome, looks like a hand full, glad you like it.

Welcome aboard Ted. That is recoil that can hurt you. I would look for a reduced load for practise and even hunting. A bullet that big will do plenty of damage to you game and not thump you to death.

Ted, it's a .50 Alaskan.

First off, welcome, Ted.

Second:


You could download it and use it for 90% of what you need to do with it.

I wrote this RE: .500 WE, but the principles are similar.

http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=22&title=.500 WYOMING EXPRESS

Sad Tale: A friend that was very used to shooting his S&W .500 wanted to try mine with a heavy load. I warned him about the "roll up" of a single action vs. the double action. He fired it once and it cut his head badly. His wife took him to the ER, 17 stitches; it was on a Sunday afternoon and it cost him some $ besides the embarassment. This is a real thing and does happen; please be careful.

Gregg,
That is a very informative article. My personal load is 32 grs of H110 with a 370 gr lead gas check. The bullets that I use are from Cast Performance. These are giving 1452 fps, and 1700+ ft.lbs. This is a very reduced load, with all of the killing power that I need in Georgia. Recoil is manageable with this load.

Recoil, yes full power Corbons are very strong. I did not really know what to expect. If the pistol had not been Magnaported, I probably would have knocked myself in the head. I reviewed and revised my grip. With a full power load, I will no longer let my shooting hand, right, rest in my left hand. I have moved the left hand back and to over the thumb and top of my right hand. I believe that this will help with the recoil. Also, I do not lock my arms firmly when sighting, I feel that it gives me too much wobble. My first 3 shot group, at 10 meters, was just over 1.5", with two of the holes touching. Did I trade recoil for accuracy? I do stiffen my arms somewhat, but do not lock the elbows, which probably would kick the pistol more upward at arms length.

No matter, I doubt that I will ever shoot the 440 gr Corbon Hardcasts for anything more than novelty. I have 3 boxes of 12, minus the 5 that were shot at the range. My hunting rounds will be my own hand loads. I may load a box of the 300 gr Hornaday flex tips, I really like how flat shooting that they are.

Tie the barrel to your foot! I hear it works great at the range. Just not that practical for hunting, LOL!!

Gregg- when I was shooting silouettes a lady competitor, Loraine Wahl slapped herself right betwween the eyes with a 10" Ruger SBH although she was bleeding like a stuck hog, she finished the
round and then after getting cleaned up, shot the rest of her guns.- she probably weighed in at 105 lbs soaking wet- one tough cookie.