This has been a fun thread to read through!

My own gun would have to be my FA 83 in 454 casull, but it really is not that bad.

Worse I have fired would have to be an Encore with a 14" (I think) barrel in 460 S&W , no scope, with max handloads of 260 grain partition. It hit the hand hard but the worst part was the trigger guard. made my knuckles bleed after 3 or 4 shots!

My 500sw encore with a 535 gr cast bullet really is much of a kicker-i think its close to the 308. I did have a 4" sw 500 revolver and that sucker was fun to shoot-about like an explosion in ur hand!!

The heaviest recoiling I own is my Encore .30/06.

The heaviest I have ever shot is one J. D. Jones developed on the .378 WBY case cut back to 2" and necked to .50 cal. He turns the head down on a lathe to .473 & then puts it on a single shot bolt action pistol. After 6 shots my hand was turning numb but it was FUN!!!

I was told by an authority in the business who builds Encore barrels that the video is NOT a .600 NE; that in fact the Encore platform is not capable of handling that cartridge safely. Also said that video is more likely a black powder cartridge.

EDIT:
I just did some research; the Encore barrel OD is 1.00" and the .600 NE cartridge base OD is .697" which would leave a chamber wall thickness of .1515", seems a bit thin to me; not to mention the .600 NE cartridge rim diameter is .800" which determines the thrust factor back on the frame which is usually the limiting factor for the T/C Encore and Contender frames.

But then I am not a gunsmith or an engineer; just going by what I see. And that is not to say that somebody wouldn't actually make one...and shoot it...maybe with black powder...

Who knows?

BTW, the .600 NE factory specs with 120 gr. Cordite: 900 grain bullet @ 2050fps for 8,221 fpe.

http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd600nitroexpress.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.600_Nitro_Express

My energy in ft pounds is right at 6672 with the 375 Snipe-Tac handgun.
and the 408 Chey-Tac (Oh yes, it is a switch barrel) with a 420 grain pill should be around the same

My two heaviest recoiling handguns are my XP-100 .308 Winchester and Ruger Super Redhawk .454.

I was told by an authority in the business who builds Encore barrels that the video is NOT a .600 NE; that in fact the Encore platform is not capable of handling that cartridge safely. Also said that video is more likely a black powder cartridge.

EDIT:
I just did some research; the Encore barrel OD is 1.00" and the .600 NE cartridge base OD is .697" which would leave a chamber wall thickness of .1515", seems a bit thin to me; not to mention the .600 NE cartridge rim diameter is .800" which determines the thrust factor back on the frame which is usually the limiting factor for the T/C Encore and Contender frames.

But then I am not a gunsmith or an engineer; just going by what I see. And that is not to say that somebody wouldn't actually make one...and shoot it...maybe with black powder...

Who knows?
I am an engineer, which might be why I don't have one or want one, but I am willing to watch while someone else shoots one.

Man, reading this board makes me feel kinda mainstream and wimpy. I've a few .44s with 2" to 20" barrels and a Encore with .270 and .454 barrels. I'm flirting with the idea of a .460 now, but the brain says the .454 covers that. I live in N.Georgia. Pig and bear is the biggest I'd see. The other part of the brain says "what does reasonable have to do with it?".
I do have to confess, I had to buy rubber grips for my Encore with the .454. That fat wooden handle just beat up my middle thumb knuckle.

I thougth of a t-shirt. If any of you want the idea, take it, just send me a shirt please. It would read "apparently my insensitivity extends to recoil also" No t/c logo, no gun related prompts. Just let those who know what you are up to know what you are up to.

Haha! Great logo for a t-shirt!

Not wimpy, smart!

For me that would be my 6.5" S&W 500 with a 400gr Sierra JSP over 40gr's of H110...I'm no weaklin but this will get your wrist sore after a short session...

Dan Wesson 445, 8"barrel 300 gr. 6'4' 275# and it sets me back. Great boom. Not a all day shooter.

I didn't either until they removed three bones and half the nerves in my right hand, problem is I decided I like it too much so although I listened I filed it under things to worry about after the fact. I can't give up my big guns although lately I've wimped out some and I've been hunting with my 454.

I must tell some of you contributors --- do not apologize for what you shoot. My father tried to teach me --- " Be aware of the man with only one gun. He probably knows how to use it." I did not listen.

However, I could have financed a trip or two to Africa (or where ever) if I had taken note of his comments. If it does the job that you need done, it is OK.

My father's only "big gun" was a model 94 Winchester in 30-30. He owned two rifles -- that one and a 22. If I shared with you the things that I have seen him do with that old 30-30, most of you would call me a liar.

Just my humble opinion.

.454 Casull in a Ruger Alaskan. Can't imagine having any fun with something stouter. I can shoot 2" groups at about 75 feet, tops. I hope that's good enough, 'cause I'm not getting anything bigger.

mine is a magnum research 460 with 8 inch barrel. i love the punishment

450/400 nitro express brass from hornady is 35 dollars for 20 cases which isnt to bad. You can also use 405 winchester bullets for it. Ive also heard you could load .41 magnum bullets in it seing as they share the same diameter of .410 but im not positive.

you wouldn't want to use jacketed bullets designed for the 41 as they aren't strong enough but I believe your right about the same bore diameter. Hornady has made it alot more affordable to buy components and ammo for several calibers that were almost extinct. If you want to see something that will scare you look up the cost on 470 and 500NE brass and dies.

I agree w/ Rod, I wouldn't use the 41 Mag bullets in the 450/400 Nitro. They are the same diameter as are the 405 Win & the 411 JDJ. You can use them in the 411 JDJ and they are awsome on WT deer. But, the 444 Marlin (411 JDJ parent case) case is quite a bit smaller than the 450/400 nitro case and the top velocity is alot different as one would expect.

.470 Nitro Express/500gr. woodleighs/2000+ fps in my Encore is without a doubt the heaviest recoiling handgun I have, or have ever shot, (and luckily it shoots better than it looks-pic on bragging board!) Numbness sets in pretty quickly so you don't realize how bad it is until the next day or two when your hand and wrist throb uncontrollably. It isn't so much the speed of the recoil as it is the shear energy of the recoil that makes it "fun" to shoot. It's quite enjoyable with 400gr. XTPs and trail boss!

I dont think the recoil of the 470 nitro in a pistol scares me as much as the thought of it coming back into my face id really like to see some video of that thing in action.

It definitely is not the sort of thing that you want to try as your first big bore handgun experience, but for anybody shooting .454s, .500s, etc. it wouldn't be a huge surprise or problem to control. I will admit the anticipation before I pulled the trigger on it the first time was quite high as I wondered how many stitches I would need later!!!

nothing to compare with the .470 but have a braked 41/445 TC-- 210 at 2200+ or a 250 at 2000+ --my 358 is a 250 at 2300+ not so far apart-
41/454 Redhawk -250 cast at 1610 -- 212 cast penta point HP 1720

The .460 S&W I shoot in an Encore 15" with no brake with .275gr Barnes or .395 Cor-Bons are a handful...Just sayin' But kill with Authority!!

For me, it's the FA Model 83 500WE with 6" barrel, micarta grips, no brake, and heavy 440gr loads using H110 and shooting with one hand. By comparison, I have owned, loaded for, and shot the 445SM, 454Casull, and 45-70 in handguns, but they (the 445SM & 45-70) were all heavier. (Comparing the 454Casull to the 500WE is like comparing a 357Mag to a 44Mag. The 500WE makes the 454 feel like a joy to shoot.) IME, the weight of the handgun plays such a huge role in recoil energy. Shooting rifle cartridges through 4-5 pound "handguns" with muzzle brakes does not feel the same as a revolver that wants to pull your hand off your wrist.

Agreed!
That is one of the reasons I shoot the single-shots

I agree with Ernie. Single Shots in Large Rifle Rounds are not that bad.

what's the velocity Ernie?

that all depends on what your talking about, my 458 with 350gr bullets is building 106ftlbs of free recoil energy and the previously mentioned 470 is building 157ftlbs whereas my 454 with full house 300gr loads is building 30ftlbs. Now the brakes on these two big bores help but I know mine is violent so I'm sure the 470 is.

Right around 2800 fps

I forgot to ask you the weight of the gun but I figured at least 6lbs which would put you at 141ftlbs of free recoil and if it by chance weighs 8lbs it would be 106lbs. So basicly your somewhere between the 458 and 470 depending on the weight of the gun. Pictures of that cartridge look alot like the RUM until you look up the actual dimensions and find out the parent case is actually the 505 Gibbs compared to the 404 Jeffrey. I had played with chambering RUM cartridges in the Encore but there aint enough meat to chamber a 505.

I would think bench shooting it would be a significant emotional event.

It is. I sighted it in once off the bench and fired 25 rounds. It was traumatizing....LOL!

and you think the max is going to be any better? lol I have an article I printed off line where John Taffin talks about getting physically ill from shooting the Max.

Yeah, I shot my buddy's and it wasn't nearly as bad. Of course, the bullets are running a good 250 fps slower and it's burning a lot less powder (38 grains versus 63). I can handle it -- I hope!

I may be a shimp but the wors I ever shot was a 30-30 10" octogon barrel on my TC. I could not hod on to the foregrip.
So I am a whimp.

are you trying to shoot that holding the forend? I didn't catch that part when we were talking, that could be your problem. Hold the gun with a two hand hold like you would a revolver or auto and just use the forend to rest the gun on your bags or rest.

With what has been posted, my 17in Encore in 375 H&H AI lookes anemic...

For me it's my 375 JDJ with 270 gr bullets. It use to be my 300 WSM in 14" until I got it "braked".

375 JDJ here also with the 270 gr Hornady. Had a 460 S&W and it was pretty stout with the heavy pills.

9" SRH in .480 Ruger