I LOVE big bullets. Don't have to worry about the hollowpoint plugging, etc.
After Platt, and the non-penetration of that slug, I've always felt most at home with my big bores.
Curently my favorite load is a 400 grain Hornady XTP, in .475 Linebaugh, at 1350 fps across a chrono, out of my FA 83 7.5" barrel. It's the most accurate gun I've EVER shot, points and handles like a dream, and, that load is intresting. Apparently a guy ham shot a deer, going away from him. Bullet went in, expanded to full size, cut a huge hole, and, the deer died after going 50 yards. WHY? Non-fatal hit, don't know but a big hole, and, the bullet expanded beautifully.
Most current hollow points are designed to penetrate 12-14 inches. Doesn't seem to matter what caliber, that's industry standard, and regardless if you've got a 44 magnum, a 45 Heavy long Colt, they still find a way to reduce penetration, and negate the effectiveness of the caliber, so, when M&S do their stopping stuff, the 44 magnum rates below a 357, etc.
So, guys that buy this stuff for police groups that actually use 45 Colt recommend, and buy, heavy for caliber hollow points. In fact, the heavist they can find in that caliber, designed for human-deer size targets.
Point is, I want enough velocity, and enough bullet weight for the bullet to open up, make a big, long hole, and exit. My situation is such that I shoot into a solid wall of mud on one side, a golf course on the other, and, only one possible shot shoots were other people might be struck. Just don't take that shot.
Some of you folks are complaining that blast and noise are bad for the shooter. What about the Bad Guy? How would you like a .475 or 500 caliber expanding bullet, plus a flameball to burn your eyebrows off, and your hair, and deafen you?
Study was done by some M.E.'s on 357 'one shot stops'.
Major factors in these were they almost all occured at night, at close range, like 10 feet or closer, usually an officer discharging his backup gun, short barreled, 357, right in the guys face. Often the BG would give up, not from the damage done by the bullet, but, not being able to see, or hear, and, not wanting to get hit, again, at short range.
One very wise old ammo company owner suggested getting the heaviest hollow point I could find in .357, and stabilize, read 158 grains, and just light it off. Same theory.
The only real problem with .500's is finding a suitable hollow point for people, not that you really need one, and, making sure you don't have something behind them, when you shoot. I suspect Hornady's 325 grain XTP, in 480 ruger would be a great SD load, at 1200 fps, or so. But, I like that 400 grain HP. Easy to shoot, not that load...Feels like a 22lr compared to my version of a S&W 500, a Linebaugh Max. .510. I'd love to have some Hawk .510 soft, thin jacketed HPS loaded, 450 grains, but, for now, I have to be happy with 525 grain LFN's at 1350 fps. Life is full of compromises....
S
PS
I've scene a couple guns, .500 JRH, SRH with a 2" barrel that would be perfect for close range protection, with heavy hollow points, at close range, or bear loads...
PPS
The most compelling argument for not using your big gun for defense is it's going to be in an evidence locker, where it may get 'lost' by the police, for a long time, after you use it...
