A friend who has a 500 Linebaugh brought it to the range today and put it in my hands for a cylinder full. This is the first handgun cartridge I've seen that makes a 45 Colt seem smallish. My friend said this was his "mild" load - 420 cast Kieth style SWC over 24 grains of 2400 for a MV of 1100 fps. The gun was a Ruger Bisley conversion with 5 1/2" bbl. Quite a handful, but controllable. I was able to hit a 2" rock at 25 yards twice out of four tries. My usual handgun load is a 45 Colt, 250 grain SWC over 8.5 Unique for 900 fps, so this was a step up! I'm thinking it could be just about right for Alaska brown bear or perhaps cape buffalo.

It's a great round! I am having one built on a Super Redhawk frame. Big, heavy bullets at moderate velocity are its forte. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

Yes, it will work well for either of the two, and elephant, lion, chipmunks, etc.

Chipmunks are a bit of a stretch.......

You should see if he'll let you launch a 450-470 gr @ 1200-1300 fps. It'll seem like it's had a personality change over the plinker loads

My thoughts are once you start launching a 400 gr or heavier cast bullet 1200 fps or more from a handgun, you've got something that'll cleanly take any NA game.

marko is jack building your 500?

quote:

Originally posted by TBEAR99:
marko is jack building your 500?

Of course!! Yeah, I am getting ready to send my .454 Casull to him -- it is being sacrificed to the big-bore Gods!

While this was an extremely interesting and educational experience, 250 grain bullets at 900 to 1000 fps is my preferred level of handgun experience. I guess I'm just not man enough to truly enjoy the big-time big bore experience on a regular basis. Every now and again, but...

I love mine. I am perfectly happy with 450's at 1100 fps. Hitting the 8" 100 yard gong at my range is pretty darn easy and the 200 yard one is hit more times than not. As Paul suggests though another 100 fps or more and it becomes a very different story...

Jack is making Whitworth's .500 with special chipmunk sights. Going to need a special holster!

I just hope it's enough gun.......

Boxhead, that is very nice! Hamilton Bowen is a tremendous gun builder!! NICE!!

Boxhead,

That's a very nice shootn' iron you've got there I hope to someday have Hamilton Bowen build me a 500 very simular to that, just got to figure out how to pay for it first

When I sent my Super Blackhawk of to Gary Reeder, I was considering the 500 Linebaugh. But already having a 510 GNR from Gary Reeder, and it just being a short 500 Linebaugh, and having a few 500 mags, I decided on the 475 Linebaugh.

The other reason I am not going with any more .50 Cal handguns is, I keep seeing different States trying to ban them. California, New Jersey, New York and I am sure a few others will follow there lead. I travel with my handguns to different States, and I don't need or want to have any legal issues.

With the Presidential elections just around the corner, and if for some reason the American public gets stupid and elects Obama, and having the likes of Nancy Palosi, Ted Kennedy, and all them other gun grabbing liberal knot heads in charge, it is going to be a scary ride for us gun owners.

quote:

Originally posted by DGR Shooter:
Boxhead,

That's a very nice shootn' iron you've got there I hope to someday have Hamilton Bowen build me a 500 very simular to that, just got to figure out how to pay for it first

Ya gotta shop around. I picked mine up used here with bullets, ammo, brass and full leather for a very fair price, about the cost of the conversion alone. It is a really nice piece.