I had an interesting experience at the range last night when I was testing out a new handgun.
A gentleman pulled up with a nice 500 double and a box built of 1 inch pine boards and phone boooks to test his new bullets.
His bullets were the Woodleigh 570 gr solids and the GS solids I believe in the same weight. I think his load data was 93 and 95 grains of RL 15. He was a nice gent to talk to and very informative. He was telling me all about the results which were the Woodweigh out penetrated the GS by 3 boards. And the 93 grain load penetrated deeper with both bullets over the 95.
Just an interesting observation to pass on. Hope some of you find it helpful. He is on his way to Taz in a couple of months for ANOTHER bull elephant ( I really need to win a lottery!).

The 470 Mbogo site has some penetration tests, methinks, and Linebaugh has some stats out there somehwere too. I'd like to see how a meplat bullet out of a 470 compares to the 500. Need not be a monometal (only 1 or 2 are safe anyway) but if included that's cool, the Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer is the perfect candidate.

The results I would expect to see. In a dry medium (like ele skull) the Woodie will out penetrate a GS with same velocity only marginally. In a wet medium like a body shot on the ele the GS will penetrate deeper than the Woodie by a foot or more.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
The results I would expect to see. In a dry medium (like ele skull) the Woodie will out penetrate a GS with same velocity only marginally. In a wet medium like a body shot on the ele the GS will penetrate deeper than the Woodie by a foot or more.

Right on!

465H&H

I have shot elephants in the head with my 450 No2 with 480gr Woodleigh Solids and 450gr North Fork Flat Nosed Solids.

The Woodleighs gave more than adequate penetration. The North Forks gave QUITE a bit more penetration.

I don't think "sufficient" penetration is in doubt with a 500 NE, or the fear of poor penetration of lesser calibers the point of using one. It is really for delivering an overpowering blow or reliably knocking down an elephant if the brain is missed.

If one can handle the horrendous reoil.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
If one can handle the horrendous reoil.

Will, you of all people talking about horrendous recoil while your fondling your new 458 win mag that weighs around 7.8 lb.

I know the argument endures about recoil being recoil, but a straight stocked bolt, or double for that matter, has less perceived recoil, TO ME, than a stock with large drop such as on most double rifles. My straight stocked Krieghoff in 470 at 9.7 lbs. is very tolerable but a 500 would be over my limit.

The recoil on the 8.7 lb. Lott that I had was almost tolerable, though short of horrendous, and a Lott has less recoil energy than a 500 NE. Admittedly some folks don't mind the big recoiling guns, but unless hunting they are a bit much for me.

I would love to have a 500 NE double to go ding an elephant or two, but even standing range time would be extremely limited.

When Larry Shores dislocated his finger with his 500 NE Heym, I should have bought his. Damnit. Or did you beat me to it?

Every time somebody runs penetration tests they all come up with different results..Then you have the dingbats that compare ones HP to anothers solid and come up with these jewells of wisdom...

I do know that the GS Custom flat point solid is one hell of a bullet and I prefer it over the Woodleigh in solids..That said is not a flame on the great Woodligh bullets, I love Woodleih bullets and have used them for years and will continue to use them..