Comparing big bore power

[emerson]

Just reading my reloading manual to do some comparing. It seems there are only a few real steps in power available to those shooting common caliber repeating big bores. Obviously some variation between manuals and each cartridge can be pushed harder by reloaders, but if 150fps doesn't matter much at close range with a rifle, why does it make much difference in a handgun at 15yds? Maybe the 50AE is limited by how much harder a reloader can push an auto? Although the bolt on the DE looks like an AR one. Also the DE can be had with a factory compensator now. Does a compensator bring the 480 Ruger/454 Casull into the same controllability level as a non-compensated 44Mag?

-44Mag 300gr@1200fps
-45Colt (Ruger) 300gr@1300fps

-445SuperMag 300gr@1400fps
-50AE 300gr@1450fps

-480Ruger 325gr@1500fps
-475Linebaugh 325gr@1550fps
-454Casull 300gr@1650fps
-460S&W 300gr@1650fps

-500S&W 300gr@2000fps

 

[MTLGUN]

There's 2 main reasons you'd own any of the above calibers. You love to leave the range with a huge bang before you go home or you're hunting something that will rip your guts out and kill you if it gets a chance. To the Big Bang crowd 150 fps might not be a big issue but if you got a rhino coming right at you it can make a huge difference.

Depending on the manual each of the above loads can come in 3 flavors. Standard, Contender, and Freedom Arms. Typically the Contender and FA loads are hotter than the max for a standard gun, so add on a few more fps.

A good comp will help tame a magnum a bit but they can come with nasty trade off's to. The more ports you have the more noise can be amplified. When combined with light bullets it can get very unpleasant on an indoor range. The other issue is that most comps are designed to reduce muzzle climb. Depending on how they vent the gas that can actually increase the amount of felt recoil you get straight back, thus making a heavy recoiling gun into an extra hard recoiling gun.

Expensive gun, equally expensive ammo, lots of noise, and a sore arm. I think I'll stick to buying my rhino burgers at the supper market.

 

[emerson]

I left out the T/C Contender loads because they usually are tested with longer barrels than repeaters and having only 1 shot is a problem with a wilderness carry handgun. I suppose light bullets might be used more on the range, but for animal defense bullets are probably at the higher end of the scale. Just have to get as much hands on as possible before spending $.