I am a big fan of Petersen's Hunting magazine. Been reading it for years now. This past issue (November 2014) has an article where it mentions hunting big game in Africa with the awesome 500 S&W revolver. It's an amazing gun, to be sure. A comment from the writer caught my eye. He said this..."Bullet weights range from 300 grains (1,700 fps) to 500 grains (1,300 fps). This kind of horsepower makes the .500 capable of taking any game on the planet and has been used successfully on Cape Buffalo and elephant."
Now, I am a big ballistics freak....internal AND external. I love playing with bullet sizes and powder charges and seeing how they react and change, depending upon the target, etc.
I was at the range last fall, sighting in my elk rifle and one of the rangemasters thought the load I was using was a little light for elk. I've had several people comment over the years about my choice of cartridge. Sure, it's got a bit of a rainbow trajectory, when compared to the uber-magnums, but it will, hands down, with a good bullet, take any animal on the planet.
So I sent this comment to the magazine and wouldn't you know it? Famous writer Mike Schoby replied. Here's our conversation in toto:
Love the magazine guys! My life would be less without it.
In the November issue of Petersen's Hunting, the article by Kevin Steele called "Performance Center Power" (Guns & Loads), he references the 500 S&W and makes the statement "Bullet weights range from 300 grains (1,700 fps) to 500 grains (1,300 fps). This kind of horsepower makes the .500 capable of taking any game on the planet and has been used successfully on Cape Buffalo and elephant."
Now to the nitty-gritty. <rubs his hands together with an evil grin>
Can we please lay to rest the belief of many hunters that the 45-70 Gov't is "anemic"? I get tired of hearing how my cartridge "may not have enough punch for elk or big-boned animals". Please. If the S&W 500 (at 1,700 fps) is good enough for any animal on the planet, then my 300 grain Nosler Partition or 300 grain Barnes Original/TSX flying at 2,300 fps is downright amazing...even for T-Rex, should the occasion arise. Proof in the pudding would be the 18" diameter quaking aspen tree I center-punched on the elk hunt in Utah 5 years ago. :mrgreen: Uh-oh...now I'm in trouble for shooting a tree.
Thanks!
And here is Mike's reply......
I couldn't agree more. Which is why I bought a Wild West Co-Pilot in .45-70. For the record, I simply bought it, no writer freebie and it is one of my favorite rifles! The .45-70 packs plenty of punch for anything in the world and I wouldn't hesitate to use it on Cape buff with the right bullet (Barnes). That being said, the old tale of the .45-70 being anemic stems from the under powered loads still offered by many manufacturers for safety reasons in weak/obsolete firearms. But as you know, if you handload or buy some of the modern loads specifically for modern, strong action rifles, it is one heck of a game getter.
Thanks for reading,
Mike Schoby
Editor
Now, I am a big ballistics freak....internal AND external. I love playing with bullet sizes and powder charges and seeing how they react and change, depending upon the target, etc.
I was at the range last fall, sighting in my elk rifle and one of the rangemasters thought the load I was using was a little light for elk. I've had several people comment over the years about my choice of cartridge. Sure, it's got a bit of a rainbow trajectory, when compared to the uber-magnums, but it will, hands down, with a good bullet, take any animal on the planet.
So I sent this comment to the magazine and wouldn't you know it? Famous writer Mike Schoby replied. Here's our conversation in toto:
Love the magazine guys! My life would be less without it.
In the November issue of Petersen's Hunting, the article by Kevin Steele called "Performance Center Power" (Guns & Loads), he references the 500 S&W and makes the statement "Bullet weights range from 300 grains (1,700 fps) to 500 grains (1,300 fps). This kind of horsepower makes the .500 capable of taking any game on the planet and has been used successfully on Cape Buffalo and elephant."
Now to the nitty-gritty. <rubs his hands together with an evil grin>
Can we please lay to rest the belief of many hunters that the 45-70 Gov't is "anemic"? I get tired of hearing how my cartridge "may not have enough punch for elk or big-boned animals". Please. If the S&W 500 (at 1,700 fps) is good enough for any animal on the planet, then my 300 grain Nosler Partition or 300 grain Barnes Original/TSX flying at 2,300 fps is downright amazing...even for T-Rex, should the occasion arise. Proof in the pudding would be the 18" diameter quaking aspen tree I center-punched on the elk hunt in Utah 5 years ago. :mrgreen: Uh-oh...now I'm in trouble for shooting a tree.
Thanks!
And here is Mike's reply......
I couldn't agree more. Which is why I bought a Wild West Co-Pilot in .45-70. For the record, I simply bought it, no writer freebie and it is one of my favorite rifles! The .45-70 packs plenty of punch for anything in the world and I wouldn't hesitate to use it on Cape buff with the right bullet (Barnes). That being said, the old tale of the .45-70 being anemic stems from the under powered loads still offered by many manufacturers for safety reasons in weak/obsolete firearms. But as you know, if you handload or buy some of the modern loads specifically for modern, strong action rifles, it is one heck of a game getter.
Thanks for reading,
Mike Schoby
Editor