I have one of these little critters it`s quite a hand full with the X frame grip it`s very controllable with bullets weighing up to 440 grs after that hold on, the 700gr is described as monster recoil!! I haven`t loaded any of the 700gr yet don`t think I will not hunting griz yet but the gun surly could. We have been shooting it at 200 and 300 it hits the steel with some kind of force only thing that rocks the steel like it is the 45-70 with 535 postells really shakes the steel B27 we shoot at. Loaded it down for whitetail hunting using a new powder for me it`s Hodgon Trail Boss looks like little Cheerios that have been in the milk too long! Works great I wanted around 1100fps from a 340swc lead bullet with 14 grs of powder for deer in my back yard, you won`t get a shot much over 100yds because of the trees so I don`t need full power of the beast just enough to kill quick and drop them where I shoot them getting tried of dragging up hill seems you always have to drag uphill dosn`t it! Thinking of sending the gun to a camo place and hide the stainless steel from sight. I don`t like stainless steel for my hunting guns reason I have seen the flashes of it on the power lines 4 poles away if my poor eyes can see that what `s a sharp eyed buck going to see I know everyone is entitled to what equipment you use and as it should be --- for me hide the stainless flash. Keep on busting caps.

That 500 sure is a handful....I picked up the S&W 460 after I read that you could use spitzer bullets at over 2000FPS. Went to the range where the blast from the muzzle brake took of the front of the readout for my chronograph. I could not get the groups that were listed in the gun mags so I will need more reload and range time. I once shot two 440gr rounds from the 500 and the recoil went straight back to my wrist that was injured in work. With the bullet weights in the 460 I don`t have that problem.....yet.
One of the guides in Alaskan moose/grizz camp carried a S&W 500 in a shoulder rig. As long as the bullet is put in the right place, the S&W 500 is capable of taking any game in the world. Know what you mean about stainless steel hunting guns. I was hunting coyotes in Neveda with a Ruger M77 in stainless and my friend spotted the barrel from over 100yds away.Good luck and good huntin with your 500. James

If I use this piece for Russian wild boar I`ll load it up quite a bit as at the moment I have no plans for pig, I`m impressed with what it dose in the penetration dept at the slower speeds again only dropping whitetails in the back yard is what I was looking for. the full house loads get your attention quick, my loads have the energy to do what`s expected and then some to boot, very comfortable to shoot and what a hit when you  connect on par with a 50 cal muzzle loader.
If you like you M77 check out Cammo & graphics site its in Tenn. I think somewhere close to there anyway they show some of there work in detail looks good and from what i`ve heard is tuff stuff very durable.

Marksmen, You can hunt whitetails in your backyard???

I have been hunting my back yard since the mid 80`s, the hunting party is just a few friends and relatives,we have taken 4 bucks over 200lbs one at 232lbs a fine 8pt.,  we have taken a lot in the 150 to 190lb range mostly 6pt or 8pt. In New Hampshire we also have a doe season and we have collected a few of them ranging from 140lbs to an embarrassing 64lb my son whacked this year with a 35rem in a model 8 on old gun day! My first deer with a handgun way back in 86 I shot walked up to it,saw it had given up the ghost,lit a cigarette put my rope on and drag ed it back home went into the house called a Friend and put the smoke out in the ash tray on the bar, close yes!
WE are fortunate that my land borders a large piece of land that landlocked with no access from tar or dirt roads its all forest and swamp deer seem to love it.
One of the employees at an old job complained that he never saw a deer during season so I invited him out brought him into the woods told him where to sit and to look, 30 mins later we heard the shot a nice 190lb 10 pt. fell to his rifle.
I use to get up in the wee hours of the morning to go hunting drive to pick up hunters drive to where we are going to hunt and then after hiking all around drive back, some might call me lazy but when I can get up dress eat and be hunting in just a few minutes no driving waiting for others its kind of nice, yeah I hunt my back yard.