FWIW guys supposedly the design of the 500 S&W is such that the recoil (or at least perceived recoil) is still supposed to be worse with a 44 Mag.

I believe it.  Because I've been sitting 25 feet away from someone shooting a .550 S&W, and was getting blasted on the side of my face by the exhaust from his muzzle brake. 

Quote from: GZire on October 14, 2011, 11:21:58 AM

FWIW guys supposedly the design of the 500 S&W is such that the recoil (or at least perceived recoil) is still supposed to be worse with a 44 Mag.

I believe it.  Because I've been sitting 25 feet away from someone shooting a .550 S&W, and was getting blasted on the side of my face by the exhaust from his muzzle brake.

We are talking different things.  What you are catching is muzzle blast.  What I'm talking about is actual/perceived recoil of the shooter between 500 SW Mag and 44 Mag.

Quote from: Tom_G on October 15, 2011, 10:07:32 AM

Quote from: GZire on October 14, 2011, 11:21:58 AM

FWIW guys supposedly the design of the 500 S&W is such that the recoil (or at least perceived recoil) is still supposed to be worse with a 44 Mag.

I believe it.  Because I've been sitting 25 feet away from someone shooting a .550 S&W, and was getting blasted on the side of my face by the exhaust from his muzzle brake.

We are talking different things.  What you are catching is muzzle blast.  What I'm talking about is actual/perceived recoil of the shooter between 500 SW Mag and 44 Mag.

I think you guys are talking about the same thing. I took it to mean that there was so much muzzle blast from the brake that it must be pretty soft on the shooter.

Quote from: Tom_G on October 15, 2011, 10:07:32 AM

Quote from: GZire on October 14, 2011, 11:21:58 AM

FWIW guys supposedly the design of the 500 S&W is such that the recoil (or at least perceived recoil) is still supposed to be worse with a 44 Mag.

I believe it.  Because I've been sitting 25 feet away from someone shooting a .550 S&W, and was getting blasted on the side of my face by the exhaust from his muzzle brake.

We are talking different things.  What you are catching is muzzle blast.  What I'm talking about is actual/perceived recoil of the shooter between 500 SW Mag and 44 Mag.

No, we're not.  Muzzle brakes lessen perceived recoil.  S&W puts muzzle brakes on all of their .500 series, at least all of them I've seen or that show up on their website.  44 Mag, on the other hand, is readily available without a muzzle brake. 

Now, you take a .500 S&W, chop off the muzzle brake, then fire it.  I'm willing to bet that the perceived recoil moves into a new class.