Mick:

I posted this over on the .500/.416 thread so I won't go into the detail again here but, having done load development with one and having chronographed several lots of factory ammo, yeah, the .500/.416 was a waste of development money. They should have spent the money promoting the introduction of an innovative new rifle chambered in the most popular caliber of the shinin' times - the .450/.400 3" Nitro Express. The .500/.416 offers 125 fps more velocity than the .400 (2250 vs 2125)with, for any practical purpose, the same bullet, but at the expense of two extra tons of pressure. It is 150 fps short of the Rigby. The added performance doesn't justify its existance. Still, it is a good cartridge with good component availability, and it is what is available in the new "affordable" doubles.

I've heard the statement that the .500/.416 kicks as hard as a .470 many times, too. I suppose perception of recoil varies considerably from person to person, but that statement is beyond the pale. Shooting from the bench, my hunting partner insists that my .450/.400 kicks harder than his .500/.416. I can't tell the difference. To my senses, the difference in recoil between the .500/.416 and the .470 in similar weight rifles is biblical.
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