I noticed a marked difference gun to gun several years ago. The one on my hunting partner's .500/.416 is so stiff that I can't move it all the way forward with the gun above waist level, and I'm not a small guy. Some guns I handled a few years ago were easier, but others were just as bad. I handled a new .500 at the NRA show last April that was better, but I still couldn't get it cocked with the gun mounted.
----------------------------------------------------------