It seems the concensus is that the 577s seem to be the 'flavor of the day' in the current doubles market and is as about all the rifle one can carry and shoot without getting a hernia at the end of the day from the weight as to carry or a nose bleed (or worse) when you shoot it. I would prefer a lighter gun (for both reasons.) My 500NE is about all I'd like to carry or shoot. The impression I have been given by those who frequent Africa and hunt seriously is that the few 577s they see are carried by occasional hunters who bought them for the cache of having the largest practical gun and that their use even by PHs as a 'last ditch' stopper is fairly thin on the ground and few and far between. Given the substantial up charge for the 577 over a 470 or 500NE, I'd take the latter. Dave