I have a Safari in 470. It is on the light side - 9.5 pounds. For me, it is a joy to shoot. Great weight for lugging in the bush. And in a hunting situation, never noticed the recoil.

I have not shot one in 500, but if it is around the same weight I would seriously consider sticking with a 470. Better ammo and component availability, higher resale, etc.

I have shot a Merkel in a 500, and it was a definite step up in recoil. I thought the 500 was harsher than the 13.5 pound 577 I shot.