It passed through 2121 pages of a hardbound medical textbook. (400 grain bullet). I liked the Magnum and believe that it would be an excellent choice for hunting Alaskan Brown Bear, Elk and Moose. I'd be willing to wager that you could head to Africa and stalk at least three of the "Big Five" animals of the "Dark Continent".
I watched him rip apart a cinder block "wall". This thing seems as powerful as it's reputation implies. I think that it has it's place in the field as the "ultimate revolver". A hunting handgun of the first magnitude. There is, however, limited use for the "full power" 500 S&W Magnum loads. Brown Bear, of course, and larger bodied big game. (I mean BIG game)! Were it MY revolver, I would probably be employing more 500 S&W Special loads for hunting larger North American game. (Why destroy the meat)? You can have too much power.