Go to www.hornady.com and check out the ballistics on the S&W 500 and the S&W 460. Then compare those ballistics to the 44 Mag. There is no comparison when it comes to speed and knock down power. With the 460 you can shoot the 454 Casull load and the 45 Colt. I've shot the 500 numerous times sighting one in with my father. It's not that bad.You just have to be readyand hold on with both hands. The 460 is supposed to be tame compared to the 500. I'm currently looking as well and I'm pretty sure it's going to be the 460 for me since my dad has the 500. I've read and heard from people the kick of the 44 is about like the 500.I've shot the 500 in the 10.5 inch model. You can getboth models in shorter barrel lengths to make it more user friendly. Think about it, twice the speed and twice the kinetic energy. I read a very good article on the 460 in the airport last month in one of the well known shooting magazines. I wish I could remember the magazine at this moment. Perhaps you might be able to find it and give it a read. In that article they shot the 454 out of the S&W 460 and said it was the most tame 454 they'd ever shot. Both the 460 and 500 are very, very impressive. You won't be sorry.