I got one for review in 2003. Most readers won't know there were 2 versions of this cartridge and my early review was version 1 which I transitioned to version 2 because back then, there was nothing to reference, for any issue you had and no loading data which I had to create from scratch.
Version 1 (withdrawn from the internet) was a pistol cartridge, meaning pressures were lower and large pistol primers were used.
The original cartridges were made by Corbon where the factory specs were designed to cover a 275gn Barnes X bullet at a reduced velocity and a heavier 440 grain lead bullet at higher velocity and obviously energy levels.
Barnes right from the start marketed a 275, 325 and 375gn X bullet with the later 2 being pointed bullets which extended the range of the cartridge. There was also a Speer 325gn flat pount designed for the milder 500AE and way too soft for the S&W version and later a 350gn Hornady. None of the heavyweights from 500-700grains existed back then.
My review handgun came with 2 boxes of Corbon factory loads with the 275gn X bullet which didn't take long to go through as each box only held 12 cartridges. (Doing this from memory) After a call to Corbon, they refused to send more so I began handloading.
RCBS dies I found didn't mate with the pointed Barnes ogives so a call to them determined that the seater was designed for assumed flat point pistol bullets and they quickly sent me a couple of seating inserts which worked fine with both designs, flat or pointed.
The next issue was unburned powder and low velocities. The primers I was using were large pistol primers as designated by S&W and were useless, in that factory specs were elusive.
Because I was working with charges around 35-40 grains at the time, I used handloading logic to equate the loads to something similar to a .243 Winchester so began using Federal 210 large rifle primers which worked, picking up an immediate 500 fps in additional velocity and eliminating the unburned powder in the barrel, but fired singly, as I wasn't happy with the primer protrusion which indicated the Corbon cases as having the more shallow depth primer pocket.
By this time my personal discovery had been found by others and cases became available, the primer pockets deepend to accommodate Large Rifle Primers and the cartridge actually was upgraded as Verson 2 by S&W to a new MAP of 60,000psi.
So far I have used 8 bullets and 5 powders in this cartrige but only used it on whitetail so far.
2 mods I have done about 10 years back was to add a 2x Leupold scope which helps generate 1"-1.5" groups at 50yards and also tossed the rubber grips by added the wooden grips from a S&W 44 mag as the grip frame is identical. Those larger grips make huge improvement to the balance and control of the X frame revolver.
My standard whitetail or brush load uses 40grains of H110 sending tje 275gn Barnes XPB at 1861fps and 2115FPE. By comparison, the orginal Corbon factory loads were chronographed over my Oehler 35P at only 1667fps which is still a formidable load, but 200fps in my favor is more appealing when coupled with the barely over 1" accuracy I get at 50 yards.
Because I was generating original data back then, it was some time before data was provided to handloaders where MAX is often quoted at 2 grains over my loads with that bullet.
I did try faster powders such as LilGun and Titegroup but tended to like H110, H 4227 and even 2400 which all worked very well. H4227 did very well with heavier bullets as well, where H110 worked with any bullet weights.
Remington introduced a 385gnHP sold in 100qty bags at Cabela's a while back which shot extremely well though I don't know whether they will ever return.
With today's bullets, I prefer the Barnes 275 and 375gn XPB and the 400gn Sierra FP. Barnes also makes a 400 grain solid called a Buster which has shot quite well from my revolver using 35gn of H110.
Don't be afraid of it and don't pay too much attention to anyone who hasn't owned and loaded for it, as the whims of fools will always dominate the conversation. Like any big bore cartridge, you can load it to suit you, the user, and play with it over time as your confidence and needs grow to use it on larger game.
Its a great cartridge and a terrific revolver as long as as you put in the time to learn how to use it to suit you.
