Getting Back to It

Hello everyone. I saw the post requesting the "lurkers" to participate. I'm one of the reads a lot but posts-naught types.

I took my first big game animal (with a pistol) in 2008 with a Smith & Wesson 629 Classic 5" with Hornaday lead-free ammunition. Last drive out of the field on the last hunt of the last weekend of season. Spotted a couple of bucks on a hillside following a doe. Rifles were packed-away so I told my dad I was going to try to take it with my revolver. I had never fired a major caliber handgun at an animal. I really didn't know what to expect. I had shot IDPA, USPSA, The Steel Challenge, and some Glock In-door competitions, but I had not practiced hunting with this revolver. I held mid-body and thought, "Well, let's see what happens." 60-yard, uphill shot. The young buck dropped like it was hit by lightening and never moved again. Bullet impacted a little right of mid-body. I don't recall hitting the spine but the bullet did not exit. As this was my back-up pistol for hogs (I had been charged the year prior) I took note of the disappointing penetration on such a slender animal. It was a very small buck.

The next year, I wounded a buck with the same pistol and followed it up with a rifle.

After that, I switched to bow hunting. I hunted with a compound for several years taking 4 deer with my compound in as many years (only go on one deer hunt per year) and then traveled to Africa with it as well. Took a Kudu, Impala, Warthog, and a Zebra (spot and stalk on that one).

This past Spring, I hunted black bears in BC with a longbow and got my first traditional kill - spot and stalk style. My impala and kudu were shot from a ground blind and I did not care for the experience.

Now I want to get back to arguing over the minutiae of ballistics and bullet construction (it can be fun) and burn a little powder. SO, I just purchased a Performance Center 460XVR with a 7.5" barrel. I have to use lead-free loads because I'm in California. I plan to experiment with 454 and 460 lead-free loads. I think, right now, my default would be the Corbon or Buffalo Boar 275 grain. All thoughts and opinions on this are welcomed.

Just saying hello. I hope everyone is having a good day.

First of all, welcome to HH! This is a great site. I love your choice in firearms too. The smith 460 is literally capable of taking anything on planet earth. In my opinion it's the single most versatile round in a straight wall caliber. And perfect for short barreled revolvers.

Make sure you check out the load recipe section. It can help you get started (if needed) on loading this caliber.

Pics. Pics. Pics. We love pictures here.

And most of all, jump in on any/all discussions. Don't be shy.

I have zero experience with the 460, but the 375 gr Barnes XPB is in my opinion the single best bullet for the 500 S&W...Barnes bullets are the best of the best

Be careful with.454 loads in the .460. Repeated firing of rounds will build up material at the end of the .454 brass and increase pressures with .460 loads. Using a wire brush after the .454 loads will prevents this.
As Franchise says, Xs are great. I did a brown bear at 129 yds. with a 375 X in my .500. Did not move.

Well, I?m learning on a day 1 around here. I knew the 45 Colt could leave deposits near the end of each chamber but did NOT know the same issue applies to the 454.

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Welcome to the site!

One issue you may run into when firing 45 Colts and 454 Casulls is that they won't be nearly as accurate as the 460 S&W cartridges. Those bullets have a long jump from the case mouth to the throat, which isn't conducive to accuracy. I've found it's better to make some reduced power handloads.

As far as bullet selection goes, I'll recommend the 200 grain XPB. Out of my Performance Center Model 460, they're capable of MOA accuracy and have great terminal performance.

Thank you, Chance.

I have an update: I rented an 8 3/8ths XVR today and shot Federal 250 grain 454s and 275 grain 460 Expanders. I loved it. I think those loads are are mild but I wasn?t sure what to expect. Not bad at all. The 454s felt like a .5? 45 auto. The 460s felt like my 5? 629 but more of a rearward shove than an upward arcing snap. I also shot my new PC 629 2.68? with 240 grain .44 Magnums. I have a set of Ahrends slim grips which stop at the bottom of the frame. The finger grooves don?t really fit my hand, but, damn, they are beautiful. Beauty hurts and so does that pistol with standard power .44 mags. Despite that, it is still fun to shoot ... up to a point.

Ammo is ridiculously expensive.

I would expect that the Performance Center 7.5? XVR I have ordered will shoot similarly to an 8 3/8ths. I already bought one gun this month so I have to wait to sign the paperwork.

I plan to look at the Galco chest holster with the extra cartridge band
On the front hunting.

Any advice or comments arising out of what I?ve written here are welcomed.

SavageRabbit,
Once you take delivery of your Performance Center 460 you will be in love. I sold my original issue 8 3/8" 460 & purchased the same gun you did. I am in love with it. I also bought an FA 83 45/454 7.5". I'll be getting to the range soon with all of it. I'm excited.

I don't see how giving up the extra 1" of barrel length will matter at all. My 45 Colt does 1200+ fps in its 7.5" barrel, the 454 will do up to 1600 fps & the 460 will bump that by about 500 fps. I am more interested in placement & penetration than speed.

My big bore handguns are my friends.

I shot my PC 460XVR for the first time last weekend. Loved it. Put 4 boxes of 454 and 4 boxes of 460 through it. I wasn't shooting the heaviest loads as selection was limited. But I shot Buffalo Bore 360 grain 454, Fusion 460, and Federal 275 Grain Expanders. The 360 grain 454 had the most recoil. I flinched more than normal but I had a great time and may go out against this weekend. Haven't hunted with a gun in 10 years and haven't been this excited about a gun in 20 years.

Those Barnes 275 gr XPB's will handle anything North America has to offer when loaded to their full potential out of the 460 S&W

Welcome to the show. I see you have already been bitten by the "gotta have another pistol" bug.