460 range day

I was out yesterday shooting my SW 460 XVR at 100 yards. No surprise it was shooting well as it typically does, if I do my job she does hers.

The new club I joined has various ranges and steel set at 200 yards on out. The furthest I have shot my 460 was 100 yards so after a few shots I decided to try stretching her out a little to the 200. I think I missed the first shot but thought I saw dirt kick up a touch low. I ask a guy next to me if he could spot my next shot. Next shot was a miss but my spotter said it looked like it might have only been a couple inches low. I made my adjustment and hit the next 5 shots on the steel. I have reaffirmed my affinity for that round and that revolver.

I have a question.. why does it seem handgun hunters dislike the 460? You don't hear a whole lot about them in post or in handgun magazines. They don't seem do draw the excitement that other rounds seem to.

So far with my experience it a very flat shooting fast and heavy bullet that comes out of a revolver. Recoil really isn't bad if you practice your grip.

Thoughts?

For me it's the size of the gun that is a turn off. I prefer a Bisley in 45 Colt. It is good to 100 yards and a bit which is fine by me. No muzzle brake necessary either.

1 reason and not the only one is, very few people can handle recoil, and that's ok. I'm not picking on anyone...I don't have a 460, but I have a 500 S&W. Lots of talk about excessive recoil and muzzle blast (hahahahaha) in the 500. They are not an issue even with gorilla loads. My Competitors are a little more of a handful

In addition to what David (Franchise) says about recoil, I hear a lot of complaints about how hard the 460 is on optics.

For me I find the concussion from the muzzle bast more offensive then the recoil, but still, it's a big round.

I haven't blown my scope out yet but I am waiting on it.

My buddy's XP in 7mm WSM with Holland brake has some serious concussion, It'll knock the snot out of your nose if you're shooting under a barn/shelter in about 5 shots or so....recoil is next to nothing though, so, I know what you're talking about.

I HAVE A 10 INCH S&W PC GUN THAT I HAVE SHOT A LOT OF GAME WITH (AOUDAD ON DOWN) USING THE CORBON 200 gr LOAD WITH A POINTY BARNES BULLET AT 2,300 fps AND IT WORKS AND KILLS AS IT SHOULD BUT I CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY I DON'T USE IT MORE OFTEN. IF I LOADED IT UP WITH HEAVIER BULLETS I SUSPECT THE RECOIL, WEAR AND TEAR WUD BE SIGNIFICANT. IT IS A HEAVIER, LESS HANDY REVOLVER THAN A FA MODEL 83.

When I shoot under a cover, Specially if it's a metal roof, I normally dislodge debree that's falls on my head when that gun sounds off.

I have only ever shot Hornadys 200 grain ftx but might start reloading. I think the 200 grain xtp at 1900-2000 fps would be a better round then the FTX bullet.

Us too man 😂 When we're shooting my buddy's 450 Alaskan Encore pistol under the barn, I think it knocks squirrels out of trees 😉😁 that are close to us. Handloading for the 460 will give you a lot of options and bring out it's potential

I think the round is quite interesting but imho there are two associated issues. The look of the Xframe and the velocity. I think that most revolver shooters/hunters embrace the heavy flat faced hunk of lead and aren't excited by the velocity of the 460. If shooters are excited by the velocity, then they are likely bottle necked SP pistol shooters and are turned off by the rainbow trajectory of the 460.

In my opinion, the 460 really comes into it's own when used in a single shot platform, and with the heavier 335 wlngc bullets. I LOVED my 460 S&W that I built on a T/C Pro Hunter frame. Had a 14" barrel from MGM with a two inch brake. Custom forend and a Leupold scope. 200 yards wasn't even a cause for concern. I think the 200gr scam bullets are for show. Put in some heavy for caliber stuff, and the 460 really starts to flex some muscle. Put that into a single shot platform where you aren't losing ANY pressure across a cylinder gap, and I think it is one of the finest shooting firearms I ever owned.

I really loved that caliber for a long time -- till I discovered the 500 JRH. My passion for long distance was replaced with a passion for big explosions. I'll have another 460 some day, but it won't be in a revolver. My first handgun kill was with the 460 S&W XVR revolver, but that revolver was soon replaced with single action revolvers simply because of the ease of carry with the Ruger SBH.

I still like the 460, but only in a single shot or rifle configuration.

For the past 2 seasons I have hunted with an X frame 460XVR and it is an excellent hunting gun if you are willing to invest the time into getting comfortable with it. I have taken a Whitetail and a Red sheep with it. Here is my take on the gun and round and where it fits in my hunting battery.
First of all it?s big, heavy and extremely loud. The cylinder gap and overall muzzle blast is extreme compared to any of my other guns. It?s definately not for a beginner. As far as recoil I do not think it is that bad. In fact, I had a bushing turned to plug the muzzle brake and the recoil did not change much on a scoped (2x6 Bushnell Elite) gun with 240XTP loads. This setup is good out to 150+ maybe 200 yards but it does not outperform by 358JDJ Contender. If I am expecting to go out 150 or more I will carry the Contender. If I am hunting deer size game in the woods one of my 44 revolvers can get the job done. If I am in varied terrain Where I might get a long shot I will probably choose the 460 over the 44. I will use it for bear and probably for larger game if the opportunity arises as I like the extra power. Unless it?s open country longer distances. Then it?s the 358JDJ.

To answer the original question about the 460 X frame. I assume that a good 454 can do 80% maybe 90% of what the 460 does in a more traditional sized handgun. Perhaps the 454 guys can add to this.

Personally, I have nothing against the caliber. I do like a more packable handgun though. When I need distance I always reach for one of my contenders. I do have a FA83 454 and never felt it lacking for the distances I can hit reliably. JMHO

I never had a issue with the 460, a couple of the states I hunt in require a straight wall caliber, on that I use the 460 & the 357 Max, both my 460?s wear no brake, they shoot flat & I have never recovered a bullet, range and power is what you get from the 460.

l have a 10 1/2'' PC 460 like 45MAN and just love the BIG BOOMER.

A friend of mine on the S&W Forum took a BISON with his 460PC in

Wyoming a couple years ago.. l have ''KILLED'' quite a few STEEL

critters with mine at a couple LHMSA silhouette matches. The flat

trajectory of those 460 slugs is unbelievable. 2000fps is DOUBLE

the velocity of a 44Magnum l usually shoot. I don't care much for

the 200gr FTX ammo by Hornady. My favorite full power loads are

225FTX 45 Colt bullets... For reduced loads @ 1500fps those 225s

are still shooting pretty flat. Were l to hunt with my 460 it

would be Federals' 275gr ammo using the Barnes copper bullet.

l have a Leupold 4x EER scope mounted on the barrel.. Never any

problems after maybe a thousand rounds.. l just check the mount

screws during cleaning. 2 cautions l learned the HARD way. One

is shoot full length cases only Shorter 45 Colt cases cause ME

problems depositing carbon.. l have also had lots of split cases

with Hornady brass.. NONE with the Federal brass l now use.

lts a HEAVY LOUD GUN. Finest made S&W revolver available. Much

better than Freedom Arms at half the price. imhop

I`am not a big guy but I found the S&W 460 a fairly easy handgun to shoot with all the different factory loads available at the time of its introduction......

I have really enjoyed my 460 Smith & Wesson barrel from MGM. With 250 grain Hornady XTP bullets, it is a formidable cartridge for deer size game.

I'm about to send a factory barrel off to have it cut down to 10", brake installed, and TSOB installed. Cannot wait...

It?s a great round, killed several deer in Ohio with it, not to mention here, lol