Looking for insite and experience. I have not shot either of these. My largest revolver has been a RBH .41 mag and T/C Encore in the .44 rem mag. How do the 375 JDJ and 460 XVR cartridges stack up to the .44 Encore (12-inch barrel) and to one another in terms of recoil? Thanks for any help. Jim

Why do I bite on the hard questions? Answer...Insomnia.

This is sort of like comparing apples to oranges to pears but I made them all into apples with mathmatics.

Here we go...

44 Rem Mag 3.5 lb gun Recoil Vel 16.5 FPS
200gr bullet- Recoil Enrgy 14.7 Ft Lbs
Apparent Felt Recoil. Moderate

S&W 460 XVR 5Lb gun Recoil Vel 17.4 FPS
200gr bullet- Recoil Enrgy 23.6 Ft Lbs
Apparent Felt Recoil. Vigorous**

375 JDJ 4.5 Lb gun Recoil Vel 25.9 FPS
210gr bullet- Recoil Enrgy 41.0 Ft Lbs
Apparent Felt Recoil. Severe

458 Lott*** 6LB gun Recoil Enrgy 102 Ft Lbs
500gr bullet- Apparent Felt Recoil. RUNUTZ

**This gun is equipped with a factory muzzle break and can expect a 35-40% reduction in felt recoil.

***Just for the Fun of it.

This data is based on Factory and handload reloading data using 200 and 210 gr jacketed bullets. Recoil was calculated by "Load from a Disk" External-Internal Ballistic Program. Gun weights were determined by approximate gun weights from my collection and the S&W website

Glad you didn't ask for Trajectory and Down Range Ballistics.

Jim,

The above post put things into perfect perspective. I've been shooting a 44 mag 12" Hunter and a 14" 375 JDJ (Contender) for the past several months in preparation for an elk hunt. My 44 load is a 300 gr. Cast Preformance WFNGC at 1575 fps. My 375 load is a Hornady 225 gr SP at 2177 fps. I'd have to say the recoil of the 375 is easily double the 44 mag, maybe more.

I have no experience with the 460.

Hope this helps.

Dan

osok,

Can you run the same load for the 460 using a weight of 6 pounds for the gun. Then if you would, give it another pound to compensate for a scope.

hangunnr

Thanks for all the input guys. The 375 JDJ does not sound like something I personally would enjoy shooting with in the off season - which I do lots of with my hunting pistols.

Jim

excellent point

hangunnr, here's what I came up with. 200gr jacketed bullets at 2270 FPS

6lb gun, 200 gr bullet...Recoil Velocity 15.9 FPS
Recoil Energy 23.4 Ft Lbs

7lb gun 200 gr bullet...Recoil Velocity 13.6 FPS
Recoil Energy 20.1 Ft Lbs

Apparent felt Recoil was rated as "Vigorous" for both 200 gr loads.

While I was at it I checked the other end of the load spectrum for you to. These calculations for a 360gr hardcast bullet at 1840 FPS.

6lb gun - Recoil Vel. 20.7 FPS
Recoil NRG 39.7 Ft Lbs

7lb gun Recoil Vel. 17.7 FPS
Recoil NRG 34.1 Ft Lbs

Apparent Felt Recoil was given a "Heavy" rating for both loads.

A muzzle break on the gun will reduce the felt recoil.

Thankyou sir!!

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on my 460. Should have her home tomorrow.

hangunnr

What recipe are you using to get that velocity with the 44? I thought I would have to go to the 445 to get 1500+ with a 300 grainer.

s4s4u,

Your question made me go back and look at the old and newer manuals. It appears there is a recent change in the newest Sierra manual. I thought I was quite safe with this load and never looked at the newer books.

I load 21.5 grs. W-296 with a Cast Preformance 300 WFNGC. My Sierra (old - Edition 4) manual says this is max for their 300 gr. jacketed bullet (The new Hornady book lists 19.9 grs to be max - Nosler #4 lists 21.0 grs. to be max with their 300). The new Sierra manual lists 20.9 grs. to be max now. I've always found pressures drop with cast bullets as compared to the same weight jacketed. I worked up to this load carefully (I guesss awhile ago) and I believe it to be safe in my pistol.

I get to 28.0 gr. W-296 in my 445 SM with the same bullet to get 1755 fps. Sierra manual says 30.7 grs. is max. I can't anywhere near that before pressure signs stop me.

What do you guys think? Safe or should I back off with the new data?

Question: When you find you are using older manuals, does it mean you are getting old or is just the manuals are getting newer?

I've not shot the 460 yet but started my shooting life with 44mags. I have been using the 375JDJ for years and find it very easy to deal with after being used to the 44mag. Many factors affect felt recoil, from the sharp slapping types (454) to the heavy push (475L). Enter that with different brake styles and everything changes. I have a 16.5" SSK Bbl with arrestor break, no real muzzle flip but a solid push straight back. I find it easier to deal with than a S&W 29 unported. Grip styles also change felt recoil a bit.

Best advice I can give is to find someone that has one and try it out. Only you can say if it would be to much or make you a convert

the only one i can tell you about is the 460 xvr. i have a smith 629 classic and the recoil of the 460 is not much more than the 44.if you shot any kind of a big bore revolver you can shoot a 460 with no problem.