I have a S & W .460 with the 8 3/8? barrel and looking to put a scope on it. I will be hunting whitetails and shots will be 100 yards or less. I am thinking about getting the Leopold FX-II 4X28. What are your thought on this scope? Is there a scope that is just as good, and not as pricey? I was also going to use the Leopold base and (2) Leopold rings. I know a lot of people recommend a third ring for the .460. What are your thoughts on only using the (2) leopold rings? If that is not enough rings I was going to use the Jack Weigand base and (3) of his rings.
Also, does anyone have a red dot scope on their .460? If so do you think it would be accurate out to 100yards? I am also pondering red dot options?. Thanks in advance!

A red dot can be very accurate out to 100 yards. A lot depends on the details though. I feel it helps to get a smaller dot sized sight and one with a lot of intensity adjustment so you can darken it when needed to limit flair and let you see your target. Also, you can only shoot what you can see. I normally shoot the paper targets with one large bullseye in the middle and one in each corner and will use a lot of stick on dots with scoped rifles and pistols. I can't pick out the corner ones reliably with a red dot @100 yards and have to settle for just shooting the center bullseye.
IMHO a 4x would be plenty of magnification in most situations at that range. I might look for a 2x if I needed to make fast shots.

Unless you are hunting from a fixed, stable position, that scope is difficult to pick up in a hurry. I used one for a while and prefer the fixed two-power unit over the four. I agree with Karl that the red dot might be a good option for you. 100 yards is very doable.

Thanks for the info guys! What make and model red dot would you recommend for this gun? I like the look of the Burris Fastfire line but have never used one. Will these hold up to the .460 recoil?

I forgot to mention I will be shooting from a box blind and have a shooting rail with sand bags if that changes anyone?s opinion. Thanks!

Utradot is my choice for all the hand cannons I have. I also am very happy with their customer service. Happy Shooting!!

An Ultra Dot has held up very well on my .500 S&W and .475 Linebaugh. If 100 is your absolute max, it's good. If you're going longer from a fixed position consider older Bushnell 2-6X Elite or 1st generation Simmons 2-7X. Usually see them for sell on multiple sites. Both are magnum tough.

I have the Weigand 3 ring on my 8 3/8? 460. It?s a solid mount and I suggest it over the 2 ring mount. I have a Bushnell Elite 2x6 on mine. If this is your first handgun with scope I would stay with a 2x fixed or a variable with a low end of 2x. If only shooting from a rest I am sure you could make the 4x work but I suggest a low power for your first scope. I am not a big red dot user but that would probably work for you. I think the 2x scope is better than the red dot beyond the 75 yard mark but the red dot is probably quicker on target at close range.

I have the Ultra Dot Match Dot on mine, It?s fine out to a 100 yards, past that distance I would scope it with the best you could afford.

I run a 4x Leupold on mine and also hunt out of box blinds.I think Leupold quit making the 2 power model but I picked up a used one for the stealth Hunter at last gun show.

I have several 2-7 Burris scopes, as well as a 4X Leupold. I have no problem with either. A 2X Leupold or Burris would work well also.

I have a single 30mm UltraDot on my 480 Super RedHawk. Great sight. With that said I have I believe 3 of the 30mm MatchDot II Sights which are even better than the UltraDot. With the 30mm MatchDot II you have several reticle choices. The UltraDot has a 4 MOA Dot size ONLY, while the MatchDot has 2 MOA, 4 MOA, 6 MOA and 8 MOA along with a few other choices that I never use. The important dot size's are 2 MOA and 4 MOA. At closing time, as the light dims down you get BLOOM. The last hour of the day hunting in a valley in the woods I am turning the Dot Brightness control down until I get to 1 just before closing time. The ONE setting with a 2 MOA Dot does not Bloom as much as the larger 4 MOA dot size. You can live with a 4 MOA Dot, but I prefer the 2 MOA Dot size in low light

What I normally do to Zero a Red Dot. I cut out Bright White Circles for aiming points. White Paper Desert Plates are not to bad at 100 yards. Smaller circles are better closer. I mount them to something darker such as a card board silhouette targets. The White Circle has very good contrast with the RED DOT allowing you to center the DOT on the Circle.

Scope Mount
Your original plan for a Weigand Base and Three Rings is not a bad plan using a Scope or Red Dot. I have that base on my 480 Super RedHawk. You will need the tube extension on the MatchDot to use 3 Rings.

RED DOT or SCOPE ?????
A 30mm Match Dot works well inside 100 yards or a little further.
NOTE: I also have a single 1 Inch Tube UltraDot. You can see more real-estate through the larger 30mm tube. You will like a 30mm much better.

I can shoot smaller groups with a scope than a Red Dot. I recommend Burris or Leupold scopes on handguns. The 2-7 Burris gives you the option of higher power for sighting in. I normally turn the power back down to 2X thru 4X when hunting. It is much easier to find things thru the scope on lower power when hunting. In the woods 2X will be all that you will probably want. In more open ground 4X will work OK for you, depending on just how comfortable you are with using a handgun scope. The higher the power, the harder it will be to find things in it quickly.

Which is better for hunting a scope or red dot? I like the Red Dot hunting in the woods where the shots are normally closer. In more open hunting area I like a scope a little better.

The 30mm UltraDot and 30mm MatchDot both come with 2 vertical split rings. If going this way I would call Heather at UltraDot West and request a third ring be included with your sight order.

Just My 2 Cents

Bob R

I FIND 2X LACKING AT 100 YARDS AND A FIXED 4X DIFFICULT TO USE OTHER THAN OFF OF A GOOD REST. THE 2x6 BUSHNELL ELITES OR A SIMILAR GOOD QUALITY VARIABLE, WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST SCOPE VERSATILITY FOR YOUR 460. HAVE YET TO TRY THE RED DOTS.

I like variable scopes...never had a problem focusing with one...it just takes a lot of practice

Thanks for the info guys it is much appreciated. Thinking I will stick with a scope since I am more confident in them. Also will probably go with a variable power based on your info. Not sure I can swing the leopold VX-3. A few have mentioned the Burris 2-7. Any thoughts on that scope not holding up to the .460 Whatever scope I land on it will get the weigand base and 3 rings.

Go with what your comfortable Buck...Shot ever factory load available plus some hanloads and the brake is that good that I use two Warne rings on a Burris 2-7... So far.... no problems..
PS. The original rubber grips now on the 460..

Anyone have the S&W .460 shoulder holster? Thoughts? Or another shoulder rig they could recommend? The Glaxo shouldermrig looks nice too. Not sure I want leather though....

I also agree on a revolver and anything inside 100 yards on big game the Redot is my choice. Even if I was going to use the scope I want a 2X capability. Offhand or off most makeshift rests in the field, a 4X scope is awful hard to steady, and for me causes me to fight the shake from magnification. So if I wanted 4X capability, I would choose a variable power that didn't restrict me in other circumstances.

Now on my MGM Encore which is capable of groups at and shooting 2" or less at 200 yards, I want and need some magnification. For that I also need to drag a better Bi or tri pod with me to be stable unless I'm hunting in a fixed location where I can establish ahead a good solid resting position.

This is when I find for me the Burris with it's Ballistic Plex reticle is my best choice. I like the eye relief better on the 2x8 Luppy but that Ballistic Plex is more important to me on a handgun capable of 250 or farther range.


I have a Burris Fastfire III on a couple revolvers, my 45 Colt for inside 100 yards on big game, and my 22 Single Six, for inside 50 on small game. I went with the Ultradot on the BFR 475 with Whitworths recommendation over the Fastfire because of durability, but think the Fastire is more field of view friendly. Smaller lighter, and if it will take the recoil, I would rather use the Burris. But on this gun, protective covers, and supposedly a stronger system will prevail for the time being.

My biggest complaint even on the 2X LER scopes is light, that lasy and first light of legal hunting time 1/2 hour before and after, they just don't give enough light to see the reticle clearly on dark shadowed game. The older I get the harder it is to make out the reticle in these low light situations which are optimum times for most movement of game. For this the auto variable illumination of the Fastgire III is my choice for red dots. This one other area the Ultra dot dot could use improvement it is plenty bright for full sun use, but does not turn down as low as I would like for those first and last opportunities. This is another situation where the Burris excels.

If Leupold would offer their firefly reticle in the fine 2x8x32 LER I think it could possibly be the ideal sight for all handguns revolvers particularly. That is except the really big calibers where fast sight acquisition is a must on very large and dangerous game, then a redot w/ unlimited field of view would always be my choice.

I have had a 460XVR for several years and have taken several nice bucks with it. I have Burris and Leupold variables on some other handguns but have Nikon 3x7 on this one and it works great. I also use Weigand base and Warne rings. I have this same setup on my S&W 500 and have never had any issues with either.

I also have the S&W 460 black nylon shoulder holster. That works great as well.

Listen to Whit... Leupold 2X is absolutely THE BEST handgun scope ever made.. PERIOD...

I have a 460PC.. Have used BOTH 2x AND 4x Leupolds on it...
2x is the BEST. 3 rings are not necessary on this revolver..
Never any problems requiring more than two

I have an Aimpoint on my 460 7.5? from the custom shop. It?s a 2 MOA dot and is really tough battery life is fantastic.

As far as a shoulder holster; Pistol Packaging easy on and off carries well even with pack on and is rock solid. Affordable and great folks to deal with.

The field of view on the Leupold 4 power is rather small for shots shorter than 50 yards in my opinion. I mentioned in a past post that I do not have enough posts yet to place an add in the Classifieds but I do have a NIB Silver Leupold 2X that I want to sell if anyone has an interest. You can send me a PM for photo and price if interested. The Burris 2X - 7X has a very usable field of view range if you want a variable scope.