I traded my Bisley Hunter for a Encore with a 460 barrel.
I am happy with the trade. What load data has any one used in a 15 inch 460? Or a link with info. that works well in yours. You can PM me if you want to. I understand the responsibility of reloading.
I hope to get some other barrels after I sell my G2 204. Thank you

I been shooting the Encore 460 S & W 15 inch barrel for about 4 months. I have a nice load using 39.5 grains of W296, Winchester Large Rifle primer, and a Hornady .452 240 grain XTP MAG bullet. Overall case length is 2.180 inches. This is the starting load in Hornady's Loading Manual.

This gets me between 2000 to 2100 fps. Groups were about 1 inch at 50 yards.

CAUTION: Working up at half grain increments, I started to get stuck brass at 40.5 grains of W296. I backed the load back down to 39.5 grains then.

Hold on tight ! (Not as bad as the Hornady factory loads)

Thank you! Sounds interesting! Will start working one up soon.
Have you got to kill anything with it yet?

Welcome to Handgun Hunt, its good to have you here. Thanks again, Roger

This was my first Encore I put together in late February 09. I started reloading at the same time. The 460 S & W is just too expensive to shoot factory ammo.

I have yet to hunt with the Encore pistol.

The Hornady 240 grain XTP MAG bullet is one of my favorites rounds for my TC Omega 50 caliber inline muzzleloader. The speed coming out of the 460 S & W 15" Encore is similar TC Omega which has a 28 inch barrel.

I have taken deer my TC Omega with the 240 grain XTP.

Shooting the 460 Encore pistol is taking alot of practice. I am practicing with shooting stix alot now too.

Hearing muffs and foam plugs for hearing protection is highly recommended.

I read after I made the trade you should wear hearing protection with the 460 even when Hunting. That would be new to try.

That also holds true for a 22 lr....once you loose your hearing, it's gone!!!

True, I guess that saying goes "Better safe then sorry"

I own the S&W PC .460 with the 12 inch (unported) barrel. I haven't fired the gun at animal in the woods yet (this fall will be her maiden voyage into the woods) so I was curious as to how bad the volume was going to be. About a month ago I was at one of our hunting camps and let a guy shoot the gun. Just as I was saying "aim and squeeze" and bringing my hands up to cover my ears... "BOOM". I was pleasantly suprised to find out that the volume from that gun was no worse on my unprotected ears than my 300 WSM or an '06. Like the guns recoil, the volume was certainly not all it was hyped up to be.

My 15 inch is Magna-ported so it may make some difference. That is reassuring. Thank you. I am trying to set in my head about hearing protection in the woods. KRal made me think about how much I like the sound of the birds. But in a pinch I can't say I will put them on.

The magna ports will increase the volume a great deal

I hunt with the little cheap foam ear plugs in all day long. I actually think they can heighten your hearing a little once you get use to them. Not the real suttle noises but the regular noises like leaves crunching and the wind blowing the tree limbs together, or the birds chirping. I will wear them all day charlie hunting and half the time forget ther are in me eras when I put all my gear in the field box, and drive home before I realize I still have them in.

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/aosinranplug.html

Has anyone tried these yet? Regular earplug on one side and other allows voices but stops loud blasts?

I use plugs and muffs when I shoot my Encore 460 15" non ported pistol. Five years ago I got tinnitus really bad in my right ear after not having my one ear plug in while shooting my muzzleloader just two times. The ringing in my right ear lasted for 6 months.

Some hearing protection is mandatory to shoot a 460.

Looking for plugs and/or muffs with a 30 db or better rating.

I use the walker power muffs. I shot 3 times at a coyote with my 460 with no ear protection and it was the most pain I had ever felt in my ears, to this day I've only shot one gun that was as bad or worse.

I finally got to shoot a few 460 rounds through it last night.WOW.
I like it. And I have a better understanding of the hearing shooting this beast. The fireball is impressive.
We started with 200 gr. FTX's. I am going to keep looking for castloads. Even it I have to go heavier. I like the magnaports on it.

RUG1,

Keep me posted on what loads you are shooting. I usually save the Hornady 200 grain FTXs for playing around. Its a hot load coming out of the barrel at a little under 2,800 fps.

Your right, its a blast to shoot.

We put it through a chrono Sunday night, 3 rounds- 2355,2365,2368; we have over 7 grains of H110 left before we max out according to Hornadys' load data.
It will be fun.
460 Encore, I'll do what I can, it might take a while.

Just remember I started to get sticking cases after a 1 grain up from a starting load. I was using W296 though...

Also after a certain point all that speed just becomes recoil.
Its nice to have a load that will go 200 yards, but can you shoot accurately in the field at that distance.

Anyway I am going to keep spitting out my 240 XTP Mags at a little over 2,000 for now.

Its always interesting to know what someone else is up too.

Have fun and be safe.

I am not as concerned about the speed, even though it is interesting and plays part of the big picture. If I can get a good load that gives me good results consistently, that is what I'll stick to hopefully it show it self quickly, loading 46 grains of powder adds up fast.
200 yards? practice and practice ! I plan on put a metal gong up to practice on after I get a accurate load.It will be fun.