I have a S&W PC .460 10.5 that I hope to never part with but am interested in adding to the .460 arsenal with the T/C Encore. Wanting to increase my distances but has to be a straight-wall bullet (Illinois), so I'm limited to the .460 or .500. What's the difference in recoil in what I now have compared to the 15" Encore and what can I expect as far as knockdown distance and accuracy. Not a reloader, so what is the best performing ammo? I run the Hornady 200 gr thru my S&W.

Input much appreciated!

The 200 grain Hornady coming out of a 15" unported Encore barrel will chrono at an average of 2,800 fps. When I started to this load I found it quite imtimidating. With time you get use to the recoil, but it is still a stout load to me.

Cor Bon has a load which uses the Barnes 200 gr. bullet. If you order it from Midway, hold on to your wallet. The price is $75.00 for a box of 20. I believe this load gets about 2400 f.p.s.. I would not be afraid to use this on anything up to 300 lbs. or so. I worked up a load using the 200 gr. Barnes bullets and got 1 1/2 in. groups at 100 yds. Either the factory Hornady's or the Cor Bons should work good in your 460. I think the Cor Bons have the edge in penetration.

The difference in recoil between the 460 and 500 in an Encore is like night and day. My 460 pushes a 300gr bullet out at 2000fps my 500 pushes a 460gr bullet out at 1950fps. Both will group under 1.5" @ 100yds. The Encore is lighter than an X-frame and that doesn;t help dampen the recoil any. It is not an insurmountable problem. But, if you want to shoot the 500 you have to work at it. (I have shot silly wett for over 28 years and am not recoil shy.)

I have shot the a 500 S & W in a 12 inch ported S & W revolver. I classify that as no too bad for recoil.

I have shot extensively an unported 15 inch Encore barrel in a .460 S & W. I would says the .460 S & W in this configuration with factory loads will take a little getting use too.

Has anyone considered putting a break on their barrels?