26" 460 XVR in a rifle

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dom1104

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
1,365
Hello fello gun enthusiasts.

I live in Indiana and here we have case lenth limits on deer legal cartridges, basically the longest range cartrige we are allowed to use is a 460 XVR.

I was about to order one in a 26" custom shop TC Encore, but, I wondered is there such a thing as TOO long of a barrel?

Is there any where I can get data relating to barrel lenth and its affect on various loads?

I am thinking, that a slow burning powder, combined with the hi cap case of the xvr might prove the longest ranged deer gun in Indiana :)

But i am new to rifles, I am a shotgun man myself.

If you guys can enlighten me before I buy this sucker, I would appreciate it!
 
26" is too long for a .460

With the faster powders that the 460 uses, you're not going to pick up anything with a barrel that long. I don't have hard data for the 460 in particular but based on personal experience with the 500 S&W and other cartridges, I'm going to guess that you're probably going to max out somewhere in the carbine range, i.e. 18-20 inches, anything after that is just extra weight, the velocity return will be negligible.
 
Last edited:
What strongbad said is true...but I will add that in some cases when the barrel is TOO long it will actually slow down the bullet giving poorer performance.

For almost any magnum rifle cartridge that you will be shooting I think that the suggested 18-20" length suggested would be a dandy.


D
 
If it weren't for that dastardly case length law, I'd suggest a .45-70, as light loadings for that are equivalent to strong loads in .460, and you can go up from there. And I've seen 30" barrels on .45-70 guns. :)
 
26" is too long for the cartridge in that it probably won't pick up any appreciable velocity over 20 or 22". But as a single shot the Encore is 5 or 6 inches shorter than a bolt gun with the same barrel length, so even 26" remains a handy package.

A longer barrel has that much less blast that much further from your ears, which is always a good thing.

I heard of someone putting together a .35 WSSM to game this law. So I don't think you'll have the longest ranged gun in the state.

Extremely long barrels on 45-70s are for sight radius with period irons, not ballistic performance.
 
Because i do not know, how would a .460 S&W compare to a 45-70 of equal barrel lengths? Say 22-26" inches in length...When would you want a 460 over a 45-70 or are they very similar in performance from a rifle barrel?
 
When would you want a 460 over a 45-70 or are they very similar in performance from a rifle barrel?
Click to expand...

When you want a single shot that can shoot several different rounds.
I can shoot 460, 454casull, 45Long colt and a couple other 19th century .45 caliber rounds. recoil is nonexistent when shootin 45lc cowboy loads

Or when you want to be able to shoot cheap bulk .451 diameter handgun bullets. I don't care what anyone says there are no good deals on .458 diameter 45-70 bullets.

You also burn a good deal less powder with high performance 460 loads than you do with comparable 45-70 loadings

Since you'll never find a 460 barrel longer than 20" you can only compare to a short barreled 45-70. In those cases with equall bullet weights the 460 holds a slight edge over all but the most insane 45-70 loads

With a 20" barrel 460 magnum will launch a 200grn hornady spitzer bullet faster than a 30-06 can launch a 200grn pill,:what: A longer than 20" barrel isn't required
 
Nice response Krochus. Thanks for the insight. I was hoping the two were similar, but had no proof. I have considered getting an Encore barrel as well in .460, (for the multi caliber reasons you listed) but was curious as how it would compare to a .45-70. Mine would be for deer and hogs, say under 150 yards, + plinking.
 
but was curious as how it would compare to a .45-70. Mine would be for deer and hogs, say under 150 yards,
Click to expand...

Any animal you shoot won't be able to tell the difference, I promise. You do however want to make certain to only use well constructed 45 caliber bullets. I shoot the 300grn hornady XTP mag.
 
Are the ballistics of a 460 in a rifle barrel comparable to a +P 45-70 say out to 200-250 yards? I am not talking about the super 45's (450 grain sledgehammers and types), but sensible deer ammo.
 
Are the ballistics of a 460 in a rifle barrel comparable to a +P 45-70 say out to 200-250 yards? I am not talking about the super 45's (450 grain sledgehammers and types), but sensible deer ammo.
Click to expand...

I can push a 300grn bullet to a speed of just over 2200 fps in a 20" barrel, That's a lot of horsepower! I don't think any "normal" 45-70 loads will come close to that.

I've chronographed 200grn hornady factory ammo going over 2800 FPS
 
Quote:
Extremely long barrels on 45-70s are for sight radius with period irons, not ballistic performance.

I figured the long barrels were ballistically useful too, considering the .45-70 was originally a black powder cartridge..
Click to expand...


I was under the impression that BP burned rather fast, built up its pressure quickly. Nowadays the smokeless we use has a much slower burn rate and can better use the available barrel length...and handloaders can tailor a load for a particular barrel length/bullet weight combo.

I do it a bit more simplisticly...I just try to get a load that doesn't leave a ton of unburnt powder residue in the barrel. :)

Of course, I might be wrong...Lord knows it won't be the first time. :neener:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Dr T
  • Locked
460 S&W Rifle
Replies
8
Views
2K
LRDGCO
LRDGCO
F
  • Locked
Watch your fingers/thumbs 460 XVR
Replies
8
Views
1K
bri
B
Dr. Sandman
  • Locked
Indiana Deer Rifle Advice Needed
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
goathollow
G
Dr T
45 Colt in a Rifle
Replies
9
Views
310
Savage30L
S
B
  • Locked
454 casull accuracy in .460S@W rifle
2
Replies
44
Views
6K
Bill_Rights
B
Back
Top