460 S&W mag accuracy

[handgunner308]

I was quite amazed finaly able to shoot my new 460 xvr more today at the range. Well my uncle first shot his own 460 we both have the same 10.5" barrel 460, his 50 yard groups all created one big hole in the bull. Shooting factory hornady loads it was amazing to see all about 7? shot create about a one inch hole in the bull maybe a little bit bigger but thats still spot on. After 50 yards we shot 100, thats when things really changed. It seems like factory loads dont seem so spot on with tolerences when made, hornady 200 grain ftx flying at 2200 fps it seems like a bigger group spread probobly due to such a light and fast bullet. Winchester 260 grain dual bond bullets my uncle shot groups were alot tighter about 2-3 inch spread but it seems like 1 out of 3-4 shots you end up with a flier for example 5 shots 2 would be further than the 3 grouped together, this applies to hornady factory loads and both winchester dualbond and the discontinued partition gold. I shot the partition gold 260 grain flying at 2000 fps just like the dual bond yielded me 3 shots grouped within 2-3 inches and 2 fliers probobly 5-7 inches one high and one low and to the right, I had one money shot and 2 about only 2 inches away from the money shot one closer than the other.

This was my range observation and with burris top line handgun scopes and a real steady rest using bipods and yes, a phone book for page flippin elevation adjustments, its true to me that for the price $35 for hornady is fair but not so for accuracy and $60 for either winchester dualbond or partition gold its way over priced even though more accurate than hornady. My thaughts are if there was a true match grade ammunition made for the S&W 460 mag I bet we can squeeze the group to 2 inches and under and elliminate fliers. looking at all our ammunition it seems factory made the bullets are not quite seated so quite even I can see the bullet side etching whatever there called and the crimp some seem even all around but some defenatlet are not.

Seeing how hard handguns are to target shoot at a distance I feel like Im becoming better and can say the smith&wesson 460 revolver is a true buy very accurate. My fathers TC Encore pistol custom barrel 15 inch .308 spits federal match king sierra 165 grn at 100 yards cant gurantte 1/2 moa but 3 shots my dad made did hit 1/2 MOA its all on the shooter but the custom barrel too!

What do the fellow 460 shooters think of my observation on factory ammunition? Thaughts insights opinions are all welcome.
I have sent a recomendation to remington asking if they ever thaught of incorporating the shotgun slug with the green tip and ports into a 460 cartridge.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The furthest I've shot my 460 is about 50 yards since I have the 5" bbl version, I like shooting iron sights, and my eyes don't really allow for shooting much past that.

I've found the Hornady 200 gr rounds to be very accurate out to 50 yards with mine. I plugged a milk jug at that distance one handed, and it was very satisfying to see that jug explode. That is interesting info about shooting out to 100 yard distances, and that you found the Win. ammo to be more accurate. For the crazy price, it better be more accurate. I keep some Partition Golds in my inventory as well, in case I ever pull an Elk tag where I live. I'd be interested to see how the accuracy of the 5 incher and the 10 incher compare. I'm sure the 10 incher generates quite a bit more velocity and accuracy. I also wonder about the gain twist rifling in the 5" model, and how much that aids in stabilization from the shorter bbl. Do all 460 mags have gain twist ?

Were you using a chronograph or were those advertised velocities? Have you tried any of the Cor Bon stuff?

 

[dickydalton]

My XVR is the Factory 8 3/8", tuned at Magna-port. I put a 2-6 Bushnell with zero change in E/R on any power on it. I have 2 Léopold's and this Bushnell is a better scope for $200 less.
I haven't shot it for 3 years due to I don't know what. Last time I had it out I tried some Barnes 200 x bullets with Lil'Gun and they were lucky to stay inside 4" at 100 yards. Factory Hornady 200s shot 1 1/4". Cast Performance WLNGC 360s with Lil'Gun shot 1 3/4". I flinched early on and shot my Chrony so I don't have the velocities on the reloads other than the first Barnes 200 which was about 2300 if I remember right. I plan on retiring in a year and will then play with it a lot more.

 

[handgunner308]

its just advertised velocities, Hornady has changed over the years the first 460 loads were the SST bullets now all are FTX the SST are plastic hard tips, FTX are the new lever evolution rubber type tips. Alot of people have noticed the hornadys do not expand or expand too quickly either resulting in tumbling causing no real hard hit or expanding so fast theres no real penetration. I also noticed today the fired cases from winchester and hornady the OAL are inconsistant and seem to have been trimmed unevenly mainly on the winchester but winchester shot overall best, I bet I can get sub MOA groups if I reloaded my own "perfect" match grade bullets for my 460, but that will be a ways away no money to spend but a new born girl to tech how to handle the 460 LOL!!!

dickydalton did you shoot all reloads or factory loads? those are some amazing groups at 100 yards! You say you havnt shot in years I wonder how much factory loads have changed in quality since, $30-$40 for match grade .308 for my dads encore pistol and all bullets look geat $60 for 460 factory hunting bullets and they dont seem all the same I should get a scale and way each cartrige and see how consistant the over all weight is, as well get my caliper and measure everything!

 

[dickydalton]

The Hornady 200s were factory, the Barnes 200s and the Cast performance 360s were reloads. I also reloaded a bunch of 265 Cast Performance and 300gr XTP Mags but haven't tested them yet.
I was shooting from a Pistol Perch that has screw adjustments for precise shooting.

 

[buck460XVR]

I dunno, but I got a headache just trying to read the opening post....


That said, the P.C. X-Frames are known for their accuracy, mine amazes me every time I shoot it. The .460 S&W mag is a handloader's cartridge and ammo does not need to be "match grade" for the firearm to be more accurate than the person pullin' the trigger.

 

[handgunner308]

If its just the shooter how is my uncle getting consistant fliers out of every 5 shot groups? Why am. Noticing cases trimmed inconsistantly?

My idea of a perfect load would be even trim all around the case rim and a evenly seated straight bullet

how long has it been since you last shot? I kind of have the feeling factory loads are now made with bigger tolerences than before

 

[buck460XVR]

If its just the shooter how is my uncle getting consistant fliers out of every 5 shot groups? Why am. Noticing cases trimmed inconsistantly?

My idea of a perfect load would be even trim all around the case rim and a evenly seated straight bullet

how long has it been since you last shot? I kind of have the feeling factory loads are now made with bigger tolerences than before

Are you talkin' to me?

Last time I shot my .460 was last week. Probably put more rounds downrange with it in that one session than you have thru yours total.

Hornady factory cases for the FTX bullets will not be the same length as Winchester cases for standard rounds. Hornady trims cases short for their FTX loads. You can "way" each cartridge as you say, but that won't tell you anything and is worthless as far as determining the accuracy of the round. If you price components for the .460 cartridge vs the .308 you'll see why there is such a big difference in price. Add to that .308 is a very common round. More folks load it and load it in larger quantities, thus retail price is lower. As for trimming cases and seating the bullet straight, there's so much more goin' on in a revolver round, that the direction you are heading is a dead end. Case length has nuttin' to do with case capacity or OAL. Bullets in a revolver "jump" from the cylinder to the forcing cone. The forcing cone then straightens the bullet for it's trip down the barrel.

As for your uncle's flyers, there can be a myriad of reasons. Can be the ammo, could be the gun, could be the shooter. Have you marked the cylinders to see if the flyers come from the same chamber/chambers every time?? If not, you are just pissin' in the wind makin' guesses. Could be the variance in ammo, could be your uncle jerkin' the trigger, could be your handgun scope Parallax is 50 yards, so @ 100, accuracy may differ. Unless your bullets are not stabilized, are tumbling or you're shooting in a gale force wind, at handgun ranges accuracy will be the same @ 100 yards as it is @ 50, except the spread will increase proportionately with the distance.

Factory ammo is produced to "acceptable" accuracy and consistency. Premium or "Match Grade" is generally better than standard ammo and generally costs more because of it. Comparing the price of .308 ammo to the price of .460 ammo is like comparing match grade .22 to match grade .338 Lapua. Again, the .460 is a handloaders caliber. One reason I ask folks if they reload or have deep pockets when the claim they are considering getting a .460. Funny, how they can justify spendin' $1300 on a P.C. X-Frame and then whine cause they don't wanna pay $45 a box for ammo. The reason most used .460s show up for sale is not that they aren't fun to shoot or they aren't accurate. It's cause folks can't afford what it costs to feed them to become proficient with them.

 

[handgunner308]

So what would be your advice? 50 yards was spot on one 1 1/2 inch hole in the bull 100 yards group diminished accuracy questioned

Hard to think its just us we been shooting big bore handguns for a while now i put 10 rounds of 50ae into a 3 inch group at 50 yards last year with a 6 inch barrel desert eagle so gun shy i wouldnt think its that.

How old are you bullets? Are they hornady sst or ftx

 

[handgunner308]

I believe its rediculous to say heres a box of lead nothing special bullets for $50 or heres a box of somewhat special bullets for $60 how can hornady keep the price at $35 for good looking fast flying suppsily superior bullet and winchester has to charge $60 for mediocre looking stuff?

 

[dickydalton]

Buck's right, you need to reload if you want to use a 460 and it still aint cheap, just better.

 

[buck460XVR]

How old are you bullets? Are they hornady sst or ftx

I don't reload either, nor do I shoot the factory loads. No application for me. Age of bullets is means nuttin'. They don't go bad like apples and the SSTs and FTXs perform very similar.

I believe its rediculous to say heres a box of lead nothing special bullets for $50 or heres a box of somewhat special bullets for $60 how can hornady keep the price at $35 for good looking fast flying suppsily superior bullet and winchester has to charge $60 for mediocre looking stuff?

How pretty a cartridge looks has very little to do with how it performs. If you are judging performance by how the cartridge catches your eye, you are barkin' up the wrong tree. You continually complain about the cost of the Winchesters and how "ugly" they are....but then, with your own words, claim they perform the best.

Think about that.......

 

[handgunner308]

yes they do perform best but I believe its because of a heavier bullet, and yes bullets do go old my uncle had 10 year old .308 rounds that wouldnt shoot the 1/2 gurantee groups at 100 like when he first baught them for his ar10 pantherarms. after my dad gave him some new federal gold he was shooting touching bullet holes at 200 yards

I might slowly start obtaining reloading gear and soon would be reloading by next year. I baught a new box of win. partition gold today for the 460 most of the bullets finaly look all the same but a few again had either uneven trimmed cases or unevenly seated bullets we'll see for now hitting the range if the rain stops in a day or 2. Its not about how pretty a bullet looks its how well its made to be worth the $$$ some are just that way.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Hey man it's kind of hard reading and understanding your posts with so little punctuation or capitalization.

Just a heads up. It might get you more useful information as others will understand you better.

 

[handgunner308]

My last range visit today for final sight in for deer season. I first shot 50 yards and 3 shots yielded me 2 touching and one half an inch away from the 2 touching shots. Feeling comfterble after that I went for the 100 yard and 3 shots were put within 2 inches I was very pleased with that.