460 s&w

[glockky]

I have been looking at trading for a 460 S&W and was wondering if the accuracy will still on par when shooting the shorter rounds such as 45 colt and 454?

 

[Grumulkin]

Probably not.

Also, why are you contemplating buying a 460 S&W Magnum when you wish to shoot 45 Colt or 454 Casull cartridge in it?

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

I have a .460 with a 5-inch barrel. You can easily put rounds into the head on a standard torso target from 25 yards regardless of the ammunition. I shot mine last weekend using .45 Colt, .454 Casull, and .460 S&W - it is accurate with all rounds.

 

[JohnM]

I've shot 45 Colt and 454 through my 8 3/8" XVR, I didn't see any lessening of accuracy.
The standard lead 45 Colt factory loads were anemic to say the least.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've shot 45 Colt and 454 through my 8 3/8" XVR, I didn't see any lessening of accuracy.
The standard lead 45 Colt factory loads were anemic to say the least.

Same here. I also agree with Grumulkin, if you are buying a .460 to shoot .45 Colt and .454 in it, you are buyin' the wrong firearm. While it can be done, when sighted in with legitimate .460 loads, .45 Colt and .454 will print substantially different. Unless you like usin' "Kentucky windage" or adjusting your sights, the interchanging of the different calibers can be of little use other than the reduction of recoil. The bulk and weight of the X-Frame generally controls recoil from most .460 loads better than firearms chambered in .454. The .460 is a handloaders caliber. If you do not reload and do not have very deep pockets, I would look in another direction. If you do reload, there are a plenitude of options for downloading .460 cases for reduced recoil.

 

[CraigC]

Same here. I also agree with Grumulkin, if you are buying a .460 to shoot .45 Colt and .454 in it, you are buyin' the wrong firearm. While it can be done, when sighted in with legitimate .460 loads, .45 Colt and .454 will print substantially different. Unless you like usin' "Kentucky windage" or adjusting your sights, the interchanging of the different calibers can be of little use other than the reduction of recoil.

I thought this was all part of its "versatility"???

 

[JohnM]

It is. I find the 454 a nice change of pace to shoot through mine, the Colt 45 just kinda a waste of ammunition.
But, some one buying something like a S&W 460 to primarily shoot the lighter rounds should think about it.

 

[glockky]

For one I have guy locally offering to trade me one for a rifle I have, and its worth quite a bit more than my rifle. I just thought if recoil from the 460 was a problem I always had options of shooting 45colt or 454.

And yes I reload all my own ammo and am in the process of getting everything to start casting my own boolits.

 

[glockky]

How bad is the recoil on the 8 3/8" 460 compared to full house 44 mag?

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

The recoil is different than a .44. The XVR is big and heavy, and the grips are made to absorb recoil. I shoot 360 grain hard cast bullets and find the felt recoil less than a hot .44 out of my Super Redhawk Alaskan. Personally, I think the recoil aspect from the .460 is overblown by people who imagine it has to be bad simply because of the size of the round - it's not.

Also, the idea that you have to adjust the sights to compensate for different loads is not true if you practice with the gun. You learn how to shoot with different loads and simply holdover a certain amount for the .45 Colt loads - hardly a hill for a climber.

 

[buck460XVR]

I thought this was all part of its "versatility"???

Maybe to some. But I find it much easier to adjust the loads in .460 cases than to reload .45 Colt and .454 for mine. But then I don't have my X-Frame to shoot reduced loads. I have other revolvers for that. Just like I didn't buy my .357 mags to shoot .38s altho they will....I have .38s for that. Same with the .44 Mags. We all have our different priorities, preferences and opinions. Mine is....if you don't reload and want a gun to shoot .45 caliber projectiles at .45 Colt velocities, you're wasting your monies on a X-Frame.

Also, the idea that you have to adjust the sights to compensate for different loads is not true if you practice with the gun. You learn how to shoot with different loads and simply holdover a certain amount for the .45 Colt loads - hardly a hill for a climber.

.......what I meant by "Kentucky windage". As we both stated, recoil from the big X-Frames many times is less than what most folk think. Most that buy a X-Frame thinkin' they will NEED to shoot the lesser calibers to enjoy shooting it, are pleasantly surprised at how pleasant it is to shoot factory loaded .460 ammo....especially the 200 gr Hornady's. One doesn't NEED to shoot the wrist breakin' BB loads to be effective or accurate, especially when the target is paper or deer. The 300 grainers I use for deer in my X-Frame kick similar to shooting 300 grainers from my 629s. One reason I see no use to reduce the recoil and have to use "holdover/holdunder" or Kentucy windage". But, other folk are welcome to think differently.

 

[feets]

My 460 was not an X frame. It was an Encore pistol with a 15" barrel. That gun was FAR more violent than an X frame. Velocity was up drastically. Those 200 grain Hornady loads were advertised at 2200 fps from an 8" revolver. Mine averaged 2697 fps but that was after I had the last inch of the barrel bored out and turned into a muzzle brake.
Without that brake the gun was so violent I damaged my wrist and had to stop shooting entirely for several months. The brake made it controllable.
I could sit down and run my 15" 308 barrel and send 50 or more 168 Match Kings down range at 2500 fps without any problems but that wasn't going to happen with the 460.

When firing 45 Colt in the 460 barrel the rounds would hit about 8" high at 25 yards. The 454 Casull loads would land about half that height.


I had 250 gr SSTs running 2200 fps, 300 gr XTPs running 2050 fps, 230 FMJ running everywhere between 1950 and 2500 fps, and all kinds of other stuff.
I kept finding myself trying to slow the gun down to a manageable level. Trail Boss loads slowed 265 RFN down to 1300 fps but that seemed a bit silly to do with an expensive powder to fill such a large case.
In the end, I sold the barrel.

I now have a 13" 45 Colt Contender that will run the velocities I want using less powder and less violence.

The X frames are much easier to control but you're still limited to the number of rounds you can run in a single range session and it had best be the last gun you shoot. It has a way of killing your ability to hold a gun steady. That's due partly to the recoil but mostly from muscle fatigue from holding that 12 pound pistol out in front of you.

 

[dickydalton]

My XVR kicks less than my 44 Mountain Gun. I'm usually shooting from a rest so it isn't heavy. It also is very accurate with 45 Colt loads. I have a 2-6X scope on it and one thing I do is wear double ear protection.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I think the recoil aspect from the .460 is overblown by people who imagine it has to be bad simply because of the size of the round - it's not.

Also, the idea that you have to adjust the sights to compensate for different loads is not true if you practice with the gun. You learn how to shoot with different loads and simply holdover a certain amount for the .45 Colt loads - hardly a hill for a climber.

This is correct.

I thought this was all part of its "versatility"???

It is part of the versatility.

....if you don't reload and want a gun to shoot .45 caliber projectiles at .45 Colt velocities, you're wasting your monies on a X-Frame.

This is also correct. If you don't really care to shoot the 460 cartridge, you can get a smaller, lighter package, for less money that will lob .45 cal bullets. If you do want to shoot some very powerful and fast loads also, then the 460 is the ticket.