Anyone shoot the Encore 460 S&W 20" rifle or 450 Bushmaster?
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horsemen61
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Ttrl
Dr T
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I have the short barrel 460 S&W for my Encore.
1. It is reasonably accurate (2" at 100 yds with the standard aperature sight--before I got my eyes fixed).
2. This is one of the easiest cartridges to reload I have come across. I am using handloads with the Hornady bullets designed for the 460 over H110. Per the Lyman manual, this powder/bullet combination has very flat pressure and velocity curves, so I have used the Lee Dipper to charge the cases and a Lee hand press to seat the bullets in new, un-fired cases.
3. With the aperture sight, it is a very light rifle. Given the velocities I am getting, it KICKS LIKE AN ANGRY MULE. This is the hardest recoiling rifle I own. True Story: I first got a factory synthetic forearm for the barrel. At one of the few sessions on I spent on the bench with the rifle, the front sling swivel stud was resting against a metal part of the rest I was using that day. The recoil broke the fore end at the swivel stud. I now have a walnut fore end and I am very careful. I prefer taking my 375 H&H to the bench--it kicks less.
4. In the field, its short length and light weight make it a joy to carry. Shot offhand, you can roll with the recoil so it is sort of like shooting a light 12 ga. shotgun with hot slugs (only with more recoil and punch rather than a shove).
5. I have not fired it with the 45 Colt or 454 Casull. I see no point in it from an economic standpoint given the prices of the 45 and 454 brass and factory loads. Also, I am afraid that they will just crud up the chamber (sort of like a 22 Short does in a 22 Long Rifle chamber). Using the 45 and 454 is always an option, but I have a 44 Magnum Marlin 94 that is a lot cheaper to feed for comparable ballistics.
1. It is reasonably accurate (2" at 100 yds with the standard aperature sight--before I got my eyes fixed).
2. This is one of the easiest cartridges to reload I have come across. I am using handloads with the Hornady bullets designed for the 460 over H110. Per the Lyman manual, this powder/bullet combination has very flat pressure and velocity curves, so I have used the Lee Dipper to charge the cases and a Lee hand press to seat the bullets in new, un-fired cases.
3. With the aperture sight, it is a very light rifle. Given the velocities I am getting, it KICKS LIKE AN ANGRY MULE. This is the hardest recoiling rifle I own. True Story: I first got a factory synthetic forearm for the barrel. At one of the few sessions on I spent on the bench with the rifle, the front sling swivel stud was resting against a metal part of the rest I was using that day. The recoil broke the fore end at the swivel stud. I now have a walnut fore end and I am very careful. I prefer taking my 375 H&H to the bench--it kicks less.
4. In the field, its short length and light weight make it a joy to carry. Shot offhand, you can roll with the recoil so it is sort of like shooting a light 12 ga. shotgun with hot slugs (only with more recoil and punch rather than a shove).
5. I have not fired it with the 45 Colt or 454 Casull. I see no point in it from an economic standpoint given the prices of the 45 and 454 brass and factory loads. Also, I am afraid that they will just crud up the chamber (sort of like a 22 Short does in a 22 Long Rifle chamber). Using the 45 and 454 is always an option, but I have a 44 Magnum Marlin 94 that is a lot cheaper to feed for comparable ballistics.
Last edited:
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
I know your asking about a Encore rifle in 460 but i have a 454 Encore pistol
that will touch holes at 100 yards with my hand loads I think the 460 would be awesome
in a rifle
that will touch holes at 100 yards with my hand loads I think the 460 would be awesome
in a rifle
R.W.Dale
Member
I could not find a scope combination that would keep the scope out of my face with my 20" 460 encore. Violent doesn't even begin to describe the recoil. So much so it destroyed two scopes and rings before I decide it just wasn't any fun
Dr T
Member
I did not seriously consider a scope for mine. The standard aperture sight works fine. BTW, I suspect that my handloads--while a bit warm, but loaded below the maximum because I am using the dippers rather than weighing the charges or using a "serious" powder measure--are considerably cooler than the factory fodder. Even so, it does kick a mite. I can easily believe that it will destroy scopes and rings after what it did to the synthetic fore end. I really don't need that nice crescent shaped scar over my right eye.
For me, it is quite simply a carry gun to take into the bushes.
BTW, since I have the 460, I feel that I have no need for a 45-70, 450 Marlin, 458 Winchester Mag,.... For those unfamiliar with the round, imagine a straight-walled case the diameter of a 45 Colt but almost as long as a 308 case that is built for high pressure loads. After researching the round (before purchase), I decided that it was much better suited as a carbine, rather than a handgun, round. I understand that in the longer S&W handgun barrels, the rifling starts slow and gets progressively faster as you get close to the muzzle. And, I am not really interested in ever firing a handgun in 460 S&W (I hope I am getting wiser as I get older).
For me, it is quite simply a carry gun to take into the bushes.
BTW, since I have the 460, I feel that I have no need for a 45-70, 450 Marlin, 458 Winchester Mag,.... For those unfamiliar with the round, imagine a straight-walled case the diameter of a 45 Colt but almost as long as a 308 case that is built for high pressure loads. After researching the round (before purchase), I decided that it was much better suited as a carbine, rather than a handgun, round. I understand that in the longer S&W handgun barrels, the rifling starts slow and gets progressively faster as you get close to the muzzle. And, I am not really interested in ever firing a handgun in 460 S&W (I hope I am getting wiser as I get older).
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crazysccrmd
Member
I have an AR15 that shoots a rimless 460 S&W. It's a fun rifle, semi-auto action eases the recoil a bit. I have an Aimpoint PRO on it and haven't shot it for small groups yet, still playing with various loads velocities and pressures.
Dr T
Member
It is fine in the field, but a terror on the bench...
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