Difference between the Jacketed bullet and lead bullet suppressor that come with the S & W XVR.

[Pivot Dr]

Curious what real difference there is in shooting lead bullets through the jacketed bullet suppressor and vice-versa? Do lead bullets shave off or keyhole through the jacketed suppressor? What happens when you shoot jacketed bullets through the lead bullet suppressor, accuracy goes to pot? Must be some reason why S & W sends them both? They are pretty tight lipped as to what the reason is for one instead of the other. Haven’t changed mine from jacketed to lead yet but 255 gr Keith SWC at hot 45 Colt loads stand up proud, full profile or egg shaped holes at 25 yards. They were loaded in 45 Colt Cases.
Thanks!

 

[mcb]

I do not own one so this might not be 100% correct but the comp for the jacketed bullet is slightly shorter (flush with the end of the barrel/lug but has ports that line up with port in the barrel point up on either side of the front sight. This will give you better muzzle climb control. The problem is that if you shoot alot of lead through this break it will badly foul the joint between the break and barrel when lead laden gases pass through the ports in the break that also go through the top of the barrel making is very hard to remove. To keep this from happening the break for lead bullets blocks these two upward pointing port holes and is made longer with an extra port beyond the muzzle. This helps keeps the lead residue from getting between the break and barrl sticking the break into the gun with fouling.

ETA found a good picture:

Jacket brake on the left notice the round holes on the left side of the break. These line up with the ports in the barrel that you can see evidence of as carbon on the side of the front sight base. Lead bullet brake on the right, notice NO round holes to aligh with the ports but it is longer with four round holed in the extension. Probably for both additiona brake effectiveness and to give you something to stick a rod through to help torque a fouled break off the gun if needed.

 

[__steve__]

I’m not an expert on this but I would guess S&W made the decision to provide both options in the marketing meeting, not the lab. I’m sure someone has experimented with this. I have read that as the muzzle force increases, the provided brakes become less significant, especially with barrels less than 10”.
As for the difference between the cast and jacketed brakes, I would be interested myself

 

[fxvr5]

Clarification. They are not suppressors. A suppressor reduces sound. Think 'silencer'.

What comes with the S&Ws are compensators/muzzle brakes. They reduce recoil/muzzle rise.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-460xvr

 

[fxvr5]

A quick Google search produced this information:


https://www.ammoland.com/2014/05/smith-wesson-460xvr-revolver/#axzz6faCHAyxn

To help combat the recoil Smith & Wesson manufactured a very effective compensator into the 8.38” barrel with six ports placed at the muzzle beneath the fiber optic sight. Along with these two removable compensators that work in conjunction with these ports, recoil now generates a firm push instead of intense barrel rise like most revolvers. The first removable compensator consists of 12 slots that works in conjunction with the six existing ports on the barrel and is for use with jacketed bullet.

The second removable compensator extends from the barrel a ¼ inch and has nine holes but does not use the six smaller ports on the barrel. The second compensator is mainly designed for use with lead bullet ammunition. Why two separate compensators? Lead bullets generate more debris and the larger openings in the compensator allow lead particles to escape without clogging the compensator. Softer lead bullets driven at higher velocities can lead the inside of the barrel and particles may break loose. Bullet manufactures fix this problem by using lead bullets that have a higher content of tin and antimony making them harder (known as solids or Hard Cast) and will help with this problem. These bullets can be driven harder (fired at a higher velocity) than softer lead bullets without leading becoming an issue. Some lead bullets employ a gas check (a copper cup on the base of the bullet) to aid in reducing leading of the bore and can be driven faster than they normally would

 

[Riomouse911]

Clarification. They are not suppressors. A suppressor reduces sound. Think 'silencer'.

What comes with the S&Ws are compensators/muzzle brakes. They reduce recoil/muzzle rise.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-460xvr

In fact, I would seriously call these items “sound enhancers”... as they’re known to make gun shots even louder for the shooter and others nearby .

Stay safe.

 

[Pivot Dr]

Clarification. They are not suppressors. A suppressor reduces sound. Think 'silencer'.

What comes with the S&Ws are compensators/muzzle brakes. They reduce recoil/muzzle rise.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/model-460xvr

I know, I was suffering keyboard amnesia at the time I wrote the post. That happens more frequently with every birthday. Didn’t want to dig out the manual to see what S & W actually call them, so suppressor it was.

 

[Pivot Dr]

A quick Google search produced this information:


https://www.ammoland.com/2014/05/smith-wesson-460xvr-revolver/#axzz6faCHAyxn

To help combat the recoil Smith & Wesson manufactured a very effective compensator into the 8.38” barrel with six ports placed at the muzzle beneath the fiber optic sight. Along with these two removable compensators that work in conjunction with these ports, recoil now generates a firm push instead of intense barrel rise like most revolvers. The first removable compensator consists of 12 slots that works in conjunction with the six existing ports on the barrel and is for use with jacketed bullet.

The second removable compensator extends from the barrel a ¼ inch and has nine holes but does not use the six smaller ports on the barrel. The second compensator is mainly designed for use with lead bullet ammunition. Why two separate compensators? Lead bullets generate more debris and the larger openings in the compensator allow lead particles to escape without clogging the compensator. Softer lead bullets driven at higher velocities can lead the inside of the barrel and particles may break loose. Bullet manufactures fix this problem by using lead bullets that have a higher content of tin and antimony making them harder (known as solids or Hard Cast) and will help with this problem. These bullets can be driven harder (fired at a higher velocity) than softer lead bullets without leading becoming an issue. Some lead bullets employ a gas check (a copper cup on the base of the bullet) to aid in reducing leading of the bore and can be driven faster than they normally would

Thanks! Was a good read!

 

[sparkyv]

Like mcb and fxvr5 indicated, the longer compensator doesn't have holes pointing directly upwards. It keeps the comp and front sight from getting fouled/leaded up. I shot both lead and jacketed through it without issues. While it does mitigate recoil somewhat, the report is extremely loud. I did away with mine completely with no regerts.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a low power load (240 SWC at about 1100 fps with Unique in 460 Mag cases) load that I shoot alot in my 460 XVR so I have the cast bullet compensator installed. It works reasonably well with full power jacketed bullets loads.

I might be interested in trying the insert sparkyv has without any ports in it to see how it does with full powder loads..

 

[Typetwelve]

I have a low power load (240 SWC at about 1100 fps with Unique in 460 Mag cases) load that I shoot alot in my 460 XVR so I have the cast bullet compensator installed. It works reasonably well with full power jacketed bullets loads.

I might be interested in trying the insert sparkyv has without any ports in it to see how it does with full powder loads..

I know S&W doesn't offer the non ported insert anymore, I wish they sill did.

Either way, with my hot'er 460 loads (2000 fps 240g, 1700 fps 300g), I note a bit of a difference between the compensators. They're both still loud as all get out, but there's a bit more muzzle rise in the one for lead loads. I'll actually ride the rise out more with that one.