What is the performance difference between having a 7mm-08 pistol vs 460 S&W assuming 15" barrel length? Are they close in killing power, recoil, etc. I haven't shot any rifle cartridge in a pistol bigger than 222 and I am hoping to hear from those who have experience with both in pistol form. I ordered a 7mm-08 15" barrel for my encore and it should arrive soon. I am fortunate enough to get to live in a state where the only requirement when hunting deer is that the gun be a centerfire.
handgun vs rifle cartridge in pistol
- Thread starter Vurtle
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The recoil will be brisk in both of them, the 7MM-08 will shoot flatter and better at long range and the 460 will do better at shorter ranges... good luck...good shooting.. I have 3 hunting pistols, 375JDJ, 308, and 44 mag..
You also will not lose as much velocity in the 7MM-08 as you think you would...150-200 fps is all....
hardluk1
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The 7-08 will just have way better down range flight than a 460 do to better SD even from a 12" barrel. I hunted with a 308 lone eagle many, many years ago and had a great time with it. Deer dropped at 200 yard looked as if a rifle shot it . No bullet recovered . Barne's x used. 7-08 or 260 should make a fine pistol round at longer distance. To me the 460 would be like useing a 45-70 . If bear hunting or bison Yes but thin skin . No
MachIVshooter
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I haven't seen any ballistics for the .460 from a 15" barrel with incorporated chamber, but given it's performance from an 8" revolver, I'd bet it outclasses the 7mm-08 out to at least 150 yards.
That said, either one is plent suitable for deer hunting.
That said, either one is plent suitable for deer hunting.
BCRider
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I've got a rifle Encore in 7mm-08. I've also got the same gun with a rifle stock but the short "handgun" barrel in .500S&W. So the .500 would be roughly comparable to the .460 for recoil. The 7mm is a pussycat to shoot compared to the hellish recoil of the full H110 loads I put through the .500 for grins and giggles. So if you're used to the .460 full bore rounds already you're going to find it a little easier to hold the 7mm in comparison.
I'm also using IMR4160 in my 7mm-08 loads. It's a slightly slower powder than some so that may be contributing to the slightly easier recoil.
As noted already the 7mm is more of a distance ammo with a lighter bullet that really moves out. Yet using it in a handgun implies that you're going more for shorter to medium range shots. So other than the 7mm trajectory being so flat over the short to medium ranges I don't see much of an advantage one way or the other for your situation. The only real advantage compared to the .460 is you would not need to tweak the scope for elevation differences over the range of typical hand gun distances.
I won't comment on any of the other aspects as I'm not a hunter. You'll want to figure out what is better for you in terms of the terminal ballistics of a heavy slow bullet vs a lighter but much faster bullet.
I'm also using IMR4160 in my 7mm-08 loads. It's a slightly slower powder than some so that may be contributing to the slightly easier recoil.
As noted already the 7mm is more of a distance ammo with a lighter bullet that really moves out. Yet using it in a handgun implies that you're going more for shorter to medium range shots. So other than the 7mm trajectory being so flat over the short to medium ranges I don't see much of an advantage one way or the other for your situation. The only real advantage compared to the .460 is you would not need to tweak the scope for elevation differences over the range of typical hand gun distances.
I won't comment on any of the other aspects as I'm not a hunter. You'll want to figure out what is better for you in terms of the terminal ballistics of a heavy slow bullet vs a lighter but much faster bullet.
I got to shoot the barrel Tuesday and it definitely has less recoil than my 454 casull had. I bought some factory winchester ammo and the bullets looked like turds and the brassed was discolored in several small spots all over the brass. Not happy about that! $30 for 20 rounds when I should have just loaded some for $10. Eager got the better of me. I loaded some reduced imr4350 loads yesterday and I will give them a try tomorrow. 39.9 grains and 140 gr sierra prohunter. Should be around 2200-2400 ft/s. And I definitely like this setup.
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