Question: .460 Mag; Velocity vs. Barrel Length

[cstarr3]

Hi All;

Currently I am experimenting with H110 behind a 240 grain Hornady XTP Mag bullet. Most of the official data uses longer barrels than my little 5", so comparing my velocities to printed velocities is an apples/oranges situation.

I was going to compare to factory ammo, but the only commercial loader that I know of to use the 240 gr. XTP Mag is Underwood, and they are notorious for hot loads. So even if I got a hold of some, it would probably be significantly faster than my loads, anyway.

So, I was wondering if anybody has chronographed the same .460 S&W Magnum loads out of both the 5" barrel and some longer barrel for velocity comparisons. If you have, what were your findings?

If not, what do you load in .460 Mag, and what are the velocities for your loads, and what barrel length do you use?

Thanks all for your responses!



Just for information's sake, here is the load data I have access to, as well as my own experimental loads (all using H110 and a Hornady XTP Mag loaded to a COAL of 2.160"):

Lyman: 10" barrel
43.5 gr. - 2246 fps
48.0 gr. - 2331 fps

Hornady: 8.375" barrel
41.0 gr. - 1600 fps
49.5 gr. - 1900 fps

Hodgdon: 10.743" barrel
45.0 gr. - 2084 fps
48.5 gr. - 2254 fps

My Data: 5" barrel
45.0 gr. - 1681 fps
48.5 gr. - 1755 fps

 

[buck460XVR]

I have a P.C. 10.5 X-Frame that I use to hunt deer with. I generally load 300 grainers over IMR4227 as this gives me my most accurate load. Altho I own a chrono, I have not used it on any hunting loads as velocity to me is moot compared to accuracy, and any accurate .460 load within book specs is more than enough to kill a deer. Years ago when I first started to load for my .460, I started with the 240s because of cost. I still have quite a few and generally use them for softer shooting range fodder for folks that have never shot a .460. Because my X-frame has tight throats, I could never get more than 45 gr of H110 under a 240 grainer without sticky extraction, but iffin I remember correctly, velocities were right around 2000 fps with a 45 gr charge and Magnum primers.