Two reasons I can think of:
1) You can reach out and touch something farther than you can with "lesser" calibers (if that is what you are into).
2) Loaded properly, the .460 knocks the snot out of deer.
Revolver Hunting: 460, 44, or 357?
- Thread starter Huntolive
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Two reasons I can think of:
1) You can reach out and touch something farther than you can with "lesser" calibers (if that is what you are into).
2) Loaded properly, the .460 knocks the snot out of deer.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
So does a .338WinMag. Sure, you can do it but what would be the point?
Range is the only tangible advantage but most people are not sniping at deer at 200yds with a revolver.
Range is the only tangible advantage but most people are not sniping at deer at 200yds with a revolver.
Yeah, but it's not a .338, it's a revolver round. As I stated - "if that is what you are into." I like up close and personal, but even at 100 yards, that .460 strikes a lot harder than most revolver rounds. The most tangible advantage is clearly the terminal goodness (this is technical term) the higher velocity provides with the right bullets. Can't ignore that little fact. Since when is putting something down quickly a bad thing?
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Putting something down quickly is one thing. Using way more gun than necessary because we can't be bothered with a 50yd tracking job is something else entirely. I guess some folks need a crew-served weapon for deer. Ya know, like this guy said?
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/best-shooting-big-bore-revolver.795517/#post-10135015
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/best-shooting-big-bore-revolver.795517/#post-10135015
I've never been a fan of the X-frame and still remain that way, however, I am a fan of the cartridge. I also said (in this thread) that they are good from a stand and that the OP should consider a different platform when spotting and stalking. But let's not talk about that. Way more gun than necessary? Are there degrees of dead I am not aware of?
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The BFR is just as big and heavy as an X-frame. It is no less "crew served".
So you think a 5lb .460 is necessary to kill 150lb deer?
Since there are no degrees of dead, should we all use .50BMG's to hunt deer with because it "knocks the snot out of them"?
So you think a 5lb .460 is necessary to kill 150lb deer?
Since there are no degrees of dead, should we all use .50BMG's to hunt deer with because it "knocks the snot out of them"?
I can shoot the BFR with 7 1/2-inch barrel well offhand - but we were talking about the X-frame weren't we? Didn't have much success with the XVR doing the same drills. This is a personal limitation of mine, not a generalization. Equating a .460 Smith & Wesson to a .50 BMG is a slight exaggeration and frankly silly. Do I think it's necessary? No, but I have actually used a large number of different calibers on deer and the .460 is a standout. Tell me what you've killed with a .460 to determine that it is too much gun for 150-lb deer? I get that you don't like the .460 as you've expressed in the past, but now you're just being argumentative.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
That was kinda my point, that it was more than necessary. I'm glad we agree. So we really have no quarrel. Why are you being argumentative?
To be fair, I queried and quoted the OP, not you. I hunt every year with guns that are more than necessary. If asked why, I have an easy answer, because I want to. I simply asked the OP (and no one else) the same question.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
deleted....
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WisBorn
Contributing Member
Thanks for the information. Part of the appeal of the 460 is being able to shoot 45 Colt. Is there any problems shooting 45's out of the 454?
It's personal preference as I stated above. I can shoot the 7 1/2-incher offhand as for me the balance is good. I cannot with the XVR's 8 3/8-inch barrel as it is too nose heavy. I don't know what you are implying, but I have taken both to the field and killed animals, so I trust my opinion of these two platforms more than that of the guy who is arguing for argument's sake. MY PREFERENCE. Get it?
Oh, and on the .44 Special. I've used light .44 Mag loads (ON GAME) that were hotter than any commercial .44 Special loading and they were unimpressive. It's easy to deduce what happens if you lighten the loads even more.
So, let's go back to the OP and see what he asked about. .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .460 S&W. I offered my opinion based on my experience.
No as the jump isn't nearly as extreme.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I asked the OP directly, not you. In fact, I have no desire to engage you at all, so who is being argumentative? I have to question the "experience" of anyone who thinks the .44Mag is "unimpressive" on deer sized game. There seems to be several decades of personal and collective experience that would disagree. That said, if you want your handgun to perform like a rifle and knock deer over at the shot, then you want rifle-like cartridges like the .460S&W. If you understand that handguns do not kill like rifles and that one can do the same thing with much less, even if it means tracking deer 10-50yds, then you can take to the field with something more practical. Everyone makes their choices for different reasons, obviously but some cannot see beyond their own proclivities. Personally, I don't see the point in using the .460 for hunting deer when more practical solutions exist. I'm pretty sure that is just as valid as choosing one to shorten your blood trails.
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WisBorn
Contributing Member
I thought the 5" would balance better in the x frame than the 8 3/8". Maybe the 454 may be a better choice for me.
Big Bore TX
Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2019
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I love my 460 which is the Smith 8.4" version, for any animal big or small. The velocities I get out of it with jacketed bullets ensure I get good expansion at distances beyond 50 yards, if the opportunity presents itself. My favorite bullet is the Barnes XPB, and those bullets love speed. Also, 90% of my shooting is off a rest, so I don't have the experience shooting offhand to compare vs. the BFR's balance.
I asked the OP directly, not you. In fact, I have no desire to engage you at all, so who is being argumentative? I have to question the "experience" of anyone who thinks the .44Mag is "unimpressive" on deer sized game. There seems to be several decades of personal and collective experience that would disagree. That said, if you want your handgun to perform like a rifle and knock deer over at the shot, then you want rifle-like cartridges like the .460S&W. If you understand that handguns do not kill like rifles and that one can do the same thing with much less, even if it means tracking deer 10-50yds, then you can take to the field with something more practical. Everyone makes their choices for different reasons, obviously but some cannot see beyond their own proclivities. Personally, I don't see the point in using the .460 for hunting deer when more practical solutions exist. I'm pretty sure that is just as valid as choosing one to shorten your blood trails.
Yet you keep engaging me....
They sure as hell kill like rifles if you load them right and know how to place your shots. Maybe this is reflection on you...
I’m done here.
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460xvr it's a great shooting piece of engineering that for me made a lot of sense as I already own 454 Casull and thus 45 Colt.
Speed accuracy and limited felt recoil and massive speed and power.
Plus I ran 460 Ic always put 454 or 45 in it, and yes I am aware of the bullet jump factor and I do not like generally shooting different length cartridges and the same cylinder but I do like the flexibility that it gives me.
I'm sure I will continue to hunt with 44 magnum occasionally and I have a couple 357 and 454 model 83 that I can never bear to abandon including a 357 Smith & Wesson scandium hunting revolver with 6-inch barrel where is practically nothing and actually I'll end up as my most accurate shooting 357 so I guess I will hunting with more than 460 but no great reason to.
If I were forced to keep to keep just one of the revolvers that actually hunt with it would likely be the 460.
And I love 357 and 44 magnum and the beauty of some of those Dan Wesson's Smith & Wesson's etc.
Speed accuracy and limited felt recoil and massive speed and power.
Plus I ran 460 Ic always put 454 or 45 in it, and yes I am aware of the bullet jump factor and I do not like generally shooting different length cartridges and the same cylinder but I do like the flexibility that it gives me.
I'm sure I will continue to hunt with 44 magnum occasionally and I have a couple 357 and 454 model 83 that I can never bear to abandon including a 357 Smith & Wesson scandium hunting revolver with 6-inch barrel where is practically nothing and actually I'll end up as my most accurate shooting 357 so I guess I will hunting with more than 460 but no great reason to.
If I were forced to keep to keep just one of the revolvers that actually hunt with it would likely be the 460.
And I love 357 and 44 magnum and the beauty of some of those Dan Wesson's Smith & Wesson's etc.
silvermane_1
Member
Well there is a .50 BMG single shot pistol there CraigC:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Action_Thunder
I think we all should really just admit that most of the guns we have are just for fantasy adventure, fun, addiction, or investment and move on with life
I’ve been on a number of fantasy adventures involving big revolvers and intend to participate in more in the future!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It's fine, when we can admit that. What strikes a nerve with me is the idea that one 'needs' the .460's mass and velocity to kill deer. Or anything else for that matter. Or that anything less is "unimpressive". But as I said, some folks just can't see beyond their own limited proclivities. There's no real need to run balls to the wall, all the time but apparently it's what some people 'need', for whatever reason.I think we all should really just admit that most of the guns we have are just for fantasy adventure, fun, addiction, or investment and move on with life
The 44 magnum works very well on deer, as well as javelina and other game. You just need to put the right bullet in the right spot, and you've got meat in the freezer!
Single action or double action, I have invited my gunsmith and his his wife out to my ranch, and have watched both of them shoot game out to 200 yards with their 44 magnums, and kill both deer and hogs grave yard dead! After learning how to "dial our scopes in" and make drop tables for each gun and load, we have all killed coyotes out well past 200 yards with a well placed shot, and custom 44 magnums like these make long shooting sessions a whole lot of fun because of the reduced recoil with full power loads, and a perfectly light trigger pull.
Yeah, a bigger caliber may extend your shooting range, but the extra recoil and muzzle blast take all the fun out of it. With our 44 magnums, even my little wife at just 5 feet tall and 115 pounds soaking wet, can go through 100 rounds in an afternoon of shooting, load them back up that night, and go shoot again the next day without any issues at all.
Single action or double action, I have invited my gunsmith and his his wife out to my ranch, and have watched both of them shoot game out to 200 yards with their 44 magnums, and kill both deer and hogs grave yard dead! After learning how to "dial our scopes in" and make drop tables for each gun and load, we have all killed coyotes out well past 200 yards with a well placed shot, and custom 44 magnums like these make long shooting sessions a whole lot of fun because of the reduced recoil with full power loads, and a perfectly light trigger pull.
Yeah, a bigger caliber may extend your shooting range, but the extra recoil and muzzle blast take all the fun out of it. With our 44 magnums, even my little wife at just 5 feet tall and 115 pounds soaking wet, can go through 100 rounds in an afternoon of shooting, load them back up that night, and go shoot again the next day without any issues at all.
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