SW 460 confused...

[click-bang]

I'm going to purchase a pistol to go Hog hunting...I like the features on the Smith and Wesson 460, I like the 460 V, for ease of carrying, but I'm not sure if the barrel will be long enough (5") or if I should go with the 460XVR ( 8-3/8)
most of my shots will be inside 50 yards...any advice from experiance would be apreciated.

 

[Janitor]

Greetings click-bang. Welcome to THR.

Sorry that I can't speak from experience, but I'm sorta interested in the actual answer myself. I would far prefer it in the shorter barrel.

Would you be using a scope? If so, then the shorter sight radius is a non issue. What you're left with is how many fps/inch you're going to give up with that barrel. My guess is that it'd have to be a mighty large hog to stand up to the difference in energy dumped into his vitals.

Just guessin though.

 

[xring44]

Either will do fine on Hogs, my 629 PC .44 magnum with 7 1/2" barrel absolutely slams them

 

[click-bang]

thanks for your reply Janitor/Xring44, yes I'll be using a scope...and i like the shorter barrel, both in looks and ease of un-holstering.if thats a word.
I'm looking forward to some real world experince veiws.

 

[Redhawk1]

Both the 5 inch and 8 3/8 inch barreled 460 Mag will work great. In side of 50 yards even the shorter version of the 460 would work. I have two of the 7 1/2 inch 460 Mags and they are great. I am hitting clay targets out to 150 yards consistently. The 460 Mag is an awesome round.

 

[Redhawk1]

click-bang, I have a Ultra-dot on one of my 460 Mags and a scope on the other one. I like the red-dot for quick target acquisition and shorter range shooting. If I plan on long range shooting I take my 460 Mag with the scope. I got the Match-dot from ultra-dot because it has a 2,4,6 and 8 moa dot. I like the 2 moa dot for hunting. But if I am spot and stock hunting I can turn up the dot size for quick sight acquisition.

 

[click-bang]

Thanks Redhawk1, I'm going to put a scope on this one, I have a Aimpoint red dot on one of my AR-15, and an Eotech on my carbon AR,I love them both, I may end up with a red dot on this after awahile...I'm ordering the 5". thanks for your input.Can't wait to get the gun. and go after "Hogzilla" we're hunting at the same place they shot him...too bad it wasnt really as big as they said, O-well I'm sure it will be a riot.

 

[Redhawk1]

click-bang, I want one of the 5 inch 460 myself. Let us know what scope or red-dot you put on your 5 inch when you get it.

 

[ARTiger]

I just bought the 5" .460. Shot about 150 rounds through it last weekend. Haven't scoped mine yet and looking into various options there. The thing I like about the 5" is it carries well in a belt holster (without a scope that is). Still on the fence about whether to scope or not and if so, looking for something that'll come off easily.

Even with iron sights the thing is VERY accurate - to the limits of my middle aged eyes that is. Also, the .460 recoil was a lot less of a beast than I thought it would be. With .45 LC it's a tack driver at 25 yards and not much worse at 50. I was able to hit basketball to person sized targets (more than not) at 100 - 150 yards using .460 ammo. Chewed up an old deer decoy well at what I'd guess at about 175 yards as well.

The .454's gave the worst accuracy, but that may have just been the load. I only have used one type in each caliber and haven't yet been able to "tune" loads to the gun. But, nonetheless I am very impressed with the accuracy of this piece. It's on par with my 629 6" .44 mag which I have extensively experimented with ammo types on and also had ported and the trigger worked.

Here's what I've tried in it so far:

Buffalo Bore .45 LC; 300 gr. JFN - 1325fps
Speer Gold Dot Hunting .454 Cas.; 300 Gr. GDHP - 1625 fps
Hornady Custom .460 S&W; 200 gr. SST - 2200FPS

All would make bacon out of most hogs.

 

[tc300mag1]

If ya haven't bought one yet go with the 5" i did just like the way it handles I'm not much for wheelies over 6.5 inches