Which Smith X-Frame?

[JohnM]

It's just an option you got. I doubt anyone would buy a 460 with the plan of just shooting 45 Colts or Shofields in it, you could probably shoot the old 45 auto rim in in too if you wanted.

 

[CraigC]

From the OP hisself.

Right now I'm leaning toward the 460 because of its ability to shoot the venerable .45 LC.

No, you can't shoot .45AutoRim in a sixgun chambered for any other rimmed cartridge.

 

[Hammerdown77]

OOoo, Oooo, you could have the cylinder cut for moonclips, then you could shoot 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim BOTH.

So that's what, SIX cartridges out of the same gun! (45 Colt, 454, 460, 45 ACP, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Schofield).

 

[JohnM]

Somebody has to ask S&W if they'll include moon clips for the 45ACP in the box.

 

[CraigC]

Can you get giant sized five-shot .45ACP moonclips???

No, you can't shoot .45AutoRim in a sixgun chambered for any other rimmed cartridge.

I can't be any plainer than that. Cutting it for moonclips doesn't magically allow you to shoot AR in it.

 

[JohnM]

Your advice is duly noted.

 

[Hammerdown77]

I can't be any plainer than that. Cutting it for moonclips doesn't magically allow you to shoot AR in it.

You're absolutely right. I typed "Auto Rim" when really I was thinking about the 45 Cowboy Special cases.

45 Auto Rim case head rim is too thick for a cylinder designed first for a rimmed cartridge

 

[CraigC]

I should probably bite my tongue as one of my favorite new sixguns is a 3rd Model Dragoon with a Kirst gated .45Colt conversion. Weighing a whopping 66oz.

 

[GJgo]

I've had both. I would take the 500 any day if I had it to do over. The 460 was prettier (pic), but the 500 hit MUCH harder.

 

[codefour]

I love the .460 S&W Mag. It is more handgun than I will ever need. Yet on the other hand, a lot of posts have stated "I had a 460 which was great but I found the 500 better".

Maybe it is time to buy a 6.5 inch X-frame in 500 S&W and see if I like it. You can never have enough firepower I guess.

Will it be worth it to invest in another handcannon platform? Not counting the actual gun cost, you have to consider the cost of new dies, shell plate, brass and bullets etc..

I live in the most gun hating state (California). Maybe I should get one before they ban all .500 caliber guns.? I can't wait till I'm retired, my kids are old enough, and I can leave the state of cummunist California.

 

[lobo9er]

Since the 44 mag will drop any animal that walks in N. America I am pretty sure the 500 is enough gun and so is the 460. If it were me I'd go 460 route.

 

[22-rimfire]

Seems rather odd to me to buy a 4.5-5lb revolver capable of over 2000fps and then proceed to shoot standard pressure 900fps .45Colt loads in it. That to me screams impractical far more than versatile.

Same here. IF I owned a 460, I would shoot 460s' out of it. If I want powder puff loads, I will shoot a different gun that doesn't weigh so much.

I also have Max Prasac's book. He posts over at one of the big bore forums. PM me if you want to know where.

 

[lobo9er]

Same here. IF I owned a 460, I would shoot 460s' out of it.

I would too but why not take advantage of the 45 lc for practice or when you don't need over 2000fps. When loaded up hot theres not much a 45 LC isn't going to do either at reasonable range. It would be no different from 357/38 or 44mag/special. If needs be you could load up some 45 lc for home/camp defense. Theres lots of versatility you could utilize. But if thats your take on it then I would go 500 route.

 

[JohnM]

We need to try and hide the fact that a 357 shoots a 38spl real nice and a 44 mag shoots 44 spl.
Before you know it people might be buying those fire breathing 357s and using them to shoot 38s; I mean what kind of madness is that!

 

[JohnM]

Anyone know if all the X frames come out of the Performance Shop at S&W?

 

[CraigC]

Yes but a .38 is not half the size of a .357. Oftentimes, they are identically sized, even built on the same frame or at least comparable.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would too but why not take advantage of the 45 lc for practice or when you don't need over 2000fps.

My only thought is... what kind of practice is that? You buy a 460 S&W for a reason and it is not to shoot powder puff loads. Just posing the question....

 

[JohnM]

All this worrying about using an X frame to shoot sub full bore magnums is verging on the ridiculous.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yeah, it is a little ridiculous. I really don't care. Just enjoy yourself.

 

[JohnM]

This could be an interesting and helpful thread for those thinking about getting their feet wet in the world of big bore handguns, but all this wandering around off the main topic is going to cause some moderator heartburn and it'll get a padlock slammed on it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Seems rather odd to me to buy a 4.5-5lb revolver capable of over 2000fps and then proceed to shoot standard pressure 900fps .45Colt loads in it. That to me screams impractical far more than versatile. Practicing with .44Spl's in a .44Mag is one thing but shooting a cartridge designed for a 36oz Colt SAA in a 5lb X-frame seems more than a little strange. A point it seems designed strictly to justify the purchase of something that offers way too much of everything.

The following comment is meant to address remarks like the following that always show up on X-Frame threads "I don't know why you would want to shoot 45 LC ouf of a 5 lb. gun when you could just get a .45 LC that is lighter, and smaller, and cheaper.

I see that these comments are a stated as a matter of opinion, so by way of that, I can't tell any of you that you're wrong. But I don't see how having the ability to practice with 45 LC or .454 in a 460 is any different than practicing with 32 H&R mag out of a 327 fed mag, or 38 specials out of a .357, or 44 spc out of a 44 mag, or 500 spc out of a 500 mag.

I think what a lot of people are missing here is that they are looking at this in the opposite way they that X-frame owners are. It's not that you have the option to shoot 45 LC and 454 out of the 460, it's that you want a 45 cal revolver, and if you get the 460, you have the option to shoot really powerful cartridges. When you view it that way, and look at it as "Some people want to have the option to shoot a flat shooting, longer range, really powerful 45 caliber cartridge, and are willing and able to handle a large, heavy gun and are willing to sacrifice one shot to do so." It makes more sense. If you have no interest in shooting the 460 cartridge, and just want a 454 or a 45 lc, then buying a 460 is silly given the weight, cost, and size. If all I wanted, or all I could handle is the 45 LC or 454 at the max, I'd look at the Ruger SRH.

It's kind of like buying a Corvette. There are very few places where I can open her up and utilize all the horsepower of that car where it is legal, or even a good idea. But I want the option. I want a sports car that can go 140 mph as an option, but I'm still going to drive it 45 mph for fun on a regular basis. Is it worth the extra money over buying a Camaro when you are sacrificing lots more money and maybe fuel efficiency? To some, yes. To others, all they need and want is the Camarow. So buy the Camaro. Like I said, these are opinions, and I'm not telling anyone they are wrong. I'm just sharing the perspective of X-frame owners, so perhaps we make more sense.

It's a matter of having the opposite perspective of viewing the 460 as the option here in a 45 cal revolver, rather than 45 LC as the option in a 460 mag. When looking at it from that angle, it changes things a bit.

I know several people will read what I just wrote and say, "Dude, that's the same thing said in reverse." But it really isn't if you give it some thought.

Cheers to all. The absolute bottom linne: REVOLVERS ARE THE BEST!!!!

 

[22-rimfire]

I think you make a good point(s) Kodiak. The key is that when you make a choice with the 460 S&W, you are buying a 45 cal revolver and when you buy the 500 S&W you're getting a 50 cal handgun. So the discussion is circular and goes back to the original question in this thread. Which should I choose and why?

Anyone who has an interest in both the 460 or 500 has to address a very basic question. What am I going to use it for? 45 cal or 50 cal? Is the size of the revolver practical for your use? As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I lean toward big and slow versus light and fast in a handgun. That is not necessarily the case with a rifle selection for me.

 

[CraigC]

I don't see this as off topic in the least. We're at the heart of why someone would buy the sixgun in question.

Practicing with 900fps .38Spl loads in a .357 that may potentially reach 1400fps has merit. A separate .38Spl revolver will not be much, if any, smaller and handier. Practicing with 800-900fps loads in a sixgun capable of well over 2000fps that weighs TWICE what a good .45Colt sixgun weighs is just silly. It accomplishes very little. Sorry but I don't see the ability to fire .45S&W and .45Colt in a 5lb sixgun as versatility. I see it as manufactured justification.

I have yet to see anyone sufficiently explain what they think they're gaining with the .460 over more practical cartridges. If the answer is, I just want one, that is fine. But if you really believe you're getting something over standard length cartridges, I'd love to hear the reasoning. Because from my perspective, they offer little utility. Problem is that you guys that are already invested in these beasts seem to lack the ability to look at them objectively.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I have yet to see anyone sufficiently explain what they think they're gaining with the .460 over more practical cartridges.

I posted earlier it's a fine alternative to using a shotgun with slugs in the lower half of Michigans lower peninsula. DNR regulations prohibit rifles in this area.

Which cartridge is more practical for a 150-200 yard shot on deer?

BTW it's a five gun, not a six gun

 

[CraigC]

And how many handgun hunters are capable of making 200yd shots on game???

They're all sixguns, whether they hold five, eight or twelve cartridges.