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S&W .460 Magnum

4K views 13 replies 11 participants last post by  riverrat 
#1 · (Edited)
Just read an interesting article in the July/August "American Handgunner" magazine about the new .460 magnum S&W is developing for use with their new "X" frame revolver. Tests with the prototype ammo indicated 2259 fps with the 200 XPB bullet.

The first time I've heard about the .460 mag development was last weekend at my local gun dealer who indicated they were having problems with the cylinders cracking. This doesn't sound realistic to me as why would the X frame cylinders handle the .500 mag loads and not the .460 mag loads?

I was also confused a little by the article as the author was excited about the potential for the .460 mag. to produce 1600 fps with the 300 grain bullet.....which is what I already get with .454 Casull loads?

The article, for comparison to the .44 mag and .454 Casull showed brass length and volume. The .44 at it's standard 1.285", the .454 at 1.383" and the .460 at 1.790". The volume (gr./water) was .44 at 42.6, the .454 at 45.7 and the .460 at 58.4. The author indicated he has no problems with shooting .45 Colt and .454 Casull loads in the revolver.

Anyway, looks like S&W is going to take advantage of their X frame and indicates more calibers to follow.

Dan
 
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#2 ·
"I was also confused a little by the article as the author was excited about the potential for the .460 mag. to produce 1600 fps with the 300 grain bullet.....which is what I already get with .454 Casull loads?"

I think the point of that was that they can do it at lower pressures, but think about how powerful that thing could go! woooo
 
#3 ·
From what I l gathered is that they want a relover to shoot as flat as a hand rifle by using light weight for caliber bullet and pushing the pressures to 65000 PSI to get velocity.

To me it doesn't make any sense top use light weight bullets and sacrifice penitration for trajectory. Besides the handgun it comes in weighs as much as a light weight carbine which would be much more accurate and have more energy as well.

Give me a 480 Ruger at 42000 PSI and 400 gr hard cast bullets that will penitrate completely through a elk or moose from end to end even if I have to get a little closer and use a little more skill to hunt the animal. They have found through experience in Africa over the last 100 years that a heavy bullet going between 1500 and 2000 FPS will give the best penitration and kill the best.
 
#4 ·
DOK.... I think that the 'flat trajectory' claim comes from using pointy bullets in a revolver.... the .460 can spare the case capacity to do this, and still scream along.

The entire thing seems utterly impractical... except in states where you can hunt with a handgun, but not rifles. Bet they'll sell like hotcakes....
 
#5 ·
MikeG said:
DOK.... I think that the 'flat trajectory' claim comes from using pointy bullets in a revolver.... the .460 can spare the case capacity to do this, and still scream along.

The entire thing seems utterly impractical... except in states where you can hunt with a handgun, but not rifles. Bet they'll sell like hotcakes....

i'll have to agree with mike, there seems to be no need for the 460 mag. what is the point to have another revolver in between the 480 ruger and 500 smith, why do you want something with 2000 ft-lbs of energy in a handgun? seems to be a useless cartridge to me (side note: why does .452 = 460?)
 
#7 ·
I've never tried or heard of anyone else using 200 gr. bullets in the .454? But from the .260 gr. and up bullet weights, the artilce's quoted velocities seem to parallel the .454 Casull. I wonder if this is simply S&W's answer to Ruger's .454 Casull revolver and not anything particularly evolutionary other than it's a new caliber for S&W?

Dan
 
#8 ·
460

I have been shooting the 460S&W in an encore barrel, 12", for about a month now. I am getting between 2000-2100fps with the 300xtp, in several different loads. This barrel shoots very well with the 45lc and the 454 loads as well. With the 240xtp I got 2250+ very easily with my first load. Has been a lot of fun. Im just waiting for some tested load data to become available. I have just been starting with 454 hot loads and working my way up.

chris
 
#9 · (Edited)
ca dunn said:
I have been shooting the 460S&W in an encore barrel, 12", for about a month now. I am getting between 2000-2100fps with the 300xtp, in several different loads. This barrel shoots very well with the 45lc and the 454 loads as well. With the 240xtp I got 2250+ very easily with my first load. Has been a lot of fun. Im just waiting for some tested load data to become available. I have just been starting with 454 hot loads and working my way up.

chris
Appreciate the information, answers my questions. Considering the increase in case volume over the .454, the .460S&W should offer increased performance, velocity wise at least. If we assume 40fps lose for each inch, a 7" barreled revolver would still give us several hundred f/s increase over the .454. The magazine article just didn't reflect that performance, or at least my interpretation of the article.

Dan
 
#10 · (Edited)
I feel S&W is just utilizing a new frame. They need to sell guns to pay the rent. Smith is smart to make a gun which will shoot other caliber's thru the same revolver. However, most of us, will shoot the 460 mag seldom. The blast should be louder than the 500. Personally after owning the 500 and being a reloader, I don't desire the 460. I wonder how they are selling, compared to the 500?
 
#12 ·
I ordered one of the .460's in feb. After passing of the 3rd promised delivery date I cancelled the order. Most dealers are promising Nov. delivery now. S & W can't stop the barrels from shooting loose, I'm told. I bought a .454 Casull and now I'll only be able to shoot 212 yds instead of 250.
 
#14 ·
Was in Mass. the past coupla weeks with military duty. Got a tour of S&W and got to shoot a .500, while a buddy shot the.460. These are really bad dudes! I asked the guy in their custom shop about barrel life and got side stepped. Also asked a guy at S&W academy, who also side stepped the answer. They both said they haven't had problems YET! A buddy of mine that worked for years at the Army's small cal. weapons lab isn't impressed with S&W metallurgy at all. Especiall the S/S ones. Even the guys at Smith said they like for their frames to "flex"! I'm convinced the .500 is a "showgun" The guy at the range there said that " you get your fingers around the cylinder and fire, your gonna pick up the pieces"! That's about all I can add to this. I did try a .45 ACP revolver and really was impresed by it!!!
 
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