I am becoming intrigued by the S&W Model 460 (not the XVR). Is it fun to shoot? Expensive to feed without hand loading? Comments and pictures welcome. Thank you!

I can comment on the price to feed - factory stuff expect ~$1.50+ per round for 460S&W Magnum. 454 Casull and 45 Colt a bit cheaper, but those IMO negate the need (want) for a 460. They are nice to shoot on occasion, but you need to clean the chambers well if you go back to the full length magnum rounds.
Cheaper to handload, absolutely. Gives you more options too. The 460, kinda like the 44 Mag and 500Mag, allow for great verastility with the right powders.

When you say "...not the XVR...", what do you mean? The current S&W website has all 460S&W Mags as XVR (incl a 3.5" Perf Ctr), the only "non XVR" is a 460V @ 5". At the end of the day - they are all the same, save barrel length and Perf Ctr stuff.

Here is a pic of mine (XVR) I posted in another thread too. They are a blast to shoot.

Or is the 460 you refer to - something completely different?

Attached Images

460SW.jpg (104.1 KB, 30 views)

All 460s are XVRs.

If you buy one and don't think $1+ a round is affordable, handloading is required. Even beyond that, you can't just toss any old bullet down the bore if you want to run full-power ammunition. A jacketed bullet designed for the .45 Colt can have real problems running at the velocities .460 S&W Magnum generates. You really want to be looking at a "magnum" jacketed. They're more expensive, but well worth it.

If this is your first foray into handloading, I would suggest starting with a different cartridge. When things go wrong in big-bore magnums, they go real bad in a hurry.