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Yes, an 8 3/8" model 460 could have it's barrel changed for any other length.

You would need to check with S&W to make sure that a spare barrel in the desired length is available and what their fee would be for the work.

Between round trip shipping, cost of barrel and cost of labor you would most likely be looking at a $400+ conversion bill

It would be far more economical to just buy the proper gun to start with, unless you are getting the 8 3/8" revolver as a freebie

You will receive some complaints as well as some wows.
The uncomped 3.5" will have less flash and bang but still noticeable more than other calibers.

Indoors the 460 is not bystander friendly- if you can find one that allows them.

The comps on the PC guns are fixed and are integral to the gun and are not interchangeable.

As to your first question-barrels can be changed by the factory as they are factory only parts. As suggested just buy the gun you want up front- there is no shortage of 3.5" guns available.

I would also mention that a 3.5" comped gun was produced.

be safe
Ruggy

If the range also allows rifles then there's little justification for complaints. (The range's front desk thinks I'm shooting full loads even when they're reduced loads.)

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

You can use lighter .460 or any .45 Colt loads in it, highly recommended in any indoor range. Definitely get the barrel length you need to start. Good luck in your decision.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

FYI the 460 features a two piece barrel assembly and because of this it cannot be "cut" as was possible with older 1 piece barrel designs. So any conversion will require having it done by S&W.

Note, yeah some very skilled machinists could take a 8 3/8 barrel assembly and basically remove the "back end" but there is a LOT of work involved in this approach because the barrel shroud would have to be completely re-machined for the ejector rod cutout and lock plus the locating lug for the frame attachment. Then there is the matter of re-threading the barrel to fit the frame, it's a very precises extra fine thread so that also will require a very high level of skill. Cost to have this done by an ATF licensed machine shop will likely run near the cost of a complete new 460 Magnum.

I have the 460V and I love it. I shoot 45 Colt already so I had plenty of Brass for that one. I really wanted a D/A 454 Casull but couldn't stand the Looks of the Super Redhawk, and Refused to consider the raging Bull. So I bought my X Frame for Casulls, but now I'm enjoying shooting 460s. By the way the 460V is not really a 5inch gun since S&W counts the Brake as barrel length. reloading has worked out well, and I will be ordering some 460 Starline Brass.

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Inquiring minds want to know - how did gun locked up and how did you "unlock" it ? Was brass looking/ejected normal ? I've only used 1 box of factory ammo (hornady 200gr) in mine after that reloads only in 250-300 gr range.

Sorry to hear that the 460 PC won't work with Hornady 200 FTX.
I ran two Boxes of 200gn Hornadys Through my New 460V with zero Problems. I actually Expected more Recoil than that Ammo Delivered. The only other Factory Rounds that I fired so far, were Federal Fusion 260gn, which felt about the same as firing a 454 Casull. I just loaded some 460 near max H110 handloads to experience the Full Potential of My Revolver, but will use tamer loads for Range Duty. The last time that I shot the 460 at the Range, it Drew a small group of Curious Onlookers. It's one Heck of a Round.

So S&W told you not to use 200 FTX or that lot of 200 FTX

Have you call Hornady?
What did the brass look like?
What was extraction like?

I shoot several boxes of that lot the past several weeks out of 3 different guns with no issue.

In you earlier post you said What where you referring to? and how is it relevant ?



be safe
Ruggy

From what I read, looks like the Internal lock switched and locked up the gun

Where did you read that?

Has anyone chronographed full house Casull and 460 same bullet weight through the same gun? What was the velocity difference for say a 300 grain bullet?
Thanks
Kurt

I don't reload, but my buddy does. Here is a post he made on a domestic forum a couple of years ago, after we'd been at the range comparing his 8 3/8 to my 5".

Translated by Google... :

"We have been out testing the difference of 460 XVR 8 3/8 "and 5".
Tested with 300gr hardcast bullets, the average difference is about 80fps.
Both with 33.5gr N110 in 460 cases and 26gr N110 in 454 Casull cases.

33.5 gr in 460 cases 8 3/8"gave an average of 1582fps.
33.5 gr in 460 cases 5" averaged in 1497.

26gr in 454 cases gave in 8 3/8" averaged 1438.
26gr in 454 cases gave 5" average of 1355."


IIRC, he told me the 454's was filled to capacity, but that the 460's still have some capacity left. I seem to remember that 39,5 gr N110 filled the 460 cases, not 100% sure though. Don't know what chrono readings he got either, but probably a couple of hundred fps more, I guess...

Both loads recoil more than Hornady 200gr FTX.

__________________
S&W J/K/L/N/X

That is like 7 years old thread I don't think it's still relevant.

This is what I have been Shooting. No problem with my 460V. I have 3 Boxes left, and after that I will go exclusively to My own Handloads.

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Top stap cutting is common in all magnum calibers and especially the "super" magnum- 460, 500, 454.

Shooting light for caliber rounds with double based powers will accelerate the effects.

It should be noted that flame cutting is self limiting and is cosmetic at best.

You did reply to how the brass ejection? was from the round that reportedly tied the gun up.

I shoot 4 more boxes today of the lot you reported with no issues.

While it is important to inform shooting community of issues - speculation is not helpful.

Your problem could just as well be a piece of debris in the trigger works of the gun.

be safe
Ruggy

If your extraction was easy the ammunition you used was not the problem.

Sticky extraction occurs at 62kpsi and this should be a key note to all those reloading, at 65kpsi the case will need to be forceably removed. Primers will be well flatted at loads above 52kpsi and are normal out of 460 and 500.

S&W typically shoots three rounds through a gun before shipping and they don't clean the gun before shipping.

be safe
Ruggy

I didn't observe any abnormal Cutting on my Top Strap after firing 40 rds of the Hornady in question. I loaded some of the Empties with 45gn of H110 and a medium wt XTP bullet, and touched a couple off out back. Real blast, what I would expect from a 460 Wife got Upset so I will fire the rest at the Range. BTW when she 1st saw my X Frame, she said it looked like a Prop that a Circus Clown would Use. Call me Bozo