Hi,

I'm considering buying a 460V but as far as I understood I can't use moon clips with it. I found that TK Custom can do a cylinder machining for that. Are there any potential issues that can arise as a result of this procedure? Like for example maybe with high pressure magnum loads this can put an extra stress on brass, so I will need to discard reloaded cases sooner than with stock cylinder. If there are no issues then why S&W does not sell them with cylinders ready for moon clips?

Thank you!

Whatever floats your boat but having owned and shot 500 Mags for 15 yrs, I can't see the need/desirability for rapid reloads of a 460. If you're hunting dangerous game and you haven't resolved your problem with a full cylinder of rounds, it's probably too late.

Competition? Better guns for paper target competition than the 460. Don

The reason some folks have their .460s machined for moon clips is so they can shoot .45acp in them. Otherwise I feel the same as DonD as for anything else. The machining will not affect the strength of the cylinder or the brass. Overall, iffin you run full bore .460 loads, your brass will not last very long compared to other handgun brass. The stretching and resizing takes it's toll and can lead to case head separation.

I know someone that has had the work done by TK Custom, and if you go to their website they show the machining process. Obviously they know what they are doing. However, never having fired a 460, I would have to agree with Dond, and say what would be the purpose? I am sure it is not the best comp round out there for punching paper. Additionally, no matter who does the work and how good it is, I feel pretty confident in saying that you will devalue the gun, and it is something you will never recoup your investment on. IMO, I would not do it. Just my .02

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Given the Length of the 460's Cylinder I doubt if .45ACP would be Accurate in the 460 even if 5 rd Clips were available. I have a Redhawk 45 Colt/45ACP and the ACP is not very accurate in that Revolver. I use 45 Winchester Magnum Cases with Moon Clips to move the Bullet Closer to the Forcing Cone which has improved the accuracy somewhat. I use 460 Cases exclusivly in my 460V and Download as Necessary

If it were me, then I would sooner invest in hand-loading .45 Long Colt than having the cylinder machined so that I could fire .45 ACP.

Seriously, if saving money is your end goal, then getting into reloading is the way to go, much cheaper than factory loaded .45 ACP, not to mention more interesting since you can make your own custom loads.

You can, as you have found out TK customs does them.

Because there is no demand and little reason.

The only good reason to use moon clips in a 460 is if you plan to use 45 Raptor brass- the rimless version of 460 S&W Magnum.

be safe
Ruggy

I use moonclips extensively on a 929 and have a couple of 45 ACP revolvers and have recently purchased a 460 XVR, however I would have no desire for moonclips in the 460. If you want the moonclips so you can shoot 45 ACP I can't imagine that working out very well as the 460 case is 1.8" long and the 45 ACP case is about a full inch shorter. The bullet will be flying through the chamber unsupported for almost an inch.

Using the moonclips for 460 rounds would also cause issues as the Cartridge OAL is 2.3" and unless the rounds are held very tightly in place they would flop around and be difficult to load. If they are held tightly in place unloading and loading the clips becomes a nightmare. Additionally the moonclips would not be interchangeable with any other revolvers. I would not be interested in converting my revolver even if it was done for free.

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I'm relatively new to guns and many things that are obvious to you may not be so obvious to me. My first (and so far the only) handgun is a .357 Magnum. I found that using moon clips is the best way to reload when you need to do it fast. So I was surprised when I discovered that some revolvers do not support moon clips. My biggest concern was that manufactures may do that because of some technical issues that may arise. I'm glad to know that it's just a matter of preferences.

TK's web sight makes some statements about higher pressure rounds IIRC.

Why not just use Speedloaders? They do the same thing as moon clips as far as reloading goes, but they tend to be far more durable and in many cases cheaper than moon clips.

My experience has been the exact opposite. For me, moonclips have been faster, cheaper and I have yet to replace a quality moonclip. Not sure I would use them on a 460.

So you'd rather take the expense of having the cylinder milled to accept moon clips, possibly voiding the warranty in the process?

To each their own, I suppose.

You must have missed that last sentence.

45ACP accuracy might be interesting in a 460.

Several comments about .45 ACP accuracy in a .460 -- is it that bad in a Governor?

Yes

be safe
Ruggy

It's a matter of preferences, so here is my list:

• You need to turn/push the knob to release cartridges. Under a stress I would prefer having to do as little manipulations as possible.
• Speed loaders are more bulky than moon clips.
• Some speed loader designs a not reliable: you may accidentally lose a cartridge.

Everyone is free to agree/disagree/add or remove points/make their own lists why speedloaders are better, etc.

Reading the comments I realized that I should better give it some time and only proceed if I really feel like I need it. Also now I know that I'm not going to have any technical issues and the only potential problem may be voiding the warranty.

I have a 460 XVR 3 1/2 inch and would love to shoot 45 ACP for cheapness sake. NO way would I mill the cylinder. I would first consider buying a replacement fluted cylinder (so I could tell the diff) and mill that... just a thought, and I don't even know how difficult a swap that is...again just a thought.

TK Custom are certainly professionals, I will say that.

But the .460 S&W Magnum is a 65,000 PSI Max cartridge, nearly twice the pressure of anything and everything else that gets moonclipped. (and like triple the pressure of .45 ACP)

Does someone make moon clips that would work in the 460?

__________________
213th FBINA

TK Custom

Once set up for clips you can also shoot 45 Raptor

Machining for moon clips does not change the cylinder strength.

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be safe
Ruggy

No but it moves the cartridge case further out of the cylinder where it was formerly surrounded 360 degrees by chamber steel.

That same area of cartridge case would now be exposed to nothing on one side and a spring steel clip on the other side.

I'll repeat-- TK Custom are professionals, but this seems ludicrous to me.

it could also handle the 45 Super with ease, but that feels a bit silly in a 460...

I shoot a S/W 460 { 5" bbl. } and I've shot .460, .454 Casull, .45 LC and for plinking, .45 Schofield ,as well as packing HSM " Bear Loads " for going up into the mountains. All in both new factory ammo or my reloads. For me, these 4 calibers cover all the bases from full house to light target loads and have no need to change anything.

Attached Images

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Five year old thread, started right around the time the OP was last here. Closed.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220