I recently purchased a 460 with a 8 3/8" barrel, and I have a few questions to which I hope someone will respond. First, what would be a good loading for white-tail and black bear. In my part of West. PA, deer average 150 lbs, and bears about 250 lbs., with the occasional bear going 450 or so. I would like to use one load, if practical, for both uses. I bought a box of 250 gr. HPXTP, as I was told that this would be a good compromise bullet. Secondly, aware of the severe muzzle blast from the 460, does either S&W or someone else make a blank compensator, i.e. one without any holes in it, as a way of hunting with this revolver without having to wear ear plugs while hunting? I realize that recoil will be greater without the compensator in place, but most hunting situations require only 1 or 2 shots, so I don,t feel the greater recoil will be a problem while hunting. Lastly, does Speer make shotshell capsules for .45 cal? I am interested in the empty capsules which I can load with different sizes of shot. Would shooting shot capsules, if practicable in the 460, be a problem with either of the supplied compensators, or the solid one which I wrote of above? Thanks for any help. DGR

I recently purchased a 460 with a 8 3/8" barrel, and I have a few questions to which I hope someone will respond. First, what would be a good loading for white-tail and black bear. In my part of West. PA, deer average 150 lbs, and bears about 250 lbs., with the occasional bear going 450 or so. I would like to use one load, if practical, for both uses. I bought a box of 250 gr. HPXTP, as I was told that this would be a good compromise bullet. Secondly, aware of the severe muzzle blast from the 460, does either S&W or someone else make a blank compensator, i.e. one without any holes in it, as a way of hunting with this revolver without having to wear ear plugs while hunting? I realize that recoil will be greater without the compensator in place, but most hunting situations require only 1 or 2 shots, so I don,t feel the greater recoil will be a problem while hunting. Lastly, does Speer make shotshell capsules for .45 cal? I am interested in the empty capsules which I can load with different sizes of shot. Would shooting shot capsules, if practicable in the 460, be a problem with either of the supplied compensators, or the solid one which I wrote of above? Thanks for any help. DGR

Speer does make shotshell capsules for the .45 Colt so they should work in the .454 and .460 if desired but velocity isn't an issue there so stick with the .45 Colt brass. They work quite well. On second thought, you might experiment, perhaps the long .460 case could hold two shotshell capsules? A wild and crazy handgun/shotgun?????

I don't think you'll be shooting enough of them to cause a leading issue with the comp. Just my opinion there.

You're not talking REALLY heavy bodied animals, I would think that the 250gr XTP would do well. Don

I have been using the Federal 275 grain barnes load with great results. 3 shots and 3 deer so far. I use the Pro Ears Demension series ear muffs while hunting. These Pro Ears electronic ear muffs are the best I have used. They sound so natural after a couple of minutes you forget you have them on. They lower the sound of the 460 to about that of a .22 cal.Make sure you get the Pro Ears Demension or Gold series. These have jumpers inside to custamize the sound to your liking. The Predator series do not have this feature. I have both and the Demesion series will blow the older ones away as far as natural sound.

Hornady recommends against the use of their 250 grn. XTP for hunting large game as it was designed to expand at lower velocities that what the .460 produces. It is however a good target round and varmint round. They recommend the use of the 240 and 300 grain XTP-Mag bullets for use on large and dangerous game. They are designed exclusively to expand at .460 velocities. I use them both and they are both very accurate. From my experience, getting rid of the compensator is not gonna significantly reduce the noise level of your .460. I too balked at the idea of wearing hearing protection while hunting, but after two years of using electronic muffs while hunting with my .460, I find that most of it was just in my head.

Firing one, 460 mag round without hearing protection will change your life. Forever. the constant ringing in your ears will drive you mad. Hearing aids are $5000. You are on your own, now.

The 250XTP slug is a good 45 Colt slug. I use it in 460 mag cases for 1000-1200 fps velocities. It is very accurate at these velocities. I bet if you shot that slug into a 450 lb bear at 1900fps it would just go "splat" without much penetration. Stick with the 240 or 300 gr XTP Mag, Or I like the 300 gr Speer GDHP for meant for 454 Casull (or 460 mag) velocities. For one reason or another, it is more accurate in my gun than the 300 XTP Mag.

I bought a blank compensator for mine from the Smith & Wesson web site about a year and a half ago, but I don't think they offer it for sale any more. I use Walkers Power Muffs for hearing protection. I use Hornady 200 gr. SST for deer hunting.

The bullet I like the most for my 460 Mags are, the 300 gr. hard cast bullets. Great on deer, black bear and hogs. Even if you find an end cap for the 460 Mag, you will need hearing protection. I always wear walkers Game muffs when using any of my handguns.

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Thanks for all of the information re the 460. It seems that there is a wide range of bullet types and weights available in 45 cal, and I know I will have to reload due to the cost of factory ammo. In reading, on other forums, many people choose to shoot hard-cast bullets, either home made or bought. However it seems that the cost of jacketed vs hard cast is very close. These posts, while recognizing the limits of hard cast (in fps) they seem to praise the penetration of hard cast bullets. Many report that haard cast bullets expand very little if at all, and that got me to wondering. In Pennsylvania, lawful ammo (according to the regulations) for big game is limited to "all lead bullet or ball, or bullet designed to expand on impact". Would hard cast bullets be legal to hunt with in PA? Knowledgeable answers are appreciated. Thanks, DnnRe8

I've always been told it's not wise to shoot shot capsules out of anything with a compensator. The capsule starts to flower once it leaves the rifling and it may get caught. I've never tried to prove it though either.

Two other bullets not mentioned that work well in my 460 are the Nosler HG Partition. They're available in 260 & 300gr. They're also a bit more money but they perform nicely.

How goes it Ohio C? Have a good spring & summer. Don

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Please don't even consider shooting the .460 without hearing protection. I always wear ear plugs and muffs and don't consider that as overkill. This beast is loud compensator or not.

I realize this is an old post but worth saying - my 2cents

Just reiterating hearing protection required even with no compensator.

Any bullet exceeding its design maximum velocity will result in bullet failure and unlikely penetrate well.

Shoot shells are hard on forcing cone and barrel rifleing- I would hesitate to shoot the out of such a nice revolver

buck460XVR and duckloads have provided solid advise

In addition to those any of the Barnes bullets rounds will function properly when loaded to 460 velocities.

I would advise against using the Hornady 200 FTX on game animals not because the do not work, rather they ruin a lot of meat due to how they expand. They picture is a 100 pig shoot with 200 grain FTX. look at the entry hole. The exit hole was worse and the whole off side shoulder was wasted.

Good luck and be safe.

Where did you get that non-ported "comp"?

I'd go with a Keith style 250-300 loaded to around 1,900 fps for deer.
I'd go with a hard-cast Keith style 300-390 grain for Black bear loaded to 1,750 to 1,900.

If you don't want to worry about "bullet failure" due to a too-thin jacket being shot too fast...which the .460 WILL DO, then go solids...regardless of ALL the BS you will read, the Keith SWC design is to this day unsurpassed for energy transfer, and the 390 in .452" will bust any black bear on Earth like a plush doll at an amusement park....meaning go in his face and exit his @$$.

Yes I am talking about handloading...it's the only way to extract the best from the .460 S&W.

For the experience(experiment)...

Look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckZj2g2tIAw

now you're just bragging

so where did you get it?

I made the plan of the part and I made him make. I adjusted the compensator.
I can pass on to(transmit) you the plan of the part.

Once the bullet exits it's intended target then nothing else it does matters... Im thinking something along the lines of a heavy 45LC load will work just fine. I shot a few deer with a 454 and total devastation... cant imagine what a hot 460 would do.

That's actually why I'm interested in a non-ported comp. I figure I don't need anything too crazy for hunting, and with lower velocities, the compensator isn't doing as much for recoil anyway; it's just making the whole ordeal as loud as possible.

now screwing around and blowing up water jugs and shooting a big, booming round on the other hand....

For TO and 460 Smith et Wesson magnum Only :

Does anyone know a source for the muzle brake plugs, or do they have to be custom made?

A few factory ones were produced and no longer available.

They come up rarely on ebay and gunbroker.

Have not seen one for sale in the past 2 years- wish I would of bought it then myself.

You probably have to have on machined.

The speer 45 capsules didnt work for me. The shot cups got stuck 3" into the barrel. I needed a very tight fitting dowel to punch them out.

Use a 460 case, a cardboard wad and a gas check to cap off loose shot. There is a video on you tube showing this. I made a few rounds but loaded with a 10grain charge of LilGun that didnt burn well and the copper BB shot bounced off a paper target 10ft away. You will probably need a faster pistol powder.
If youre worried about snakes I really believe the blast from a normal round will incinerate it.