Want to buy an in-stock PC460XVR 12" Barrel, advised not to, by salesman - Help Plz

[dwever]

Want to buy an in-stock PC460XVR 12" Barrel, advised not to, by salesman - Help Plz

So as some of you may of know from previous posts, I've been scouring my neck of the woods for a PC 460 XVR 10.5" Barrel. Well right in my town I find it, but in the 12" barrel.

So I'm happy and ready to plop down the $1,400 and change, but I'm talking to one of this large store's employees, who I know from his former LE work, and he tells me not to buy it. I also know that he is an accomplished gun smith and hunter.

He says to me that the 12" barrelled .460 Magnum XVR is S&W's only 460 that doesn't have any porting or compensation in the barrel, and that this is unacceptable, as he says I would learn the first time I shot it.

So I check the S&W web site, and sure enough, the 12" barreled iteration out of the Performance Ctner is the only 460 XVR S&W makes, PC or other wise, without any gas management. Even the 14" barreled PC version has it.

So guys, a little help. Is my buddy right? Or is that 12" weapon big enough to be fine without it.

I'm pretty disappointed, and value your input here. THANKS


Pictures: 12" PC (the one I found), 10.5 PC (the one I've been looking for), 8.38", 5", and 14"

 

[H Richard]

I have fired the 460 in shorter, 4" and 6" barrels and with factory loads did not find the gun uncomfortable or unmanageable. You can also shoot the 454 Cassual and 45 Colt through it, which are milder. It all depends on what you are looking for in it's use, and your tolerance for recoil.

 

[dwever]

I have fired the 460 in shorter, 4" and 6" barrels and with factory loads did not find the gun uncomfortable or unmanageable. You can also shoot the 454 Cassual and 45 Colt through it, which are milder. It all depends on what you are looking for in it's use, and your tolerance for recoil.

Thank you, may I ask if the 4" and 6" versions you shot had gas management via porting?

I will be typically be shooting 454 Cassul through it at around 1,400 to 1,500 ft. lbs. or energy; and occasionally .460 Magnum for the long range flat trajectory when my potential field of fire reaches out past 200 yards such as a place I hunt in Seale, Alabama and when rarely hunting larger game in the North West U.S.

My .44 Magnum hand rig in my middle son's hands below can be a little underwhelming at distance; and, my sons somehow think it is theirs!

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

I've shot a 6" with no porting and it was fine. I can't understand why the 12" would be any worse. Some people are scared of recoil and they tend to try and pass that to others.

 

[bcc629]

Some people use muzzle brake plugs because the muzzle brakes send some of the blast back in your direction. I haven't shot one but I have a 454 Alaskan 2-1/2" non-ported. It's lots of fun to shoot!! The 460 PC 3.5" is not ported either. I wish they all came without muzzle brakes. I like anything coming from the barrell, to go straight down range.

 

[dwever]

Some people use muzzle brake plugs because the muzzle brakes send some of the blast back in your direction. I haven't shot one but I have a 454 Alaskan 2-1/2" non-ported. It's lots of fun to shoot!! The 460 PC 3.5" is not ported either. I wish they all came without muzzle brakes. I like anything coming from the barrell, to go straight down range.

WOW! Some photo: Someone could be shot and cremated in the same shot!

 

[buck460XVR]

I think it comes down to the primary reason you are getting one in the first place. If your regular shooting will be done with .45Colt and .454 with only an occasional .460 load, then you'd probably be fine without porting or a comp. If you are only going to shoot a cylinder full of ammo every time you go to the range, then again, you will probably be fine without a comp. Odds are, you may be fine without a comp regardless. But of you are regularly going to shoot legitimate .460 ammo, and would like to go to the range and be able to comfortably shoot 50 rounds at a time, you'd probably appreciate having a comp. Even with a comp, the .460 is a handfull. I have the 10.5 PC Compensated Hunter myself. But it is a pleasant gun to shoot and I am not afraid to let less experienced shooters shoot it. It is also a very accurate gun, in part I believe, because of the reduced recoil. Still, the biggest reason I would agree with the LGS clerk is not because of the comp/no comp thing, but because you yourself really want the 10.5 Comped model and are only settling for the 12 incher. I'd be afraid you'd be second guessing yourself for not waiting until you found what you want, even if you really enjoy the 12''.

 

[ken158]

Hold out for exactly what you want but IMO the porting in not necessary - just makes everything louder. Bullet weight and powder charge as well as gun weight is all related to recoil.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

As bcc629 said the 460 PC 3-1/2" isn't ported either but the previous owner of mine MagNaPorted it. He said it made a difference but I recently bought a 500ES, 2-1/2" bbl, & I think the 460's ports divert more sound/blast rearward making the 500ES less distracting to shoot with similar power loads. I don't see much difference in muzzle flip between them.

I've never shot any of the long bbl. pistols but my unported SRH 454, 7-1/2" bbl, had more muzzle flip than my short bbl. guns. This might be a selling point for having a ported bbl. Maybe some others can comment on this aspect.

.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I hate anything ported because of the sound issue. I've shot a 4" 460 without porting and it was a hoot!

 

[diyj98]

I hate anything ported because of the sound issue. I've shot a 4" 460 without porting and it was a hoot!

I'm not a porting fan either. I haven't shot a 460 unported, but I wouldn't buy a 460 unless I wanted a true magnum handgun and all that comes with it. The unported version would be my pick.

 

[H Richard]

The ones I fired were not ported. I did fore one with porting and I didn't care for the muzzle blast and the residue being blown back in my face.

 

[buck460XVR]

You're not going to shoot a .460, ported, comped on not, without some form of serious hearing protection. The minuscule amount of increase in noise from the porting/comp thus is a non-issue. Blow-back from the comp/ports is negligible compared to the blast coming from the barrel gap. Folks that have never shot a .460 really should shoot one before they try to inform others about them.

As I said, while a comp(this is what the OP is looking at)is not needed, it sure makes that model a pleasure to shoot. When you enjoy shooting a magnum handgun other than for the recoil(amazes me the amount of folks shoot magnum handguns just because they feel the big recoil is "cool"), you find yourself shooting more accurately. My youngest son has enjoyed shooting my X-Frame with legitimate .460 loads since he ws 11 years old and weighed 90 pounds. He still enjoys shooting it. My 105# DIL enjoys shooting it also. Her favorite target is cheap bottled water @ 70 yard and watching them explode when hit. 70 yards is generally the shortest distance we shoot the gun, because anything closer is similar to shooting with a rifle....... just too easy.

The .460 is not your standard 4'' 686. It is definitely not for everyone, just like porting and comps. Those folks in R&D at S&W did a very good job with the X-Frame and have more than just the slightest bit of knowledge of what makes a gun shoot. Very few X-Frames are available from the mother ship without a comp.

 

[bcc629]

Folks that have never shot a .460 really should shoot one before they try to inform others about them.

Have you shot one without the comp?

 

[dwever]

Once whatever I end up getting is zeroed for a particular .460 Magnum at 200 yards, and then memorizing the clicks back and forth to zero for 100 yards in 454 Casull it goes in the safe unless hunting.

No 'Shock and Awe' or gee whiz shooting is planned. If it discharges, it means I'm either zeroing new ammo or something breathing with four legs is in my scope and in season.

 

[Sigep749]

Buck460 xvr- what barrel length are you shooting?

 

[Tommy Tunes]

My beautiful 3.5" 460 after polishing

 

[kennyb]

she will be a handful forsure

 

[bcc629]

That IS a beautiful gun.

 

[bcc629]

(OP) Here's a good thread on the 3.5PC. I know it's much different from the 12" you were asking about, but some content may interest you, in regards to recoil and such.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...467-fire-breathing-dragon-460-now-w-vids.html