460XVR. Should I?

[bigride]

I enjoy shooting big bore revolvers and hope to try some deer hunting next year. I have my .44 mag, but I am getting the itch to sell a couple guns and buy/trade for a 460XVR as I have been intrigued by this offering since it was introduced. It's a step up in velocity but also offers ammo versatility when you don't want to shoot hot .460 loads.

Am I nuts? Wait, let me rephrase the question. What do those with .460 experience say? Should I take the plunge or stick with the ol'.44?

Thanks for any and all helpful information.

 

[AmStaff64]

Hehehe -
From a guy who started with 44's and thought they were the big dog (circa early 80's). I too consider myself a "big bore guy".
Question: do you reload?
The 44 Mag, 454 Casull, 460 S&W Mag and the 500 S&W Mag really shine when you do. ( I have all of them.) Factory ammo is not cheap - you probably already know this.
Over and above cost, reloading allows you to tailor your ammo - and make it what you want it to be. The cartridges I mentioned above can be loaded, with the correct components, to a very wide range of performance. All can take a deer and more.

I would not sell my only 44 to get a 460 - IMO. But I understand the urge/want.

The 460 is great (for a handgun) out to 200 and a few more yards... a pic to tempt you:

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I own a pair of 44s, a 4" 29-2 and a 6.5" 629 Classic, love em both and both see duty as my hunting sidearm. I also own the 5" barreled 460V and it's great fun to shoot! When I go out hunting with solely a revolver the 460 is what I usually take...along with my electronic earmuffs.

Now my 460 having a shorter barrel does lose some to the XVR in the area of velocity and potential accuracy. But it's still pushes 240gr XTP mags to a very healthy 1700fps and I can make paper plate sized groups at 50yds with open sights and improvised shooting support. It should be noted that I can do the same with my 629.

All in all, I say if you like to play around with alot of horsepower, go for it!! But I'm not much for getting rid of guns, and my 460 is the only handgun I let go of another to acquire (a 6" 686) but I'd be curious to know what's on the chopping block

My 460

 

[bigride]

I have no plans to part with a .44.

I have a couple semi-autos that I am considering to sell...a CZ P-01 and a Shield .45. I picked up a nice CZ PCR, which I prefer over the P-01, and a Shield 9mm for carry so the other 2 get little attention. I will probably wait until after the holidays before I decide though so I can thoroughly consider what I really want to do.

 

[moralem]

Life is far too short.....just get it. I want one too but am checking a few other things off my list until one shows up. I say go for it.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Big Bore Snubby guy

I like the big bores too.

You didn't say whether you reload? Reloading is the best way to experience the hyper magnums. The 460, since it's .45 caliber, gives you plenty of bullets to experiment with in whatever intensity you feel like. Load them way down or way up.

And if you get a 460 S&W you'll probably end up wanting a 500 S&W later too.

Put one on your Xmas list.

.

460XVR CARRY & 500ES

(-01b)

.

 

[ruggyh]

This is a common question.

I suggest you shoot desired gun before buying one if at all possible.

Big bore ownership/shooting is not for everyone.

That said most find the 460 an exciting/fun shoot.

Before buying understand the cost of feeding your gun.

As already mentioned I would recommend any big bore owner get into handloading if you don't already. It allows you to optimize you shooting experience.

good luck and be safe
Ruggy

 

[cadmike]

Well when it comes to buying a new gun you certainly don't have to twist my arm. But instead of a 460 I would buy a shiny new .44 Remington Magnum. Might not be the big boy on the block anymore but is still plenty of cartridge for taking deer. Maybe a new 629 or a Ruger Redhawk. Lately I've had my eye on a Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter. If you like single actions.

So I vote stick with the .44

 

[classic bob]

Luv my 44

I luv big bore revolvers but..... if I can't do what needs doing with my 44mag, then I pick up a rifle.

 

[DEADEYE McNASTY]

yes buy one.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Along the lines of ruggyh's post, who I consider to be among the most knowledgeable when it comes to the X-frames... To give you an idea, I find that my 460v is only somewhat more recoil than either of my 44 mags. I have never fired a non-comped 460, but I'm pretty confident that the comp is the main reason that to me the recoil isn't much stiffer than my 44s. And that is comparing apples to apples in terms of grips as all of my revolvers have hardwood grips, including the 460. Concussive blast to the sinuses though?? That's another story. The 460 really slaps you in the face with that concussion where I don't get that with my 44s, even the 4" m29. That's the downside of the comp. But fortunately for me, I am not bothered too much by it.

Also in the interest of comparison, I shoot mostly 240gr XTP Mags sitting on max-for-my-gun charges of H110. My 629 gets 240gr XTP with max loads of AA#9.

No bad advice given here, even with the idea of getting another 44 instead of a 460. I have REALLY taken a liking to the 629 Stealth Hunter as of late and am trying to manipulate and fenangle my way into one... But, Christmas is coming and the kids do come first.

 

[Sevens]

I have a bunch of .357's and .38's and a gaggle of rimfires, but I shoot pistols more than revolvers. I say that as a prelude to this:

I only own one single .44 and one 460XVR.

I like my .44, it's a Redhawk with a four port Mag-Na-Port job. It can handle anything that anyone would call a .44 Mag.

But I like the .460 Magnum more and it's far more fun to shoot. I have three uses for this beast...

1) fun to learn and experiment in handloading
2) love to shoot from a rest on steel plates out to 300+
3) vaporize things at short(ish) range, giving other folks their first experience with 60,000 psi and 2,000fps from a handgun.

One of the neatest things that my ballistic calculator told me:

When I launch the Hornady 240gr XTP-Mag slug at 2,000 fps (muzzle), it should be going a bit over 800 fps at 500 yards. Net result is that at the end of FIVE football fields, the .45cal slug hits the target at the SAME speed as Hardball from a 1911 at the muzzle, with 10 more grains of bullet weight.

That's neat. It isn't useful information, but it's neat.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Nobody "needs" a 600hp big block in their classic Chevy truck...but dang if it wouldn't be FUN!

I have always been well content with my "short" barrelled 460, but I'm starting to feel the itch for the real McCoy, the XVR.

Any of you folks seeing 2000fps with 240gr XTP Mags from your 8-3/8" bbls? Not that it really matters for what I do so far, just curious.

 

[292]

Did you think any of us would say no, don't buy another firearm? I shoot 44mag loaded with everything from carpenter bee loads loaded with grits, to homemade snake shot, to full power 250gr Keith's and 2400. At some point I plan to upgrade to 500mag skipping 460. I've shot 500 a few times and didn't find the recoil to be much more than 44mag. I say go for it, as was said life is short.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Oh man, the 500.... Far more versatile than alot of people realize I think. You can really see the case capacity advantages it enjoys over the 460. Looking at loading data, it is capable of throwing a 300gr (which is considered light for the 500) as fast or faster than a 460 can chuck a 240 if fast and flat is your thing. And then there are the heavies, yikes. Both are awesome handgun cartidges when talking power and velocity, but I think the 500 is truly the most versatile of the pair. It's with the light 200gr bullet where the 460 has it's only advantage on the 500 and that's if fast and flat is your main concern.

I do not yet own a 500, but my brother owned one and reloaded for it till he had to have a pre-64 Win 70 and traded it. It's not out of the question that I get one some time.

 

[Sevens]

Something I had meant to mention but forgot in my post above...

I'm one of the many who is a "true believer" that S&W's finest days are in the past and that sadly, NO, they don't make things as well now as they used to. That's obviously a whole other discussion, but in spite of my opinion, I am totally impressed with the design and execution of these X-frames and where I am MOST impressed is with the compensator and how this revolver handles and directs this extreme volume of recoil energy.

The grip is also upgraded and paired with the fantastic compensator, the X-frame takes a cartridge that should be a total nightmare and makes it an absolutely controllable and dare I say it, enjoyable experience. For sure, part of the reason the .460 seems far more fun to me than .44 Mag is that 50 or 100 rounds is a day of .44 while 15-25 is a full day of .460.

Bottom line is that .460 from the XVR is just really MUCH less punishing than I think it should be. It's an awful lot of fun.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Something I had meant to mention but forgot in my post above...

I'm one of the many who is a "true believer" that S&W's finest days are in the past and that sadly, NO, they don't make things as well now as they used to. That's obviously a whole other discussion, but in spite of my opinion, I am totally impressed with the design and execution of these X-frames and where I am MOST impressed is with the compensator and how this revolver handles and directs this extreme volume of recoil energy.

The grip is also upgraded and paired with the fantastic compensator, the X-frame takes a cartridge that should be a total nightmare and makes it an absolutely controllable and dare I say it, enjoyable experience. For sure, part of the reason the .460 seems far more fun to me than .44 Mag is that 50 or 100 rounds is a day of .44 while 15-25 is a full day of .460.

Bottom line is that .460 from the XVR is just really MUCH less punishing than I think it should be. It's an awful lot of fun.

I believe you are 100% correct on all points. Yes, I think that the revolvers of yesteryear have that certain something about them. But that's not saying the current offerings are not very very good still, probably among the best if not THE best of mass produced DA revolvers going.

I have fired one box of factory Winchester 460 "Reduced Loads" that according to the info on the box were about equivalent to 454 Casull. I needed brass, what can I say. But those were no big thing to shoot at all. I'm sure that 454 Casull is quite a handful from a Ruger Alaskan or even a mid lengthed barrel SRH compared to the 460. My guess would be that those would even be more of a handful than firing full house 460's from an X-frame save the very short barrel, non-compensated models.

You're darn right, the X-frame is a very good match the the cartridges it is chambered in. And with a good quality chest rig, they can be carried afield quite comfortably contrary to the belief of some. I use a Diamond D Guides Choice for mine.

PS: for what it's worth, I had one of those Winchester brass split 3/4 of the way down from the neck to the head after only reloading once to full 460 level. IDK if it was a random anomaly or if the "Reduced Load" brass is not to the same standard as legit 460 stuff. My Starline brass is holding up much better.

 

[robvious]

short and sweet... I have one... like it a lot... good for mild to wild...
get one and see...

 

[cladd1]

I purchased one a year ago and very glad I did -it's just a fun gun to shoot. I use my S&W PC 44 mag for deer hunting however no regrets at all in buying the 460.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Speaking of the S&W 500 magnum. I noticed starline is now making a 500 special case for lower power target loads .