Reforming brass to make 460 S&W

3rdgeargrndrr · Jun 11, 2014

SO, I dont see any 460 cases anywhere,
anyone here have an idea at reforming brass to make it?
I dont have any extra cases laying around to see what will work.
I assume annealing, trimming a 45-70 would work, but not so sure about the rim or neck measurements would work.
I figure someone out there has had a similar issue with the case supply issue/

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 11, 2014

45-70 has the wrong rim and head diameter. Maybe 303 British, but that is what we make 444 Marlin out of. Good luck, any reformed brass you make will not be as strong as cases made for 460 S&W. My suggestion is place 2 orders and wait for the good stuff to arrive. When your second order arrives, put it on the shelf for you next go round and keep ordering ahead. Do the same with powder, primers and projectiles. If you are going to cast your own bullets, I always made castings in batches 2 to 4 times more than I needed. Then sized only what I needed. Having a "bucket" of castings of large size, is the same as a "bucket" of small ingots. You can size them for 460 S&W in .452 or size them for 45-70 in .458 any time you need them. Ivan

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

How much of it do you really need? I know it sucks to buy ammo but you could buy a box to get 20 cases and keep your computer set to notify you when brass is available. Most places will accept back order on the brass.

Man that stuff is expensive!!, but calculate you powder and bullet cost?

In such a high powered round I would not attempt to resize brass. Too much work also, For me anyway.

For loaded ammo:

The best deal was Sportsman Guide for the Hornady but of course it is out of stock,

460sw magnum ammo handgun

.460 S&W Pistol Ammo | .460 S&W Ammo | .460 Ammo

venomballistics · Jun 11, 2014

sorry guy, 460 is kinda special.
its essentially a 454 Casul magnum case, but more of it.
45-70 is bigger in the rim and head, also, the body is a smidge larger as well.
You could give the case walls a squish, but the head will give you fits, and will not fit the 460's chamber.
You'll have to hold out for some genuine 460 brass.

The 460 is an interesting caliber, in that it can chamber and use 45 LC, 454 Casul, as well as the intended 460. Much like 44 specials can be used in a 44 magnum, and 38's in 357's

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

I always wanted one. Why? I have no idea

but I think it is better than the 500. Faster bullet and as mentioned can shoot other calibers. I like 45 Colt. The Casul is brutal.

venomballistics · Jun 11, 2014

Rule3 said:
I always wanted one. Why? I have no idea but I think it is better than the 500. Faster bullet and as mentioned can shoot other calibers. I like 45 Colt. The Casul is brutal.

I know why ....
its ridiculous

it's a five shot revolver because the muzzle flash from five rounds will leave you with too many sun spots to safely send a sixth.
hearing protection is almost pointless as the blast will bypass earphones through your forehead.
Once you fire a shot, you must fire a second to restart your heart.

Its kinda like stuffing a fully blown nitrous equipped 428 SCJ into a an 85 escort. When you dump the clutch, you own everyone's attention

In all honesty, if you can get past the temporary blindness, and deal with the chest compressions from the blast, its a very manageable revolver.

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

I have shot the 500 SW and on the day I shot it I was shooting full house 44 Mag loads. The guy was sighting in factory ammo for Deer Hunting. The gun is so freaking big that it was tamer than my 4" 629 SW 44 Mag! I forget what barrel, 8", 10" It's crazy

I am looking for a Binford 2400 Express myself.

gordon21 · Jun 11, 2014

I understand you WANT some .460 cases and they are hard to find. But, can't you shoot hot .45 loads until the .460 are available? That is the great part about your gun. I realize factory .460 ammo is expensive, but at least you could get 20 casings for future use. Isn't factory ammo about $60??

I shot one round. A guy at the range handed a .460 to me after he had shot several rounds. That was fun!!!! I still have that empty casing here on my desk. If I could afford one now, I would definitely get one. It was a boom, not a normal pistol "crack".

Shoot .45 when by yourself. Shoot the .460 when you have guests in the back yard. Let them have fun.

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 11, 2014

I don't have a 460 either, but I like the idea of a BUG when I out with my 450 Nitro Express. At Christmas of 1991, I bought the first 50AE Desert Eagle to come to central Ohio. That is a marshmallow gun compared to the X-frame hand cannons. My loading benches are set up to handle 45 and 50 caliber rifles in smokeless and Black Powder, Really big pistol rounds will fit right in.

A few years ago I bought Starline 460 S&W brass at Fin, Fur & Feather's Ashland, Ohio store: loose and by the piece. Get on the internet and give them a call, They have shipped lots of stuff to my brother and I over the years for very reasonable S&H charges (unlike Midway is now!) If it is just dies, brass and/or bullets, there is no hazmat fee.

Have fun. Ivan

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

S&W and their genius marketing decided this year to come out with a PC 460XVR with a 3" barrel??

Guess they have to compete with the Ruger Alaskan??

What is the sense of putting the worlds fastest handgun caliber in a 3" barrel?? What niche does this fit other than above as a Alaskan guide gun or something?? Even then will the 360 gain enough velocity over a 45 Colt or 44 Mag?

Product: Model 460XVR?

ruggyh · Jun 11, 2014

Rule3 said:
What is the sense of putting the worlds fastest handgun caliber in a 3" barrel??
Product: Model 460XVR?

Velocity is still over 2000 fps out of the new gun
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/356679-460-s-w-velocity-barrel-length.html

As for fire forming brass; the 460 rim case is unique, no rimmed rifle brass brass has a similar dimension and cases like the 45-70 (even if it were dimensioned close) are not suitable for the 60K+ pressure

Brass is currently available from several online supply house or drop me a PM

Good luck and be safe

3rdgeargrndrr · Jun 11, 2014

Hey thanks for the heads up everybody, and for some reason, never though to actually buy factory

, but I looked over at Grafs and there were a few bags in stock, at least there was a few in stock.
Im on my third reloading of cases, but read most people get 3-5 reloads out of them, so I wanted to be sure, I had a few and if supplies dried up, then I would need to make my own.
I load em hot, all of my shooting buddies are addicted to this gun and the free ammo that comes with it, I am seriously thinking of putting on some g10 grips to get them to stop shooting this gun.
Its really addictive.

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

ruggyh said:
Velocity is still over 2000 fps out of the new gun
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/356679-460-s-w-velocity-barrel-length.html

As for fire forming brass; the 460 rim case is unique, no rimmed rifle brass brass has a similar dimension and cases like the 45-70 (even if it were dimensioned close) are not suitable for the 60K+ pressure

Brass is currently available from several online supply house or drop me a PM

Good luck and be safe

Nice post you liked to there!. That's a lot of 460 shooting!

You listed Ruger #1 in the chrono data. What guns are 2.75 and 3"?? I am gathering the 3" is the new one? They made a 2.75 also??

Braver man than me!

ruggyh · Jun 11, 2014

The newest 3.5" is an uncompensated version produced for Lew Holt distributors years back refereed to as the Carry Comp. Velocity is the same out of either guns.

The 2.75" 460 ES model is an uncompensated model and came packaged in what people refer to as the Bear Kit but was also available by it self.

Pictured is of a variety of different 460s.

Rule3 · Jun 11, 2014

Dang! You like the 460 or what!

Nice collection and picture. I have been waiting and waiting for a gently used one to show up at my LGS. A year or so back they were around but have no seen one for a while,

What is a good "medium length one? I do not need or want a small rifle

Did they have a 6" or was it 8??

Heck 4" compensated might not be bad.

Thanks

On the top picture, what length is the last or bottom one?

3rdgeargrndrr · Jun 11, 2014

Rule3 said:
Dang! You like the 460 or what!

Nice collection and picture. I have been waiting and waiting for a gently used one to show up at my LGS. A year or so back they were around but have no seen one for a while,

Save a few for the rest of us. Amazing collection of x frame greatness ruggyh!

Jboutfishn · Jun 11, 2014

Saw some Starline 460 brass at Sportsman's Warehouse a month ago. I use it in my 460 with no issues.

ruggyh · Jun 11, 2014

Rule3 said:
What is a good "medium length one? I do not need or want a small rifle Did they have a 6" or was it 8??

Heck 4" compensated might not be bad.

Thanks

On the top picture, what length is the last or bottom one?

I like the 6.5" and 7.5" for open site shooting. They have good balance and feel. They were limited runs of about 500 guns each. They can be found on gun broker from time to time - but won't be cheap.
There is nothing wrong with the 8.375" or the 5" removable compensator models.

Rule3 · Jun 12, 2014

ruggyh said:
I like the 6.5" and 7.5" for open site shooting. They have good balance and feel. They were limited runs of about 500 guns each. They can be found on gun broker from time to time - but won't be cheap.
There is nothing wrong with the 8.375" or the 5" removable compensator models.

What length is the 2nd from the left??

Kilibreaux · Jun 12, 2014

At the instant I am typing this, Starline lists .460 brass as "available" on their website in 500 and 1000 piece increments.

.454 brass is generally less expensive and can produce loads pretty much in line with what "most" people will load the .460 too.

Of course, having said that, I truly enjoy shooting my .460 with full-power factory loads so I'm not quite sure a .454 level load would "satisfy" in the big X-frame.

I too like to load only .460 brass in my XVR because this is what the gun was built for and it reduces the run-up for the bullet leaving the case before it reaches the reduces section of the cylinder and the forcing cone.

Reforming brass to make 460 S&W

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