I have purchased a used 460 xvr and it came with only the compensator that was on the gun. I have read that it came with two compensators, one for lead and one for jacketed, is this true? How do I know wich one I have on the gun, and where can I buy the other?

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The compensator that is mounted on your 460 is the "short" one with three large holes on each side, and three small ones on each side at the top. When it is mounted it will line up with the end of the under lug. This one is for the jacketed bullets. The compensator for lead bullets is the "long" one with four large holes on each side, and one at the center on top. When it is mounted it will be about 1/4 inch longer than the underlug.
You can buy one from Smith&Wesson, part number 29626 for long one, 29602 for short one. Either is about $35. Call 1-800-331-0852, and you can have one sent to you. On the parts list on the S&W website the compensator is called a muzzle break, in the instruction manual a removable compensator.

The one for jacketed bullets has holes (ports) on top along with the larger slots on the sides, the one for lead is slotted only for easier cleaning.
They are mighty nice revolvers. I was shooting mine today along with my 454 Casull (BFR). The XVR is hands down easier on the shooter. I haven't scoped it yet and as well as I was able to do with the factory sights I'm in no rush to put one on it.
Sure go through the powder loading for it though. It takes more than double the amount of my 44mag rounds.
Best wishes and congrats on your nice find.

a BIG welcome to you from central virginia...you are so correct...that 460 is one nice handgun...as is the 500 mag.

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Is that really the main reason for having to change compensators for ease of cleaning? They really only explain how to change them in the manual not the reason for having to. Is there any loss of accuracy or other dangers if you were to shoot a lead bullet through the jacketed compensator?

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Glen Lemon

I have heard that early production of the 460 only came with the jacketed muzzle break and not both. I could be wrong on this though.

They are great shooters, use up a lot of powder when reloading (as dls56 mentioned) and are very loud, but of course, they are also a lot of fun too!

Enjoy shooting it.

thanks everybody, I will be owning the other comp. real soon, I appreciate the replies. I may have one of the first guns, the serial # is CJJ0800, let me know if anyone has a "born on date" for this gun. Yeah the reloading uses up the powder on this caliber (42-47 grns. for a 240grn bullet, will get you about 150 bullets/lb.) but, you gotta pay to play!

I'm pretty sure the differences in comp's is about fouling problems using lead with the jacketed type brake. (I could be wrong.)
I'm using a touch over 50grains of H110 behind 200 grain jacketed bullets, they sure are zippy.
The muzzle brakes are great, it my first gun that has one and I am impressed with how well they work.
Thanks kennyb it's a nice site. I thought about the 500 but the 460 seemed more versital but I'll likely end up with a 500 some day also. My wife endures my addiction to firearms, LOL.

The jacketed break will be extemely difficult to remove if fouled with lead.

I was'nt interested in the 460 or 500. I'm hooked on 45's (handguns and rifles). Once i found out the 460 was really a 45 magnum magnum (454 casull-45 magnum), it followed me home.

Can you tell me if the manual is available for download on the web?

I am really puzzled by mention of shooting lead in this gun. I guess that has been settled by the 454 Casull people, but there is probably considerable science there that just gets glossed over. Safe to say that conventional load sources probably make no mention of lead for this cartridge. Do they even make gas checks this big, what .454?

Gas checked are readily available for .45 caliber.

Cast bullets are available form companies like Beartooth Bullets.

Lead makes for good hole punchers.

Some addition 460 relevant threads below - sure there are more

460 S&W: Velocity / Barrel Length

How does Barrel length affect velocity?

What bullets work the best in your .460?????

Looking for Handload for .460 S&W; TC Encore 20" Rifle

S & W 460 xvr 14" Advise

Getting serious with the .460 when it comes to hunting!!!

Deer cartridge for the 460 XVR

Best bullet for 460 rifle

460 xvr recommendations

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

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I see that Lyman 45 cal gas checks are supposed to fit.451-.458.

Thanks for the links. The real question is whether these bare bullets, no gas checks, should properly be fired up using hot H110 loads. I am always nervous and skeptical about load data coming from an informal culture, wherein one guy goes off the res and then gets to reassure others that the load "works".

I agree with being skeptical and cautious with load data from questionable sources. Most powder and bullet manufactures will answer emails with good data.

Most lead are heavy or greater than 300 grain bullets so H110 won't be a best choice for powder.

I would suggest few hand loaders are interested in hot rodding lead but are interested in reducing loading cost.

If you are driving your hard cast under 1400 fps you don't need gas checks.

With powder coating you will be able to even do away with gas checks even when shooting lighter bullet up to about 2200 fps. I plan to do some testing this coming summer.
And will post results.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I can understand coating replacing lube and reducing fouling, enabling higher velocities, but I don't see how coating can prevent the base of the bullet from melting.

[QUOTE=dls56;135717745]I'm pretty sure the differences in comp's is about fouling problems using lead with the jacketed type brake. (I could be wrong.)
I'm using a touch over 50grains of H110 behind 200 grain jacketed bullets, they sure are zippy.
The muzzle brakes are great, it my first gun that has one and I am impressed with how well they work.
.............

So I remain perplexed by the two breaks on the 460 xvr. It seems like there surely is a reason other than ease of maintenance/cleaning. Can anyone tell me the difference. Surely SW wouldn't engineer two for the sole purpose of cleaning........Thoughts

[quote=borpa11;138876630]The jacketed comp has holes projecting up and which go out the comp and the shroud.

The lead comp does not have these and is extended with two addition side ports.

If you use the jacketed comp port shooting lead and lead accumulates in the top ports it makes extracting the comp extremely difficult and occasionally next to impossible.

Some find the lead comp reduces muzzle flip better than the jacketed comp.

Be safe
Ruggy

[quote=ruggyh;138876756]I need to compare the two. Thanks for the info.