I saw one today in a gun shop. It's been there for a while. It looks like a 3.5" barrel. Are these a beast to shoot? I looked on GB but did not see any short barrel models. Did they make a lot of short barrels, or no?

Your thoughts about owning one are appreciated.

I have an 8-3/8 XVR. I can't imagine a use, need, want, etc for a "snubby" Shoot it a few times, say a few choice words and put it away?

I have an ES .460,that's the snubby with a 2 3/4 barrel-my take is they're not that bad,but I also say watch what load you stick in it.
I've shot 260Gr FMJ loads and I want to try some 270 odd grain stuff they have.....no way in hell I'd go over 300 in that little thing!
The other thing I'd stay far away from is the 200gr "screamers" those are meant to have high velocity from the long barrels so you can just imagine what all that powder is going to cause out of a short tube!

As far as recoil goes....I've shot full power .44 mag since I was about 14 so I'm probably the last guy you want ask about what the kick is like,but I will note that the 260 grain stuff is about at my upper limits for a handgun,it can be done but around ten shots and I need a break.

So what use is it? to be honest if you're a gun nut the only use you need is it's FUN! but it also is good for close in "get the hell off me" for a lot of things,maybe a bit small for real big bears but beats fingernails.

And if you insist on shooting it a lot...try shoving .45 Colt into it,turns it into a .22 basically,just make sure to clean the chambers real good after,it gets messy and can make .460 shells stick.

You can use .454 but...hell it's still a beast,so you won't fire more then a few rounds.

The barrel length is the only draw back for me...I think if I was going to own one, it would have to be at least a 6 inch barrel. That way I would always have the option to hunt.

Other than that, something this short, would just be a "fun" gun to shoot !

Thats what i do wait till you find a 6 or 8 inch barrel.

The draw of the .460 is the velocity. Velocity is achieved through (among other things) barrel length.

That said, I carry a 3" .44 in the woods, so I suppose I'm hurling rocks in a glass house.

I see the short .460 as a "gotta have" if you like belly guns in all calibers. Something you can pack when fishing in Alaska for instance.

It's your life, enjoy it - buy the gun.