460 xvr recommendations
 

Hello everyone I'm looking at buying a 460 xvr and I was looking for input on which one to buy. It's main purpose is going to be for deer hunting and maybe some other game someday. But it will spend a majority of time at the range also since deer season is just not long enough lol. Right now I'm thinking about the Performance Center 14" model. Looking for input/experience with any of them. Thank you for your time.

For hunting, plan on using shooting sticks with anything over 5" or 6" barrels.

I have one of the 460 PC models with a 7" barrel (rare) and its hard to hold steady with the scope. With open sights I can still shoot a decent group at 50 yards, but with the scope and a set of sticks, I can shoot palm sized groups at 150 yards all day long.

It all depends on what you want to do. If you plan on shooting off the bench at the range and a set of sticks in the field, the long barrel won't be a concern. But to me the point of a handgun is lost when you go to barrels that long, and to my eyes, it just looks plain goofy with the long barrel and the skinny part on the last 6".

The 460 develops most of its speed in the first 6", so anything over that will not net you much more FPS. And shooting with a scope negates any advantage over the long sight radius.

I would consider either the 10" PC model if you intend to scope it or the standard 8" version if you plan to use open sights. For hunting, plan on using a rest of some kind with either one.

At the range, be prepared for some strage looks and lots of questions after you touch off the first round!! its an attention getter...

First let me say that all the 460 are accurate and capable of deer and more.

If you are planning to scope the gun, any of them with a barrel longer the 5" version will be suitable. Most of the hunters I shoot with or exchange information with use the 8 3/8" or longer revolvers when scoped.

My personal preference when scoped is the 10.5", with the 12" a close second. The 14" models require more effort to use in the field.
( For target shooting I prefer the 12" )

For open sights I love the 7.5" with 6.5" a close second.

The length for open sights is really up to the individuals abilities to resolve sight picture. Longer seems to be better for me as my eyes have aged.

If you are not a hand loader I would suggest you start, as the full potential of the 460 can be unlocked.

I have taken everything for boar to bison with mine.

Currently in the reloading section you can find a post with some thread links you my find useful in your 460 revolver quest.

As always be safe and good luck.
Ruggy

Your choices below!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psa113dd89.jpg

If you are actually wanting to know the velocity difference between barrel lengths here is a thread.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...el-length.html

I own the 14" model and I love it. It freaks out everyone at the range and they affectionately named it the howitzer. Shoots very well scoped with a leupold at 200 yrds. the scope is spendy but handles the recoil well. Read a lot of stories of individuals using a Burris scope and reticles were moving because of recoil. Get really good rings! Ammo isn't cheap! It is quite heavy and wouldn't recommend shooting it without sticks or a bipod. Or at least I don't. But it is my third favorite S&W I own. Wouldn't trade it or sell it for anything.

Oh and it's awesome to pull the trigger. Great performance center over all. I have no regrets. But like I said it's heavy.

Along the lines of this topic....

I have a 460v (5"bbl) and am curious about what would be considered a "descent" group with open sights, rested, at 25 and 50 yards??

OP: I like the 5" bbl on my 460v. I realize I lose some velocity and accuracy farther down range to the longer barreled models in general. But I find the compromise to gain a little more portability to be worth it. And even though it's a relatively short barrel for a 460, I suspect it can likely do as good or better than any 6.5" barreled 44 mag... Not sure if I can though. ;)

On a good day with rest I get 3" group at 50 and 2" at 25 with the 5". A close friend shoots the same gun and gets 1.25" groups consistently at 25. Yes more practice for me!

I don't think the shorter barrels are any less accurate than the longer barrels - I would say the shooter is less accurate. Got a Ransom rest and plan to do some testing, stay tuned.

Yes, the shorter barrels won't develop the same velocity but a few hundred fps won't make much difference at the end of the day with the 460.

With all things equal the accuracy of either the 460 or 44 Smith and Wesson built guns today, are far better than most of us can shoot.

Be safe and Good Luck
Ruggy

I have grown to look forward to your tests Ruggyh! :)

This is some good input and I thank you for your time. Do the shorter barrels like the 8 inch have the gain twist like the longer barrels. Also what is a good round for deer hunting I see the Hornady a are about the cheapest out there but I have heard there 200 grain bullet is not good for a distance shot on a deer.

YES

The 200 FTX fragments to easy in my opion on game and ruins to much meat.
Any of the Banres XPB work well or the Hornady 240 or 300 XTP MAG. Speer and Swift also make 300 grain bullets that are suitable.
Cutting Edge bullet makes a 240 grain HP and a 300 grain solid.

The XTP MAGs are a very good low cost solution.

Though I have yet to use a hardcast hunting they shoud be suitable if your state allows the use of non-expanding bullets.

Good Luck and be safe
Ruggy

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8d115dc5.jpg

I gotta agree with ruggyh about the 200 gr Hornadys. They are incredibly accurate and make for a great target or varmint round, but are not a legitimate round(IMO) for deer. Especially @ close range.

The 240 and 300 gr XTP mags and 300 gr Speer Deep Curls are good choices for the handloader. I prefer the Deep Curls over a slightly compressed charge of IMR4227.


BTW...I have the 10.5'' P.C. Compensated Hunter. Shoots better groups @ 100 yards than my .44 mag carbines.

8 3/8" Barrel
 

I have the 8 3/8" barrel version and find it to be very accurate. I went with the cross-chest holder as the most practical. If you haven't picked one up and handled it in a gun store I would recommend you do. They are a tad bigger/bulkier than the photos let on. I would also invest in shooting glasses if you don't already have any. Yes, there is recoil but it's controllable. I shot about 80 rounds my first time out and didn't have any problems.

460
 

I have had the 10 & 12" custom shop guns in .460 & .500. Tried them with scopes & holo sites & iron sites & although they shot great, just didn't like the big honkers.

Finally settled on a 6 1/2 .500. It is easy to shoot off hand, accurate & a thumper. Actually would like it in .460 for the versatility.

I primarily carry it for Griz protection while fishing in AK but plan to hunt something with it, probably moose. It is quite accurate at 50yds w/iron sites & 5" or so at 100.

In my 460s I found the 300xtp mag was very accurate & I used a 280 lead gas check bullet I make for my .454s & it was even more accurate.

Anyways, the others are just to big for me. Might as well carry a 16" carbine.

So far, I haven't come up with a load as accurate as the Hornaday 200 grain, but, if I'm going bear or boar hunting I'll use my load with Barnes XTB bullets.
Also, make sure you keep your thumbs away from the cylinder gap, and make sure if you decide to use something like a tree for a rest, keep both cylinder gaps away from the tree.:(

I'm so excited mine arrived at the LGS this afternoon. As I live in CA so she is in jail for 10 days. I got the 10" PC XVR. My pusher (the owner of the LGS) called and said your hand howitzer arrived and the box is so big it has wheels on it. I can't wait, I've wanted one for years.

I have RCBS carbide dies, IMR 4227, Hornady 200gn, Hornady 240 gn projectiles, Hornady brass, and Starline brass on order. Am I missing anything? I have LR and LRM primers. Stuff is scarce I had to beat the bushes for reloading supplies, is the 460 that popular?

I'm trying to decide on a scope and mounts, I'm between the Lepold VX3 and the Bushnell Elite. Any experience with the ability of either to hold the eye relief over the respective magnification ranges, and robustness of the scopes would be much appreciated.

Huang

Here are a few threads from the past on the topic of scopes.

Buy once cry once- get the one that will last first and use good rings (see photo in post 3 bottom right for your barrel length with scope and bottom of this post)

Leupold hold up well and best factory support for when they do fail.

I have not had any red dot last more than 100 rounds, most have failed in less than a single cylinder of shots.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...xvr-scope.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-rev...-my-500-a.html

The 240 gn and The IMR 4227 will be ok, but you will be disappointed using it with lighter bullets like the 200 gn.
It has become my favorite powder when using 300/325 jacketed bullets.

For the 200 gn bullets I would suggest using H110, 2400, N110 or A#9


If you are in the Bay Area look me up.

Be safe and good luck
Ruggy

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1e8e8d83.jpg

Thanks ruggyh I will take your advice.

Buddah or anyone else interested I combed the inter webs and found a great deal on a Lupold VX3 scope they only have one left, it's listed for $371 but as usual with the low ball web guys there is about $20 in shipping and handling but that's a great price. The link is below

Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm Silver Duplex 66350

Seems legit to be sure I went through Paypal looks as if it's coming right from Leupold.

When a deal is too good to be true it is. the 6350 is a small rifle scope not a handgun scope price went up to $499.00 for the 66620. Sorry if I steered someone wrong.

Huang

My son in Alaska just sold the 5" he had. I had recommended it, and he liked it, but decided it was too heavy. When he had it down here, I only shot 1 3 shot group at 50 yds off the bench. Went into under 1"!! I wish I had bought it from him, but felt he needed it more in Alaska than I do in Alabama. I loved shooting it, but couldn't stand being the spotter off to the side!

It does have a particularly nasty bark! :D

Not Deer but deer size, taken at 142 yards and 115 yards with a scoped gun, Saturday 11 OCT. 2014
The 460 S&W is a full capable cartridge.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b69af5e.jpg

Thank you everyone for the input I think I'm going to go with the 10.5 PC. Weight is not a issue for me I have held them before and they feel great in my hand. I think I'm going to take a serious look in reloading, never done it before but it will definitely worth it now. I've been saving all my brass for quite awhile and I think it's time. Sorry it took so long for a response but we had early muzzle loading season here in ohio so I was gone.

You will find the 10.5'' PC an awesomely accurate firearm and recoil very manageable, even with legitimate big game hunting loads. Reloading is the only way to go when one owns a .460, not just for substantial cost savings, but for tailoring the ammo to the gun. Make sure when you buy projectiles, that you buy .45 caliber bullets intended for .460 velocities and pressures as thin jacketed bullets intended for use @ .45 Colt velocities can cause premature forcing cone damage and may separate in the barrel. They also will have very poor terminal performance on big game. While fine for plinking loads at the velocities they are intended for, for hunting, use an appropriate bullet.


My 10.5'' .460 likes IMR4227 and 300 gr bullets. H110/W296 gives a tad more velocity, but I like the accuracy with the 4227.

What are some good scope rings to use?

Warne and Weigand combat mount are the most popular. I use them both. Sure other have thier favorites.

Well Just got my new 10.5 inch Performance Center Today and cant wait to shoot it. But I will say that I was a little disappointed in how dirty the gun was, I figured with it being the performance center they would at least clean it up a little bit. And I don't mean dirty from shooting it, it looked like someone let there kid with dirty sticky hands play with it for a little while and I was at the gun shop when they opened the box from UPS so I know it wasn't them. And the other disappointment was when I pop the cylinder out and spin it, its kind of rough and don't free spin very well, I don't know if they didn't put some lube on it or what I just know when I spin my ruger sp101 its buttery smooth and will free spin quite awhile. I quess I just figured for being a performance center things like that would work flawless. But none the less I am still real excited.

With a brand new firearm, you will want to give it a good cleaning.

I don't have one of my S&W owners manuals in front of me at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I recall something said in it that eluded to preservative on the exterior and in the barrel and chambers that needs to be cleaned. I'll check and get back to you.

Give her a good cleaning and lube as you would with any of your wheelguns after a session at the range. Then take it out and have some fun blowing things up! :D Enjoy!

Mine was sticky when it was delivered. 10 minutes with a can of gun scrubber and a rag followed by some careful drops of oil and it was as smooth as glass. When I sprayed down the chambers and barrel a brown residue ran out, so I don't doubt they spray it down with some kind of packing packing lube preservative.

Clean and lube it, then see how it feels.

Attachment 170804

Attachment 170805Attachment 170804I prefer a shorter barrel I like my lou Horton edition with scope 6 1/2 with the compensator 7inch I got a lou Horton 500 to
best guns for your money smithi and wesson

I like to shoot off hand open sights so the 8 3/8" barrel was just the right weight for me. Mine came spotless and without a flaw.

Are there any good factory loads for deer as I'm not going to have money to get into reloading before deer season. Wish I knew somebody who had a 460 or reloaded but unfortunately I don't so I'm going to be stuck with factory loads for now.

what's your favorite? if you only could have one what one would you keep?

My favorite?!!!!!!!!!!
It's I good thing I don't have to pick.

If forced to have just one I would probably choose the 7.5" Black Hunter model.

It would be nice is Smith issued this gun without a compensator.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I never heard of the Black Hunter 460. A google search pulls up little; looks like they made them in 2005. What else can you tell us about it?

Their are actually 2 guns that could be refereed to as Black Hunters.
A 7.5" version and a 14" version, both were limited runs through Ellet Brothers of 500 each.

I posted pictures here previously
460 S&W Black Hunters

Other distributor limited runs included the 3.5" Carry Comp, 6.5" Hunter, and 14" Hunter (uncompensated) all from Lew Horton.