I have a S&W 460 that I plan on putting a steady diet of mid power 300gr LCSWCGC ammo through and I am wondering what kind of life expectancy should I expect with this gun. I shoot it at least once a month with 20 rounds per trip. I would shoot more if I had more lead and powder to burn at that rate. Seems no matter how you slice it it's an expensive gun to shoot regularly. But I digress.

It'll likely live longer than you.

460 S&W: Velocity / Barrel Length

This thread should help you garand man.. l have a PC model l shoot regularly with mid range loads too..0nly precaution l take with my 460 is to shoot just full length brass..l hate those powder burns left inside the cyl from shorter 45 and 454 rds

all I plan on shooting in it anymore will be full length brass whether its 12 gr of trail boss or 38gr of IMR 4227 I don't like the idea of the super long free bore and leading the chambers.

I am a bit of a recoil freak however and I do wonder if and when I will have carpal tunnel from shooting these things regularly.

I wouldn't worry about carpal tunnel, although I suppose anything's possible. Carpal tunnel is caused by lots and lots of repetitive motion, sometimes over a period of years.

20 rounds once a month? Maybe more? How does 2 lifetimes sound? It was designed to shoot 460 and that's what it will do. Everything is beefed up to be able to tolerate the 460.

I have three with over 6000 rounds through each of them.
Forgot to that my 8 3/8" gun has over 10000 rounds (the only gun I have that has shoot 45C and 454)
Don't see them having any issues any time in the near future.

Shoot over 500 rounds through one the last 3 weeks getting ready for an upcoming bear hunt.

I don't shoot any short case rounds (45C, 454) through my guns and rarely shoot any thing that would be called reduced recoil.

I give the guns a major cleaning about twice a year and just wipe them down after range sessions.

Shoot if you got'em

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy