What one does everyone prefer and why? I currently have the 460 10.5 inch performance center and love it debating on getting a matching 500

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Go big or go home

The only person I know who shot both, is my granddaughter. She loved the 460 but didn't like the 500. She's a novice, and when I asked why she felt that way, she couldn't expand on the thought.

Rather than explain a personal preference I would suggest you shoot a 500 and determine if you are going to like it. In the end your opinion is going to be the only one that count.

I have many of both and prefer the 460 but don't have any real objection to the 500.

I would also suggest you take up handloading if you don't already.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

I thought about the 460 for a bit and then I said to myself: "Get the 500 and don't look back".... So far I haven't!!

That said, the closest reason why I chose the 500 over the 460 is why I prefer the M-29 .44Mag over a M-28 or M-19 .357Mag and that is the guns performance: recoil and accuracy! The M-29 performed better for me than the m-28 I had so I reasoned that the 500 might be a better gun for me with the proper load. I haven't shot a 460 yet but from the reports I've read I think I've made the right choice for me!

I was comparing the two and realized my .44 Magnum was plenty enough power for my personal needs .

Came away with the feeling that the .460 had more potential than the .500 and more versatility since it fires .45 Colt, .454 Casull , .460 XVR , .45 auto rim and .45 ACP if cut for moon clips where the .500 Magnum just shoots .500 Magnum....
Perhaps the 500 has slightly higher bragging rights since it sounds bigger than the .460 .

I'm fascinated by the thought of the monster magnums and every now and then, I almost talk myself into buying one. The closest I came was when I rented a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull. After firing about 12 rounds out of the box of 20 that I bought, I'd had enough. I could feel my teeth loosen every time I fired that gun. Lord help me if I ever fired a round without hearing protection. I think my .44 magnum is all the handgun I would ever need.

I came to the conclusion that if I needed so much power, I should be carrying a rifle or pistol grip 12 gauge.

My hat is off to people who truly enjoy firing those guns and I hope they don't ruin their hearing. Having said that, if I were to buy one, it would be the .460 just because of the ammo versatility.

Not to dispute what my Learned Colleagues are saying about the ammo versatility difference between the 460 and the 500 but ya'll need to do a bit more research on loads for the 500! She's got a wider range of options than you might think, going from very mild to extremely wild!!

And also bear in mind that it has been said and I fully agree with the statement that the X-Frames are a reloaders gun, if for no other reason than the cost of the ammo!! Plus reloading allows you to find exactly the power level that the gun likes!!

Whatever you do have fun and be safe!!

I love shooting my 460 it's a blast and by far my favorite gun I ended up with it over the 500 just because of the options to shoot the colts and 454 as well. But one of my local shops has the 500 and I think might just have to pick it up for this deer season

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Go big or go home

I am a 500 shooter. I have been for almost 14 years now. I have four at the moment, ranging from the 2 3/4" snubby up to a scoped 12" for long distance work.

For the handloader, there is not a more versitile handgun cartridge out there than the 500 Smith and Wesson Magnum.

Projectiles range in weight from 275 grains to 725 grains, jacketed or lead, and can be loaded from mild to wild.

Here are some of the early cast projectiles I played with, from the little 450 grain semi-point on the left to the big 725 grain wadcutter on the right
Remember, those projectiles are 1/2" in diameter

When a revolver is fully loaded with 5 of the big wadcutters you can put over half a pound of lead, at over 1200 FPS, on target if you empty the gun

These 275 grain JHPs are great plinking loads when sent on their way by 40 grains of H110. Trust me this is a light load for this handgun.
Now if you do not hand load, the 460 is the better choice for it's wide range of factory ammunition availability

Both the 460 and 500 are versatile cartridges.
Both are great guns for the right individuals.

Being able to shoot other cartridges doesn't make the 460 S&W more versatile in makes it more convenient.

That said both 500 and 460 have a very wide range of loading not afforded by other cartridges.

Yes the 500 has bullets range of 275 to 725 (and larger) but the 460 also has an equally wide range of 200 to 650 (and larger) especially when shoot from a BFR where I have shoot bullets 740 grains.

The difference in kinetic energy is small of of no significance as it has little bearing on real world results.

With either cartridge bullet choice is what matters when hunting.

Both are equally accurate from the Ransom Rest testing I have observed or performed, typically these revolvers produce a single touching hole groups.

As stated previously go shoot one and find out if they are right for you.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

pictured below is 740 grain 460 S&W bullet a long side a 660 grain bullet, both from custom molds.



and yes I have a few X-frames

Ruggy touches on a very good point when attempting to determine the "460 vs. 500" decision process. I too lost sleep over when was the ideal decision for my needs, and where I was already deeply vested into handloading I chose the 460 simply based upon the abundant and varied versatility of .45 cal projectiles. When you step up to .500 the bullet choices get less and more proprietary. .45 cal is a better value choice IMO if you want to persue shooting light cowboy loads through your big bore. 45 cal hard cast bullets are abundant and easily purchased at your LGS. My wife has actually shot my 460 with my light plinker loads which is 255 gr Elmer Keith hard cast SWC's with 11 gr of WST. Relatively inexpensive fun plinker loads that won't scare your spouse (and that is a GOOD THING)

Based on ammo price, availability and flexibility differences, I'd argue you already have the top dog in X frames.
That said, the heart wants what the heart wants so logic be damned.

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Dave

My two cents, FWIW.

I own three 500s. A standard production 4" and 6-1/2", and a 7-1/2" Performance Center. I wouldn't mind having a 460, but for me it would be pointless. Between the 44 Magnums I own and my 500s, everything I could possibly want to do with a big bore revolver I can do with those.

250 yard shooting with a revolver doesn't really hold any interest for me, so that's a strike ( in my mind, anyway ) against acquiring a 460. I still have reloading dies and brass for 454 Casull from back when I owned a Ruger SRH 454, so it could be fun to shoot 454 Casulls in the 460. But if I got a 460, 454 Casulls would probably be all that I ever shot in it. To my thinking, that would be a waste just to shoot 454s. If I ever wanted to get back into the 454 game, I would just buy another SRH and save over $300.

Now if anyone wanted to give me a 460 S&W, I would certainly take it!!

What a collection! And here I was talking myself out of the purchase of just one X frame revolver.

Yeh. You got to have one. Dam thats alot of guns
My little collection. 2 454. S&W460 and a 9mm.
Yes. I reload.

Attached Images

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Tony

OMG....I must Kneel to the King ....That's a mighty fine collection of revolvers you have there

This tread reminds me of the old 41mag vs 44mag debate

After shooting both pretty extensively, I bought the 460.

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Pass it on.
Mark

Congrates on your gun

There is no wrong choice when it comes to X-frames

Good Luck and be safe
Ruggy

I have a performance center 5" JR500. If you want to know what a 500 is capable of search the forum for "John Ross." There is a lot of good info on load development. I love mine but it gets expensive to shoot factory loads out of. If you plan on buying an X-frame, plan on at least reloading and probably casting to keep the cost down.