Do 460/500's have firing pin issues?

Nframe357 · #1 08-20-2009, 10:07 AM

I've read alot and actually seen the too short firing pin issue personally, been thinking about getting a big revolver and of course a 500 tops the list. Have any of you 460/500 owners had any issues with FTF's? How about lock failure with such high recoil? Thanks.

DonD · #2 08-20-2009, 12:49 PM

I've had .500 Mags since 2003 and have never heard of either failure to fires or lock failures on these guns. Perhaps someone will contradict me. Most of the lock issues have been with the ultra light scandium guns firing .357s or the 20 something ounce .44 Mags S&W makes. Don

duckloads · #3 08-20-2009, 01:34 PM

I've shot a couple of hundered or more rounds from mild to wild out of my 460 XVR. Never a ftf or lock issue.

460v LAC du FLAMBEAU · #4 08-20-2009, 02:09 PM

Zero problems with the 4" 500 or 5" 460v for past 3 years.

Can you say...Kaboom!?!

Go get one!

500 Magnum Nut · #5 08-20-2009, 02:34 PM

When they first came out, so they redesigned the cartridge (primers from large pistol primers to large rifle primers).

Now all is well with the big boomer.

With the super heavy loads, hold the gun firmly or you will experience the cylinder unlocking on you and spinning backwards. Some claim to get a double tap like full auto.

A couple of links. One is a S&W video is slow motion. Watch the trigger finger, this is done to explain why the gun unlocks on recoil. The shooters finger is inducing the problem. The other video was found on the net and is unknown if it is real or not. I believe it is real.

500 DOUBLE video by 500magnumnut - Photobucket

500 slow motion video by 500magnumnut - Photobucket

Nframe357 · #6 08-20-2009, 06:08 PM

Thanks folks, thinking real hard about a 5" 460.

roger460xvr · #7 08-20-2009, 07:32 PM

Never had any problems like that with my 460xvr..lots of reloads threw it too..

markd · #8 08-20-2009, 08:58 PM

Couple of hundred rounds through my 8" 460xvr with no problems.

grit · #9 08-20-2009, 09:34 PM

The only problems I ever heard of, specifically regarding the firing pin of a 460/500, were with the early 500's...firing pins were piercing the large pistol primers. This damaged some firing pins, but I guess that was more of a primer issue though. Since the switch to LR primers, I've heard nothing.

S&W addressed the "double-tap" issue by putting a more robust spring in 500's...again since then, I've heard nothing.

I have had a 5" 460 and a 5" 500. I got the 460 because it seemed so practical to be able to shoot 3 calibers. Ended up only shooting 460 through it because .454 rounds were weaker but about as expensive as .460's and .45 Colt seemed like a cap gun...very anemic.

'Sold the 460 and bought my 500...I can load it down as much as I want, and the 460 (although an incredible round) really can't compete with the power of a 500....just a totally different feeling to shoot.

I bought a big-bore to make BIG holes!!! That, and EVERYBODY knows what a 500.

FYI--I've never heard of a 460 having any issues like the ones listed above.

beaverislander · #10 08-22-2009, 06:30 PM

I have had 4 FTF's with my 460, but they were due to Hornady omitting the flash holes in the factory ammo.
Scarey as hell, as it locks the cylinder up TIGHT, and all you are left with is a club.
CorBons are more expensive but they always go bang (at least for me.) Guess it just depends what you are going to do with them, but I will never use Hornady for anything other than plinking.

DonD · #11 08-22-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaverislander

I have had 4 FTF's with my 460, but they were due to Hornady omitting the flash holes in the factory ammo.
Scarey as hell, as it locks the cylinder up TIGHT, and all you are left with is a club.
CorBons are more expensive but they always go bang (at least for me.) Guess it just depends what you are going to do with them, but I will never use Hornady for anything other than plinking.

That's really impressive QA on their ammo. Don