460 ammo for deer

[markwdan]

I have a new 460 XVR that I plan on using for deer hunting this season. I have only shot the Hornady 200 GR FTX Leverevolution through it. The ammo is very accurate and has great velocity and energy but I'm not sure if the bullet is good for hunting. The Winchester Dual Bond 260 GR looks like it would be a very good hunting round but I really don't want to have to re-sight in my gun with new ammo before the hunting season. Anybody have an opinion on using the Hornady? Thanks

 

[murphydog]

I don't see a Hornady .460 load on their website. Can you quote its ballistics?

 

[markwdan]

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Handgun :: Choose by Caliber :: 460 S&W :: 460 S&W 200 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®

Try this link.

 

[murphydog]

Got it. My opinion is that load would be adequate to as far out as you can hit a vital area with your 460 XVR, and the bullet will do the job.

 

[max]

Numerous experts have stated that a 45 cast bullet at 900fps will penetrate totally any North American game animal. Whatever load you are accurate with will work fine. You don't need too hot a load that might ruin too much meat.

 

[Cal44]

The best 460 ammo for deer is 45Colt -- if the distance isn't too great.

And then you have 454 Casull as an option.

The beauty of the S&W 460 revolvers.

 

[SMith460]

I shot my first deer using a 460XVR. I hand loaded Hornady XTP Magnums in 250 grain. Hit the deer broadside right behind the shoulder at 50-60 yards. It moved about 5 yards stopped for about five seconds and dropped dead. The exit wound was low as I was in a tree stand (also for the first time). The bullet passed through without even mushrooming I believe? Either way it dropped that dear fast!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a new 460 XVR that I plan on using for deer hunting this season. I have only shot the Hornady 200 GR FTX Leverevolution through it. The ammo is very accurate and has great velocity and energy but I'm not sure if the bullet is good for hunting. The Winchester Dual Bond 260 GR looks like it would be a very good hunting round but I really don't want to have to re-sight in my gun with new ammo before the hunting season. Anybody have an opinion on using the Hornady? Thanks

Sorry and you may not like it but IMO you sound a little lazy not wanting to resight your handgun. If you feel that Winchester round will kill more humanly that's what you should use. Sighting in a handgun isn't all that hard or time consuming, especially since it's already sighted in for a 200gr load and on paper already.

Besides, no one should go hunting without practicing with the load they are going to hunt with. Since you should be firing the gun with the new ammo for practice what's the big deal if you sight it in at the same time? Don't be lazy, do the hunt right!

 

[adudeuknow]

I have been told by many 460 owners to stay away from shooting 45 colt in your gun just because you can unless you like constantly dissolving lead out of your barrel.

 

[Buckey08]

Not sure if lazy comes into play? Cost of ammo today is crazy and if what I have on hand works that's what is going hunting. If you have to order from out of area shipping will make you broke fast and this is what keeps me from buying new barrels and different calibers for my TC Encore. So a lot of things may be going on and lazy might not be one of them.

 

[buck460XVR]

I do not recommend the 200 grainers for deer. Good for paper and Varmints, but IME, not so much for deer. The .460 really shines with heavier bullets going a tad slower. I prefer 300 gr myself. If the 200 grainers are all you have, I suggest you avoid hitting bone with them. The Winnies are good rounds and would work better in my opinion. If the cost of ammo is what is keeping the OP from tryin' something different, or shooting his .460 more, he bought the wrong gun.

I shot my first deer using a 460XVR. I hand loaded Hornady XTP Magnums in 250 grain. Hit the deer broadside right behind the shoulder at 50-60 yards. It moved about 5 yards stopped for about five seconds and dropped dead. The exit wound was low as I was in a tree stand (also for the first time). The bullet passed through without even mushrooming I believe? Either way it dropped that dear fast!

....are those 250gr XTP-MAGS new in the last few months? Have never seen or heard of them. I only know of their 240 and 300 gr XTP-MAGS. The 250 gr .45 caliber XTPs are meant for .45 Colt velocities and applications and have too thin of jackets for legitimate .460 pressures and velocities.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Electronic earmuffs are a must! I have only fired my gun once in the field without using .454. I missed and instantly saw the correction, but did not reengage because it hurt my ears so badly.

I have a box that says 51.4 of 296 with a 200 grain FTX. Nearly max load. I believe that 52.4 was max via Hornady. I like to load a grain under in the lager charges. An experience to behold when it goes off. Not a low flash round.

 

[358156hp]

One of the most amusing incidents happened a couple of years ago while deer hunting. A friend wanted to shoot a deer with his .460 and 200 gr bullets. I watched him line up the sights, and squeeze the trigger. When the gun went off, he dropped it and covered his ears with his hands. He had never fired it without hearing protection before, and it hurt him a bit. I think he was more startled than anything else. He missed the deer, and I didn't fire a shot because I didn't feel safe firing a gun while rolling around on the ground, laughing hysterically.

 

[PCZ]

Hey guys my first post so be gentle. I also have a 460 w/8"brl. I had a harris lug added to mount a rest to try to improve groups. with that said..... I have been shooting the 200gr horney's. When I tried the much slower 260 gr jhp's the group moved up about 18" at 75 yds...

Does anyone have any idea how this is possible? there is no way they shoot that different at 75yds.

 

[PCZ]

someone suggested that the gun is moving up when the bullet leaves the barrel. If that were true, it would seem you could never group unless you braced the gun the same each time. any thoughts?

 

[murphydog]

Heavier bullets will print higher, because they are traveling at lower velocities than lighter ones as a rule. A heavier/slower bullet spends more time traversing the bore so the gun (and group) will rise higher than with a faster round.

"(I)t would seem you could never group unless you braced the gun the same each time."

Correct, you have to have a consistent hold to shoot small groups. If all of your 200 and 260 gr rounds each impact in small groups, only at different elevations, you and the gun are doing their jobs.

 

[PCZ]

I can understand the concept, but this would significantly reduce the flexibility of the weapon. for example:
if i am sighting the weapon off a bench with a rear bag I get say a group zeroed at 75 yards. no problem. I then move to the shooting house without a rear bag and the group should move lower because the force on the front of the gun front is increased. is this correct?

 

[murphydog]

If I understand your question correctly, using the rear bag on a benchrest would decrease muzzle rise, and removing it (and increasing muzzle rise) will make the groups print higher. Someone here correct me if I am wrong, please .

If you are shooting targets this is not an issue, but if you are hunting you need to sight in and practice in field positions. I think it is not so much an issue of flexibility than knowing how you and the gun will do under different shooting conditions.

 

[PCZ]

thanks.... The point "I tried to make" was downward force on the gun (either being held down or resting on a bag) has a larger impact on barrel position before the bullet leaves the muzzle. I'm not implying you'er wrong, I am just surprise the bullet is still in the barrel when the recoil has the barrel pointed up.

 

[IA_shooter]

Hey guys my first post so be gentle. I also have a 460 w/8"brl. I had a harris lug added to mount a rest to try to improve groups. with that said..... I have been shooting the 200gr horney's. When I tried the much slower 260 gr jhp's the group moved up about 18" at 75 yds...

Does anyone have any idea how this is possible? there is no way they shoot that different at 75yds.

My 1st experience with my 460 yesterday mirrored your experience. I first shot Hornady 200 gr FTX's and they were dead on a 3" bullseye @ 50 yards and they are advertised to be around 2200 fps. I switched to some BVAC 300 gr hollow points advertised to be between 1500-1600 fps and they were shooting a good 8"-10" higher at that same distance which really surprised me.