460 handloads

[hogdoctor]

I was just wondering if anyone else out there is handloading loads for the 460 Magnum. I'm relatively new to handloading/reloading and I'm using a load that works really well in my 460 XVR with an 8 3/8" barrel.
I shot a small doe with it this season and I could literally put my fist through both the entrance and exit wounds. It's a 300gr Hornady XTP Mag bullet over 42 grains of Win296 with WLRM primer. I'm getting 1875 avg muzzle velocity with 1" groups at 100 yds. Anyone have suggestions on what I should try next?

 

[ruggyh]

Several post here in the last year.

Try 4227 under the 300 XTP MAG. That bullet will be just as effective at 1600 fps as your max load.

You will find you don't have to drive bullets to the max to get good grouping.

 

[hogdoctor]

Will do. Thanks. I happen to have a few pounds of 4227. I've been using it for my 444 Marlin loads with good results. Do you use magnum or standard primers with your 4227 loads?

 

[ruggyh]

With 460 and 500 I use WLR almost exclusively.
I have used Federal 210 also with H110.

I have not found a load requiring magnum primers.

That said I only select powders and load combinations with case volumes greater than 80% and in the case of H110 greater than 90%.



Tested Tula and did not like them in 460 or 500.
I do use the Tulas in 308 without issue.

 

[Jboutfishn]

I have had good results using 45 gr H110 under a 240 gr Hornady XTP Mag using Fed 215 Primers.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm getting 1875 avg muzzle velocity with 1" groups at 100 yds. Anyone have suggestions on what I should try next?

Why would you want to try anything else? 1'' groups @ 100 yards with a revolver? The large entrance wound in the small doe is not a result of expansion, but more likely the effect of hydrostatic shock from velocity and odds are, close range. My son shot a small doe this year in the shoulder with his .44 mag rifle getting similar velocities as your .460. Entrance and exit wounds were similar. Small animal, large diameter bullet traveling a moderate velocity=massive tissue damage. I see no failure with your load, so see no reason to change it if your accuracy is that good, the recoil is not prohibitive and extraction is easy. I myself see no reason to drive a bullet that fast from my .460 for hunting deer, but since I load for accuracy, velocity is really a moot point. IME, 4227 will probably give your excellent accuracy with less velocity, but will probably not change the amount of damage done on a small deer.