Does 460 PC have polygonal rifling?

[DirtyHairy]

Hey everyone, first post. I’ve decided I’m sold on a 460. Today I called and spoke with an individual from S&W and they told me that the Performance Center 460 has polygonal rifling, but I’m unable to confirm this anywhere else. Have any of you heard of this before?


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[ruggyh]

See the following thread

14in 460 has traditional rifling not gain twist. Why?

be safe
Ruggy

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...they told me that the Performance Center 460 has polygonal rifling...

Polygonal rifling is not the correct term for S&W rifling. They use EDM/ECM rifling or broached rifling.

Which Performance Center model 460 are you asking about?

I don't know about the other PC models but I have the PC 3-1/2" 460 Carry, which has the 3-piece barrel, & from what I see it has the EDM/ECM rifling. The forcing cone's smooth transition, & slightly rounded rifling edges, are key features of that, IMO.

None of my two or three-piece barreled revolvers have broached rifling.

.

 

[DirtyHairy]

Polygonal rifling is not the correct term for S&W rifling. They use EDM/ECM rifling or broached rifling.



Which Performance Center model 460 are you asking about?



I don't know about the other PC models but I have the PC 3-1/2" 460 Carry, which has the 3-piece barrel, & from what I see it has the EDM/ECM rifling. The forcing cone's smooth transition, & slightly rounded rifling edges, are key features of that, IMO.



None of my two or three-piece barreled revolvers have broached rifling.



.

I’m specifically talking about the 7.5” bl PC model


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[ruggyh]

Definations

Polygonal rifling (/pəˈlɪɡənəl/ pə-LIG-ə-nəl) is a type of gun barrel rifling where the traditional sharp-edged lands and grooves are replaced by less-edged "hills and valleys" in a polygonal pattern, usually taking the form of a hexagon or octagon.

gain twist or progressive twist; a twist rate that decreases or increase from breech to muzzle

_________________________________________________________________________________

Broached, EDM, ECM are methods used to perform the rifling.

All 460s have pronounced lands and groves;they are applied in a gain twist fashion- in the 7.5" barrel they starts at 100 to 1 and end at 20 to 1.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[Pizza Bob]

EDM (Electro Discharge Machining) and ECM (Electro Chemical Machining) are two distinctly different types of machining.

ECM is what is used for rifling. EDM is used for things like Magna-porting or cutting some moon clips.

 

[DirtyHairy]

I’m aware of the ECM rifling and gain twist. Maybe when they say polygonal rifling that’s that they mean, is that it’s ECM.

I have now spoken to 3 people through S&W customer service; two of them say that the PC model specifically has polygonal rifling and the standard does not, and one said that the rifling between the two is the same.


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[ruggyh]

To be be clear the 460 do not have polygonal rifling in any model. I own most every model of the 460 S&W produced to date.
The have pronounced lands and groves. The sharpness varies depending on who did the rifling and which technique was used.

Take a look inside a Glock and then any 460 and the difference will become very apparent.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[ruggyh]

From S&W web site - see bold underlined text in their description

Model 460XVR™ | Smith & Wesson

"Starting with their Extra Large Frame, the Smith & Wesson engineers worked to deliver maximum velocity - over 2,300 feet per second - to reach the target faster than ever before. The 460XVR™ has interchangeable compensators to accommodate every load and its "gain-twist" rifled barrel means superb long-range accuracy (beyond 200 yards) with every shot! Only Smith & Wesson could deliver this much power, this much velocity and this much accuracy in a precision, production revolver.

Features
• Removable, interchangeable compensator
• The highest velocity revolver in the world - 2330 FPS/200 grain!
• The most powerful .45 caliber revolver in the world - 2400 lbs/ft!
• If you zero its sights at 200 yards you will bag your buck with a center hold 0-250 yards with no hold over! Just center it and fire. The 460XVR will do the rest
• Gain twist rifled barrel for superb accuracy
• Lighter loads that the 460 will also fire include .45 Colt and .454 Casull"

be safe
Ruggy

 

[Imissedagain]

On the S&W site they use the words.... gain twist... written on some of the 460 model’s pages but not the 460Carry or all others..... just saving ink?
It ain’t poly rifling but getting a gain twist in a 3.5” ..... my blessings/thanks for modern machining!!!

 

[sw282]

S&W 460 PC barrels are actually hammer forged. Made by a company near
Atlanta Ga called Lothar Walther. Most are 3 piece.. Barrel liner, shroud,
then barrel nut. barrel nut is usually the muzzle brake..
This is the process that was used in the old Dan Wesson revolvers...
lts also the way most artillery barrels are made. The barrel liner is actually
stretched under tension between the frame and barrel nut/muzzle brake

 

[The_Truth]

To be be clear the 460 do not have polygonal rifling in any model. I own most every model of the 460 S&W produced to date.
The have pronounced lands and groves. The sharpness varies depending on who did the rifling and which technique was used.

Take a look inside a Glock and then any 460 and the difference will become very apparent.

be safe
Ruggy

please tell me that's a 460 2" and please tell me how to get one

 

[Imissedagain]

The little 460 might be an ES Model.... 2.75” barrel.
We bought the M460 Carry because of the extra velocity of the 3.5” barrel for Sharknado/Megalodon hunting on the West side of the Gulf.

The Sig is a bait rod.... I mean gun.
We load heavy!!!

Would love a 8.375” with a normal muzzle for inland/mountain hunting in the future
or just because!

 

[ruggyh]

please tell me that's a 460 2" and please tell me how to get one

The gun in question is an ES model with barrel length of 2.75"

The difference in velocity between ES and the 3.5" models (there are several) is around 35 fps with the 200 grain FTX Hornady Ammunition.

be safe
Ruggy

 

[nipperdog]

The gun in question is an ES model with barrel length of 2.75"

The difference in velocity between ES and the 3.5" models (there are several) is around 35 fps with the 200 grain FTX Hornady Ammunition.

be safe
Ruggy

My 5" 460V is a Real Flame Thrower with the same Hornady Ammo. I can't imagine what a 2.75 would look like being fired.

 

[DirtyHairy]

S&W 460 PC barrels are actually hammer forged. Made by a company near
Atlanta Ga called Lothar Walther. Most are 3 piece.. Barrel liner, shroud,
then barrel nut. barrel nut is usually the muzzle brake..
This is the process that was used in the old Dan Wesson revolvers...
lts also the way most artillery barrels are made. The barrel liner is actually
stretched under tension between the frame and barrel nut/muzzle brake

I got off the phone with Lothar a few hours ago and the guy said that they haven’t made barrels for S&W in like 6 years. He also said they typically use a button rifling process (I think that’s what it’s called), not hammer forging.

I seem to keep getting mixed information.


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[DirtyHairy]

On the S&W site they use the words.... gain twist... written on some of the 460 model’s pages but not the 460Carry or all others..... just saving ink?

It ain’t poly rifling but getting a gain twist in a 3.5” ..... my blessings/thanks for modern machining!!!

I’m fully aware of what gain twist is, but my original question was if it’s polygonal gain twist or standard gain twist.


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[Imissedagain]

I was told standard and lead bullets are welcome.

So is it really really safe to shoot the 200gr FTX Hornadys
in my 460/3.5” ???? I hate to send it back to that cold
New England slush.

 

[The_Truth]

The gun in question is an ES model with barrel length of 2.75"

The difference in velocity between ES and the 3.5" models (there are several) is around 35 fps with the 200 grain FTX Hornady Ammunition.

be safe
Ruggy

Man... that is a gun I didn't know I had to have

 

[Sevens]

Holy cow, ruggyh! Could there be any one collector that personally owns more .460 S&W Magnum revolvers than you? That is impressive and the picture -- I did a double-take when I saw it!