Heaviest Bullet load for 460 S&W Mag?

Hey guys,

I just wanted to add that I have been experimenting with some 420 grain .452 bullets that I got from Jae-Bok ( the maker of the legendary 45-70 Crater bullets). I have been getting great results with the Lil Gun powder and have not noticed any flame cutting after about 100 rounds. My max load shows no pressure signs but the recoil is VERY HEAVY to say the least. Everyone that has shot one of my hand loads has only shot one... LOL... My 460V with a non-ported end cap and these 420 grain bullets is not for the recoil shy...
 
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420 grain WFNGC bullets (9mm for comparison), S&W 460V with non-ported end cap...
 
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460Mag loads

I have been reloading for the 460 for awhile know and have used Ranger Ricks bullets out of Alaska, I thought I read that he was bought out by another bullet mfg. Pictured below are some examples...a 535 gn WFNGC "bologna" style bullet loaded with 21.0 gns of H110...a 300gn "truncated" ftx style...a 265gn wad-cutter....also pictured for reference is a 275gn Barnes XPB
 

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I know I'm late to this party, but I recently sized some .45-70 515-520 grain bullets down to .452 and installed a gas check. loaded with 28 & 29 grains of Lil Gun and they showed no signs of over pressure and the recoil was not terrible out of my 8 3/8 barrel. Currently waiting for my Mountain Molds 400 grain custom mold to show up so I can start working my loads up for those! :eek:
 
Out of your S&W revolver lead bullets exceeding 500 grains leaves little room for powder.

I find lead in 360 grain range performs best (gas checked).

In the single shoots and BFR bullets up 740 grains can be accommodated.

As shown before picture of bullets for 460 in S&W revolvers.
I am sure there a some other lead bullets that could be added but I have not tried them.

wdescrip_zps8d115dc5.jpg
 
I loaded them with 28 & 29 grains of Lil Gun and seated them to an overall length of 2.3 inches, just enough to clear the cylinder. Shot great, bucked a bit but really no more than some of my 260-360 grain bullets. I have read of a guy that loads to 30 grains of Lil Gun for 1350 fps average.
 
Remember the longer bullets and 460 twist are going to go side ways on you once you start trying to reach out past 100 yards.

As stated above the heaver bullets have limitations. Once you go longer than the 360 grain bullets your twist rate will not be sufficient to stabilize the bullet.

We have also turned down Some 500gr Barnes 458 bullets and shoot them out of the BFR. The are to long for the s@W but I have shortened them also to load in the S&W but results were not favorable enough to continue.

If you really want to push big lead out of the 460 cartridge you nee to get a BFR with a 14/1 twist and 3" long cylinder. We are shooting a 740 grain bullet (custom mold) out of those with reasonable results.

We are loading those 740 with IMR 4198 going 900 fps out 10" BFR.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

PS: I would concentrate on the 360 gr if you really want to shoot lead.

Borrowed photo showing the 740 next to 540 if I remember correctly. (BFR friends Photo)

hammers_zpsjfw1xwug.jpg
 
Ruggy, I completely agree about the BFR twist and cylinder, When buying mine I spaced looking at the BFR and just bought the S&W. While I'm very happy with it, I think one could go just a bit further with the faster twist and longer cylinder. Meh, hindsight...
One of these days I'll be able to afford a second hand cannon.
 
I saw a guy at a range in Lapeer, Mi on Friday shoot 410gr and 535gr lead bullets out of his Performance Center 460. He told me he got the bullets from a guy he knew in Alaska. I see someone else mentioned that same thing earlier. How would I get the sized down 410gr or 535gr bullets, as I don't have the ability to make/ size my own?
 
Sgtguardsman said:
I saw a guy at a range in Lapeer, Mi on Friday shoot 410gr and 535gr lead bullets out of his Performance Center 460. He told me he got the bullets from a guy he knew in Alaska. I see someone else mentioned that same thing earlier. How would I get the sized down 410gr or 535gr bullets, as I don't have the ability to make/ size my own?
Click to expand...

Your S&W won't stabilize these longer bullets very well, the 535 will be sideways at 100 yards.

Once you reach 360 grains you have already passed point of added value in respects to hunting and weight has no value for punching paper.

If it's because you can, than you need a BFR to really shoot heavy bullets.

Tony's 405s actually weight is around 413 (if they are the one I sent him)

I know you said you don't have the ability but you might reach out in your shooting community and find some to help you to resize .458 bullets to .452/.453 (which are typically how these guys are getting these weights).

You could also have custom molds made if you are set on pursuing bullets 405 and heavier, casting your own.

That is what several off us here have done to experiment and do their "because".

good luck and be safe
Ruggy
 
Heavy .460 Bullets

Ok, I found some bullets online that were 405 and 420 from Beartooth and Jae-Bok Young respectively. I may try those and see what they do. They are not cheap, so I will probably stay with the production bullets I shoot in 200-300gr. As they still are accurate out to 100 yrds+. I have 395 cast round from Corbon that I bought about 10 years ago. I only use those when I bear hunt as a "Back up" to my bow, as I prefer to archery hunt more than gun hunt. I was just curious to the Extremely heavy bullets after speaking to/ watching the guy Friday fire his 410's and 535's at 100 yrds. He seem to hit what he shot at, but the bullets could have hit sideways also as you mentioned. I had the "sideways" thing happen to me before with 75gr bullets out of my Howa 1500 22-250. The rifling is not 1-12 as it should be to stabilize. I found there I could only fire 64gr as the max weight for that rifle. Thanks for the input.
 
If your premise is you need heavy bullet for bear you have been mislead.

The heaviest bullet I have used to date is 300 grains on bear.
I have used 200 PBX grain Barnes, 240 grain cutting Edge Raptors, 260 CPS North Fork, and 300 XTP MAG.

Bear hunting and bear protection are two different things.

Protection means up close and personal, A 340-360 grain LFN or WFN loaded at 1400-1500 fps allows low recoil and full penetration of just about anything.
Just what is need when protecting yourself regardless of critter.

good luck and be safe
Ruggy
 
I'm glad I revisited this thread. I missed some post's in 2015 & 2016. Thanks for all the great relies everyone.
 
A few weeks ago I saw a show where the 460 was taken to AFRICA !!!!!

The bullet was the Hornady 300gr XTP.

A Eland and record Gemsbok were taken off of a stick rest.
Shots were at 100 yards or less.
The Eland took two shots to finish it off.
A large Eland can get up to 2,200 pounds.

Good hunting.
 
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