Moving up from .44 Mag - Which?? .454, .460, 500??

[hawk45]

Love my 5" 629 full lug and reload both 240's and 300's. I'm thinking about trying something bigger and have been leaning towards the 500 magnum b/c I can always load it down, but step it up if need some heat. I know there is lots of love for the 454 out there and usually see the 500 recommended over the 460.

What would you guys recommend, or what did you do after moving up from the .44?

Thanks,
Hawk

 

[roscoepc]

After some research earlier this year, (Begging and Groveling were involved also!), I went with the 500, 8-3/8" barrel w/interchangeable compensator. A fine shooting weapon with just a bit more kick than my Model 29, 8-3/8" barrel.

It's gonna depend on just what you're looking for.. The 460 mag has the highest muzzle velocity of ANY production handgun and is versatile in the ability to also use the .454 Cassull and the, .45 (Long Colt?), in the same gun. But if you want power, nothing will beat the 500 mag!! She'll tame tigers, make lions play dead, and turn bears into rugs....






Oops.... Did I mention the B word??!!!! Sorry...

 

[colt_saa]

If you hand load (and it sounds like you do) the 500 S&W Magnum is probably the most versatile cartridge ever designed.

I will take projectiles from 275 grains through 725 grains. Lead or jacketed. Mild or Wild.

Plus the 500 S&W Magnum is exceptionally accurate.

If you do not handload. The 460s ability to safely chamber and shoot 454 Cassul, 45 Long Colt, 45 Short Colt and 45 Schofield would be the winning move.

 

[ErnieDeBord]

500............awsome

 

[inspcalahan]

I've got a 6.5 inch PC 460 that I absolutely love! It'll handle the .460 which has a pretty diverse load availability (although not quite as much if you handload with the big .500), plus as mentioned above - I can shoot .454 and .45LC, etc. Pretty handy I guess. Maybe I just need both to be sure.....

 

[Kid44]

Just curious........

why are you moving up from .44 magnum? A .44 will handle 99% of most of our needs, what are you hunting that is in the other 1%? I bought a .454 but not to hunt with, but to try to sell for a profit but have not tried yet. Contemplated keeping it but I don't see the need for it, around here anyway. I think it's a gun that needs to go to someone in Alaska or at least gets up there to hunt. It's the Ruger Super Redhawk Toklat with 5" barrel, it's still handy and fairly compact if I ever decide to carry it and it came with scope rings.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[ruggyh]

Shoot all of them before you buy and make a decision based on that experience.

Own 18 X-frames, love them.
Prefer the 460 personally, shoot a lot of 500 also.

Enjoyment comes from shooting these guys.

If you not a hand loader it not to going to make much difference in the end because you wont be shooting much. Not much fun in having a safe queen.
My 2 cents.

As far as versatility both the 460 and 500 can be loaded over a wide range and have good selection of usable bullets available to the hand loader. In the end its more about you. At the top end whats a hundred foot pounds of energy difference mean when either cartridge will drop an elephant.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

 

[mtgianni]

My boss has all three that he has bought as investments. I have shot them all and find it about as fun as prepping for a colonoscopy. Move up to a 45 Ruger Blackhawk or a 454 unless you are handgun hunting in Africa. OST, if you do that go for a 15" single shot TC Encore. Target recovery should be about the same.

 

[jtcarm]

why are you moving up from .44 magnum?

Why not?

**************

 

[hawk45]

Why not?

**************

This ^^

I don't hunt with my handguns. I just enjoy shooting and like to try something different. Spice of life.

 

[hawk45]

On my other thread I have a few videos of me shooting one handed 700gr rounds for fun...lol


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I'll have to go check those out.

I really wish there was a full lug 5-6" barrel. The 4" seems too short (really like 3" with the brake) and the 8" seems huge.

 

[hawk45]

Haha!! Thanks for the pics and feedback. That video shooting the 700gr was crazy. I think I would have had to wear a helmet to try that one. But with 5K rounds a year down yours, I've got a feeling you know how to handle it.
Cheers,
Hawk

 

[Earthquake Jake]

I dig the ****e out of my 460V.

X Frame's are not for everyone, but they're nothing to be scared of either.

Be SURE to wear heavy duty hearing protection and that's no lie!!!

Haven't hunted with mine yet, but I can sure say that at the range, whether inside or out... You can believe that people will stop and wonder what your shooting.

The concussion simply has to be experienced to be believed.

Simply awesome.

 

[hawk45]

I've got lots of time behind high power magnum rifles w/o brakes, so not really recoil shy. I was never a big revolver guy, but wanted to add a few to my collection. Started with a Lady Smith I got for a steal which is a real beauty. Then got the 629. I thought the 629 was going to be stout, but was mild compared to what I was expecting from all the hype you see about the 44 mag. Maybe that is because people try to shoot revolvers like semi-autos and don't let the arms ride the recoil, instead try to hold solid arms.

Always where double ears when I shoot anything other than .22.

Thanks for all the help guys. 500 looks like the way to go since I reload.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Shoot all of them before you buy and make a decision based on that experience.

Own 18 X-frames, love them.
Prefer the 460 personally, shoot a lot of 500 also.

Enjoyment comes from shooting these guys.

If you not a hand loader it not to going to make much difference in the end because you wont be shooting much. Not much fun in having a safe queen.
My 2 cents.

As far as versatility both the 460 and 500 can be loaded over a wide range and have good selection of usable bullets available to the hand loader. In the end its more about you. At the top end whats a hundred foot pounds of energy difference mean when either cartridge will drop an elephant.

Good luck and be safe
Ruggy

^^^this^^^

One of the most experienced X-frame owners you find on this forum.

I have a 460v and have ZERO regrets about it. I own 2 other 44's, a 4" 29-2 and a 6.5" 629-6 Classic.

I understand that alot of folks here like the ability to load down to milder stuff... But in my case, I didn't spend almost a G on my 460 to run mild loads out of it. I enjoy shooting powerful firearms. When I began handloading for my 460, I worked up as high as she would take it without sticky extraction (WITHIN PUBLISHED DATA TABLES). And I concur on that "slap in the face" the fully comped 460v gives the shooter. It will clear stopped up sinuses in 1 cylinder full sent downrange..guaranteed.

My brother owns a 500 with 8-3/8" barrel. I have fired that several times with 350gr XTP Mags handloaded to the max he was able to work up to. I notice that his 500 hits you in the hand harder but doesn't slap you in the face with that percussion like my 460v does. I attribute this to the fact that his 500 is top ported only vs my 460 being fully comped.

Both are awesome weapons and an absolute metric ton of fun! You can't go wrong with either one if you reload. I plan to get a 4" or 6.5" 500 in my locker to accompany my 460 at some point.

It doesn't have to be 460 vs 500, how about 460 AND 500??!!

 

[tinman931]

..just to put it into perspective...

5,000 rds ÷ 20 rds per box × $55 per box = $13,750 in a year....not counting shipping.

....OUCH!....not to mention all the other calibers I shoot per year...


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Wow! I don't know what you do for a living but if they are hiring let me know.

 

[Desert Pete]

I shoot a 460 with an 8 3/8 barrel with full power hand loads. I love it. My wife refers to it as my Jesus Gun because of the glow around me every time I pull the trigger! The muzzle blast is not for the faint hearted but the recoil is quite manageable.

My brother shoots a 500. He likes it, I don't think the ergonomics is quite right for the caliber. As mentioned earlier, it sort of slams the hand. The 460 just rocks you.

Both are good guns. You really can't go wrong. Mostly a matter of personal preference.

 

[Nemo288]

Get either the 460 or 500, then start saving up for the carbine
I'd have one if they were made in the 1.6" 44.
I do have a few in 44 Mag.

Since I really am a 44 nut, I decided that when "stepping up" from
the 44 magnum, I would just launch the heavier bullets faster.
This led me to the 445, 444 and considering a wildcat more powerful than that.
The 440 GNR (44 - 50 Alaskan) looks interesting but for the very short neck.

Enjoy your X frame(s)!

===
Nemo

 

[DonD]

why are you moving up from .44 magnum?

Why not? It’s simply fun to deal with a somewhat reasonably sized revolver which has so much sheer power. We never need to justify our purchases as long as we can afford to do so. Don

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Which big bore to get?

I've shot & loaded for both the 460 & the 500. Without a question they're a HOOT to SHOOT!! Crazy power & a wide range of bullets available. Recoil is surprisingly managable with comp'd guns. Bullets for the 460 (.452") are far more common on the shelf than the 500 around here. Unless I'm missing something though, reduced load info is far & few between on either, in any variety, from powder/bullet manufacturers. I'm sorry, I like a variety of power levels in all my magnums. (I don't drive my muscle car with the gas floored all the time, though it'd be interesting, for a while. )

(I'm going to assume you'll reload as I can't see how anyone without deep pockets could justify buying & shooting one of these otherwise.)

If I had to have only one (thankfully not) I like the 454 Casull. It can't quit match the 460 for max power, but not by much. Grain for grain, powder wise, it's more efficient than the 460. The 460 needs 8-10grs. (reference Hornady #8) more powder just to reach the same velocity with the same bullet/powder combo. Of course, all the same 460 bullets are available for the 454C too. The cases are cheaper (1/2 price). When shooting 45 Colt in the 454C, vs the 460, there's less of a jump from the case mouth to the throat (~.100" vs ~.500") which helps especially with lead bullets.

The 454C's minuses, IMO, are it's small rifle primers, some what restricted cylinder lengths, & the (biggie) fact that S&W doesn't make a gun dedicated solely to it.

But if you just want the biggest & baddest, go with the 500! Just try it before you buy it!

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