S&W 460 XVR

The new American Rifleman has a review of the S&W X frame in 350 Legend. It comes with a full moon clip, although not necessary as it will seat on the case mouth too. But that tells me it will probably also be offered in the rimmed 360 Buckhammer cartridge by Remington. I’m sure Smith knew this was coming, considering past collaborations with Remington. They only tested it at 50 yards, would have liked to seen 100 yard performance. Also interesting that the test revolver had a timing problem and had to be returned to the factory for a new cylinder and yoke.
 
I just thought it interesting the test gun had to be returned for major repair.
Click to expand...
Doesn't surprise me. Maybe the new remmie 360 cartridge is aimed squarly at knocking the legend out. I hope it succeeds.:D
 
The 350 Legend may be of interest for some. It looks like it is a ballistic match for the old 357 Super Mag/Maximum. I still have SMs in 357 and 375 from the old silhouette days. I did wonder why they chose a 0.355" bore for the 350 Legend vs. the more standard 0.357 for revolvers.
 
I've had my 460XVR (8-3/8" with swappable comp) for maybe 7 or 8 years now. The log says 655 shots through it. I bought this because a buddy had to move a number of guns to help fund the purchase of a house. I figured it would be just for fun and it has delivered. I use it for two things, really.

From a rest, I slap plates at 100, 200 and 300 yards. I have no scope mounted to it. But more often than that, I bring it out for the wow/fun factor. I have had kids as young as 12 shoot this and unless I am forgetting someone, -NOBODY- wanted to quit with just one shot.

The weight of the revolver, the excellent comp and porting and the ugly but effective Hogue grip all work together to seriously tame the recoil. God's honest truth, I find this revolver more enjoyable than most .44 Magnums that I have ever shot, and the worst .44 Magnums in my hands have definitely been Ruger Blackhawk and Super Blackhawk revolvers. And my Freedom 83 in .454 Casull with 7-1/2" barrel is absolutely more nasty in recoil, no doubt.

I got an opportunity to buy a fat load of the Hornady 240gr XTP-Mag bullet so that's basically all I send through it, powered by 48.0 grains of H-110. I find it interesting and entertaining that at leaves this revolver at 2,000 fps and my ballistic calculator tells me that it is the same diameter as .45 ACP Hardball, ten grains heavier than .45 Hardball and it is going almost exactly the same speed as .45 ACP Hardball at the muzzle (around 800 fps) when my 240 XTP-Mag is at 500 yards.

No, I don't shoot for targets at 500 yards, but it's still a fun fact.

I can certainly imagine that heavier bullets than my 240's could increase the felt recoil, but I haven't ventured there. The super fast 200gr FTX factory load gives me less felt recoil... and I'm going from memory because we went through six boxes of that stuff to begin the brass supply.

With no doubt, the Freedom is a much finer handgun, better built, it's probably not close, but I'm not much of a hogleg kinda guy.

The only other blip I can think of to add is that you should look at this more like a two-caliber gun than a three. .454 and .460 end up awfully close in performance but most .45 Colt is so far out of the range of performance... certainly you can shoot it, but you will be hitting a POA that won't be anywhere near where your sights are adjusted. Admittedly, I have never tried .45 Colt in my XVR but I think you have the chance of running out of vertical adjustment before you get .45 Colt to hit POA. This is merely my guess.
 
I'm with the more "manure" crowd at 74. Only positive I see is you can shoot 45 Colt through it, I've not been enamored with the X frame. I would consider a Redhawk 45 Colt. Having owned several Model 29s and 57s over the years, they are top shelf; however, my six Blackhawks tuned with sights, Belt Mountain Base Pin, and trigger job are just as accurate. My last 3 Blackhawks, two new 44 Special and a 357, needed no trigger work. Forgive my blathering, but a 285gr SWC, at 1057, blows through hogs to 40 yards. 1.5" at 25, too.
 
my .460 S&W is in a ruger #1 single shot, i have not worked with it yet. i will when the weather gets better. it should be as good as my ruger #1 in 45-70.
 
I had them both. It's a fine argument to say that the .500 is more fun and I cannot specifically say that you're wrong.

I chose to sell my .500 and keep the .460. I liked the bullet selection and availability of .452" better than .500" and that was enough to pick a side in the close race.

At this point it seems quite fair to add that my single most -FUN- event with these two were to take aim with each, each pointed at a cantaloupe 10 yards away... the fruit balls were probably almost as distant from each other as well. My thought process was to not hold these two big thumpers next to each other, but to have them both angled away from directly in front of me. I did not want any chance of recoil slapping one revolver in to the other.

Then it was a simple matter to single action cock each, lock aim with each (ha, no small task) and squeeze triggers on each simultaneously.

That was extremely fun and that is truly the only thing I miss since selling the .500 many years ago. And yes, both cantaloupes exploded. None of the six guys standing around thought to video this escapade, I suppose this was before we captured pictures and videos of fun shenanigans.

I suppose I could try a similar shot(s) with my 460XVR and Freedom 83 now but it won't be the same.
 
I've owned one with the 8 3/8 barrel for years. I love the versatility of the gun, as you can shoot 45 colt, 454 Casull, or 460 through it (there are one or two others that will also work but I never shoot them and can't recall which they are). I handload for it, but even if you're not a reloader, the fact that you can shoot so many types of rounds through it will let you customize your experience.

It is accurate. I was once shooting on 100 yard line and the people next to me gawked when we went downrange and exclaimed "you're more accurate with that than we are with our rifles".

It is not only loud, it is concussive with the muzzle break. I shoot at a private club that has covered outdoor shooting lines. It's a pretty typical deal, a concrete shooting line with an A-Frame metal roof. It's not a low roof, there's plenty of room. When I shoot on those lanes, the concussion from the gun comes back off the roof and hits me so hard that I can taste my sinuses. It's no joke on the concussion. I've never shot full-house 460 loads at an indoor range, and I never will.

Recoil is manageable if you have the mindset that wants to manage it. Still, as much as I love it, I never shoot more than 10 rounds through it in a range session. Even when you shoot it properly it's gonna beat you up a little. To put that last statement into reference, I'm 6 feet, 220, I bench over 350 and literally everyone who meets me feels the need to say something about how big I am. I like shooting these guns, but they eventually take a toll. It's not "punishing" to shoot, but what discomfort exists is additive. The more you shoot in a singe session the more you're gonna feel it.

I love the gun. I got it from a buddy who thought he'd love it, but sold it to me with two full boxes of ammo, and a third that was open but missing only five rounds. :)

If you want it, get it.

Also, don't shoot it if you don't want company. Everyone on the firing line will want to know "what that thing is." It's not subtle, and it will draw attention to you.
 
I've owned one with the 8 3/8 barrel for years. I love the versatility of the gun, as you can shoot 45 colt, 454 Casull, or 460 through it (there are one or two others that will also work but I never shoot them and can't recall which they are). I handload for it, but even if you're not a reloader, the fact that you can shoot so many types of rounds through it will let you customize your experience.

It is accurate. I was once shooting on 100 yard line and the people next to me gawked when we went downrange and exclaimed "you're more accurate with that than we are with our rifles".

It is not only loud, it is concussive with the muzzle break. I shoot at a private club that has covered outdoor shooting lines. It's a pretty typical deal, a concrete shooting line with an A-Frame metal roof. It's not a low roof, there's plenty of room. When I shoot on those lanes, the concussion from the gun comes back off the roof and hits me so hard that I can taste my sinuses. It's no joke on the concussion. I've never shot full-house 460 loads at an indoor range, and I never will.

Recoil is manageable if you have the mindset that wants to manage it. Still, as much as I love it, I never shoot more than 10 rounds through it in a range session. Even when you shoot it properly it's gonna beat you up a little. To put that last statement into reference, I'm 6 feet, 220, I bench over 350 and literally everyone who meets me feels the need to say something about how big I am. I like shooting these guns, but they eventually take a toll. It's not "punishing" to shoot, but what discomfort exists is additive. The more you shoot in a singe session the more you're gonna feel it.

I love the gun. I got it from a buddy who thought he'd love it, but sold it to me with two full boxes of ammo, and a third that was open but missing only five rounds.

If you want it, get it.

Also, don't shoot it if you don't want company. Everyone on the firing line will want to know "what that thing is." It's not subtle, and it will draw attention to you.
Click to expand...
Lucky for me, I shoot on private property. I don't think I'll have much to worry about for now since I can't find one anywhere anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top