Just looking for some input from people who own the Smith & Wesson 460 with a 5" barrel on how you like it compared to other barrel lengths.
I have seen the question poised on several occasions.
Most of us know that even the same barrel length revolvers will deliver a small difference because of a variety of factors.
I decided to chrono each barrel length under the same conditions earlier this month.
A few notes:
• The 8.375” gun has in excess of 10000 round down the tube buy myself and the previous owner, whom said he shot about 6000 Colt, 1000 Casull, and only a few boxes of Hornady 200 grain. I have shoot 3000 rounds of a variety of 460 rounds from 200 to 300 grain.
• The 10.5” gun Has about 6000 rounds of 460 S&W most of which are equivalent to Hornady factory 200 loads.
• The rest of the guns have less than 3000 rounds each.
• The 2.75” and 3” guns have low round count less than 1000 each.
Data collected with Kurzzeit chronograph
Factory Hornady 200 FTX ammo, all from the same lot, was used.
The 300grain XTP MAG under 38.2grains of H110 with a OAL of 2.195”
200 Grain Hornady FTX DATA
Barrel Length AVG of 5 shoots
2.75" 1897fps
3.5" 2033fps
4" 2059fps
6.5" 2165fps
7.5" 2240fps
8.375" 2180fps
10.5" 2203fps
12" 2370fps
14" 2313fps
14" c 2318fps
Ruger #1- 22" 2924fps
300 Grain , 38.2 H110, OAL 2.195
Barrel Length AVG of 5 shoots
2.75" not tested
3.5" not tested
4" 1409fps
6.5" 1495fps
7.5" 1549fps
8.375" 1502fps
10.5" 1536fps
12" 1542fps
14" 1528fps
14" c 1559fps
Ruger #1-22" 2161fps
I know people will say that no handgun is enough to stop a charging bear, but I wonder if they ever shot a 460 or 500... with heavy hardcast rounds.
Yea but the frame on your 5" 44 Mag is much smaller than an X frame with a 5" barrel. I have a 629 5" that feels like a 22 after firing my 500.I've got a 5" .44 Magnum. I would NOT want to shoot a .460 out of that same barrel length.
Muzzle blast is half the fun!Bill, yes the heavier X-frame would help with the recoil. However, that 5" barrel is a killer for muzzle blast (even worse would be one of those snub-nose Alaskan's).
Bill, yes the heavier X-frame would help with the recoil. However, that 5" barrel is a killer for muzzle blast (even worse would be one of those snub-nose Alaskan's).
If muzzle flash is a concern choose a powder less prone.
Use#9 or better yet N110.
...
be safe
Ruggy
Handloading for the 460 is pretty cheap. Campro makes .452 copper plated bullets rated for 2000fps. I can't imagine anyone owning a 460 or 500 and shooting factory ammo. S&W doesn't make a 5" 500 so it's obviously a mistake on Wolverine's website..460 Smith & Wesson is expensive stuff up here. The local guys at Bullseye London want $46.99Cdn per 20 for that 200 grain Hornady FTX stuff.
Wolverine in Virden, MB(dunno either) lists 5" M500's. None in stock or course. And it's $1600Cdn.
Wouldn't think a 5" .460 is much different from a 5" any other large calibre.
S&W doesn't make a 5" 500 so it's obviously a mistake on Wolverine's website.
Do you have load data for N110 in the 460?....know it can be used in 460, but VV doesn't list anything and data online is kind of sparse. TIA
BillSussman said:Handloading for the 460 is pretty cheap.
No it's not.
There is a cannelure on Campro .452 250gr bullets and they are rated at 2000fps.I agree. Brass is expensive and it does not last as long as most other revolver brass if you load it to legitimate .460 pressures. Proper projectiles designed for the accuracy obtainable with the .460 and proper terminal performance and not cheap either. Without a cannelure on those Campro .452 copper plated bullets, I cannot see them loaded to the claimed 2000FPS, without the other four in the cylinder jumping crimp. While reloading for the .460 is much less expensive as buying factory, done right it still is not cheap. You don;t buy a thoroughbred race horse, put it out in a random field and expect it to race well on Saturday. Same goes for the .460. Iffin you can't afford to feed it, get something else.
That isn't entirely true. I know several people that work in the woods up north and have a permit to carry a revolver with them for protection.The problem is the only thing you can do with a handgun in Canada is go to a government approved range to shoot paper or steel targets. You can’t use it for hunting, you can’t carry, you can’t do nothing with it legally outside of it being trigger locked in a locked container going to the government approved range to shoot paper or steel targets.
So all the talk about charging grizzly bears, hunting or self defence with a handgun just doesn’t apply. Also any barrel shorter than 4.25” is prohibited and unless you have a 12.XX designation on your RPAL you ain’t having one.