.460 S&W vs .454 Casull velocity

[palgeno]

OK, Guys--I've been waiting for someone to bring this up---guess I'll have a go at it. Since an Encore barrel is available in .460 S&W---from SSK anyway---some folks are salivating for one. I'm wondering if it would really be an improvement over a properly loaded .454 Casull---whether in  Encore or revolver barrel. The S&W .460 revolver tested in the April/May issue of Handguns Magazine had an 8 1/2" barrel of which 71/2" was rifled and 1" was a comp chamber. This is comparable to an FA model 83 with 7 1/2" barrel. The .460 got 2340 fps with a 200gr XPB bullet---speedy for a revolver. The 250gr XPB load gave 1865fps. The FA web site lists .454 Casull loads with a 240 gr bullet at 2090fps and a 260 gr bullet at 2005 fps. So what would happen if the .454 Casull was loaded with the 200gr XPB bullet? Would it be too long for the chamber in the FA revolver? Maybe? In an Encore barrel it would fit since the chambers seem to be longer than necessary in the factory barrels. I'm going to take a wild guess that the .454 Casull loaded with the 200gr bullet would be very close to the .460 S&W in velocity and not really a signifigant improvement. COMMENTS PLEASE!!!!!!    :shock:  :shock:  :shock: pg

[Redhawk1]

I can't wait for more information on the 460.  I would like to see a comparison on both with a 200 gr. bullet. :-)

[palgeno]

OK--let me throw in one more thought---when using very heavy  cast lead bullets---eg: long bullets----the shorter .454 case will run out of capacity before the .460 case and this would result in greater velocity for the .460 ----at least in theory. But S&W is pushing the high velocity as a marketing theme so as not to encroach on the .500 S&W power theme. I'll stick my neck out and postulate that with a very long, heavy bullet, say 400 to 450 gr, the .460 would be close or maybe even better than the .500!!! Should I duck for cover now?? :shock: pg

[Redhawk1]

That is some food for thought.  :yeah: