460 S&W Rifle

[MagSav]

Anybody have one?  How good is it for deer?  What's the range coming out of a 20 inch barrel?

[Grumulkin]

Anybody have one?

Yes but I don't; I have the Encore handgun version.

How good is it for deer?

Very good.

What's the range coming out of a 20 inch barrel?

In my braked handgun (total barrel length with brake 15 inches) the drop from 100 to 200 yards is 7.5 inches.  It should, therefore, be good for at least 200 yards.  The poor ballistic coefficient of most handgun bullets makes the trajectory after 200 yards such that precise range estimation would be a must to shoot at much over that range.

[Heavy C]

I have one MagSav, but haven't had a chance to put it through its paces. 

[MagSav]

I'm counting on you Heavy C.  Lets get to that Range!!

[quickdtoo]

There are a couple pointy bullets that should do good to 200yd and a bit more in the 460 rifle, the Hornady 250gr/300gr SST muzzleloader bullet and the Barnes 275gr XPB, the X-bullet speaks for itself, it's made for the 460, the 250gr SST is popular in Savage smokeless muzzleloaders and known to have good terminal performance with MVs of 2500-2600fps, the 300gr may be a better choice for the 460 tho.

Tim

[tn_junk]

I have one (20" Katahdan) but haven't had the chance to load any rounds up yet, or even mount the scope on it.
Interested to know what your results are.

alan

[Grumulkin]

This 1.5 inch group was shot with a 460 S&W Magnum Encore handgun at 200 yards.

[Heavy C]

I'm counting on you Heavy C.  Lets get to that Range!!

You bet, just as soon as I wrap up my trip to the deer lease this week.  It's the last weekend.  After that I'll have plenty of time for the range.  I hope you're not in a hurry.     

[tn_junk]

Curious about using the Hornady Muzzle Loader bullets: Is there not a possibility of jacket separation, leaving the jacket in the barrel, at the pressures the 460 works at?

alan

[Muddyboots]

Pretty interesting question since I had asked same to Hornady yesterday for a different project gun. They said the SST ML copper jacket was fine for rifles at the velocities for handguns we are talking about. The TC Shockwave is same bullet. BTW - the old Hornady/TC PTX bullet would work as well according to their technical dept. I was looking into rifle barrel for IN deer hunting and wanted to make sure if I went with a .45 handgun in rifle that the SST would hold up. I am still looking at the 454 Casull right now since the .460 SW case is too long (1.8"versus 1.625" allowed) for IN rules. They also make a .44 225 grain tipped bullet but it is not currently available for reloading only in ammo.
Muddy

[encore58]

Pretty interesting question since I had asked same to Hornady yesterday for a different project gun. They said the SST ML copper jacket was fine for rifles at the velocities for handguns we are talking about. The TC Shockwave is same bullet. BTW - the old Hornady/TC PTX bullet would work as well according to their technical dept. I was looking into rifle barrel for IN deer hunting and wanted to make sure if I went with a .45 handgun in rifle that the SST would hold up. I am still looking at the 454 Casull right now since the .460 SW case is too long (1.8"versus 1.625" allowed) for IN rules. They also make a .44 225 grain tipped bullet but it is not currently available for reloading only in ammo.
Muddy

TC had accuracy problems with .454 Casull barrel and quit making them due to this problem. I personally talked to a guy at their custom shop about this matter so it is no rumor. You may want to look at another barrel manufacturer than TC if you get a 454 Casull barrel.
I never had any luck with accuracy out of the 460 SW TC barrel either. I had Bullberry build me a 44 mag rifle barrel that is very accurate but the price of the barrel was ridiculous.