460v vs 460xvr

No accuracy loss, but you will lose velocity. I would rather carry a .454 than a short .460, but that’s just me.

I was in the same boat a few months ago, Huntolive. I went for the 5" because of better packability/holstering. It is as accurate as my 6" M629 (very accurate); that's the best comparison I can make. A small velocity loss was not a concern for me...the 460V is still plenty fast!

FWIW, listen to Max.

The 8 inch barrel will have a longer sight radius and with iron sights that 3 extra inches will be the accuracy gain factor. I don't believe the extra barrel length will make any difference in accuracy.

Huntolive said:

Why would there be no accuracy loss from the 5-inch to the 8 and 3/4 in?
I can get the 460v 5 inch very lightly used and nearly perfect condition for 940
Or a brand new 460xvr for 1080
I'm very torn between the two.

It's hard to believe that the extra 3 in of barrel would not add accuracy.
Is there something different about 460s that make the barrel length less relevant?
So are you saying if you got a 460 you would get the longer Barrel?
I do have a 454 Casull Toklat 5"
And 454 Casull Freedom Arms model 83 with a ported barrel

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Accuracy is not determined by barrel length. The longer sight radius is easier to shoot accurately for many over a shorter barrel when using open sights, but barrel length has no bearing on accuracy.

I bought my 460V for fun and for packing in bear and moose country. It shoots like a laser out to 100 yards easily, and it’s very well balanced. For that purpose the 460V is a much better and faster handling gun IMO.

Yes, you will likely lose a fair amount of velocity. But will it matter?

The real questions to me are how far are you shooting and what are you shooting at? If you’re shooting at big critters at a longer distance, I say go with the XVR. If you are shooting at medium size game at shorter distances, you’d be fine with the V, but the XVR is still going to better utilize the potential of the cartridge.

I would also consider a BFR. We’ve seen up to 200 more fps from a 7 1/2-inch BFR over a 10-inch S&W with the same loads.

The V is LOUD and the blast is something to behold. Knowing what I know now I would go with the XVR.

Well then, you clearly need to get the XVR since you want more velocity and clearly understand the challenge of the longer barrel... plus you need to add a 8 3/4" revolver to your wheelhouse!

Huntolive said:

I understand packability but I have 5 " RH 44 Mag And 5" SRH Toklat and 627 8 shot 357 if I want trail gun

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MaxP said:

I would also consider a BFR. We’ve seen up to 200 more fps from a 7 1/2-inch BFR over a 10-inch S&W with the same loads.

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Max, would you attribute that velocity gain mostly to cylinder gap or other things? Big gain while giving up 2.5in.

Have you handled both in various positions?

Those maybe 8"+ barrels sometimes make me wish I was just carrying a small rifle. At least that's how I felt with mine.

I prefer 6" or less for hunting and woods use.

But that's just me.

I will mirror that the longer barrel is more about sight radius for accuracy vs intrinsic accuracy of a longer barrel (which may or may not be a thing)

If you already have two .454 revolvers, getting a short barrel (5" ) .460 will get you more velocity, but it won't get you that much more... especially over the FA revolver (Unless it's the 4 3/4" version, which is really short). And yes, the blast from a ported 5" .460 will rattle your fillings, there is a lot of powder rattling around in that case. If you want a "compact" package that adds a whole new dimension to your current ultra-magnum compact gun battery, get a .500 S&W. 4". (The .500 also comes in the 8 3/8" model as well.)

If you want the .460 to be substantially more than your .454's...especially since you're spending over a grand to get one, then go with the longer barrel and scope it. You won't regret it .

Stay safe.

Huntolive said:

I have always ruled out the 500 Smith & Wesson to to the price of ammo and it just seems excessive. I always believed they had plenty with 454 Casull and actually I still think that's true. But...
Since now I'm considering a 460 what would a 500 Smith & Wesson actually DO the 460 can't?

What appeals to me about the 460xvr is it's reported to be reasonably smooth shooting and of course the fact that it also shoots 454 Casull and 45 Colt like my Casull s do, plus their purported to be extremely accurate more so than high-quality 44 Magnums.

Should I reconsider 500 Smith & Wesson?
From what I understand the answer that is no.

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The .500 is unquestionably a bigger hammer. You just have to decide what your use will be. I really like (understatement) the .50 cals. I never warmed to the X-frame for a number of reasons, but I have always felt that a double-action revolver is the wrong platform for such powerful cartridges. Having the cylinder solidly mounted in the frame just makes sense. I finally warmed to the .500 Smith when I got a BFR in that chambering and I used it in Texas (episodes 3 and 4 of season 2 of Big Iron) I’m whitetail and a water buffalo. Either the right bullets, the .500 Smith is in a class of its own. It absolutely puts animals down right now (with good shot placement) unlike anything else I have used (my .500 Maximum was also a big hammer). Sorry for the thread drift.

All .460s will shoot the lesser .45s (.45 Colt, .454 Casull), but I have never met one that shoots them really well from an accuracy standpoint. If you need less, downloading is the key.

Huntolive said:

But how much Velocity in Practical terms will I lose?

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I do not own both so I can't offer a comparison.

Huntolive said:

Since I already have 454 Casull s the main advance of the 460 is Velocity and accuracy, so why compromise that w 5 " barrel

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If you already have a 454 in your lineup, then hands down go with the XVR. I did not have a 454 when I bought mine, so to me the V was a good compromise for my purposes. You already have that velocity category covered. A longer barrel will provide enough velocity difference that it will make sense.

However,

Huntolive said:

I plan to hunt deer and hogs at up to 100yards

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If this is the intended use, your Toklat is perfectly adequate IMO and far more handy. MAybe a bit short, but at 100 yards on game that size I think you'd be fine.

jdh said:

The V is LOUD and the blast is something to behold. Knowing what I know now I would go with the XVR.

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True. Mine will produce a fireball the size of a basketball that is visible in full sunlight. While it is kind of funny, it just means the powder isn't being fully burned and you are sacrificing velocity.

Huntolive said:

I have always ruled out the 500 Smith & Wesson to the price of ammo and it just seems excessive.

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If you aren't loading your own 454, 460, or 500 ammo, then you are severely limiting yourself. Just saying.

Huntolive said:

Since now I'm considering a 460 what would a 500 Smith & Wesson actually DO the 460 can't?

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It'll throw A LOT heavier bullet, but on deer and hogs it's totally unnecessary.

Huntolive said:

What appeals to me about the 460xvr is it's reported to be reasonably smooth shooting and of course the fact that it also shoots 454 Casull and 45 Colt like my Casull s do,

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I'm going to recommend you erase this notion from your mind as a benefit.

Because,

MaxP said:

All .460s will shoot the lesser .45s (.45 Colt, .454 Casull), but I have never met one that shoots them really well from an accuracy standpoint. If you need less, downloading is the key.

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I can vouch for this. I used to buy 45 Colt and 454 to shoot out of my 460V because it was available at the store. 454 shoots alright, but not great. Some 45 Colt ammo I shot was ridiculously inaccurate from my 460 mag. I'm talking like 10 inch group at 20 yards kind of bad. Some loads were ok, but only for plinking. There is just way too much cylinder to jump with 45 Colt in a 460 revolver. Seriously, put that notion out of your mind. If you buy a 460 magnum, then shoot 460 ammo out of it or you're going to be disappointed. And I'd like to throw a multiplier on Max's comment. If you want lower power 460 ammo, downloading is going to be a much better option. I do not buy any factory 454 or 45 Colt ammo any more and will not shoot them from my 460 magnum because it's a waste. I will save the brass I have and utilize it in an appropriately chambered gun in the future.

I of course know that MaxP is the man when it pertains to bigbore revolvers especially when hunting. Though Max the 454 preference over 460 I am curious as to why. I have shot the 454 and 460 through my VXR. Out of the same exact pistol the 454 percussion feels like a grenade going off close by (yes I have been there in that scenario) and the recoil is much sharper than the 460 to me even though both cartridges share the same saami spec pressure.

I know one thing I have adopted the XFrame grips to my 629 and it really tames the 44mag. http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=2599

Mr.Revolverguy said:

I of course know that MaxP is the man when it pertains to bigbore revolvers especially when hunting. Though Max the 454 preference over 460 I am curious as to why. I have shot the 454 and 460 through my VXR. Out of the same exact pistol the 454 percussion feels like a grenade going off close by (yes I have been there in that scenario) and the recoil is much sharper than the 460 to me even though both cartridges share the same saami spec pressure.

I know one thing I have adopted the XFrame grips to my 629 and it really tames the 44mag. http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=2599

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I don't prefer one over the other. I think in order to take advantage of the velocity potential of the .460, you need a barrel longer than 5-inches. I prefer a .454 over a 5-inch .460...

Huntolive said:

It's just a question of the 460xvr and the bfr 460 7 and 1/2 in.
$100 price difference for new.
Do you find that the bfr is more accurate and you think it will be more durable?
Giving it this really is a long-range pistol caliber should I scope it?
If not why not?
If so with what scope?

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Way more durable. You won’t shoot a BFR loose, an X-frame is a scaled up N-frame in essence. They’re both accurate. I have found the 7.5-inch BFR a lot easier to shoot offhand than the 8 3/8-inch XVR. I’ve been using scopes lately to take advantage of that longer range capability, however, I prefer red dots as they’re just easier for me to use and a lot faster to acquire- for me.

Huntolive said:

See that the BFR is more affordable and I do like a seven and a half inch barrel.
But when I look at it online it does not mention that it also shoots 454 Casull and 45 Colt.
Can anyone verify absolutely weather the bfr 460 also shoots 454 Casull and 45 Colt?
If it does that's what I'm going to get if not I'm going to go for the eight and three-quarter inch.
BTW I did not mean that the 5 in 454 Casull and 5 inch 44 magnum where my only big bore revolvers I also have the Freedom Arms model 83 454 Casull in 7 and 1/2 in and several 44 Magnums and a 357 Magnum with barrels as long as eight and three-quarter inches

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If you already have a 7.5" model 83, what are you trying to gain with the 460? Just curious, not saying it is a bad idea...but, imhe, the 454 has plenty of pop at 100 yards.