.460 S&W 8 3/8" or 5"..??

[codefour]

I just checked the Smith and Wesson web site. They now have the 460V 5 inch model listed again. Are they producing it again..?

My next question. I plan on getting a .460 S&W X-frame revolver. I plan on using the gun as a plinker (yes, I love hard hitting cannons), hunting revolver (I love handgun hunting), and bear defense in Alaska and Montana.

Which would be the most versatile and why?

How much velocity am I going to lose using the five incher? The 8 3/8 barrel is a large gun to carry, I like the 5 inch for carry purposes. Would I be giving up too much accuracy and velocity for convienance?

Does any member happen to have both and can report? I handload all my own ammunition so I am not really worried about cost.

I am not starting this thread as a "well, you should actually get caliber X for the following reasons". I have two .44 Mags that I load and love to shoot but I want a bigger cannon. I decided on the .460 becuase I believe it is the most versatile large hand cannon out there.

And yes, my .44's are plenty, but I want it because I can. This is the greatest nation ever that lets me buy cool things like a .460 S&W.

And, Happy Fathers Day to all the dads on this awesome forum..!!

 

[Nullcone]

Not being the biggest guy in the world, I can't imagine comfortably carrying an 8&3/8 X-Frame for any length of time.

and bear defense

And I really can't imagine trying to clear a holster quickly with one.

Have fun with your purchase!

 

[hardluk1]

Why not then buy a 500 sw # 163565 and you can plink with the still very stout 500 specials and handload down from there. Buy the 6.5" model and have something that makes the 460 take a back seat if life is on the line. Enought barrel to hunt with and not to long to carry in a cross chest rig. Your not going to hip carry ether for very long even with a 2" barrel.

 

[jamesb]

I owned the 8 3/4 model. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it off the bench. It is a very heavy gun that you cannot use your off hand for barrel support. I tried using sticks but it was cumbersome to carry the pistol and the sticks and then to get them all into action in time for a shot. The 5 inch model would be better but the recoil I think would be too much, it was for me. I started to develop wrist problems from shooting it so I sold it. I hunt with a contender pistol now. The ability to shoot .460, .454 and .45 out of it is what initially drew me to it. I did buy an encore carbine barrel in .460.

I think the 5 inch would suit what you are looking for if you plan on using it for bear defense. The shorter barrel and velocity loss should only be an issue if you are shooting over 100 yards.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I think originally S&W had 4" X frame revolvers but they didn't last long. I'm glad to see a 5" now available. IMO a 5" Magnum is the perfect barrel length...

 

[Fred in Wisc]

I have the 8 3/8", going on 6 years now. It's fabulously accurate (3-4" 5 shot groups at 100 yds with a 2x scope- and I'm not a great pistol shot).

I've deer hunted with it a couple years, had a friend in the upholstery business sew up a big leather belt holster for it (couldn't find one for a scoped X frame), but it's still pretty big and awkward to carry in the woods. Plus the darn thing weighs about 6 pounds loaded and scoped.

The muzzle blast from the 8" is absolutely ferocious, the 5" has to be even worse. I have tinnitus from shooting a deer with it 2 years ago. Now I wear electronic muffs when hunting with it.

I'd steer you towards the longer barrel on this one- the 460 uses gain twist rifling, the longer barrel is likely an advantage there, either reducing the rate of gain or progressing to a faster twist.

When I bought mine S&W was projecting a barrel life of about 1200 rounds with full house loads so I usually shoot "mild" loads, about 1500 fps 250 grain hardcast. You might want to check into that if you plan to shoot it a lot.

By the way, most beginners think it's AWESOME to shoot this with some 45 Colt loads. Huge gun, big bang, almost no recoil.

The above is my opinion based on some real world experience. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Mind the Gap]

I have the 8 3/8" barrel version. I can tell you that it is a lot of fun for plinking, but I hope you have strong wrists because it gets HEAVY. There is recoil even with the longer barrel, but with the compensator its more of a push than a snap. If you want to carry it and shoot freehand (I have even shot single handed with some .45 lc) for extended periods of time, the weight of the gun will get very tiresome. Try going to your lgs and see if they will let you hold it for a while. You will see how quickly the barrel will start to droop in your hands. I cannot attest to the characteristics of the 5" version. It is a great gun, and either way you can't go wrong.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Weighs as much as a carbine, but Smith & Wesson neglected to put a butt stock on it. I have handled a few, and don't see the point in a handgun that large. Too heavy for any serious offhand use, to bulky to carry on the hip in a holster, I see quite a few of them in the used case at local gun shops. Tells me that people don't keep them very long, once the novelty wears off the limitations of the guns usefulness outweigh the benefits of ownership.

 

[56hawk]

I would get the five inch barrel. Don't know how the 460 performs, but I have a 500 with a 2 3/4" barrel. My hot reloads push a 340 grain bullet at 1450 fps. While that's about 450 fps less than the 8 3/8" barrel it's still more powerful than a 44 Magnum out of a rifle.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Since you already own .44's I'm not going to go into the muzzle blast thing too much. I own a 5" 460, and yes with full power loads it is a real handfull. You feel the blast hit you in the face, and getting several fast shots on target is very hard as a result. However, I am capable of shooting that gun accurately out to 50 yards with Iron sights, one handed. Past that and my eyes just don't work any more with irons, but if my eyes were better, I bet I could push it out further. The 5" produces a 4 foot fireball out of the muzzle with 200 gr Hornadys from the unburned powder. The 460 cartridge was originally designed for the longer 8 3/8" bbl, but it sounds like you know that from your research. I'm guessing that a 325 gr hard cast lead bullet going about 2000 fps (estimate on velocity loss due to the shorter bbl..... I need a chrony) and generating somewhere in the vicinity of 2200 to 2400 ft lbs of energy is plenty to drop anything you want to hit, and plenty for bear protection. Just make that first shot count, and if follow ups are needed (as with a bear) just focus. It's going to take a lot of practice. Of course as a bear runs at you, you really only have time for a shot or two anyway. But hey, at least the target will be getting bigger!

Owning the 5" and having handled the 8 3/8ths gun, I must say that the 5" 460V points more naturally, is not to heavy to hold on target, and is perfectly balanced. In fact due to the versatility of shooting .45 LC, .454, and .460, the general obsurdity of the thing, and the fact that I've been hand polishing mine, this is my favorite gun that I own. If my house was burning, and I could grab one gun, that would be the one. I plink with it, and carry it when hiking in grizz country. I haven't had to use it on a bear, but I am confident in the gun. My first advice though is to use bear spray. Since I can shoot it one handed, I keep bear spray on hand to through up a fog with my off hand, and then would draw with my right. Yes, this requires a lot of practice to be any sort of fast enough, and if I had time for one, I'd reach for the bear spray first as I believe it is more effective statistically. The better bet is to make noise and let the bear know you are coming. If you have to shoot, say goodbye to your eardrums, unless you are wearing hearing protection. But hey, better deaf than dead.

I carry it in a Desantes hip holster, and use suspenders when I do, because a belt just isn't going to cut it with a 4 lb gun. Just to give you an idea, I'm 6'3" tall, and 190 lbs. My hands are boney, but I am able to hike that gun around and shoot it effectively. If you are similar in size, you should be fine, though you may want a different carry type. Of all the x frames out there, IMO the 460V is the best balanced for versatility, shootability, carryability, and is the nicest and most classic looking. It does everything I want it to, and with ease.

The one untested aspect is hunting. However, based on the accuracy, I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with some 45LC +p's or an elk or moose with the .454 or the 460 rounds out to 50 yards. I think I'd drop one no problem. Any further, and I'd need a scope.

The 460 is far more versatile than the 500. I'm not saying it's better, just more versatile, which is why I went with it, and the 5" model just felt perfect for me. I think if bears and hiking are concerns, the 5" would be perfect for you too. The 8" will be just too darn heavy and hard to point in an emergency. It would certainly have an advantage when hunting though, so I give it that.

I hope this helps you in your decission. If you have any questions for me, feel free to pm me if you want.

 

[codefour]

Thanks for all the replies. I know I had some obscure questions..

I went down to my LGS and told the owner I wanted a 460V five inch. He told me he was going to order a bunch once they are available. Apparently, the demand is already pretty high. I told him to put one with my name on it and call me.

I held the 8 3/8 inch XVR. That thing is just too long to carry, even in a Chester Pulley type holster. I am not a small guy. I am 6-02 and 270 lbs. But even the 8 3/8 inch was toooo long to practically carry. I believe the point of a handgun is the ability to have a carryable firearm.

That .500 S&W with the 6.5 inch barrel will be on my short list of next revolver though.

Now I have to buy brass, bullets, dies, shell plate & holder etc. Does the obsession ever end?

Thanks everyone for the responses. You can always count on THR inmates. 460Kodiak, thank you for your in depth reply. It was very insightful.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Does the obsession ever end?

Nope! Enjoy the 460V man, I think you'll love it. As a note, 5 Star Speedloaders makes speed loaders for the 460.

Also, Karl Nills makes wooden grips for the 460, but they are expenssive and I suspect that wooden grips would really hurt. I emailed S&W also to see what size grips fit and they said that L frame grips will fit the X frame revolvers. Weird.... I know