Here in Vegas looking at all the new stuff.
Spent a bunch of time at S&W, perusing their newest offerings.
The .460 XVR is out, in both std. and PC versions. Distributors have LOANED samples on display. Hornady has ammo. 200 grain polymer-tip pointy bullet at 2300 FPS.
Interchange between me & S&W engineer:
Me: "2300 FPS is going to be rough on forcing cones, no? Are you assuming most buyers won't shoot that load a lot, and the few of us that do, you'll just replace the easy-to-make barrels under warranty?"
Engineer: "That's pretty much it in a nutshell."
The 5" Model 60 is strangely compelling; I'm not sure what the target market is, but for some reason I want one. Maybe a light, all-steel trail gun with a decent sight radius?The underlug is about an inch longer that the ejector rod, for some odd reason.
Me: "I wish they's get off their longer-than-necessary underlug kick. It would look even better if the lug was an inch shorter."
Engineer, frowning: "Exactly." (Pensive) "It probably wouldn't take five minutes for me to reprogram the CNC to get rid of it... but someone might get mad..."
Me: "Hey, just keep your mouth shut."
Engineer, looking delighted: "Right! Just say, 'The machine doesn't like it either!'"
The long standard .500 is available now in the original configuration, or with the 4"-style interchangeable comp for a few dollars more. Plan is to let the market dictate which one (or both) prevails. My money is on the Brett Curry-designed second version.
The 65 and 66 are gone, replaced by the 4" half-lug 619 and 620, seven shot L-frame guns.
Taurus STILL doesn't have their .500 in production.
The Ruger "Alaskan" has a lousy trigger and looks worse in person than the press photos.
If Smith goes for a shorter version of the X-frame, as I urge at http://www.john-ross.net/s&wsuccess.htm, it will knock Super Redhawk sales in the head.
More later.
JR
Spent a bunch of time at S&W, perusing their newest offerings.
The .460 XVR is out, in both std. and PC versions. Distributors have LOANED samples on display. Hornady has ammo. 200 grain polymer-tip pointy bullet at 2300 FPS.
Interchange between me & S&W engineer:
Me: "2300 FPS is going to be rough on forcing cones, no? Are you assuming most buyers won't shoot that load a lot, and the few of us that do, you'll just replace the easy-to-make barrels under warranty?"
Engineer: "That's pretty much it in a nutshell."
The 5" Model 60 is strangely compelling; I'm not sure what the target market is, but for some reason I want one. Maybe a light, all-steel trail gun with a decent sight radius?The underlug is about an inch longer that the ejector rod, for some odd reason.
Me: "I wish they's get off their longer-than-necessary underlug kick. It would look even better if the lug was an inch shorter."
Engineer, frowning: "Exactly." (Pensive) "It probably wouldn't take five minutes for me to reprogram the CNC to get rid of it... but someone might get mad..."
Me: "Hey, just keep your mouth shut."
Engineer, looking delighted: "Right! Just say, 'The machine doesn't like it either!'"
The long standard .500 is available now in the original configuration, or with the 4"-style interchangeable comp for a few dollars more. Plan is to let the market dictate which one (or both) prevails. My money is on the Brett Curry-designed second version.
The 65 and 66 are gone, replaced by the 4" half-lug 619 and 620, seven shot L-frame guns.
Taurus STILL doesn't have their .500 in production.
The Ruger "Alaskan" has a lousy trigger and looks worse in person than the press photos.
If Smith goes for a shorter version of the X-frame, as I urge at http://www.john-ross.net/s&wsuccess.htm, it will knock Super Redhawk sales in the head.
More later.
JR
Last edited:
Marcus