460 accuracy

[Axle2010]

Hey guys I'm about to get a 7.5" 460 XVR for my birthday tomorrow and I'm digging around for accurate loads. I've got 8 boxes of the cheap S&B stuff to play with and get brass. What have yall found to be the most accurate for factory and handloads? Does anybody have one that's honestly capable of the claimed "200 yard hunting capable handgun" or even 150? For you that handload do you have a preference for brass or for dies? Any help and advice is appreciated, 44mag SBH is the biggest I've shot till now but I've been shooting that for years

 

[JimP]

You are going to have to find the load for your pistol that it likes. Also if you are not used to shooting a heavy recoiling handgun I suggest that you download it and do a lot of practice with it.

For dies get a set with a carbide sizing die, this will eliminate the need of sizing lube on the cases. Find the crimp to use that doesn't overwork the case.

For hunting with a handgun forget about a 200 yard shot. I have been hunting with handguns for over 40 years and the furthest shot that I have ever taken with one is 174 yards and that was with a Thompson Center Contender in 7-30 Waters with a dead rest and a scope on it. Most of my shots are limited to under 100 yards.

For hunting it is practice, practice, and practice some more. The more shots that you shoot down range the better but out of a revolver shooting a heavy load don't expect much more than 6" at 100 yards. With a dead rest I can shoot heavy 44 mag loads into a 2" circle at 100 yards but I will shoot that handgun 1000 times a year with lighter loads to get ready for heaver loads.

 

[rnovi]

It's not a .460 S&W, but my .480 Ruger Super Redhawk has shot 1.5" groups at 100 yards with a 1moa red-dot. My point being, as you've noticed you CAN get some seriously good accuracy out of a wheelgun at distance.

One thing to really be aware of: Revolvers often have one or two chambers that are tighter/more accurate than the others. This is most common with revolvers that are not "line-bored" (aka, Freedom Arms, Korth, etc.). S&W, Ruger, other mass produced revolvers are not line-bored but rather mass-produced specials. Keep an eye out - even go so far as to number your chambers to track how they each shoot. You might find that there's one single chamber that is fully capable of 2" or better groups...and just using that one chamber for hunting could make a difference.

 

[Axle2010]

It's not a .460 S&W, but my .480 Ruger Super Redhawk has shot 1.5" groups at 100 yards with a 1moa red-dot. My point being, as you've noticed you CAN get some seriously good accuracy out of a wheelgun at distance.

One thing to really be aware of: Revolvers often have one or two chambers that are tighter/more accurate than the others. This is most common with revolvers that are not "line-bored" (aka, Freedom Arms, Korth, etc.). S&W, Ruger, other mass produced revolvers are not line-bored but rather mass-produced specials. Keep an eye out - even go so far as to number your chambers to track how they each shoot. You might find that there's one single chamber that is fully capable of 2" or better groups...and just using that one chamber for hunting could make a difference.

That's crazy I've never heard that about one chamber being better than others but it makes sense. Thanks

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I will offer my perspective. I have a 4" Colt Anaconda in 44mag. It is not a particularly accurate pistol and the recoil is light compared to your new 460. I am not all that recoil sensitive and I can only tolerate about six shots at a time before it becomes unpleasant. Just saying. I hunted some with mine but would limit all shots on deer sized game to 50y or less. I am not a bad pistol shot. I used to compete in IPSC and IDPA events and did well. I can hit a 16oz pop bottle from 150y with my 45acp.

My friend had a Ruger Redhawk. One of the most accurate revolvers I have tried and I was able to hit my tgt at 200y plus with it pretty easily. I would not have an issue carrying a big pistol for bear protection but if I really thought I was in bear country, I would bring a rifle too. I gave up hunting with a pistol a long time ago. Good luck!

 

[Axle2010]

Honestly my 'hunting' with it will likely be carrying it along with a rifle in case I do get a close shot especially at a hog. I'm in south GA and unless you're looking specifically for long shots most everything is 150 or less, most probably being under 100. If the accuracy is there I'd like to take it back to Africa in the next couple years for a shot at something close. My Blesbuck and Zebra were both well within 460 range.

 

[1972RedNeck]

I have the same revolver. 4 power scope on it. Can shoot 6" groups at 200 yards with ease with any of my handloads. And I'm not the best pistol shot.

Can't comment on factory loads as I've never bought any.

240 grain XTPs over lots of H110 does well in mine as does a 325 hardcast over a good amount of H110.

H110 is pretty much all I use in it.

 

[Axle2010]

I finally got to try her out today and was really surprised at the recoil. Not nearly what I was expecting. I only shot the cheap S&B rounds that are 255grain at 1759 but I was still expecting more violence.

 

[1972RedNeck]

I finally got to try her out today and was really surprised at the recoil. Not nearly what I was expecting. I only shot the cheap S&B rounds that are 255grain at 1759 but I was still expecting more violence.

My XVR loaded to max is much more pleasant to shoot than my 7.5" SRH in 454 when loaded hot. The extra weight and muzzle brake make a big difference.

But I started wearing ear plugs AND ear muffs when shooting the XVR. With just one layer of protection I would get a little ringing in the ears after just a couple shots.

 

[Axle2010]

Yeah I use those electronic Axil ear plugs and they work great but I still get a good crack through them.

 

[rnovi]

Yeah, hate to say it - wish it was otherwise, but a magnum handgun is double ears, plugs and muffs, every time.

 

[mgstucson]

S&W X frame guns are not Rugers, or Colts. They have a barrel inside a barrel shroud that is held in tension by a barrel nut. This is the Dan Wesson design and Dan Wesson engineers actually participated with S&W engineers in the X frame design after the DW patents expired. Dan Wesson's owned all the long range shooting records for revolvers in the IHMSA. I own DW in 445 Supermag, 44 Mag, and 357 Mag. and a S&W 500, but limited my handgun hunting with revolvers to 100 yards or so. I have owned Rugers and Colts and I like them all, but the barrel tension systems used first on Dan Wesson, and now on S&W X frames sets them in a category by themselves as far as revolver accuracy is concerned. At 200 yards, it would require a long scoped barrel, and MV and ME will be a concern for any big game, although the 460 is probably the top revolver load for MV and ME, except for maybe a hot 45-70 load. When my handgun hunting extended to those ranges, I used TC Contenders with custom 16" barrels and rifle cartridges like 6x47 wildcat or 35 Rem from a dead rest. The accuracy is there for the DW and S&W X frame revolvers, but those big heavy bullets shed MV and ME pretty fast past 100 yards. It has been decades since I did any serious handgun hunting though, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt, maybe 2 grains.