460 or 500 S&W

toad67

ok, i want to get a pistol for deer hunting, and i want either a 460 or a 50 S&W what do you think i should get out of these two cals.
Also is the 460 not popular or what, you dont here much about it like the 500 S&W.

Thankyou and Godbless

toad67

For some reason I think I need one, but not sure which one, or even why. Thoughts, opinions or anything else? Thanks.

Todd

rufe-snow

I have shot both. Don't go their unless, absolutely necessary, i.e. You got muscles like Arnold, and Bill Gates's money.

If you do decide to buy one, go with the .460. You can also shoot the Casull 454, and the .45 Long Colt in it. Much more practical and pleasant with the .45 LC, than the S & W 460.

tsr1965

Yep, I agree with rufe. I have a 500, and it is the meanest handgun on the planet, when loaded to potential. I think loaded with the right bullet, the 460 can do everything it can, plus some...possibly better penetration, but lower Taylor Factor.

On the bright side, if you hand load, you can tame either one of them, to anything you want.

Best

RCrosby

Had the chance to shoot both; one shot each.
That was enough for me.
Glad I didn't pay big $$ for the priveledge.
More than happy with my .44 and even that I load down to about 1,000 fps with 240 grain hard cast Keiths. If I need more range or oomph than that I go to the long arms.

Horse Plains Drifter

I shot a 460 several cylinder loads. One is on my to get list. I'll stick to the 460 for the ammo interchangability that rufe pointed out.

beantownshootah

quote:Originally posted by toad67
For some reason I think I need one, but not sure which one, or even why. Thoughts, opinions or anything else? Thanks.

Todd

I'm with Rufe 100% here.

If that's what you're thinking, you definitely DON'T need one. Forget it.

These are expensive, super heavy revolvers (guns themselves weigh as much as a light carbine!), that fire super-expensive, high-recoil ammo, that you aren't going to find on the shelf at most "big box" stores.

Most people who buy guns like this are doing it for what might delicately be termed "compensation". They don't even put a full box of ammo through them before they decide that the recoil, noise, and cost outweigh the "macho factor".

While I certainly won't say the guns are "useless", IMO unless you're serious about hunting BIG things with a handgun, the drawbacks outweigh the positives here.

But yeah, if you disregard all of the above, the one to get is the .460.

With that one you can use .45LC rounds, or .454 Casull, or .460 S&W, significantly increasing your flexibility in terms of what you might buy off a shelf or from a catalog. Obviously, if you reload, you can load either of the two guns to deliver any performance you like, but even so, the .454 caliber gun is going to make it easier to find brass and bullets, and a bit cheaper.

CapnMidnight

Randy,
I've got a real nice 460 S&W Performance Center gun listed on the auction side.
We are having our bi-monthly gun show Saturday in Carson, come down and have a look. Got lots of ammo for it.
W.D.

Riomouse911

I have shot them both as well, neither is a barrel of fun when touching off full house loads.
I own a Super Redhawk .454.... Which is at my max for recoil and blast tolerance with hot loads...just a couple cylinders is more than plenty for a day. So if your are heading that way I also agree with R-S and suggest do the .460 for the variety of milder loads you can choose from.

md1634

I have both. The 460 is a true 100 yd handgun with a scope and I like the ammo options. It has two down sides, I find it impossible to shoot it offhand with any accuracy. And it is LOUD, my wife suffered blast damage to both her ears when she shot it rapid fire from a roofed position, and yes she was using ears.

lcdrdanr

The 500 is an interesting gun to shoot. I reload so ammo is not a problem, I cast my own bullets and cost is not a factor.
It's the only gun I shoot with gloves and double ear protection (plugs and muffs)and even then it's a handful. My personal best is shooting 72 rounds in one session. Not that I'm a glutton for punishment but I really wanted to wring out shooting positions and familiarity.
I did.
Shooting the 500 double action is an education, it's also necessary to learn if you are serious about shooting this caliber. I found that one can inadvertently spin the cylinder following a shot (from the heavy recoil)and cause it to actually skip a round. After much study and viewing a couple of you tube videos I determined it's related to hold and recoil.
Didn't have any issues with my brothers .460 but he doesn't reload and so ammo availability was more of an issue with it. I think the .460 is a more flexible round while the .500 is the more powerful round.
Depends on what you want it for.
I never expect to shoot an elephant in my back yard but I tell my wife that's what the .458 Mag in the gun case is for, just in case !

Dan R

5mmgunguy

toad67. If you just have to have one get the 500 it is bigger and meaner on both ends. If you are going to shot it, get the 460. Six shots is max for me!