.460 S&W Magnum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.460 S&W Magnum

Left to right: .460 S&W Magnum, .454 Casull, .44 Magnum, .45ACP, .22LR
Type Handgun
Place of origin USA
Production history
Designer Hornady / Smith & Wesson
Designed 2005
Specifications
Parent case .454 Casull
Case type Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter .452 in (11.5 mm)
Neck diameter .478 in (12.1 mm)
Base diameter .478 in (12.1 mm)
Rim diameter .520 in (13.2 mm)
Rim thickness .059 in (1.5 mm)
Case length 1.80 in (46 mm)
Overall length 2.290 in (58.2 mm)
Primer type Large pistol
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
200 gr (13 g) Corbon DPX 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s) 2,350 ft·lbf (3,190 J)
220 gr (14 g) Hornady SST 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s) 2,364 ft·lbf (3,205 J)
225 gr (14.6 g) Barnes X 2,243 ft/s (684 m/s) 2,514 ft·lbf (3,409 J)
300 gr (19 g) Buffalo Bore 2,060 ft/s (630 m/s) 2,826 ft·lbf (3,832 J)
360 gr (23 g) Buffalo Bore 1,900 ft/s (580 m/s) 2,860 ft·lbf (3,880 J)
Source: Corbon Ammo[1], "Cartridges of the World"[2], Buffalo Bore [3]

The .460 S&W Magnum round is a large caliber revolver cartridge designed for long-range handgun hunting.[2] It is the highest velocity commercial big-bore handgun cartridge in production today (2007).

Contents

[edit] Overview

The .460S&W round is a longer, more powerful version of the popular .454 Casull, itself a longer and more powerful version of the .45 Colt. Consequently, firearms that fire .460S&W are usually capable of firing the less powerful .454 Casull and .45 Colt rounds, but this must be verified with each firearm's manufacturer. The reverse, however, does not apply: .45 Colt and .454 Casull handguns cannot accept .460S&W rounds. If attempted, explosion and life-threatening injury may occur. The length of the .460S&W also makes it difficult if not impossible to chamber into smaller handguns.

[edit] Performance

The Smith and Wesson 460XVR (8 3/8") and 460V (5") are two revolvers designed to fire the .460S&W round. Smith and Wesson boasts that the .460S&W is the highest velocity revolver cartridge in the world, firing bullets at 2330 ft/s. With Buffalo Bore's new loading, the .460S&W can achieve nearly 2900ft·lbf of energy by driving a 360 grain bullet at 1900 ft/s.[3] This still falls short of the title "most powerful commercial handgun cartridge" as the .500 S&W Magnum drives a 350 grain bullet at 1975ft/s for a total of 3032ft·lbf.[4] However, the .460S&W is still generally considered the "better choice for North American big game than the .500S&W."[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Corbon DPX - 460S&W Magnum
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Frank C. [1965] (2006). in Skinner, Stan: Cartridges of the World, 11th Edition, Iola, WI, USA: Gun Digest Books, 312,338. ISBN 0-89689-297-2. 
  3. ^ a b Buffalo Bore - 460S&W Magnum
  4. ^ Double Tap Ammunition Co. - .500S&W Magnum
  5. ^ Guns and Ammo Mag Review of the .460XVR

[edit] External links

This ammunition-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.