What about the 460, 500 S&W? Anyone use one? What are the specific measurements of the brass, Rim diameter, base diameter, etc? How does it shoot? Velocity?

Is it true that S&W is making a .500 S&W reolver with a three or four inch barrel? That will be fun to shoot.

I've shot a 500 S&W Magnum in the revolver version and a couple of 460 S&W Magnums in the Encore version. You should be able to do no worse than 4 inches at 100 yards with either cartridge and if you use the right loads, 1.5 to 2 inches is a very realistic goal.

Both cartridges are BIG. I don't have the exact dimensions handy but the 500 is about the same diameter as a 50AE but significantly longer. The 460 is the same diameter at the 45 Colt and 454 Casull but significantly longer. I would say. The 460 with a 15 inch barrel and 200 grain bullets should be able to do at least 2500 fps (I chrono mine in the next few weeks and know for sure). I don't remember what the 500s velocity is but is better than a 44 Magnum with heavier bullets but not as fast as the 460.

The recoil of both even with brakes is significant. In fact, many would find it too much with full house factory loads. When I shoot my 460 off the bench, my routine is a weight lifter's glove on my right hand to help keep the skin on in prolonged shooting, ear plugs under ear muffs and a cushion under my right elbow so it doesn't bang on the bench every time I shoot it.

All that said, I think they're both great guns. Being a straight walled pistol cartridge, the 460 should be my answer to a legal long range (a bit over 200 yards) Ohio deer cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:

The recoil of both even with brakes is significant. In fact, many would find it too much with full house factory loads. When I shoot my 460 off the bench, my routine is a weight lifter's glove on my right hand to help keep the skin on in prolonged shooting, ear plugs under ear muffs and a cushion under my right elbow so it doesn't bang on the bench every time I shoot it.

I agree with this accessment and suggest you take his advise. I shot a handful of full power rounds thru a compensated 50S&W wheel gun with gel grips. I would rank it's recoil higher than the unbraked stock 454 Casull Ruger I was shooting the same day.

The full power loads in the 50S&W caused a significant "ringing" in my shooting hand. Not painful but noticeable. This effect lasted about an hour. I would be concerned about possibly causing permanent nerve damage to your shooting hand during an extended range session with full power ammo. The weight lifters glove might really help.

I got out my dial indicater and measured the cartridges for you:

The 500 S&W is is about 1.623 inches long and the dimension at the cartridge head is 0.528 inches.

The 460 S&W is 1.782 inches long and the dimension at the head 0.478 inches. At least for the diameter, the SAMI specs would be the same as for the 454 Casull.

The measurements were taken of fired cases so are no doubt a little different from the SAMI measurements.

I took a few shots without a glove with an unbraked 460 S&W Magnum with full power loads. I had difficulty holding a pen for writing for about 2 hours afterwards. I believe that prolonged shooting with no hand protection or brake could cause permenent nerve damage.

Thanks for all the input. I have a question, the "head" diameter, is that the same as the "base" diameter?

(Just to make sure I am saying what I hope I am saying, I understand the "base" of the cartridge is the section

just a micro-fraction above the rim, the "head" is the opposite end of the case from the RIM, where the bullet

protrudes from the case, is this correct?)

Here is a pic of a Blesbok I shot with a 500 Linebaugh in March while hunting with Chris Troskie in South Africa. The wheelweight 420 grain bullet broke his shoulder but turned and did not strike any vitals. I was able to shoot him with my rifle that afternoon after the trackers ran him out in front of me. Next time I will use a commercial hard cast bullet.

The end of the cartridge where the bullet comes out is the mouth. I measured the cases at the widest part of the case just forward of the rim (the opposite end from the mouth). That part of ths case should expand little if any with the firing of loads of acceptable pressure.

What about a .45-70?
Rich Elliott