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460 S&W mag

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
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SW Ohio
Since the Ohio deer rifle change this week to include the 460 S&W round I decided to get a TC Encore barrel. I already have 2 TC Encore frames that I have smokeless 45 caliber muzzle loading barrels on. The reason for this is that the 460 S&W is much flatter shooting than the 45-70. Plus it's a new toy to work on.

I got my Encore 20" SS barrel today and the ammo company said they should have about 100 cases for me. It appears I can use my 454 Casual reloading dies to load the 460 S&W case as it's just longer.
I have no clue why i didn't order a scope base when I ordered the barrel.

To me it makes no sense why they named it 460 S&W as it's a .452 diameter. Then why did they name the 454 Casual when it's .452 diameter? I guess it just makes it sound bigger so there fore it must be better. I told the grandson the 460 S&W is a long 454 Casual and a super long 45 LC. Plus I can shoot all 3 rounds out of the 460 S&W rifle barrel.

Our Dist is out of stock on the Hornady 45 XTP Mag 230 gr bullets. Found couple boxes on Gunbroker at only about 10 cents more per bullet. But I'll wait a few weeks to see if our Dist. gets them in stock.

I did find some XTP similiar type bullets that are pulled bullets at 18 cents each. I will pick up couple 100 of those and do some heavy 45 LC loading to play with and sight the scope in.

I'll report on the progress as I go forward.

https://americanreloading.com/en/68-45-caliber-451-454
 
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MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
6,551
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SW Ohio
Today I set my Dillon 650 press up to load 454 Casual as I still have some brass left. Shooting 454 Casual will give me some shooting time with the new 460 S&W TC Encore rifle until I get the 460 S&W brass and 230 gr XTP Mag Hornady bullets for deer hunting.
Ordered 500 those 45 caliber bullets I mentioned above. Plus I can load those for my 45 LC-45 ACP Ruger Bisley convertable pistol I like so well.

The Ammo co. just brought me over 69 once fired 460 S&W cases. I'm on my way to fun.
 
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MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
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SW Ohio
Today I cleaned up the 460 S&W brass. Just had to load up 7 rounds with 45 LC plated 250 gr bullets. Since the bullets are plated I had to hold the max FPS to 1200 FPS. They shot well with no real recoil since they are just hot 45LC rounds.
My 230 gr bullets look alike XTP's have been shipped in less than 24 hrs.
Also our Dist. shows the Hornady 240 XTP Mag and FXP bullets in stock so I ordered 100 of each. That should be enough for some load development and deer hunting.
I plan to do most of my shooting with the look alike 230 gr XTP's at hot 45LC FPS.
 

GoetsTalon

Senior Member
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Walbridge oh
Awesome stuff Frank! I never loaded the 240 grain xtps but loaded a lot of the 300 grain xtp mags. Awesome bullet for the 460. I also loaded 300 and 360 grain Cast Performance bullets. Try those out if you get a chance. They are hard cast with a gas check.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
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66
SW Ohio
Awesome stuff Frank! I never loaded the 240 grain xtps but loaded a lot of the 300 grain xtp mags. Awesome bullet for the 460. I also loaded 300 and 360 grain Cast Performance bullets. Try those out if you get a chance. They are hard cast with a gas check.

My thoughts on doing this new project was increased FPS over and above the 45-70 for deer hunting.
As you might remember my friend and I designed the 310 44 caliber cast bullet for Lee Precision. I also had Lee draw up the 45 caliber in the same design but I had a heart surgery and never went forward with it. Lee later brought it out 300 gr. and I might try that later on.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
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SW Ohio
Had a double good news today,
1st my Class 3 dealer said the SilencerCO Omega K45 multi caliber suppressor is in stock. He ordered it for me.
2nd I called SilencerCO and a Tech said the Omega K45 is OK for the 460 S&W as long as it has over a 10" barrel length.
The 460 S&W is a 45 caliber.

So this silencer will will handle 22 RF-CF, 300 BO high velocity and sub sonic, 9MM, plus 460 S&W.
It may not be the lowest sound reduction with the smaller calibers but it will do me just fine. Just looking to save my hearing.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
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SW Ohio
Today I loaded up some 454 Casual cases with the 230 gr XTP's today to shoot in my TC Encore 460 S&W 20" rifle. After I got the scope adjusted it shot good at 25 yds from a shaky rest with bullets touching.
Next I will load the same bullet in 460 S&W cases and load to max for the XTP bullet design. This should be a little better accuracy as the bullet doesn't have the long bullet jump in the chamber.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
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SW Ohio
Loaded 50 454 Casual rounds today 230 gr XTP bullets. Then looked on my ammo supply shelf and found 500 rounds of 454 Casual loaded with lead bullets to 45LC loading. Now I have plenty of playing around shooting rounds for the 460 S&W rifle.
Raining today so plan on some 50 yd shooting tomorrow. Then I'll get the Hornady bullets I ordered from my son and load up some full power 460 S&W rounds and go to the gunclub for some 100 yd shooting.
Looks promising so far.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
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SW Ohio
Shot the 460 S&W rifle at 50 yrs off the bench today with 454 Casual ammo.
Last 5 shot group was right at 1". Which I consider rather good since the bullet has to jump .400" out of the 454 Causal cases I was using to get to the riflings.
The 460 S&W case is 1.780 and the 454 Casual case is 1.380 so there is a .400 difference.

I got my Hornady 240 gr XTP mag bullets rated at 2200 FPS.
Also Hornady 225 FTX plastic tip bullets rated at 2100 FPS.

I'll be working up loads for both of these bullets.
Plan to hunt with the 225 gr FTX plastic bullet. But I'll use which bullet has the best accuracy at 100-200 yds at full velocity.
Fun summer coming up.
 

MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
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SW Ohio
I loaded up some 460 S&W cases with the Hornady 225 gr FTX plastic bullets. With H110 about a 97% load. According to the book should be about 2325 FPS. I'll set the chonograph use and get a true FPS reading. Then it's off to the gunclub to shoot at 100 yds.
This a hefty load and I have to start shooting 3 shot groups as my nerves goes south after 3 bone chilling jars.


50 yds off bench at home. #1-3 shots then #4-5 shots high as my nerves went south.
 
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MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
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SW Ohio
I got the chrongraph out today. Loaded up full loads from the book with H110 for the Hornady 225gr FTX and 240 gr XTP-Mag.
Both rounds are a hand full but the 240 gr rounds is really a hand full.

225 gr FTX avg 2573 for 5 rounds.
240 gr XTP-Mag avg 2654 for 5 rounds.

Now I will use the Hornady Ballistics Calculator to get scope setting for up to 200 yds. I can shoot up to 200 yds on the back of the farm. I'll zero in for 200 yds and get the bullet path for 50-100-150-200-250 yds.

Damn these loads are flat shooting.
225 gr FTX
50- plus 3.7"
100- plus 3.7"
150- plus 3.3"
200- zero
250- minus 7.0"

240 gr XTP-Mag
50- plus 1.6"
100- plus 3.2"
150- plus 2.8"
200- Zero
250- minus 5.9"


Basicly just point of aim shooting out to 200 yds and it's a killing shot. Sure beats the 45-70. But I'll do some load development on the 45-70 and get the correct figures.
 
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MK111

"Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky"
Supporting Member
6,551
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SW Ohio
Forgot to ,mention I mounted a Simmons model 44 Mag 6.5X20 power scope with target knobs made in the Philippines. Were some of the best scopes made and when closed about 10 yrs ago price was less than $70-80. Then Simmons moved production of the scope to Japan or Korea and much lesser quality. Image is very clear.