.460 Weatherby whats your opinion

[Harrison E]

i was wondering what people think of the cartridge also recommendations on rifles to purchase in the caliber .460 Weatherby
thanks

 

[matt85]

not a huge fan of this one... i prefer the 458 Lott. the 460 Weatherby has more velocity then I see necessary to get the job done.

-matt

 

[peras]

Wonderfull cartridge, especially for the reloader, you can do so much with this!

 

[Kano]

OK if you reload, factory loads give too much velocity for most bullets. The muzzle brake is an abomination for bystanders. Magazine capacity is low.

 

[Velo Dog]

not a huge fan of this one... i prefer the 458 Lott. the 460 Weatherby has more velocity then I see necessary to get the job done.

-matt

+1 and also, I watched a man fire a .460 from the shooting bench and he injured his elbow against the hard surface of the bench to the point that we helped him make his shiny rifle safe, gather up his belongings and get into his car to drive himself to his Doctor.
I am so wimpy that even the regular .458 Lott kicks too hard for me and so I load my Lott down a bit to a touch over 2100 fps.

 

[Hank2211]

Too much velocity, too much recoil. Just too much.

 

[Grumulkin]

Too much velocity?

LOL

I think it's a fantastic cartridge. If you get one, it should be made by Weatherby.

 

[Hank2211]

Well, we can have differences of opinion here. I think dangerous game cartridges should have lower velocities, which both tends to get them past obstacles and ensures deeper penetration. Wikipedia isn't the greatest source in the world, but it does say "The .460 Weatherby Magnum like the rest of the Weatherby line of cartridges is capable of launching a bullet at velocities much higher than its competition". A lot of bullets hitting something hard or thick skinned at higher velocities just won't penetrate. For other uses, higher velocities might be the ticket.

Personally, I'd take a slower .416 Rigby or my favourite, a .404 Jeffery.

 

[Grumulkin]

Explain something to me please. Reloaders bitch about not enough velocity in a 30/06, a 300 Win. Mag., etc. If it were true that higher velocity was worse, why wouldn't every one be hunting with lower velocity cartridges?

Dangerous game cartridges should have lower velocities? Really? The bullets won't penetrate at higher velocities? Are you serious?

There are a variety of bullets that will hold together at 460 Weatherby velocities just as well as similar bullets do in cartridges with higher velocities. It must come as a surprise to you that a bullet that holds together at a high velocity will penetrate further than it will at a lower velocity.

Rather than make pretty funny assertions about the dangers of high velocities, call it for what it is; ya'll don't like the recoil.

By the way, mine will put Hornady FMJs right through 3/8" steel plate; I think it would probably penetrate a dangerous game animal just fine.

 

[Hank2211]

I believe I said "too much recoil."

 

[Grumulkin]

Yea, you did. You also said too much velocity.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Perhaps my own shortcoming, but I'm always wanting to get out of a cartridge exactly what it was built for. The idea of loading down for lower pressure to match the ballistics of a "lesser" cartridge I guess has it's merits. But I know I just won't do it. It would be something akin to putting a bunch of work upgrading the power/performance of one of my Harley's in an effort to save gas mileage, are you kidding me? I'm going to rip that baby open and get out of it all I can. Some may have the discipline to do otherwise, but I don't.

According to my Swift manual, a 460 Wby will launch a 400gr bullet at 2800fps or more. The .416 Rigby I had, should have done the same at about 2600fps. The Rigby for me was like getting kicked in the head by a mule, no thanks.

So yeah I'll say it without hesitation, I don't want that recoil and I bet most hunters don't either. And I sure as hell don't want the muzzle blast from a brake on my ears. I was at a safari shoot some years ago where this big gent was talking up his 460 before the shoot got underway. And then he pulled the thing out and it of course had that muzzle brake on it. Sitting back 20 yards from him with ear muffs on during his time on the line was still freaking annoying.

The ultimate stopper when loaded to it's potential it may very well be, but no thank you.

 

[PaulT]

"There are a variety of bullets that will hold together at 460 Weatherby velocities just as well as similar bullets do in cartridges with higher velocities. It must come as a surprise to you that a bullet that holds together at a high velocity will penetrate further than it will at a lower velocity."

 

[buffybr]

...By the way, mine will put Hornady FMJs right through 3/8" steel plate; I think it would probably penetrate a dangerous game animal just fine.

I agree with your post, but I once put a 52 grain HP bullet from my .22-250 through a 3/8" steel plate.

My .375 RUM is as large as I will ever need.

 

[enysse]

I look at this way, if some wants a .460 Weatherby, go ahead and buy one. Plenty of power!!!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

It have a strong kick.
Witold

 

[Grumulkin]

Yes, the kick is pretty strong. Mine has the Pendelton brake and it's the worst of my rifles. My unbraked 378 Weatherby and 458 Lott, have less recoil.

I haven't had mine very long and am still working up loads. The above was shot at 50 yards off the bench and I don't consider it that good. I'm looking for 1 inch or less at 100 yards. The sun was in my eyes though (really) and I was only using a 4X scope. I'm also suspecious the scope isn't holding zero which is no big deal since it's a Leupold and I'll send it back if it isn't.

 

[enysse]

That Pendleton brake lowers the recoil by 30%.

 

[matt85]

one of the main reasons i hate the 460 wby is that people pretty much have to put muzzle breaks on them to make them shootable. i would rather have my foot run over by a truck then spend 10 minutes next to a person shooting a 460 with a muzzle break.

im still pushing for my local range to disallow muzzle breaks or at least make a special section that they have to shoot in. few things ruin a shooting trip faster then some jerk sitting next to you with a muzzle break on his rifle!

-matt

 

[enysse]

If someone likes the .460 Weatherby without the muzzle break then that's a Big Bore fanatic. Jaco where are you?