.460 Weatherby barrel length

Looks to me like the 460 is overbore until you get to 600+ grain bullets...

1972RedNeck said:

Looks to me like the 460 is overbore until you get to 600+ grain bullets...

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I don't quite understand what you mean. I have been hunting with this cartridge for over 30 years.

The cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum loaded with a 500gr bullet is a very well-balanced cartridge caliber .458 that delivers what it promise, unlike most cartridges of the same caliber, perhaps with the exception of the cartridge 450 Rigby. The cartridge is no longer loaded from the factories with the 500gr bullets at the specifications of the original loads from Weatherby. As a reloader, anyone can reload this cartridge to their liking without any problem.

1972RedNeck said:

It is my opinion that a flinch is 100% phycological. If you know you can handle shoulder fired artillery, a lowly peashooter like a 458 Lott is just like shooting a 22.

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grand veneur said:

I don't quite understand what you mean. I have been hunting with this cartridge for over 30 years.

The cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum loaded with a 500gr bullet is a very well-balanced cartridge caliber .458 that delivers what it promise, unlike most cartridges of the same caliber, perhaps with the exception of the cartridge 450 Rigby. The cartridge is no longer loaded from the factories with the 500gr bullets at the specifications of the original loads from Weatherby. As a reloader, anyone can reload this cartridge to their liking without any problem.

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I agree that the 460 is a well balanced cartridge. But loading it to full pressure with a 300 grain bullet results in a lot of wasted powder and premature barrel wear. Like loading a 30-06 with 100 grain bullets.

It looks to me like 600 grain bullets are where there 460 starts to become an efficient round.

Just my observations. Not saying a 500 or even 400 grain bullet is bad if you are looking for velocity.

1972RedNeck said:

I agree that the 460 is a well balanced cartridge. But loading it to full pressure with a 300 grain bullet results in a lot of wasted powder and premature barrel wear. Like loading a 30-06 with 100 grain bullets.

It looks to me like 600 grain bullets are where there 460 starts to become an efficient round.

Just my observations. Not saying a 500 or even 400 grain bullet is bad if you are looking for velocity.

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I agree that the heavier the bullet the more appropriate it seems to be for this cartridge. I load a 550 grain bullet to a comfortable 2475 ish fps.
And in the future plan on trying out the 700 grain cutting edge lazer to see what happens.

I don’t know of a good use for loading full power 300 grain bullets. I say that but I do load the 325 grain hornady ftx up to 3215 fps out of a 24” barrel, but that is purely for blowing up buckets of water. Rather inefficient since I’ve seen 505 Gibbs loads that use less powder than this particular load.

rookhawk said:

I think we'd need the full load recipe to calculate burn rate and find out if the length would neuter the load or if the powder is all burned.

I'd imagine 24" is long enough but the above info would confirm with accuracy.

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It doesn't matter. Velocity loss is irrelevant. It needs to be slowed down. Educate yourself on fluid dynamics. A 500gr. Bullet of proper construction placed perfectly on the animal will kill better at lower velocity. Dr. Kevin Robinson's clients complained bitterly on the recoil so he loaded down the 375 H&H Magnum. Lo and behold it killed better.

Bonefish2150 said:

It doesn't matter. Velocity loss is irrelevant. It needs to be slowed down. Educate yourself on fluid dynamics. A 500gr. Bullet of proper construction placed perfectly on the animal will kill better at lower velocity. Dr. Kevin Robinson's clients complained bitterly on the recoil so he loaded down the 375 H&H Magnum. Lo and behold it killed better.

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I would not put it quite like that, because effective lethality depends primarily on how deeply the bullet penetrates on the right place while expanding consistently and uniformly. Depending on the bullet, this is largely a question of impact velocity and in this case, it is better to have a bit more as not enough. That is where the advantage of the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum lies; thanks to a higher muzzle velocity than many other cartridges caliber 458, it offers superior external and terminal ballistics. I don't know why a slower bullet is supposed to be more lethal. That might work with thin-jacketed older SP bullets, but not with modern bullets designed for heavy dangerous game, let alone with solids. Of course, with a cartridge like the 460 Weatherby Magnum, you have to expect heavier recoil, but the advantages of the higher muzzle velocity are clear, especially when it comes to taking shots at longer ranges.

Bonefish2150 said:

21"not over 22". Jungle carbine. Going in the Alaska bush after a wounded Brown Bear, you need something short to get into action fast at point blank range. Same with following a wounded Cape Buffalo in heavy bush. Seen a 460 with 20" barrel. It barked, bellowed and roared. The muzzle blast was so horrendous you could light a cigar 33 feet from the muzzle. Just my kind of thing!

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You would like my 20 inch barrel 500 Jeffery then...

With a rifle caliber 500 Jeffery, you can use a somewhat shorter barrel as you would never aim for the same external ballistics than that of the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum. Despite its larger case capacity, the cartridge 500 Jeffery can be loaded with faster-burning powders, but the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum requires slower burning powders, making a 26" barrels a better suitable choice.

TennesseeHunter said:

I’m of the opinion a 23” barrel or possibly 22” is ideal for all around use. Not that a 460 weatherby is ever ideal for all around use.

Which I say that but I’ve got a rifle at the smith now having a 460 barrel fit that’ll be right at a casual twenty-nine inches.
After that I have plans on making a short barrel 460. At least able to match 458 win mag with starting loads.
I’m thinking an 18” barrel but if anyone has strong opinions I’m curious

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If I was going to do something short barreled, I’d be inclined for the case capacity of the 458 Lott. It would allow a variety of bullet weights seated at various depths and it would have the case capacity to use a variety of powders.

I’d be 100% certain of the math before I’d make anything. Enduring horrible recoil and not harnessing the velocity due to short barrel length isn’t useful.

In thick jess I’ve found zero issues with 23-24” barrels so going to 21.5” has never been a consideration for me.

It's well known that anything more than 22" in a stopping caliber will impede your ability to get in and out of a vehicle, and cause you to snag the end of the barrel on every branch, twig, and leaf on every stalk.

I have seen the 22" length mentioned on this forum many times. It cannot be wrong.

Wes350 said:

It's well known that anything more than 22" in a stopping caliber will impede your ability to get in and out of a vehicle, and cause you to snag the end of the barrel on every branch, twig, and leaf on every stalk.

I have seen the 22" length mentioned on this forum many times. It cannot be wrong.

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The length of the firearm when getting in or out of a vehicle is irrelevant for hunting; we are not making war against the game.

It is certainly true that a shorter rifle is easier to handle than a longer one, especially in a critical situation, but if one chooses a shorter barrel for this reason, one should also select a suitable cartridge and not the 460 Weatherby Magnum. For backup only, a rifle caliber 458 Winchester Magnum with a 20" barrel is sufficient.

The issue with velocity changes when you enter distance into the equation, 2600 at the Muzzle turns into 2400 at 100 yards -- or less {example numbers} and now you are in the sweet spot for the bullet -- just saying

First off, never really fussed about barrel length. I know it is prescribed that a DG rifle must be short and have a barrel band sling attachment etc but I put more trust in balance. Mine is standard 25 " CZ barrel in 458 lott.

With regards to velocity and 100% powder burn, I think you would need to go with a faster powder. That goes against the cartridge design which has huge capacity and quite a severe bottle neck shape. Heavier bullets also don't play well with faster powders. I would advise 500 gr copper bullets with driving bands like Peregrines or TSX in 500 gr bullets with slightly faster powders. Or just put up with singed eyebrows and ringing ears. Velocity loss would be around 100 fps and you will still be faster than a Lott.