©
Shown above, a .45 Colt, .454 Casull and the .460 S&W Magnum
©
Shown above, a .45 Colt, .454 Casull and the .460 S&W Magnum
(HP = Hollow Point, RN = Round Nose, FMC = Full Metal Case, FMJ = Full Metal Jacket, JHP = Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for 460 S&W Magnum:
This new magnum caliber is great for us who have lots of .45 Colt ammo (I reload for cowboy shooting, but want a gun that can handle everything up to this monster magnum with very heavy lead bullets moving out at speeds in the 1300-1500 fps range.) My lighter .45 colt loads recoil about the same or less as a .38 special in this heavy gun and are good to shoot for target practice. You can shoot the .454 Casull in this gun also. So anything from .45 Colt, .454 Casull to the .460 S&W Magnum will shoot in the revolver just fine. And with adjustments, you can use dies from your .45 Colt to reload the .460 (of course you can't full length resize the case and the decapper might not work) but the case mouth belling and the bullet seater & crimper can be adjusted in the press to work. The shell holder is tight using the .45 colt for the .460, and it's best to get a holder made for the .460 since the rim is a hair larger. Personally, I prefer to spend $25 to $40 to buy a full new set for this caliber and shell holder. The shell holder I got from Hornady is a #46.
A lead GC bullet (from LeadHeads Bullets of St. John, KS) are good for home brew loads. Most loads below use CPB (Cast Performance Bullets).
(Note: Shown on this page are START and MAXIMUM loads. Do NOT reduce below START or exceed MAX except at your own risk.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet size is .451" (jacketed) in diameter or .452 lead (and some jacketed).
Use LARGE RIFLE primers in cases. Make sure primer does not go in too far (if you accidently used large pistol).
Due to different barrel lengths,
type of bullet, seating depth, primer brand and other factors,
you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start 10% under these charges and work up.
SOME ARE MAXIMUM LOADS! - NOTE, powder companies sometimes reduced some of these hot and maximum loads after these figures were posted. You might check current loads from powder company before loading maximum loads. The loads that produce velocities below 950 fps, are very nice, mild shooting, lower recoil rounds. Trail Boss is a great, low velocity, very bulky powder for this big boy that I have been shooting in my .45 Colt loads for some time. These are VERY mild in this big gun, and less than half the maximum pressures of the high velocity loads.
I have experimented using the cheap .45 long colt case, and you will see a few of these loads noted below. I tried to extrapolate loads that would be like a .38 special Plus-P, in the .45 colt case.
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200 Grain Barnes XPB .451 dia. (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 41.0 gr. 2,077 FPS
Longshot 20.0 gr. 1,752
H110 45.0 gr. 2,237
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200 Grain Barnes XPB .451 dia. (Maximum Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 45.5C gr. 2,238 FPS C=compressed
Longshot 27.0 gr. 2,161
H110 46.5 gr. 2,315
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225 Grain Barnes X .451 dia. (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 37.0 gr. 2,007 FPS
H110 39.0 gr. 2,045
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225 Grain Barnes X .451 dia. (Maximum Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 41.0C gr. 2,191 FPS
H110 42.0 gr. 2,243
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230 Grain JHP .451 dia. (IN A .45 LONG COLT CASE, PLEASE NOTE THIS!)
AA 5744 26.5 gr. Avg. 1,222 fps Hi=1251 fps, Lo=1190 Spread= 61.4
Decent load for the .460 in a .45 colt case
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240 Grain Hornady XTP Mag .452 dia. (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 40.0 gr. 2,0187 FPS
H110 45.0 gr. 2,084
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AA 5744 27.0 gr. 1,230 Use for a Reduced Load
AA 5744 40.0 gr. 1,836
AA 5744 44.0 gr. 2,035 58,200 2.188 MAX.
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240 Grain Hornady XTP Mag .452 dia. (Maximum Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 45.0C gr. 2,198 FPS
H110 48.5 gr. 2,254
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240 SIERRA JHC
Ramshot Enforcer Start 31.0 gr. 1,750 ; MAX 39.0 gr. 2,150
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250 Grain Hornady XTP/HP .452 dia. (Personal Loads)
AA 5744 38.0 gr. 1,596 Personal: (Spread 153 - Hi=1,686 Lo=1,533)(old powder)
AA 5744 38.0 gr. 1,540 Personal: (Spread 72 - Hi=1,572 Lo=1,500)(new)
AA 5744 40.0 gr. 1,576 Personal: (Spread 33 - Hi=1,549 Lo=1,561)* great load, even with some unburned powder in cases.
AA #9 34.5 gr. 1,400 avg. This was 12 year OLD powder and didn't do well. Fresh batch might do better. Spreads varied from 660 to 872 fps.
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250 Grain Barnes X .451 dia. (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 36.0 gr. 1,938 FPS
H110 39.0 gr. 1,985
Lil'Gun 39.0 gr. 1,945
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250 Grain Barnes X .451 dia. (Maximum Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 40.0C gr. 2,074 FPS
H110 41.5 gr. 2,133
Lil'Gun 42.0 gr. 2,044
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250 Grain Rainier Plated FP .451 dia. (http://www.rainierballistics.com/)
5744 38.0 gr. 1,602 fps personal, Hi=1630 Lo=1564 Spread=65.6
Not all the powder burned, but it's a very good load.
Lil'Gun 40.0 gr. 1,617 fps personal, Hi=1718 Lo=1568 Spread=149.4
Titegroup 15.0 gr. 1,311 fps personal, Hi=1364 Lo=1280 Spread=84.7
+++++++++++++++[next loads below are in a .45 Long Colt case, not the .460 case]+++++++
250 Gr. Rainier Plated FP .451 dia. (In .45 Long Colt case)
AA 5744 26.5 gr. 1,259 fps Avg. Hi= 1289 fps, Lo=1203 fps, Spread=86.1
TiteGroup 14.0 gr. 1,411 fps Avg. Hi= 1426 fps, Lo=1380 fps, Spread=46.2
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255 Grain Lead SWC PB .452 dia. (Mild load-plain base lead bullets)(or use RNFP bullet)
Trail Boss 11.0 gr. 977 FPS (Spread=52 - Hi=999 Lo=947)
Trail Boss 11.0 gr. 987 FPS (Spread=99 - Hi=1031 Lo=932)
Trail Boss 12.0 gr. 962 FPS (Spread=225 - Hi=1064 Lo=839)(yes lower velocities and wider spread than one grain less. This is not such a good load for this combo)
Unique 11.5 gr. 1,056 fps (Spread=193 - Hi=1,134 Lo=941)
Unique 11.6 gr. 1,073 fps (Spread=65 - Hi=1,112 Lo=1047)
(these are personal loads with cowboy bullets for easy target shooting)
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260 Grain Nosler Partition .451 dia. (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 38.0 gr. 1,939 FPS
H110 41.0 gr. 1,959
Lil'Gun 43.0 gr. 1,971
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AA 5744 28.0 gr. 1,250 Use for a Reduced Load
AA 5744 36.0 gr. 1,685
AA 5744 40.0 gr. 1,880 55,000 2.192 MAX
No 9 31.5 gr. 1,740
No 9 35.0 gr. 1,895 59,000 2.192 MAX
4100 35.0 gr. 1,730
4100 39.0 gr. 1,915 59,000 2.192 MAX
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260 Grain Nosler Partition .451 dia. (Maximum Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 43.0C gr. 2,098 FPS
H110 46.0 gr. 2,178
Lil'Gun 46.0 gr. 2,080
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260 Grain Speer JHP (.451)
2400 29.0 gr. 1,499 FPS start
2400 31.0 gr. 1,553 FPS Max
Power Pistol 19.0 gr. 1,400 start
Power Pistol 21.0 gr. 1,514 Max
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300 Grain Hornady XTP (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 36.0 gr. 1,852 FPS
H110 38.0 gr. 1,825
Lil'Gun 40.0 gr. 1,970
Ramshot Enforcer START 29.0 gr. 1,650 MAXIMUM 34.0 gr. 1,890 (from Ramshot)
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300 Grain Hornady XTP (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 40.0C gr. 1,988 FPS
H110 42.5 gr. 2,034
Lil'Gun 44.0 gr. 2,067
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300 Grain Speer Uni-Cor SP (.451)
2400 28.0 gr. 1,392 FPS start
2400 30.0 gr. 1,550 FPS Max
Power Pistol 18.0 gr. 1,292 start
Power Pistol 20.0 gr. 1,359 Max
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325 Grain CPB LFN PB (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon)(Cast Performance Bullet, Lead Flat Nose, Plain Base)
H4227 34.0 gr. 1,790 FPS
H110 38.0 gr. 1,810
Lil'Gun 39.0 gr. 1,843
Titegroup 15.0 gr. 1,353
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325 Grain CPB LFN PB (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4227 38.0 gr. 1,897 FPS
H110 42.0 gr. 1,953
Lil'Gun 42.0 gr. 1,925
Titegroup 17.6 gr. 1,470
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325 GR. CPB LFN PB Dia. .452" COL: 2.200"
Trail Boss 7.0 734 16,500 PSI Start
11.0 914 20,400 PSI Max
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335 GR. CPB WLN GC Dia. .452" COL: 2.180" GC=Gas Check
Trail Boss 7.0 gr. 726 17,700 PSI Start
Trail Boss 10.0 gr. 887 22,200 PSI Max
AA 5744 25.5 gr. 1,200 Use for a Reduced Load
AA 5744 32.0 gr. 1,500
AA 5744 36.5 gr. 1,710 59,600 2.181 MAX
No 9 28.0 gr. 1,510
No 9 31.5 gr. 1,660 61,000 2.181 MAX
4100 31.0 gr. 1,520
4100 34.5 gr. 1,675 60,000 2.181 MAX
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360 Grain CPB WLN GC (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon)(Cast Performance Bullet, Wide Lead Nose, Gas Check)
H4198 37.0 gr. 1,531 FPS
H4227 31.0 gr. 1,632
H110 35.0 gr. 1,713
Lil'Gun 36.0 gr. 1,752
Titegroup 13.0 gr. 1,208
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360 Grain CPB WLN GC (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4198 40.0C gr. 1,644 FPS
H4227 35.5 gr. 1,776
H110 38.0 gr. 1,836
Lil'Gun 40.0 gr. 1,852
Titegroup 15.6 gr. 1,340
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360 GR. CPB WLN GC Dia. .452" COL: 2.190"
Trail Boss 7.0 712 19,600 PSI Start
Trail Boss 9.0 827 24,200 PSI Max
AA 5744 26.0 gr. 1,220 Use for a Reduced Load
AA 5744 31.5 gr. 1,480
AA 5744 32.0 gr. 1,371 (Personal: Spread=82 - Hi=1,471 Lo=1,335)
AA 5744 32.0 gr. 1,353 (Personal: Spread=40 - Hi=1,374 Lo=1,334)
AA 5744 34.0 gr. 1,431 (Personal: Spread=34 - Hi=1,452 Lo=1,418)(excellent load & hot)
AA 5744 35.0 gr. 1,640 59,800 2.199 MAX
No 9 27.0 gr. 1,450
No 9 30.0 gr. 1,580 60,438 2.199 MAX
4100 29.7 gr. 1,450
4100 33.0 gr. 1,595 59,100 2.199 MAX
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395 Grain CPB WLN GC (Starting Loads)(Hodgdon)(Cast Performance Bullet, Wide Lead Nose, Gas Check)
H4198 35.0 gr. 1,484 FPS
H4227 28.0 gr. 1,516
H110 30.0 gr. 1,553
Lil'Gun 33.0 gr. 1,665
Titegroup 12.0 gr. 1,138
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395 Grain CPB WLN GC (MAXIMUM Loads)(Hodgdon Powder)
H4198 38.0C gr. 1,596 FPS
H4227 32.0 gr. 1,647
H110 34.0 gr. 1,693
Lil'Gun 36.8 gr. 1,796
Titegroup 14.6 gr. 1,255
--------------------------------------------
395 GR. CPB WLN GC Dia. .452" COL: 2.185"
Trail Boss 7.0 695 21,100 PSI Start
Trail Boss 8.0 754 24,000 PSI Max
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395 GR. LFP GC Dia. .452" (IN A .45 LONG COLT CASE, PLEASE NOTE THIS FACT!)
TiteGroup 10.0 gr. 1.098 fps Avg. Hi=1129, Lo-1051, Spread=77.7 , pretty good load using the .45 colt case.
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500 GR. LFP Dia. .452" (My personal bullet from a Montana Moulds pouring) This mother kicks like a mule.
Lil'Gun 30 gr. 1,438 fps Avg. Hi=1535, Lo=1385, Spread=150.1 MAX Load. Heavy recoil.
(note, I had to seat the bullet out further than the crimp ring to get the powder in,
and crimped just enough to clear the revolver chamber of the .460 S&W).
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Trail Boss is great for lead bullet loads at low velocities. It's quite bulky and will fill the case beyond half full for most loads (making a double charge evident if it happened).
Accurate (XMP)5744 is one of my favorite powders that I use in my .45 Colt and other calibers. It seems to be less "case position sensitive" than others I have used. And only a few more grains (to MAX) is a compressed load, so it uses a lot of the case space.
I have used Titegroup & Lil' Gun and I like them a lot. Tightgroup is a very light powder for its bulk, so it fills the case about 3/4 when seating a big lead GC bullet.
UNIQUE (more later) - Using around 10-12 grains for bullets from 240 grain, plain base, thru 440 grain (lead, gas check), were mild loads and the spread was quite good for loads tested above. Quite a difference in velocity with bullet weight (see tables above).
*
AA(XMP)5744, AA 1680, AA 4100 are products of Accurate Arms Company
Tightgroup, Longshot, Lil'Gun, H110, H4227 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR Trail Boss (formerly DuPont) Powder Company, Winchester, Components Div.
Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders: Unique, 2400 & Power Pistol
References: Accurate Arms Co. Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide - - Hodgdon's Reloaders Website- - Hodgdon Tech Support - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Ramshot Powder Company on-line guide 2007.