I'm looking to build a big bore hunting handgun and I also want to be able to shoot it a fair amount for fun without killing my hands and wrists. I want to use the same loads that I hunt with to also plink/target shoot, so a reduced load is not an option and I refuse to own anything with a muzzle break! The 460 S&W is the cartridge I'm looking to build and I want to use 300 to 335 grain loads from a 14" barreled Encore. How does the recoil compare to a 45/70? Years ago a friend had a Contender in 45/70 shooting 300gr. Nosler Partitions and after about 10 to 15 shots it wasn't much fun to shoot for the rest of the day. I'm not new to handguns or big bore pistols and by no means recoil shy or timid, but I haven't had the opportunity to shoot the 460 and from what I've read the consensus seems to be 50/50 or on the fence of this to be a pleasurable/tolerable cartridge to shoot. I own/owned many .44 mags, 45LC, 445SM, 45WM in various revolvers and currently shoot a 30/30AI barrel on my Encore. . .I'm just wanting to step up to the big bore gang in a hunting spicific handgun! ! ! I know this sounds like I want my cake and be able to eat it too. Just looking for more solid experiences from people using the Encore platform and 460 S&W. Thank you.
To many years ago to think about, I decided to build a Big bore pistol for the 444 Marlin using a TC Contender. It weighed under 4 pounds, and was brutal with the 265 grain bullets going 2400 ft/sec.
Most people would not shoot it and some only shot it once. It did however replace "All other pistols in my arsenal" for hunting deer and hogs. I had tried all of the big bore and most powerful pistol cartridges and was never completely satisfied with the end results.
The 444 was/is a brute and has no problems with any game I ever shot dropping them in there tracks. However, I would recommend a brake for the very powerful handguns because of the control and reduction in recoil.
I have a 460 S&W revolver and really like it. It came with two muzzle brakes (One for lead bullets, and one for jacketed bullets) They do control muzzle rise to a point. (The 444 contender doesn't have a brake
And rises violently to about 12;00 o'clock) but with it being a single shot there is time to regain control and re load).
If I were to build a 460 S&W on an encore it would have a brake installed for the reasons I described. The nice thing about the 460 is it's ability to shoot 454 and even the 45 long colt ammo. (I believe in using the 460 ammo in it but it does give you some options).
Muzzle brakes don't work as well on big pistols because of the ratio of bullet weight to powder charge, but they do help control the pistol and reduce the recoil by 20 to 40 %.
The 460 S&W is in a league by it's self as far as I am concerned and combined with the right combination of hand gun/rifle it is awesome.
The revolver uses a gain twist barrel (25 to 12, I Think)to start the heavy bullets without jacket shear and this must be taken into account on a fixed twist rate barrel.
Have fun
J E CUSTOM
