Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 460 Weatherby Mag

Anybody have any experience with the 460 Weatherby Magnum? How it compares to 458 Win Mag and 458 Lott.

I have. Compare? well, it's in the neighborhood of 350-400 fps faster, basically a long range express rifle. One PH I read about likes it because he can whack a wounded elephant by a client at 200 plus yards and still put him down. VERY EXPENSIVE ammo and recoil is pretty sporty. Also, magazine capacity is two rounds (plus one in the chamber). I prefer the 458 Winchester.

Do a search for elkhunternm. He’s shot his 460 a lot. Has an impressive portfolio of dead NM jackwabbit pictures with large wounds. Definitely over penetrates, but does kill’em.

DF

It's faster than the Winchester and Lott,but can be reloaded to equal both.

Do I have experience. No. But; for my 2c, the 460 WB delivers more velocity than desirable. Even if the bullets do not fail it is more penetration than you can use and with additional punishment. At best a big trade off in firepower and control for no gain or worse case trade off for more likely bullet failure. The Lott is about optimum for a 500 grain 45 caliber elephant round. Dont forget the Lott in a 602 or 550 holds 5 in the magazine for 6 shots! Compare that against 2 in a 460 magazine. If 458 is not enough, the next logical step up is to go 50 caliber. If you get 550 grain bullet at 2100fps good. Or a 600 grain bullet at 2400 fps you are maxed out. Beyond that, time to think about 577.

I believe Roy Weatherby wanted the most powerful rifle without any practical consideration or understanding of its use. The gun and the ammo was a joke. IMHO. He had an interesting idea with the 300. My respect went out the window with the 460.

Don’t tell Ken.

That’s his fav wabbit gun.

DF

It is my favorite bunny buster.

The rabbits have started a “Gofundme” page to buy Ken a 22 LR. 🐇☠️😎

I have loaded 12 bullets in the .460 Weatherby Magnum ranging from the 300gn Hornady HP ( in 2 design versions as they changed the ogive in the early 90's) up to the 600gn Barnes .049" Jacket Original round Nose design and used 19 powders.

Many bullets routinely shot perfect half inch triangle groups with the Barnes 400gn X being the most reliable in generating 5 shot groups under .75 MOA. Just about any powder used in the .30/06 is ideal for the .460 case.

Top velocities for the various bullet weights were the following;
300gn = 2900fps (not max)
325gn = 2860fps (not max)
400gn = 2900fps
450gn = 2630fps (TSX compressed load reduced powder capacity)
500gn = 2678fps (Swift A-Frame)
550gn = 2509fps (Woodleigh Weldcore)
600gn = 2460fps (Barnes Original)

I learned the following;
1. The original factory energy level of 8000FPE is attainable.
2. Most reloading articles use reduced loads based on the contributors ability and not the cartridge capability.
3. Suggestion of bullet blow up are not based on experience.
4. Penetration is based on bullet design, construction integrity, velocity of that penetration and whether or how much bone is hit and how squarely it is hit.
5. By adding the factory optional 3 round magazine that is standard on the Dangerous Game rifle, plus 1 gives you well past 32,000FPE in your hands.
6. Guesses and opinions make interesting reading but are not necessarily informative.
John

Opinion Might not take to much to convert a 460 to a 500 A Square.

Gunner500 had a .416 Rigby bored to 505 Gibbs.

Not sure about .458 bore to 505 bore. May not be enough difference.

Call to find out.

DF

I had one for several years, mostly as a range toy. I never hunted with it, but probably put 500 rounds through it. I found it to be very versatile, accurate with everything from light cast bullet loads to full factory equivalent ammunition. The recoil was brisk, but the rifle was heavy and it had a factory muzzle brake that actually seemed to work. I have shot .375's that were more painful.

It's a cool rifle, and every real gun nut should own one during his shooting career, preferably before, not after, getting his shoulder replaced.

Going by memory, the 500 a-square, 460 wby and 416 rigby all have the same bolt face. The 500 for sure as it was based on the wby case. The 505 is has a slightly larger rim. You can see the difference in the cz550 comparing the 416 to 505. I dont actually have both in a 550. I know they are close. The 500 would be about as easy as it gets and would put all that powder capacity to better use. On the other hand 505 is simply cool. Kinda the polar opposite of the 460 wby. Ugg! The 'look' of the wby rifles is more constant with the more modern 500 round. Ugg again! That aside, I have a personal soft spot for the 505. That would be a great conversion. Probably doable. I guess enough effort anything is possible. Maybe a staggered magazine for 3 down in a 505.

I get it, my bad. DF was refering to the bore diameters working. Ya, that should be fine.

The two 458 would not or should not result in shoulder surgery. The 460 and 50's might cross over an invisible line. I say 'might'. The 505 with 600 grain is a hand full, I do know that. The Lott is not. YMMV. Probably does. I dont have any muzzle brakes. That probably ups the ante significantly.

The .460 Weatherby was designed by mortal man for use by mortal man. Conjecture about potential for physical damage from using a .460 is not based on anything substantive.

I can say that a 550 grain bullet at just over 2500fps is a "thumper" that generates both visual effect and a cessation in further interests for the recipient.

An option you might consider is the 450 Rigby Rimless Magnum. It’s the 416 Rigby necked up to hold a 0.458” bullet. Easily dupicates 458 in Mag, 458 Lott, and if you want to push it, it can come close to or equal the 460 Wby. But more MV means more recoil and slower recovery for follow ups.

My 450 Rigby is a Ruger RSM rebored from 416 Rigby, an easy conversion. It holds 3 in the mag and one in the chamber.

I find that a 500 grain solid - I prefer the CEB 500 grain BBW #13 Solid - at about 2350 FPS MV is enough. The cartridge can easily do more, but I prefer the fast recovery for follow up shots at this velocity. It is a good solution for a DGR.