460 weatherby , mostly big.

[ebb]

A friend that I hunted with had owned just about all of the different chamberings that the German Wbys came in, and found a deal on a 460Wby. We were out shooting and sighting in rifles when he drags this 460 out. We all fired a round or 2 and noticed the tree we had been shooting in to had exit wounds. We measured the SYP tree at 25 inches in diameter. wondering how many inches of SYP it took to stop a 460 solid we rotated till we had another large one in line with the first and fired again. Both trees had an exit, for a total of 48 inches. We never could get the bullet to hit a third tree further down the line. He didn't keep it long but made a little money when he sold it. They are incredible rifles.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

these cartridges are why there’s is a powder shortage! LOL

 

[David Milisock]

I keep hearing all these larger than life stories about big guns. Cheytacs and 416 barret 460 styer etc. I have shot thousands of rounds through 338 lapua rifles and just got curious about bigger bullets, higher velocities, downrange energy. I dont know... rather than spend 4-5k building and feeding a bmg based rifle , I figure 1k on a savage that gets me 2/3 of the way is a good step.

I build for a purpose, it's just my opinion but for hunting, big bores are for in close. Trying to take 1,200 pounds of bear at range is not an intelligent choice. Heading out 200+ yards into the brush after a wounded bear is a bad idea.

The Siamese Mauser 45-70, the 458 x2 wildcat, 450 Marlin all in dangerous game configuration will be fun for you.

 

[matthias]

I build for a purpose, it's just my opinion but for hunting, big bores are for in close. Trying to take 1,200 pounds of bear at range is not an intelligent choice. Heading out 200+ yards into the brush after a wounded bear is a bad idea.

The Siamese Mauser 45-70, the 458 x2 wildcat, 450 Marlin all in dangerous game configuration will be fun for you.

I do like the way you think. I had a siamese mauser that I sold when I built an interarms mauser in 458x2 american. Its funny because I also have a 450 marlin as a backup. You really have my number for sure.

 

[ebb]

Why would you think that a Wby 460 would be for taking bears at 200 plus? They will kill up close and do it about 3 times the energy of everything you listed. I built a set of kitchen cabinets for a big game hunter that had an elephant skull on his pool deck, the bone in that skull was over 3 inches thick in some spots. I want the Wby. 460.

 

[wboggs]

Why would you think that a Wby 460 would be for taking bears at 200 plus? They will kill up close and do it about 3 times the energy of everything you listed. I built a set of kitchen cabinets for a big game hunter that had an elephant skull on his pool deck, the bone in that skull was over 3 inches thick in some spots. I want the Wby. 460.

Three times the kinetic energy does not mean it has three times the killing power or penetration. Men that hunted elephants for a living will tell you shot placement and adequate penetration is the key to success in the real world.

 

[ebb]

Absolutely, but when is energy a bad thing? The 460 I shot had a type of muzzle brake cut into the barrel (not removable), and was not overly brutal with recoil. When we shot the trees another friends wife shot it 3 times and this was not a large woman at all. i will not ever own one but could see why someone would.

 

[wboggs]

Absolutely, but when is energy a bad thing? The 460 I shot had a type of muzzle brake cut into the barrel (not removable), and was not overly brutal with recoil. When we shot the trees another friends wife shot it 3 times and this was not a large woman at all. i will not ever own one but could see why someone would.

I can also see why someone would want to own one. It would seem a better version would have a shorter barrel and a faster twist rate to increase handling and penetration at the expense of some velocity.

 

[Kevin57]

I used a 470 double in Africa. Recoil was stout but manageable. I will use a 416 next trip.

My experience is that the 460 Weatherby has so much recoil and blast that almost nobody really shoots it well. I saw a person in a camp I was in, shoot his new rifle twice and then give it away on the spot.

Most really experienced African guides I met hate that rifle. They like big bullets at 2200fps. I have seen over driven bullets come apart and cause quite a problem.

Your mileage will vary. The 416 Remington with appropriate bullets will take anything that walks on the earth.
The 470 double has the cool factor but at almost 13 pounds is gets heavy.

 

[wboggs]

I used a 470 double in Africa. Recoil was stout but manageable. I will use a 416 next trip.

My experience is that the 460 Weatherby has so much recoil and blast that almost nobody really shoots it well. I saw a person in a camp I was in, shoot his new rifle twice and then give it away on the spot.

Most really experienced African guides I met hate that rifle. They like big bullets at 2200fps. I have seen over driven bullets come apart and cause quite a problem.

Your milage will vary. The 416 Remington with appropriate bullets will take anything that walks on the earth.
The 470 double has the cool factor but at almost 13 pounds is gets heavy.

They make bullets that will handle the .460s velocity but your point about the .416 is true. A 400 gr at 2400 will penetrate as far as a .458 500gr. I used a .416 Rigby which has a less sharp recoil because of low pressures. In those days the Swift Aframe and Speer African Grand Slams were always reliable. My guide had a .500 NE which was a good close range stopper but didn't penetrate as far as the .416 and was limited on other animals at longer range. It was short and very heavy..
You can see a noticeable effect on the amimal (buffalo in my case) as you move up in caliber diameter and bullet. There is no answer as to which is best because the conditions are different.
Thin skinned amimals are different. By far the best I ever used was a custom .338 RUM using 250 Barnes at 2983 or the Swift 275 at 2850+. Absolute perfection at 25-450 yds. Several experienced PHs told me it was the most effective they had ever seen.

 

[Kevin57]

They make bullets that will handle the .460s velocity but your point about the .416 is true. A 400 gr at 2400 will penetrate as far as a .458 500gr. I used a .416 Rigby which has a less sharp recoil because of low pressures. In those days the Swift Aframe and Speer African Grand Slams were always reliable. My guide had a .500 NE which was a good close range stopper but didn't penetrate as far as the .416 and was limited on other animals at longer range. It was short and very heavy..
You can see a noticeable effect on the amimal (buffalo in my case) as you move up in caliber diameter and bullet. There is no answer as to which is best because the conditions are different.
Thin skinned amimals are different. By far the best I ever used was a custom .338 RUM using 250 Barnes at 2983 or the Swift 275 at 2850+. Absolute perfection at 25-450 yds. Several experienced PHs told me it was the most effective they had ever seen.

Swift A Frames are still good. As far as a bonded or composite bullet goes at short range with the 460 and several times with the 338/78 was not good.

I stand by my statement about the recoil and blast of the 460 which for me is about double the felt recoil of my 470. I am 6 1, 220 and stout, and I want no part of that 460. God nor man does not make enough hearing protection for that.
I wish everyone well, but I have not addressed the biggest concern with hard recoiling rifles as we get older.
The incidence of detached retinas is dramatic. Happening in the bush away from quick medical care might cost the hunter his sight in that eye.

Good luck on your project. I am building a soft shooting 404 Jefferies for my wife as a stopping rifle for next years trip. Not as powerful or sexy but a storied and well respected, softish shooting big bore.

 

[wboggs]

Swift A Frames are still good. As far as a bonded or composite bullet goes at short range with the 460 and several times with the 338/78 was not good.

I stand by my statement about the recoil and blast of the 460 which for me is about double the felt recoil of my 470. I am 6 1, 220 and stout, and I want no part of that 460. God nor man does not make enough hearing protection for that.
I wish everyone well, but I have not addressed the biggest concern with hard recoiling rifles as we get older.
The incidence of detached retinas is dramatic. Happening in the bush away from quick medical care might cost the hunter his sight in that eye.

Good luck on your project. I am building a soft shooting 404 Jefferies for my wife as a stopping rifle for next years trip. Not as powerful or sexy but a storied and well respected, softish shooting big bore.

Thats a strong second from me on the eye issue and I had not thought of it. I'm 86 with moderate macular degeneration and my shooting has suffered a lot.
All of the cartridges in the lower pressure range give more of a shove and not the sharp violent recoil of the
55 k loads. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[matthias]

Here is the update on this monster. Recoil with the 500gr bullets was unpleasant. I have ordered a substantial brake and I am working on two possibilities for further recoil reduction.

I have received 100 of the barnes 500gr x bullets and will be shooting those to see about accuracy.

One thought I had was to cut a boat tail into the bullets to help with bc. But I think for now I will see how they shoot.

 

[wboggs]

Here is the update on this monster. Recoil with the 500gr bullets was unpleasant. I have ordered a substantial brake and I am working on two possibilities for further recoil reduction.

I have received 100 of the barnes 500gr x bullets and will be shooting those to see about accuracy.

One thought I had was to cut a boat tail into the bullets to help with bc. But I think for now I will see how they shoot.

My friend in Africa shoots them and they are accurate. You don't need to modify them at all

 

[XTR]

I’ve not hunted Africa, but the folks I’ve talked with that have almost to a man report that the PH carried a 375H&H to back your shots.

 

[wboggs]

I’ve not hunted Africa, but the folks I’ve talked with that have almost to a man report that the PH carried a 375H&H to back your shots.

My friends and I have been there many times and we have not seen PHs carrying .375s for back up on dangerous game. Plains game is another matter but if you are in buffalo, lion, elephant country where a close range encounter can occur there are much better options.

 

[David Milisock]

I do like the way you think. I had a siamese mauser that I sold when I built an interarms mauser in 458x2 american. Its funny because I also have a 450 marlin as a backup. You really have my number for sure.

I got to my 450 because multi generational safety. Once I'm dead, my survivors can't chamber the 450 Marlin in anything else.

But in any case I wanted a heavy 45 and it fits the ticket. I practice field shooting with it.

 

[Kevin57]

My friend in Africa shoots them and they are accurate. You don't need to modify them at all

If you are shooting a 500gn bullet at any range that needs a boat tail you are doing a different hunting than I have ever seen. 500gn bullets are stopping bullets. Typically 75 yards and MUCH closer. Sometimes way too close. Good luck. Shooting those big bores have a high satisfaction rate per trigger pull. Not too many shooting a couple of boxes at a range trip. You want tons of fun...fire a couple off the rest sitting. It will reset your inertial nav.

 

[wboggs]

If you are shooting a 500gn bullet at any range that needs a boat tail you are doing a different hunting than I have ever seen. 500gn bullets are stopping bullets. Typically 75 yards and MUCH closer. Sometimes way too close. Good luck. Shooting those big bores have a high satisfaction rate per trigger pull. Not too many shooting a couple of boxes at a range trip. You want tons of fun...fire a couple off the rest sitting. It will reset your inertial nav.

You need a blunt or flat nose, BT is not needed and just makes the bullet longer.
My best practice was standing with sticks, 75 yds max. 1 1/4 " 3 shot grps emphasiging speed working the bolt. Them 1 shot at 75, 50, 25 as fast as you could shoot keeping one in chamber for a last ditch shot

 

[Charlie-NY]

My buddy was chomping at the bit to shoot my 460Wby rifle. The guy is 6' tall and about 250lbs. He fired a single shot before exclaiming. "this F N thing is ABUSIVE" and handed the rifle back to me. As hard as I tried, I couldn't convince him to try it one more time. LOL