Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots #1 in .460 S&W?

I was flipping through Speer's #14 reloading manual last night and came across the .460 Smith. The cartridge obviously doesn't need any introduction and we all know it is impressive. I was looking at top loads that move a 300gr slug out at 1700fps in an 8" or 8.5" barrel.

About then I remembered that Ruger has a listing for a #1S in the .460 Smith. If that round will push 300gr bullets at 1700 with 8" of barrel, what will this thing do with 22"? I know it is loaded to the gills so to speak when it comes to pressure but I can't help but imagine that this thing would easily compare to a .45-70 if chambered in a #1.

Does anyone have any experience with this combo? I would love to hear some feedback.

Hold out for the 475 Turnbull

Awhile back someone was talking about getting 2600 fps with a 200 gr. bullet out of a 24" barrel IIRC.Don't know if it is true, but I'd say it is possible at the pressure level of the .460.

Why not the 500 Smith? Go to the top of the heap.

I'm semi-interested in the .475 LInebaugh, only because I have a SRH .480. At one time I was guessing the #1 should be able to run 370's at 1800-1900 fps or so

i had an itch to try that one meself....it is supposed to arrive here Friday.

will post some results after i give it a spin.

still halfway thinking i need a .460 too though.

Don't like the liability for the barns I might knock down.

Currently, Ruger doesn't chamber the .500 Smith in the #1 line...or any line for that matter. Besides, if I was going to the top of the heap, I would just get a .458 Lott.

The particular chambering just caught my attention for some reason. Something about how it would duplicate the .45-70 in every way with a smaller case just appealed to me. I know it is only possible because of the 65kpsi SAAMI specs but it just caught me as an impressive round.

For some reason, I keep thinking that my next #1 needs to be a cast bullet rifle so I keep gravitating to the .45-70. I know the .460 and .475 would work equally well though so they are on my radar too.

I have a no.1 with a douglass 24" barrel. The higest velocity I have achevied with 300gr SST Hornady bullets is 2400 fps. Groups were about 2.5" That was using Lil gun. I setteled on Alliant 2400 powder for a velocity of 2180 fps but i get moa out of it.
I have gotten 1" groups from Barnes 290 gr TEZ bullets and Lil gun at 2290 fps.
With factory Hornady 200 gr ammo, I get right at 2800 fps.The problem with the FTX ammo is, it is only rated at 2300 fps.
I have yet to kill anything with it yet, but it kills steel very well!
I have trimmed some brass to the (Indiana legal limit} of 1.62" with lil gun and 300 SST's and get 2290 with them. This is the load I will use this fall. It shoots moa also.

Welcome to the fire Bogusmcall and thank you for your contribution.

Agreed. Welcome and thanks for some great information.



Any chance you may have played with some heavy cast bullets--heavier than 300grs?

No, 300 gr is as heavy as i have tried. Sometime in the furture I plan on trying some 350-400 gr hard cast though.

Thanks. Please keep us updated if you ever get to playing with the cast stuff. I am sure more than one of us would be interested in your results.