MikeKAY
06-03-2005, 04:39 PM
KING CANNON: Dirty Harry Is Now Officially Out-Gunned
Dirty Harry Callahan’s favorite .44 magnum has been dethroned as the world’s most powerful handgun since Smith & Wesson unveiled their newest "King of the Hand Cannons," the Model 460XVR.
http://images.military.com/pics/SoldierTech_460XVR-1.jpg
Hail to the King: This revolver can catapult a 200-grain bullet at a speed of 2,330fps, making this the highest velocity revolver currently in production. (Photo: Smith & Wesson)
By Michael Merrill
“I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum might have been the king back in his day, but it can't even play in the same league as Smith & Wesson's newest "King Hand Cannon" -- the 460XVR (X-treme Velocity Revolver).
The Model 460XVR is Smith & Wesson's newest 5-shot X-frame revolver, which they introduced at the SHOT Show earlier this year. This revolver can catapult a 200-grain bullet at a speed of 2,330fps, making this the highest velocity revolver currently in production. (Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum had a speed limit of somewhere between 1,200-1,300fps.) The 460 XVR utilizes a special gain-twist rifling inside the barrel, which gives the weapon superb accuracy. It is possible to hit a target center of mass at distances of 250 yards with no holdover!
The 460 XVR comes with two interchangeable compensators; one for lead and one for jacketed bullets. The 460XVR has an 8 3/8-inch barrel, which includes the one-inch compensator. Thru use of barrel porting, the compensator allows for lighter perceived recoil than its X-frame predecessor, the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum. Make no mistake; even with lighter perceived recoil, this hand cannon is no tame animal. This is a ferocious monster that roars with every pull of the trigger. This weapon is NOT recommended for beginners and should only be fired by experienced ‘big bore' gun owners.
The new .460 magnum cartridge uses a .452 diameter bullet. This fact allows the 460XVR to be able to chamber the lighter load of a .454 Casull, and a baby load of a .45 colt. Not only is the 460XVR the world's highest velocity revolver, it also is the world's most powerful .45 caliber handgun; the new .460 magnum cartridge produces 2,350 ft/lbs of energy. By comparison, the .454 Casull only produces 1759ft/lbs of energy.
Since this weapon utilizes a brand new caliber of ammunition, cost could present a problem for many would-be gun owners. With the .460 magnum shells costing between $2.75 and $3.00 per round (retail), the more common and less expensive .45 and .454 loads look more acceptable for the firing range.
All of the superior performance of the 460 XVR comes at a price. This X-frame revolver is advertised as being able to with stand the pressures of the new .460 magnum, which are around 65,000psi. The gun's structure might be able to withstand having a chamber pressure of 65,000psi, but it is not immune to it.
http://images.military.com/pics/SoldierTech_460XVR-2.jpg
The ferocious roar of the .460 S&W Magnum. (Photo: gizmag.com)
A local sporting good store reported to SoldierTech that Smith & Wesson recommend having the barrels replaced by the factory for a $100 fee after only 1200 to 1400 rounds. This is due to the high-pressure gas cutting into the back end of the barrel. If the gun owner would ignore this problem, eventually the cylinder would also start to erode, causing all kinds of functionality problems.
This gas cutting issue could cause severe sales problems if people don't like to re-barrel so often. But even with the relatively short barrel life-span, in late April, Smith & Wesson announced that its new Model 460XVR received the 2005 "Handgun of the Year" award from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.
Hitting a target at 250 yards is normally considered practical (if not tough) with a rifle, not a handgun. Let's face it; some couldn't hit a deer at 250 yards even with a scoped rifle. Now with the 460XVR, you just have to line up the sites and the gun will do the rest.
Linkey. (http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_460XVR,,00.html?ESRC=soldierte ch.nl)
________________________________
I want one. Why? Who the hell knows. I still want one. :chuckle:
Dirty Harry Callahan’s favorite .44 magnum has been dethroned as the world’s most powerful handgun since Smith & Wesson unveiled their newest "King of the Hand Cannons," the Model 460XVR.
http://images.military.com/pics/SoldierTech_460XVR-1.jpg
Hail to the King: This revolver can catapult a 200-grain bullet at a speed of 2,330fps, making this the highest velocity revolver currently in production. (Photo: Smith & Wesson)
By Michael Merrill
“I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum might have been the king back in his day, but it can't even play in the same league as Smith & Wesson's newest "King Hand Cannon" -- the 460XVR (X-treme Velocity Revolver).
The Model 460XVR is Smith & Wesson's newest 5-shot X-frame revolver, which they introduced at the SHOT Show earlier this year. This revolver can catapult a 200-grain bullet at a speed of 2,330fps, making this the highest velocity revolver currently in production. (Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum had a speed limit of somewhere between 1,200-1,300fps.) The 460 XVR utilizes a special gain-twist rifling inside the barrel, which gives the weapon superb accuracy. It is possible to hit a target center of mass at distances of 250 yards with no holdover!
The 460 XVR comes with two interchangeable compensators; one for lead and one for jacketed bullets. The 460XVR has an 8 3/8-inch barrel, which includes the one-inch compensator. Thru use of barrel porting, the compensator allows for lighter perceived recoil than its X-frame predecessor, the Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum. Make no mistake; even with lighter perceived recoil, this hand cannon is no tame animal. This is a ferocious monster that roars with every pull of the trigger. This weapon is NOT recommended for beginners and should only be fired by experienced ‘big bore' gun owners.
The new .460 magnum cartridge uses a .452 diameter bullet. This fact allows the 460XVR to be able to chamber the lighter load of a .454 Casull, and a baby load of a .45 colt. Not only is the 460XVR the world's highest velocity revolver, it also is the world's most powerful .45 caliber handgun; the new .460 magnum cartridge produces 2,350 ft/lbs of energy. By comparison, the .454 Casull only produces 1759ft/lbs of energy.
Since this weapon utilizes a brand new caliber of ammunition, cost could present a problem for many would-be gun owners. With the .460 magnum shells costing between $2.75 and $3.00 per round (retail), the more common and less expensive .45 and .454 loads look more acceptable for the firing range.
All of the superior performance of the 460 XVR comes at a price. This X-frame revolver is advertised as being able to with stand the pressures of the new .460 magnum, which are around 65,000psi. The gun's structure might be able to withstand having a chamber pressure of 65,000psi, but it is not immune to it.
http://images.military.com/pics/SoldierTech_460XVR-2.jpg
The ferocious roar of the .460 S&W Magnum. (Photo: gizmag.com)
A local sporting good store reported to SoldierTech that Smith & Wesson recommend having the barrels replaced by the factory for a $100 fee after only 1200 to 1400 rounds. This is due to the high-pressure gas cutting into the back end of the barrel. If the gun owner would ignore this problem, eventually the cylinder would also start to erode, causing all kinds of functionality problems.
This gas cutting issue could cause severe sales problems if people don't like to re-barrel so often. But even with the relatively short barrel life-span, in late April, Smith & Wesson announced that its new Model 460XVR received the 2005 "Handgun of the Year" award from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.
Hitting a target at 250 yards is normally considered practical (if not tough) with a rifle, not a handgun. Let's face it; some couldn't hit a deer at 250 yards even with a scoped rifle. Now with the 460XVR, you just have to line up the sites and the gun will do the rest.
Linkey. (http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_460XVR,,00.html?ESRC=soldierte ch.nl)
________________________________
I want one. Why? Who the hell knows. I still want one. :chuckle: