Smith & Wesson Model 460 is a large bore five-shot, single-action/double-action revolver by Smith & Wesson chambered for the .460 S&W Magnum cartridge. It was designed as a hunting and dangerous game defensive revolver for use in Africa and Alaska. The revolver is built on the company's largest and strongest frame, known as the X-Frame, and represents a joint effort among Smith & Wesson, Hornady, and Cor-Bon.

Design

The basic design of the Model 460 is based on another X-frame revolver, its counterpart, the Smith & Wesson Model 500, a .50 caliber revolver. Aside from the .460 S&W Magnum cartridge, the revolver can also chamber .454 Casull, .45 Colt, and .45 Schofield ammunition. Smith & Wesson states that Model 460 XVR (XVR stands for X-treme Velocity Revolver) is the highest velocity production revolver, while being the most powerful .45 caliber production revolver in the world, launching a 200 gr bullet at 2330 ft/s, generating 2416 ftlbf of muzzle energy. This revolver uses gain-twist rifling, starting with a slow twist rate of one turn in 100 in and gradually increasing up to one turn in 20 in to accommodate the combination of a heavy bullet and high pressure and velocity typical for the round. The S&W Model 460 won the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Handgun of the year Award when it debuted in 2005.

Variants

Smith & Wesson offers several variants of this revolver. Some with short barrels like the Model 460 ES are intended for use in survival kits in small planes should they crash land in Alaskan Bear Country while others with barrels as long as 14" are intended as a primary hunting arm.