460 S&W... safe in Encore 45 Colt / 410 barrel ???

Magnum Wheel Man · July 23, 2014, 07:06 AM

so... 1st off, I already know, to never attempt this in a Contender, ( which is the flavor I collect ) ... however, I have a buddy that started on the Encores... & he has an Encore 45 Colt / .410 barrel... his brother is buying a 460 S&W, & my buddy asked me, if he could shoot that cartridge in his Encore ???

I've never tried to stick a 460 case in my 45 Colt / 410 barrel, but assume it would go in ??? The Encore does have 460 barrels available, so the action can handle it... only thoughts would be any issues with the barrel containing the pressure... but it's bigger at the chamber end, than my Contender barrel...

or perhaps the chamber would be too loose, & the case would rupture...

any thoughts ???

darkgael · July 23, 2014, 08:31 AM

Nope. I am a firm believer in shooting only what is engraved onto the barrel.
Because the barrel will accept .410 hulls, it will most likely chamber the .460 (Case length = 1.80"). Tempting, though, ain't it?
Pete

buck460XVR · July 23, 2014, 10:29 AM

I would contact T/C directly and get the correct answer. I believe they have a chat line with a rep or accept e-mails and/or phone calls.

https://www.tcarms.com/contact

Magnum Wheel Man · July 23, 2014, 10:35 AM

looks like chat is off line ( permanently ??? )

will try sending an e-mail... would expect they'll say no though, & recommend buying the 460 barrel

5 day response time... for my question

Magnum Wheel Man · July 23, 2014, 01:08 PM

well... quicker response time, but the standard reply... as expected

The question...

"he is wondering if it would be safe to fire “some” 460 S&W ammo in the Encore 45 Colt / .410 barrel…"

the reply...

"Dear Customer,
We recommend you shoot what is stamped on the barrel.
If further assistance is required please reply accordingly.
Sincerely,
XXXXX"

Doyle · July 23, 2014, 01:32 PM

The .460 is capable of so much more pressure than the .45LC that I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the metalurgy of the barrels was totally different.

Magnum Wheel Man · July 23, 2014, 01:36 PM

DOYLE... do you really think they use different alloys for the barrels ??? revolver cylinders I'd certainly expect, but I guess I've never heard of them using different alloys for the barrels ( well maybe between black powder & smokeless, & stainless, but not 2 different alloys of stainless or 2 different alloys of carbon steel in smokeless calibers )

savagecornmuffin · July 23, 2014, 02:00 PM

T/C makes 460 barrel for the encore, so I'm sure the Encore would hold the pressure,.. but, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the 45lc/410 smooth bore? I know it is on some guns. Maybe I'm thinking of the contender 45lc/410.

Magnum Wheel Man · July 23, 2014, 02:03 PM

Mine has shallow rifling ( same as the old Hot Shot barrels ) but has a straight rifled choke tube... well... at least the Contender 45 Colt / .410 barrel does... I'm not sure about the Encore barrels, but would expect they would have the same configuration

mine is a 16" vent rib barrel... would be too short to be a smooth bore...

Doyle · July 23, 2014, 04:10 PM

Wheel Man, I just don't know. That .460 produces pressures that are beyond belief. SAAMI spec for a .45 colt is 14000CUP. SAAMI spec for a .460S&W is over 60,000CUP.

buck460XVR · July 23, 2014, 04:46 PM

I would be concerned that with legitimate .460 loads, the high amount of hot gas preceding the bullet into the barrel, because of the generous chamber cut for the .410 shotshell, would erode the chamber like a forcing cone. It is known that the .45 will never produce the velocities in the Encore .45/410 barrels as it will in standard .45 colt barrels because of this. While not an issue @ .45 colt pressures, what happens when you triple or quadruple the pressure. I dunno...I'm surprised that TC didn't answer the question more thoroughly, instead of so generically.

Gdawgs · July 23, 2014, 06:46 PM

I've seen it done and it does work(but I stood way back

. A guy I work with its always playing around with stuff like this, so he has tried it. I'm guessing the barrel could withstand this for some time, but I'm not sure if the action was built for that kind of abuse. I would not buy that gun from him if he offered to sell it tome.

He actually worked up a load using some British cartridge(can't remember what it was offhand) that made the 460 look pretty wimpy. Could barely hang on to the gun when it recoiled. Not my cup of tea. But it can be done. For how long is the question.

I personally don't recommend using anything except for the cartridge things were made for.

saleen322 · July 23, 2014, 06:59 PM

IMHO, lot easier to get a .460 barrel and then you can also safely shoot 45 Colt as well. YMMV

July 23, 2014, 07:06 AM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	460 S&W... safe in Encore 45 Colt / 410 barrel ??? so... 1st off, I already know, to never attempt this in a Contender, ( which is the flavor I collect ) ... however, I have a buddy that started on the Encores... & he has an Encore 45 Colt / .410 barrel... his brother is buying a 460 S&W, & my buddy asked me, if he could shoot that cartridge in his Encore ??? I've never tried to stick a 460 case in my 45 Colt / 410 barrel, but assume it would go in ??? The Encore does have 460 barrels available, so the action can handle it... only thoughts would be any issues with the barrel containing the pressure... but it's bigger at the chamber end, than my Contender barrel... or perhaps the chamber would be too loose, & the case would rupture... any thoughts ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 23, 2014, 08:31 AM	#2
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Nope Nope. I am a firm believer in shooting only what is engraved onto the barrel. Because the barrel will accept .410 hulls, it will most likely chamber the .460 (Case length = 1.80"). Tempting, though, ain't it? Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

July 23, 2014, 10:35 AM	#4
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	looks like chat is off line ( permanently ??? ) will try sending an e-mail... would expect they'll say no though, & recommend buying the 460 barrel 5 day response time... for my question __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; July 23, 2014 at 10:58 AM.

July 23, 2014, 01:08 PM	#5
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	well... quicker response time, but the standard reply... as expected The question... "he is wondering if it would be safe to fire “some” 460 S&W ammo in the Encore 45 Colt / .410 barrel…" the reply... "Dear Customer, We recommend you shoot what is stamped on the barrel. If further assistance is required please reply accordingly. Sincerely, XXXXX" __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 23, 2014, 01:36 PM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	DOYLE... do you really think they use different alloys for the barrels ??? revolver cylinders I'd certainly expect, but I guess I've never heard of them using different alloys for the barrels ( well maybe between black powder & smokeless, & stainless, but not 2 different alloys of stainless or 2 different alloys of carbon steel in smokeless calibers ) __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 23, 2014, 10:29 AM	#3
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I would contact T/C directly and get the correct answer. I believe they have a chat line with a rep or accept e-mails and/or phone calls. https://www.tcarms.com/contact

July 23, 2014, 01:32 PM	#6
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	The .460 is capable of so much more pressure than the .45LC that I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the metalurgy of the barrels was totally different.

July 23, 2014, 02:00 PM	#8
savagecornmuffin Member Join Date: December 5, 2013 Location: SE USA Posts: 66	T/C makes 460 barrel for the encore, so I'm sure the Encore would hold the pressure,.. but, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the 45lc/410 smooth bore? I know it is on some guns. Maybe I'm thinking of the contender 45lc/410.

July 23, 2014, 02:03 PM	#9
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Mine has shallow rifling ( same as the old Hot Shot barrels ) but has a straight rifled choke tube... well... at least the Contender 45 Colt / .410 barrel does... I'm not sure about the Encore barrels, but would expect they would have the same configuration mine is a 16" vent rib barrel... would be too short to be a smooth bore... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 23, 2014, 04:10 PM	#10
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Wheel Man, I just don't know. That .460 produces pressures that are beyond belief. SAAMI spec for a .45 colt is 14000CUP. SAAMI spec for a .460S&W is over 60,000CUP.

July 23, 2014, 04:46 PM	#11
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I would be concerned that with legitimate .460 loads, the high amount of hot gas preceding the bullet into the barrel, because of the generous chamber cut for the .410 shotshell, would erode the chamber like a forcing cone. It is known that the .45 will never produce the velocities in the Encore .45/410 barrels as it will in standard .45 colt barrels because of this. While not an issue @ .45 colt pressures, what happens when you triple or quadruple the pressure. I dunno...I'm surprised that TC didn't answer the question more thoroughly, instead of so generically.

July 23, 2014, 06:46 PM	#12
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: MN Posts: 656	I've seen it done and it does work(but I stood way back. A guy I work with its always playing around with stuff like this, so he has tried it. I'm guessing the barrel could withstand this for some time, but I'm not sure if the action was built for that kind of abuse. I would not buy that gun from him if he offered to sell it tome. He actually worked up a load using some British cartridge(can't remember what it was offhand) that made the 460 look pretty wimpy. Could barely hang on to the gun when it recoiled. Not my cup of tea. But it can be done. For how long is the question. I personally don't recommend using anything except for the cartridge things were made for.

July 23, 2014, 06:59 PM	#13
saleen322 Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2010 Posts: 778	IMHO, lot easier to get a .460 barrel and then you can also safely shoot 45 Colt as well. YMMV