.454 Casull vs .460 S&W Magnum Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart

The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .454 Casull vs .460 S&W Magnum ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular .454 Casull or .460 S&W Magnum rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say.

For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True .454 Casull and .460 S&W Magnum ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance.


Caliber Type Velocity
(fps)
Energy
(ft-lb)
.454 Casull Handgun 1600 1700
.460 S&W Magnum Handgun 1800 2100






Velocity


As illustrated in the chart, .454 Casull rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 1600 feet per second (fps) while .460 S&W Magnum rounds travel at a velocity of 1800 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, .454 Casull bullets travel 1.8 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .460 S&W Magnum bullets travel 2 times that same speed.

Various calibers



Energy



Furthermore, the muzzle energy of a .454 Casull round averages out to 1700 ft-lb, while a .460 S&W Magnum round averages out to about 2100 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a .454 Casull round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 1700 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .460 S&W Magnum round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 2100 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power.

Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular .454 Casull or .460 S&W Magnum cartridge you're looking at purchasing.








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6 Comments

Boddie Brown - Jun 03, 2019

I own one of these HANDCANNON and have nothing bad to say about this gun!!! From .454 Casull to the .460 Mag is just amazing. To shoot and just be able show up at the range and WOW a crowd or draw one!!!! I’m very very satisfied gun owner!!!!

Terry - Dec 10, 2019

Thought this did not sound right. According to Hodgdon Reloading, their hottest load with a 325 g bullet in the .454 is 1558 fps, while in the .460 it is 1955. That yields 1752 ft lb energy in the .454 and 2759 in the .460. The inch and a half shorter barrel in the .454 hardly accounts for 200 fps velocity loss over the .460

Rad - Sep 04, 2020

I would like to have a 460 how do you make one out of a Glock pistol

Nick - Jun 23, 2022

They have a conversion kit that comes with a new recoil spring new barell and slide as well as a new magazine and that’s all it takes to start banging the 460 from your Glock 21 or 21sf ( my fav.)

Nick - Jun 23, 2022

Glock 21 or 21 sf and I believe even a Glock 20 can take a conversion kit that is made for em with a new recoil spring and new barell and slide as well as a new clip or mag, and in one minute you can be shooting the poor man’s 50 cal. I’ve heard it called.

Pete - May 23, 2023

The .460 you are talking about is a .460 Rowland, which is a far cry from a .460 S&W Mag. Two very different rounds.

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