Thompson/Center Arms Encore Pro Hunter Katahdin Carbine 460 S&W Magnum 20'' Barrel Single-Shot Rifle

The 460 S&W Magnum, introduced in 2006, is an obvious follow-own to the big 500 S&W Magnum. The 460 uses a 1.80-inch case with a .4525-inch diameter bullet; like the 500 it is intended as a powerful revolver cartridge for big game hunting, but the 460 is faster and shoots flatter, with a 260-grain load at a whopping 2000 feet per second, yielding over 2300 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. This is not as powerful as the 500, so perhaps not as well-suited for extremely large game--but that's still incredible performance from a revolver! Needless to say, recoil is both fast and hard, with a lot of muzzle rise. This is a cartridge for experienced handgunners who aren't recoil-shy, but the 460 S&W has been proven extremely effective as a hunting cartridge. Smith & Wesson is the primary source for revolvers, but ammunition in multiple bullet weights is available from several manufacturers. — Craig Boddington