Rifle · SAAMI
.460 Weatherby Magnum
Roy Weatherby's 1958 answer to criticism that .458 Winchester Magnum underperformed with ball powders: a bigger case that couldn't be underloaded.
- Caliber
- 0.458″ · 11.633 mm
- Introduced
- 1958
- Case
- Belted
- Parent
- .378 Weatherby Magnum
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1958
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Roy Weatherby
- Manufacturer
- Weatherby
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 140 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:14
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Belted
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 300 yd
- Max range
- 800 yd
- Recoil
- 75–100 ft·lb
Introduced by Weatherby
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .460 Weatherby Magnum. Parent case: .378 Weatherby Magnum.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.22 | 0.481 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 14.22 | 0.560 | · |
| Shoulder angle | 28.1° | — | ~ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.78 | 0.582 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 14.71 | 0.579 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | 15.32 | 0.603 | · |
| Rim thickness | 1.60 | 0.063 | · |
| Neck length | 10.64 | 0.419 | ≈ |
| Case length | 73.99 | 2.913 | · |
| Overall length | 92.71 | 3.650 | · |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .460 Weatherby Magnum is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
9 reloading powders listed for .460 Weatherby Magnum, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .460 Weatherby Magnum
12 models in the database chamber .460 Weatherby Magnum. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced by Roy Weatherby in 1958 as the ultimate dangerous-game cartridge. Built on an expanded .378 Weatherby case, it was the most powerful commercially available cartridge for decades. The Weatherby Mark V is the standard platform; the cartridge demands a full-length Magnum action. Recoil is severe — approaching 100 ft-lbs in light rifles.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .460 Weatherby Magnum use?
- .460 Weatherby Magnum typically uses a 1:14 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .460 Weatherby Magnum?
- .460 Weatherby Magnum uses a 0.458″ (11.633 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .460 Weatherby Magnum still in production?
- .460 Weatherby Magnum is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .460 Weatherby Magnum used for?
- .460 Weatherby Magnum is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .460 Weatherby Magnum based on?
- .460 Weatherby Magnum is derived from the .378 Weatherby Magnum case.
- What are the best powders for .460 Weatherby Magnum?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .460 Weatherby Magnum include Norma 201, 203-B, Norma 202, Norma 204, among 9 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .460 Weatherby Magnum archived
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Manufacturer Weatherby, Inc. — Weatherby Ballistics Specifications Chart (PDF) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Weatherby, Inc. — 460 WBY MAG caliber page · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 21 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →