Mick

No, it is JWs

In the 460s with the Pendeton Dekicker which probably makes for about a 23 or 23.5" barrel out of the 26 inch barrel I found a bit over 2600 was the start of an ejector mark and that was with IMR 4350. It is also interesting to note that Weatherby have dropped their claimed velocity back to 2600 and that would be from a 26 inch barrel. In general I would say Wby claimed velocities represent the maximum obtainable from the calibre. However, unlike many others I have never found Wby factory ammo to equal claimed velocites and was generally about 100 f/s under the maximum. But then I use an Oehler rather than a velocity enhancing Chrony

Get a Chrony in the wrong light and you can turn a 30/06 into a 300 Winchester.

So I could get enough IMR 4350 in the case to reach excessive pressure. About 120 grains or so as I remember and velocity about 2620. Powder compression starts at about 115 grains. If you put a 115 grains in a fired case and a 500 Hornady will rest on the powder and the cannelure will be about where it should be.

A strange thing is the 450 Dakota. John S has one and so does a friend of his. John tells me that neither rifle will equal the velocities obtainable from the 460. I did question him as to whether that was brass but he said that was not the case. What was happening was when more powder was added there was no increase in velocity. Perhaps the huge freebore in the 460??

As a side note and on barrels. That 460 JW bought off me was one of two that were ordered from Roy W around 1973. A mate of mine bought one of them but did not shoot it. The rifle was stored at a fellow you might know out here who is a big collector of Pre 64s. I bought the rifle of my mate around the early 1990s and shot it for a couple of years before selling it to JW. As was the case with the first ine I bedded and floated it. But the second one that was stored unfired for 20 years was the better shooter.....it would just about shoot anything and a few of us put that down to the barrel sitting for 20 years. My bedding might have been better 20 years later but I don't think that was the case.

Also, the two rifles were ordered with the 2.5 X power Wby scopes with the two turrets on top. The scope on the rifle that had been stored for 20 years was stuffed.

Mike