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RWS 460 Magnum Air Rifle in .177 Cal.
Report by Tom Holzel
Rev 14 Mar 09
My first air rifle was an RWS Model 34 in .177-caliber, a gun that got me started in air rifle hunting. My first scope was a dim 4 X 32 “starter scope,” which quickly made me realize that air rifle hunting with less than 6 X 40 is to be avoided if any of this activity takes place in dim light. I went on to buy a number of additional air rifles in .22-caliber including another Model 34. A Model 48 in .22-cal became my mainstay hunting rifle for many years. And then, as I switched from crow hunting to fur bearers, I also experimented with .25-cal. But the trade-off between the flatter trajectory (and therefore longer range) of the .22 versus the greater short-range lethality of the .25 is an issue that I have never satisfactorily resolved.
So it was with particular delight that I was recently able to get my hands on the RWS Model 460 in .177-caliber, to see what I had been missing for so long.
The 460 is one very finely-made rifle. The stock is smooth and well proportioned and fits the grip perfectly, even for a lefty like me. The under-barrel single-cock action is designed to be easy at the initial pull—which lets you get the stroke going—and then firms up as your approach the end of the cocking action. The pleasant surprise was the ease with which one can quickly cock this powerful rifle. Importantly, a resettable safety protrudes out the back, ready to thumb.
The first realization of switching back to .177 was the blazing velocity compared to larger rounds. At 50-ft, the sound of the discharge and the pellet blasting through the target was near-simultaneous. Holding to ±2-inches above and below the zero gave a maximum range of 58 yards.
Air rifle “power” (i.e., energy) is measured in pound-feet (lb-ft), NOT in velocity. Velocity changes with the weight of the pellet used, while energy remains pretty much the same regardless of which pellet is used. Using the 8.2-grain Mesiterkugeln wad-cutter, I measured a muzzle velocity of a blistering 1014 feet per second (fps) for this precision pellet.
Even more important is the high degree of repeatability of the velocity of each round from shot to shot. I measured a standard deviation of only 4 fps which is an amazing 0.4%!
The muzzle energy was a hefty 19 lb-ft—the perfect amount to put the necessary 5 lb-ft out to nearly 60 yards to hunt crows, pigeons and other winged pests. I suspect a slightly heavier round-head pellet would give even better long-range energy performance.
What stood out most about the 460 is how well it is made and the precision with which it shoots. I’ve fired a number of Magnum-powered air rifles that were louder and recoiled harder, most causing pernicious scope creep, and some rattling themselves to death. The soft “krek” discharge sound of the 460 and the smooth firing speaks volumes about the precision manufacture of this fine air rifle.
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