.460 Rowland
The .460 Rowland is a high-powered Wildcat Cartridge developed by Johnny Rowland in order to reach .44 Magnum ballistics in a handgun chambered for .45 ACP. The case is very similar, other than being 1/16" longer than a standard .45 ACP case. This is primarily to prevent .460 cases from chambering in a standard .45 handgun. It also has the effect of keeping the bullet seated deeper in the overall length of the case, as well as allowing for slightly more powder capacity. Standard .45 ACP ammo can typically be fired reliably from a gun that's been converted to the .460 Rowland.
Pressures produced by these loads vastly exceed those of a standard .45 ACP, which SAAMI rates at 21,000 PSI max. In fact, the .460 Rowland is rated for 40,000 PSI, or almost double. This is why it is important to use a high-quality firearm for a .460 conversion. It has been reported that some guns experience issues such as magazines being released upon firing and other odd occurrences.
As a result of the difference in cartridge pressure and length, conversion kits are needed to safely and properly fire the .460 Rowland. These kits are sold on the 460rowland.com website and are made for 1911's, Glocks, XD-series handguns and more. They come with a stainless barrel and are rated to safely handle the increased pressure of the cartridge, as well as a sizable muzzle brake to make shooting these high-powered rounds much more comfortable to the shooter.
Johnny Rowland has also come out with a 9mm counterpart, the .960 Rowland, in order to reach .357 Magnum ballistics in a 9x19mm handgun. It operates on the same principles as the .460 cartridge - higher pressures, with longer case to prevent chambering in a standard 9mm handgun.
Contents
Ballistic Performance
Below is some data on several .460 Rowland loadings, all available at the 460rowland.com website:
| Loading / Name | Bullet Weight (Gr) | Velocity (FPS) | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny's Personal Carry | 185 Gr JHP | 1575 fps | 1,019 ft lbs |
| Johnny's Duty Round | 230 Gr JHP | 1350 fps | 961 ft lbs |
| Johnny's Magnum | 240 Gr JHP | 1300 fps | 901 ft lbs |
| Dangerous Game Defense | 255 Gr Hard Cast | 1300 fps | 957 ft lbs |
Velocity by Barrel Length
The .460 Rowland is essentially a magnum cartridge of the .45 ACP, meant to create and handle much higher pressures for a significant increase in performance. It is meant to replicate .44 Magnum performance in a .45 ACP semi-automatic handgun.
The data below is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. It's limited, but should give a general idea of velocity from different barrel lengths, for those looking for something outside a typical handgun chambered in the .460 Rowland cartridge.
| Barrel Length | Cor-Bon Hunter 230 gr. JHP |
|---|---|
| 18" | 1356 |
| 17" | 1366 |
| 16" | 1354 |
| 15" | 1352 |
| 14" | 1342 |
| 13" | 1344 |
| 12" | 1314 |
| 11" | 1293 |
| 10" | 1335 |
| 9" | 1303 |
| 8" | 1299 |
| 7" | 1273 |
| 6" | 1261 |
| 5" | 1208 |
| 4" | 1124 |
| 3" | 1082 |
| 2" | 974 |
Recommended Guns & Safety Concerns
Not all guns that can accept a conversion kit for the .460 Rowland may actually be able to tolerate the stress of firing the cartridge. Johnny Rowland has recommended known high-quality 1911's from manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Colt, Springfield Armory and so on. Cheaper "budget" 1911's may be a mixed bag and it is not recommended to use these guns for a .460 conversion.
Videos
YouTuber Sootch00 did a video focusing on a 1911 converted to .460 Rowland:
External Links
460Rowland.com - The official website for the .460 Rowland. Conversion kits, ammo, and more.
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