458 Win Mag lead bullets

[irondog54]

Does any one have some good pet loads? Looking for data for 420, 500 and 550 gr loads. Thanks for any help in advance!

[tammons]

I will see if I can find any on loaddata and get back to you.

Probably want to stick with RL7 if you are trying to max it out.

[tammons]

Here are a few.

Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS)
255 Lyman 45242 Hodgdon H-4198 50.0 2,015
Remarks: group inches: 3
292 Lyman 457191 Winchester W-748 55.0 1,398
Remarks: group inches: 3 1/2
292 Lyman 457191 Winchester W-748 65.0 1,703
Remarks: group inches: 4
300 RCBS 45-300 Hodgdon H-335 55.0 1,791
Remarks: group inches: 2
300 RCBS 45-300 Hodgdon H-335 65.0 2,043
Remarks: group inches: 2 1/2
300 RCBS 45-300 IMR IMR-4895 60.0 2,012
Remarks: group inches: 3
385 Lyman 457124 IMR IMR-4064 55.0 1,710
Remarks: group inches: 2
385 Lyman 457124 IMR IMR-4064 65.0 1,994
Remarks: group inches: 3
405 Ohaus 45405 IMR IMR-3031 55.0 1,806
Remarks: group inches: 1 1/2
405 Ohaus 45405 IMR IMR-3031 65.0 2,053
Remarks: group inches: 2 1/2
500 Lyman 457125 Hodgdon H-335 74.0 2,185
Remarks: group inches: 8 (kneeling)

[us920669]

Here are a few more, clocked by me in a Win M70 around 60 to 80 degrees, Winchester brass. The cartridge was not primer-sensitive, and I spent a lot of time exploring that variable with Federal standard, CCI bench rest, and Winchester magnum primers. The magnum primer may have actually given the lowest readings, but really too close to call. I used the 440 grain LBT gas check bullet, a manufactured bullet said to be very hard. It is listed as a handgun bullet, sized 459, but I had no trouble with bore fouling. All readings on full-house loads were very consistent and I never saw a hint of high pressure. Some tests were as short as 4 or 5 shots and I round to the nearest 10 fps. All shooting was done from a bench, but I was gripping the gun so tight that the target was shaking around in the scope. Accuracy was acceptable for a rifle of this type.

63 gr IMR 3031 gave 2000 fps. Mag primer slowest but only by about 5 fps.
66 gr Vv N140 gave 1990 fps. Bench rest primer hottest by a hair, magnum slowest by about 20 fps.
66 gr H 335 gave 2060 fps. No measurable difference in primers.
68 gr H 335 gave 2090 fps and was made FINAL, even though I could have gone higher. I fired 8 of these 2 months later and got exactly the same results. I had given up checking primers and used Federal standard for all of them.

I tried a few light-charge loads with 495 and 530 gr plain base bullets but got huge swings in readings. For instance, 48 gr Vv N140 gave around 1250 fps with a difference of almost 100 fps on just 5 shots, and this is a powder usually giving me superb results. 60 gr Win 748 gave around 1550 fps swinging 80 fps with 8 shots. This case needs to be almost full, and I think, but didn't shoot enough to be sure, that primers play a big role. I also touched off one Winchester factory 500 gr FMJ (significantly more recoil) and got exectly 1980 fps, confirming what everyone says about this cartridge, that a hard jacket bullet is out of the case and down the bore before the powder has a chance to burn right. If you are looking for something in the low to mid teens for deer, you might have a hard time finding a powder fast enough and also bulky enough to work well. For dangerous game I heartily recommend the LBT gas check bullet and am sure I could have gotten 2200 fps with perfect safety. Unfortunately, they don't seem to offer the 440 gr anymore, at least Midway doesn't list it, but I am sure 420 or 460 would be fine.

[irondog54]

Looking good so far, thanks guys, I am looking for loads about 2000fps. I think I got what I came for... ;D

I am looking hard at Jae-Bok Young's Bullet Casting, seems like good stuff for any caliber.