458 Winchester magnum loads

[leadhead 500]

Just traded for a ruger m77 458 Winchester magnum and was wondering if you guys have had any luck with the Lee 340 grain or the Lee 500 grain has check bullets in the 458

[tazman]

I can't answer for the boolits you mention. I used to use the Lyman 462560 which is a heavy 545 grain flat nose. Under 200 yards it was terrific.

[leadhead 500]

What powder and what kind of velocity are you getting from the 545 load

[tazman]

I was using 3031 full power loads at around 1800 fps. I didn't have a chronograph at the time. I am guessing from book velocities. This was back in the middle 70s and I have no recorded data from then anymore.
I was basically using slightly less than what was called for 500 grain jacketed. I remember it was a compressed load. I was casting out of pure linotype and used a Lyman gas check.
It was difficult to size down but it was the only mold I had that measured large enough for the barrel I had.
I remember it dropped around .460 and I could load it unsized and it would chamber in my Winchester model 70 African model.
That load would penetrate over 4 feet into a clay dirt bank. I tried to dig one out and failed to get to it.
Back then I could see pretty well and could shoot around 3 inch groups at 100 yards with the iron sights on the rifle. Recoil was brutal. It was killing on one end and maiming on the other.
I even still have part of a box of those left here somewhere.

[blikseme300]

I use the Lee 450gn PB and the Lee 500gn GC with my M77. I found that the 450gn over 34gn of SR4759 gives me good accuracy out to 200 yards without discomfort from extended range sessions. CB's are PC'd and sized to .459". I have not tried any other powders as I have enough of this powder on hand to last me quite a long time. Brass used is converted 300WM, easy to do and much cheaper than 458.

[leadhead 500]

Sent you a pm tazman

[swheeler]

I shoot the 500 gr Lee GC with 57.0 grs of IMR 3031, gives 1794 fps instrumental average and excellent accuracy. That same bullet will work with 18.0 gr Unique @ 1174 fps. The 450 gr Lee plain base works well with 28.0 gr of 2400+ dacron filler at 1380 fps making it into a 45/70. 3031 is a honey in this cartridge.

[runfiverun]

ahh the 458win. otherwise known as the belted 45-70 in the casting world.
try 22 grs of 2400.

[swheeler]

ahh the 458win. otherwise known as the belted 45-70 in the casting world.
try 22 grs of 2400.

cute The OP was asking for loads so I gave him some that work for me, FWIW I don't see the need for 2100 fps with a 500 gr bullet(but I've shot more than my share), 2400 fps with a 400 grain, or even 2600 fps with 350 grain in Montana, but I can do it where your 45/70 can't.

[swheeler]

and the one on the left-450 Watts Ackley Improved- will best those numbers by 200 fps across the board It's all about the boiler room when your talking HPAttachment 203329

[runfiverun]

heck Scott you gotta start somewhere.

the 22 gr load should be about 15-1600 maybe.
I use a 435 flat nose and it ain't too bad in the 86 with the curved steel butt plate.
but it would penetrate an elk or two out to 150 yds without any problem.

it's hard to need more than that even around our parts where a grizzly might show up for no apparent reason.
but I go ahead and use a filler and sometimes bump the load another 2 grains.

it's possible to push the 458 on up but the fun soon stops and most targets under 1,000 lbs won't much know the difference.

[Lloyd Smale]

My fun load for my #1 was either a 405 rcbs rfgc with 24 grains of 2400 or the 500 rcbs with 22 grains. That recommendation came from paco kelly and if you knew him or of him hes been there and done that.

[swheeler]

Someone made a belted 45/70, they called it the 450 Marline.

[waksupi]

and the one on the left-450 Watts Ackley Improved- will best those numbers by 200 fps across the board It's all about the boiler room when your talking HPAttachment 203329

I'm torn between asking more info about that round, or whether to use good sense, and pretend I never saw it.

[runfiverun]

I knew better...
all our elephants died off long ago.

[swheeler]

Just a blown out 458 Lott casing, something for gophers.

[Larry Gibson]

I've been usin the Lee 500 GC bullet since the mid '70s in my Siamese Mauser 450-400-70. I've throated it for that bullet seated to mag length so the case mouth crimps under the 2nd drive band. That give the 45-70 case 45-90 case volume or very close to the 458W. With several powders (748, H335, RL7 and H4895) I have pushed it to 1950 - 2100 fps. I mostly use COWW + 2% tin WQ'd bullets sized .459, lubed with NRA 50/50 and Hornady GC'd. The pressures to reach that level of velocity are top end SAAMI spec 458W psi's as measured in my rifle with the Oehler M43.

The rifle only weighs 8 1/2 lbs so recoil is brutal off the bench after only a few rounds. Sitting and using shooting sicks is how I usually zero it. Offhand it isn't bad bad still rocks you back a tudge. In years past as an LEO in NE Oregon I put down a couple injured elk with it. Shot head on with bullet entering the neck behind the head the bullet penetrated completely lengthwise through the elk. They both just collapsed straight down and didn't even quiver. It also would penetrate from the rear end of old cars ('60s models) and bust up the rear of the engine.

No reason the Ruger 458W shouldn't perform equally as well with that bullet. 2050 - 2150 fps with a 500 gr bullet is 458W territory.

[TXGunNut]

Always thought it would be fun to have one of those. As soon as Texas Parks & Wildlife decides we have a hunt-able population of T-Rex I'll probably trade a thutty-thutty (or two) for one just like the OP traded for. Or maybe a Number One. Those are pretty cool, too.

[Texas by God]

The .450 Marlin is a great cartridge that served a purpose- too bad it failed to win hearts and minds. Mine was a P14 custom that loved the Lee 340gr and the Lyman 405. Its purpose was to have 45-70+P ballistics in a round that couldn't be fired in a weak 45-70 rifle. They thickened the belt so bubba couldn't drop one in his 300 mag either.

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