mstarling
04-10-2008, 03:05 PM
Last year I built a .458 AR rifle on a Parker-Hale action. Is a "cheap" build. Has a 22" Douglas silhouette profile barrel, Ruger front sight band and bead, Bold trigger, Leupold Weaver mounts and it is bedded into a cheap Fajen's synthetic stock. Is fitted with a 2.5x Leupold Compact scope. Rifle weighs just over 10 pounds ready to hunt.
The .458 AR cartridge is made from .375 Ultramag brass that has been shortened a bit and necked up. It is then fireformed to improve the shoulder. It is an honest to golly boomer ... can achieve 100 fps over the .458 Lott.
Finally got to the range after doing the last little bit of bedding on the .458 AR ... had to relieve the front of the recoil lug. Have been developing a practice load with cast bullets. They are 435 gr GCFP WW slugs from a Ballisti-cast #1421 mold driven with 50.0 grains of XMR 5744. Bullets are sized to 0.459" and lubed with Carnauba Red. Haven't chrono'd them yet, but should be in the 2100 fps range according to Quickload.
First two rounds were needed to foul the barrel from clean. Next 4 made a 1.592" group at 100 yards. Given that I don't see all that well being an old guy ... I think these'll work for practice and piggies :mrgreen:
http://216.122.235.44/Album/target.jpg
Now I can afford to practice with the fella!
The .458 AR cartridge is made from .375 Ultramag brass that has been shortened a bit and necked up. It is then fireformed to improve the shoulder. It is an honest to golly boomer ... can achieve 100 fps over the .458 Lott.
Finally got to the range after doing the last little bit of bedding on the .458 AR ... had to relieve the front of the recoil lug. Have been developing a practice load with cast bullets. They are 435 gr GCFP WW slugs from a Ballisti-cast #1421 mold driven with 50.0 grains of XMR 5744. Bullets are sized to 0.459" and lubed with Carnauba Red. Haven't chrono'd them yet, but should be in the 2100 fps range according to Quickload.
First two rounds were needed to foul the barrel from clean. Next 4 made a 1.592" group at 100 yards. Given that I don't see all that well being an old guy ... I think these'll work for practice and piggies :mrgreen:
http://216.122.235.44/Album/target.jpg
Now I can afford to practice with the fella!