458 winchester

[leadeye]

I picked up a Ruger 458 at a sale for good money, and yes I have heard all the comments about elephants in Indiana from my wife. Some brass and a set of dies came with it and it does look good in my case. What would be a good start point for loads to start shooting cast through it say from 350-500 grain?

You can go ahead with the elephant comments, I will see how they match up to what I have already heard, but as I reminded my better half these things are better investments than the stock market. :-D:-D

[beagle]

From my experience with the Number 1 .458, you need to shoot the biggest diameter bullet you can get to chamber. GC designs seem to help and the heavier, longer bullets like the Lyman 462560 and RCBS 45-500-FN seem to work well when seated way out.

The problem I encountered with the .458 was the throat. They cut it long and big to lessen the pressure with factory loads. This is not necessarily good with cast bullets.

The throat on mine looked like a long ramp on a freeway.

But, if you find the right combo, they shoot good. #2 son's MOdel 70 .458 was much easier to get to shoot cast than my Number 1.

I recomment the articles Paul Matthews wrote on lead in the .458 as a good read if you can locate them.

Good luck./beagle

[Johnw...ski]

I have shot the Lee 500 gr. GC boolit using between 66.0 gr. and 72.0 gr. of
IMR 3031 that gives velocities of just under 2000 FPS to around 2200 FPS.

I know I am shooting something with any of these loads in my 11+ lb. rifle.
You will really know you are shooting something in your ruger.

Good luck with your new rifle.

John


I picked up a Ruger 458 at a sale for good money, and yes I have heard all the comments about elephants in Indiana from my wife. Some brass and a set of dies came with it and it does look good in my case. What would be a good start point for loads to start shooting cast through it say from 350-500 grain?

You can go ahead with the elephant comments, I will see how they match up to what I have already heard, but as I reminded my better half these things are better investments than the stock market. :-D:-D

[leadeye]

Probably should have mentioned that it is a Model 77.

[bullshot]

Did you get a Mdl 77 or a #1? I have heard all the no african game in Ct also. I use my 458 for rogue chipmunks. Never just wounded one with it.:-D

[missionary5155]

Elephants... In Illinois it is the charging vans full of theives raiding another farm house that a 458 could sure mess up.. Engine blocks just do not like BIG chunks of lead slaming them. Who needs an excuse for a BIG BORE? I shoot 12 guage Round ball just for fun ! There just might be a elk come crashing through your door one day.

[beagle]

Don't think the M77s have the same throating problem as the Number 1s.

Other than that, a hell of a cartridge./beagle

[Old Coot]

Leadeye; I used to shoot everything from lead balls to remco shot caps in my model 70. I got the best accuracy with a lyman 550 gr. gc. cast from number 2 alloy and in front of 68gr. of IMR 3031. You will know when you have touched one of these off.

The biggest thing I ever killed with it was a jackrabbit, and I didn't even hit that. I struck the ground under his chest while he was running and flipped him about 5 ft. in the air. NO holes only a badly bruised spot around the stenum.

Loading for the 458 is a lot of fun you will probably do best with a 400 to 500 gr. bullet and 3032 or 4895 type powders. Good Luck

[Three44s]

Is it a crime to "scare somebody to death"??

LOL!

I "bark" squirrels with a .223 or .22-250 every now and then ..... now I REALLY want a big hole maker and try that shot!!

Three 44s

[Hardcast416taylor]

Hey, I hear the same thing here in Mich. Even though I use a "Sub Caliber" .416 Taylor. People ask me why I need that big of a gun? I reply that they obviously haven`t seen the size of the mice in my barn! I fuel it up with the RCBS 350 gr. gas checked and LBT cold blue lube ahead of 50 gr. of 3031 in a W/W case ignited by a CCI mag primer. A 5 shot string at 100yd. makes a "Irish" 4-leaf clover group from my Model 70. ELEPHANTS!!! WE GOT NO STINKING ELEPHANTS.......:bigsmyl2:

[94Doug]

I have used reduced loads with Trailboss, SR4759, even 3031 with cast boolits in my Ruger Number 1, 458 Lott. I use 458WinMag brass as well. I think Handloader number 92 had some data, but probably many others... Let me know if you would like more info.

Doug

[Jim]

I don't own a .458 but I do understand your plight. My wife doesn't understand why I need a big bore in the house. She doesn't understand how badly a bull Cape Buffalo can tear up a garden.

[94Doug]

Say what you want, but since I have owned my number one, I don't think I have heard one report of a Cape Buffalo in the entire state of Wisconsin... I guess I am doing MY part for public safety.

Doug

[Lloyd Smale]

I cant tell you exact loads but ive had real good luck with Re7 and 748/335 the later about require compressed loads. As to bullets i think your wasting time with 350 grain bullets. The 458 shines with heavys. I had real good luck with the 500 rcbs in my #1. I ran it at about 1800 fps and it hit like the hammer of thor! You want to have some fun, cast them with a pure lead nose and run them at 1800 they vaporize water filled targets! Guys out to camp one day were really getting a kick out of it. YOu could actually hear the bullet slap the ground behind the targets. I have to admit i shot a cape buffalo with mine. It was a scranny one though it was an odd colar brown and weighted about a 100 lbs and didnt have horns. I figure it lost them in a fight.

[Lloyd Smale]

ps if your ruger is a #1 crimp those bullets in the second from the top lube grove instead of crimping in the crimp grove #1s have a very long throat and not only will your accuracy improve but you can get alot more slower burning powder in the case.

[twotrees]

A friend uses his loaded with 350 gr cast (GC) over 60-61 gr of IMR 3031 and kills these huge deer we have in Ga.

No Tracking gutting 1/2 done [smilie=1:

It really doesn't tear them up as bad as a 300 in. Mag.

His is an old tang safety Mdl. 77 also.

The Chipmunk load of 66 gr 3031 and a 500 gr solid will get your attention, thats for sure.

[leadeye]

Great info and comments! I liked the one about shooting under the rabbit, less damage to the meat. I guess just the fact that you have one keeps the elephants and buffalo out of your garden. I will remind my wife about that as she is doing a lot of canning right now.