.460 Weatherby Magnum with cast bullets

[junkerjunk]

I just picked up a Weatherby Mark V in .460 WM, and want to shoot cast bullets from it. I'll save the jacketed stuff for the butt-kicking loads but want load some cast bullets. I have been having trouble finding good data. I have a couple of 405gr molds, a 500gr and a 530gr Postell.
I would like to use some of my 8 lb keg of AA5744 which has served me well with many other CB cartridges but I am open to other powders. Has anyone loaded for .460 WM? What bullet/powder combo have you used? Thanks.

[school of mines]

Sounds like we are on a similar path. I just started loading cast in my 458 win mag. I got my load from the Lyman Cast Bullet 4th edition. It has loads for 460 Weatherby as well. I use 5744 with a 500 grain Lyman 457658. Still working on getting the load perfected. Good luck and post your results!

[junkerjunk]

Thanks SOM, I think I have an e-version of Lyman $4 and will check it for powder amounts.

[junkerjunk]

Lyman #4 didn't really have much, still looking

[pworley1]

I use a 400 grain bullet over 19g of Promo with my 458 Win Mag and get trapdoor performance and it is easy on the shoulder. The low end 5744 of 36g load gave mid-range 45 70 performance and more ware on the shoulder.

My book shows 52g of 5744 as the start load for the 460 and a 500g bullet.

[junkerjunk]

pworley1, thanks but I am curious, which book are you looking at?

[Intel6]

I have loaded the .460 WM with three different cast bullets. The Lee 500 gr. the NOE 500 gr. Spire point and a lighter 360 gr. NOE bullet I use in my .458 SOCOM and 45-70.

I started out loading the Lee 500 gr. with a load of Unique from an old Lyman manual. It approximated a 45-70 load and actually was great to plink with. I then tried out the other two bullets in the second pic below and they shoot great also.



276464276465

[W.R.Buchanan]

What you've already got is exactly where you need to be. 5744 is perfect for this cartridge. I use it exclusively in my .45-70 loads with 325 gr boolits which are just shorter versions of the 405 gr mould. I run them at 1550 fps in my Marlin 1895CB.

The 405 gr boolit is where I'd start and I'd want that to be running about 1400-1500 fps and then if I felt underwhelmed kick it up to 1800-1900 fps. The gun can take way more than you can.

In any event the only way you will ever get good with that gun is to shoot lots of Cast Boolits thru it. You could run those bigger ones up to 2000+fps and be getting closer to full power loads for serious practice..

Considering that you will probably never fire more than 2-3 full power loads in one sitting (or standing) the question becomes,,, "why do you need them anyway?" You can get everything you could ever need from Cast Boolits.

Now if you want to shoot an Elephant or Buffalo then buy a box of Factory loads. if you can afford them?

Randy

[Three44s]

If one is going on safari for elephant or buffalo etc. the cost of the WBM 460 cartridges are minuscule. Now for practice rounds and lighter loads then yes by all means, handload!

Easier on the body as well!

Three44s

[Nobade]

Not sure where you'll find much published data for it, but if you start at 50% case capacity with that 5744 you'll be able to work up to a good load safely. Just stop when you feel your shoulder has had enough or accuracy falls off. IIRC those rifles have a pretty fast twist rate so you won't be going awfully fast when that happens.

[DonHowe]

The Lyman 4th Edition does not show data for a 405 gr bullet in .460 Weatherby but does show the following for 5744:
350 gr bullet, 53gr/1841fps to 60gr/221fps
500gr. Bullet, 52gr/1702fps to 62.5gr/1958fps
540gr bullet, 52gr/1675fps to 62.5gr/1931fps

Extrapolating from that data should get you a start point for a 405 gr bullet. All bullets shown are plain base except the Saeco 350. I think the data may be a little warm for plain base bullets, depending on alloy. I am not aware of problems with reducing charge was further with 5744. Perhaps someone else does?

[PositiveCaster]

.460 Weatherby Magnum

Accurate shows data for 5744 and a 455-grain cast bullet:
Starting load - 40.0 grains = 1520 fps
Maximum load - 65.0 grains = 2192 fps

Lyman #48 shows the following for 5744 and a 500-grain cast bullet:
Starting load - 52.0 grains = 1702 fps
Maximum load - 62.5 grains = 1958 fps



.