That is great info. Thank you. I loaded up my first 20 rounds using 56 grains RL7. That should be plenty fast for 300gr hollow points. Tomorrow's weather looks promising for a day at the club.
Gunner 500,
I do have some 3031. Although, I kinda holding whats left that for my 303 Brit. If you have a pet load for 1800fps. Let me know and I will put that in the margins along with the RL7 info.
fourbore,
You should do well with that. In Ken Waters Pet Loads, he has over 60 loads listed for his .458 WMs, a 24" Ruger No.1 and a 22" Winchester M70. Under "Reduced Loads," all with W-W brass and W-120 primer in the 24" Ruger No. 1:
300-gr Sierra HP 55.0 grains of Re-7, COL 3.00" >>> 2,026 fps "SECOND MOST ACCURATE LOAD" (Out of 61 loads Waters commented on.) 60.0 grains of IMR-3031, COL 3.00" >>> 1,902 fps
300-gr Hornady HP 58.0 grains of Re-7, COL 2.99" >>> 2,062 fps "GOOD LOAD"
And not so reduced: 350-gr Hornady RN 72.0 grains Re-7, COL 3.05" >>> 2,194 fps "ONE OF TWO BEST ALL-AROUND LOADS; MOST ACCURATE LOAD TESTED"
(The 300-gr Sierra HP has been known to vaporize within 25 yards of muzzle when traveling over 2800 fps MV. Ask me how I know. I actually fired a second one and it vaporized inside the muzzle brake. I was using AA-1680 ...)
The Barnes TSX and TTSX are recommended for velocities over 2500 fps with 300-grainer, ho, ho. 1800 to 2100 fps is plenty with those 300-gr HPs from Sierra and Hornady.
I would not hesitate to use some filler for the reduced loads above, like foam wad filler (caulk backer rod). Waters used kapok wads in his cast bullet loads:
"Kapok wads weighing 3/4-grain, tamped down lightly on the powder, helped materially but proved insufficient to allow any major increase in velocities ..."
The Barnes monometals can be loaded all the way up to Obi Wan Bob levels if you like. Maybe I'll make it to +3000 fps with the Hornady 250-gr Monoflex one of these days.
Ron aka "Rip" for Riflecrank Internationale Permanente NRA Life Benefactor and Beneficiary .458 Winchester Magnum, Magnanimous in Victory THE WALKING DEAD does so remind me of Democrap voters. Donkeypox.
