Sir Bob,

That is an excellent idea.
From my previous testing with 400-gr to 600-gr bullets using H4895,
I think your 64.0-gr charge will be perfect with your 500-gr to 600-gr jacketed bullets
if you use the same seating depth for all of them, and make that 0.350".
That is with or without extra cannelure, as long as you use your LEE FACTORY CRIMP DIE.

Assuming the following Bullet Overall Lengths:

600-gr Barnes Original RNSN: 1.550"
550-gr Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN: 1.414"
500-gr Hornady DGX FNSN: 1.386"

The COLs you will need are like this for 2.500" brass length:

600-gr Barnes: 3.700"
550-gr Woodleigh: 3.564"
500-gr Hornady: 3.536"

The old "first generation" Hornady RNSN 500-grainer seated to 0.350" depth and 3.500" COL at 52*F:

64.0 grains of H4895 in my Ruger No. 1 with 24" factory barrel gave 1842 fps MV (corrected).
80.0 grains gave 2301 fps MV (my max).
61.0 grains gave 1746 fps MV (my min).

The Barnes Original 600-grainer seated to 0.350" depth and 3.700" COL at 48*F:

65.0 grains of H4895 in same Ruger No. 1 with 24" barrel gave 1810 fps MV (corrected) my minimum charge tried.
74.0 grains of H4895 gave 2051 fps MV, my maximum charge tried.

Same seating depth for all loads is important.
Loading long helps unconfuse QuickLOAD and it is more accurate in predictions for the .458 Winchester Magnum.
QuickLOAD makes no allowances for throat effects.

Here is what QuickLOAD says about 64.0 grains of H4895 compared to my reality above, same load specifics:

500-gr Hornady DGX >>> 1881 fps >>> 36,842 psi >>> 98.7% Prop. Burnt >>> 89% L.R./Filling

600-gr Barnes RNSN >>> 1795 fps >>> 42,827 psi >>> 100% Prop. Burnt >>> 89% L.R./Filling

Now, finally, try AA-5744 at 48.0 grains charge:

500-gr Hornady DGX >>> 1885 fps >>> 44,493 psi >>> 100% Prop. Burnt >>> 69% L.R./Filling

600-gr Barnes RNSN >>> 1759 fps >>> 49,544 psi >>> 100% Prop. Burnt >>> 69% L.R./Filling

Close enough for horseshoes and handgrenades.

For the 550-gr Woodleigh, just use same 64.0 gr of H4895 or 48.0 grains of AA-5744 and interpolate.
Should be pretty close to
1850 fps with 500-grainer
1800 fps with 550-grainer
1750 fps with 600-grainer.

And in honor of Sir Bob's hearing protection use while hunting,
a portrait of The Magnificent Seven Special Operators, all in muffs, except Teddy who must be wearing plugs:

[Linked Image]

Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan, George Washington, Donald Trump, Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and JFK
according to artist Jon McNaughton.


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.