Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Anyone shoot/hunt their 458 WM in the US?

Deleted by OP Not worth the BS

Interesting post, bison even! Let me take a contrary view just to provoke some discussion.

I would be more interested in reading (about effective NA hunting loads with various caliber 458 using jacketed bullets. When I read :"negligible waste of meat" I am thinking of bullets that just pass through with minimal killing effect. I would rather destroy some meat and drop game in their tracks. Imagine a 4,000 ft-lbs energy dump per shot! I do shoot a fair amount of cast, mostly in black powder ctg rfiles and generally not hunting,. I dont image there is much advantage in the added 200f-300 fps shooting cast. That is speculation on my part, I toss this back to the OP.

If I ever get the funds, I plan to build a 458WM to do just as you are doing. I have 2 45-70s, a Marlin and a Ruger No.1, but I would like a bolt action. I would also look at bullets made for the 458 SOCOM if you want something other than cast.....

I used to shoot cast bullets for jack rabbits, hogs and deer. I loaded it at upper end 45-70 level and it worked just like a 45-70. The Sierras would usually open on a deer and there are several newer bullets that would be worth a try. The Woodleighs designed for 45-70 or old express cartridges would be a natural fit. Same with bullets designed for the 454 Casull. Lot's of possibilities.

Just took my Model 70 to the range last week and my newest load is really performing.

Barnes 300gn TSX Cave Point designed for the .45/70 over 78 grains of H 322 and Fed 215's for 2534fps.
4 check groups measured .959", .590", .474" and .526" at 100 yards.

Barnes 350gn TSX over 76gn of H 322 gives 2434fps and .765"
Using 78gn of H 4198 I get 2582fps with single digit SD and around .75 MOA.

Woodleigh 400gn Weldcore over 74gn of H322 gets 2336fps and 74gn of H 4198 gets 2454fps all shooting sub MOA in my Model 70.

Barnes 300gn X bullet was a long time favorite over 75gn of AR 2207 which is H 4198 for 2640fps. Used this one as lot in Oz when culling ferals.

405gn Remington is also a good one with my best shooting done with 73gn of Rel 7 for 2286fps or 67gn of IMR 4198 for 2233fps without pushing the bullets too hard.

John

Deleted by OP

Jeff,
"Using full power loads in a .458 designed for heavy skinned animals gives a pencil hole and a lingering kill.?

That is simply not true. This is misinformation to spread here.

How many animals have you shot with a .458 caliber bullet?
I have shot hundreds with maybe a dozen .45/70's, a half dozen .458's and a .460 Weatherby.
John

Deleted by OP

Missed it by 3 minutes Well, then 458 aside for a minute.

I picked up a Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster this year. It is a light weight and packs a serious punch with 45 caliber pistol bullets. Those are a little smaller diameter than 458 rifle. These guns are out there to satisfy a demand in certain ( special hunting rules) states. The offensive muzzle break screws right off. Light, fun, with an economical bullet selection and it should put some serious hurt on bambi.

Despite the delete, yes I do, have hunted deer and pigs with 500 gr Woodleigh Weldcores, the results go without saying, I believe shooting your bigger bores at smaller animals is great practice, and build confidence as well, I may use my old Browning Safari 458 Win Mag on Nilgai bull this winter, 500 gr Partitions at 2150 fps via H-335 powder will be the message senders this time, anxious to see how they perform on the tough antelope.

Gunner,
There are some great powders available today and the best variety of bullets the .458 ever had, so for me it is the best time in the .458's history to take it out of the safe and use it on everything from pet eradication through to medium and larger game in the interests of both proficiency and also just plain fun.

Also, there is a company called Pro-Loading in Stevensville Montana that is selling Barnes TSX .458 bullets in both 350gn and 450gn for just $22 per 100.
That is not a typo.
John

Nice, I've heard of the new/newer more temp stable powders, my old load with H-335 was built in 95 degree Oklahoma heat, should be GTG for any African hunting, the 450 gr TSX would indeed be a do all end all bullet for the old 458 WM, I love the round AND my old Browning Safari Grade rifle, it's light, accurate, and carries about like a bird gun.

going to google pro loading. LOL

I've shot game with 50 bmg. Not impressive at all. Doe ran like hell for 200 yards with a hole through both lungs.

I've only shot javelina so far with the 458 win mag. No big deal. A bit more damage than I like though with factory federal 350s. Going to have to slow them down I believe. I can' stand wasted meat. Having to trail one a bit after the shot is part of the overall deal for me anyway, IE I enjoy the puzzle and thats that.

Have 405 grain hard cast now, at 19 of Unique. Have shot nothing with that yet.

Will be using heavier hard cast or 450 tsx on brown bear when I get that chance.

That brings back the memories. I remember handling one of those Browning Mausers, new on the rack, back in day. It seemed a little too light and my wallet was light to match. I wish I had got that and still had it today.

I wish you would have grabbed that rifle too, I ran the serial number on mine once, IIRC it dated 1961 or 62, a solid, well built, accurate ALL game bruiser, I bought it many moons ago when I began to read about African hunting...............................12 miles tracking buffalo. ;]

I didn't notice any BS, or I'm I just late to the party?

I always wanted--but never did--to hunt elk or moose with a .458 and the 350 grain TSX. That bullet has three grooves and the .458 has a long freebore. You can crimp it in the second groove and get what amounts to a higher case capacity. If you have a CZ, you can crimp it a groove farther. A guy who used to post here under the handle 458only thought this up. You get the same case capacity as a Lott. I have loaded this bullet to 2700 fps easily. A 30-06 on steroids? According to the computer programs, you get 3000 foot pounds at 300 yards.

The guy I fished with in Alaska had one leaned up in the corner by his recliner. He had it and used it for Brown Bears. He used it as a trooper when he had to go after maneaters. He said it was comforting when he had to go after an aggressive bear. Because when he shot them they dropped dead.

This is the way I am setting my .458 up for allround use. Am currently wringing out more loads and seating depths to find the sweet spot with that 350gn TSX bullet. There is nothing in the US that really needs the 450gn TSX offering but a few on the shelf covers any perceived need.
John

Thats almost funny enough to get a LOL