Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Hornady .458 300 hp performance

I know I like when people report bullet performance, I will do the same as I can. This was the Hornady 300 grain hp out of a 45 70. Item #4500. Rifle is a Marlin 1895 SBL purchased new in 2015 or so. The shot was taken at a doe at a distance of 35 yards. Muzzle velocity was 1720, so that puts impact velocity right at 1600. The deer was quartered hard towards the hunter. Shot entered right in front of the leg. Bullet was recovered on offside hindquarter.

Bullet weighed 261 grains as recovered, and expanded to .78 inches. Deer did not go far at all. I like that performance, will continue loading them up for this particular gun.

Well done. Thanks for the report!

The Hornady 300 grain hp is my bullet of choice for deer & blk bear in the 45-70. I've gotten very good accuracy and performance with them.

What seater die are you guys using with this bullet?

I tried a Lee die and the bullets were seated crooked at first. I've since modified the plug with a conical grinding cone and a drill bit so the bullet makes contact with the sides of the bullet and centers the tip at the top of the plug. Runout is good now but I was wondering who makes a die with a plug that seats these bullets straight.

I am using the RCBS, but have no way to check runout... It was holding 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards which I figured is plenty good!
The other thing I have done when using cast in this gun was the JB weld in the plug and then push a bullet into it while still wet. It will form to your bullet and make seating better. Seemed to work ok for me, although I am no bench rest shooter, just a hunter!

Thanks Jevyod. I may try your jb weld trick. I can also order a custom plug from Lee. Since time is no concern I may do both. The hornady 300 jhp bullet has a lot of taper which is why a standard seater plug didn't work without some tilt.