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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 48
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 48 |
I have'nt been deer hunting the last few years, I traded my .243 for a stock for one of my varmint rifles. All I own are varmint rifles and a couple 1000 yard 30" barrel monsters.And of course a Ruger 77 in .458 Lott,I bought it used in mint condition cheap.
I have a new spot to hunt this year and no deer rifle.Here is my question should I load the ruger up with reduced 458 win mag loads, down to 45-70 velocity or use my old 870 12 guage smooth bore with slugs? My longest shot will be 150 yards but most likely under a hundred. I might need a slap, let me know, thanks.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,667
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,667 |
i would work up a load using hornady's 350 rn bullets at 45-70 velocities for the modern marlin 1895. you will have a hard time finding a blood trail though, usually the damn deer is laying on it.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,986 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,986 Likes: 3 |
I'd load 'er full go. The friggin 870 will whack about 375 levels anyway with 3 inchers.
Having to hunt with slugs every year I'd go rifle everytime.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,467 Likes: 5
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,467 Likes: 5 |
My CZ550 in 458 Win is loaded with 350gn TSX's at 2700 fps for bear and moose. Very accurate load. It could be used on deer. Though I'm a huge fan of the 45-70, you don't really need to load it way down unless you want to. A 300TSX or 350TSX will shoot as flat as a 30-06, and hey, wouldn't it be a hoot to nail a big buck with such a combo! 
"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul" - Jesus
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
I'd go with the 350 RN Hornady (or 350 Speer FN)at 2000-2100 or so max. Loaded to the potential of the Lott could result in a 350 grain grenade going off in a deer. (Saw that in a whale skull at 1900 or so impact...wasn't pretty at all...bullet [350 FN 450 Hornady factory load] "varminted".)
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
I would just use the 500 gr. soft nose bullet at full tilt, it kills game well and doesn't bloodshot them badly..In fact less than say a 243 or 270...It will always leave a good blood trail if they go anywhere which is seldom...
I have shot a lot of camp meat in Tanzania with the .458 Lott and a good flat nose solid and it works just fine on Impala, Hartebeest and warthogs.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,374 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,374 Likes: 2 |
Load 500 grain flat nosed solids and have fun. Full penetration from any angle, even stem to stern. Beware of your backstop, though!
"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
350 hornady or speer over 76-80 gr of RL7 sparked off with a Fed 215. Find what powder chage is most accurate in your gun. Should be clocking 2400 fps +/- Considering what those bullets did to a 1" steel plate at 50 yds, they'll definately hold up to any deer.
Pussy cat loads by 458 standards, accurate, and with a 200 yd zero they're a solid 250 yd performer with no hold over, or under.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
I would be really careful with light bullet being pushed fast in the .458 Lott unless you just like bloodshot hamburger, it's a recipe for disaster IMO...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Ray,
Those bullets are suprisingly tough. I know a guy who has taken several moose with the 350's @ 2500 from a 458 win mag. Far from a grenade bullet. The speers seem to be a bit tougher than the hornadies.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,165
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,165 |
Barnes makes a spitzer 300 gr that I'm going to load in the 45-70. I'd imagine these loaded to about 25-2600 fps would be perfect for deer. I've shot a few deer with a .375 H&H and it works great, no reason the 458 lott shouldn't also. I'd surely pick it over a slug gun. No reason it shouldn't work just as well as any medium bore on deer.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
458 Lott,
I used that 350 gr. Hornady in my 45-90 as it was the only bullet that would hold together on elk, and it was a dandy. I am surprised however that these bullets hold up at excellerated velocity in that they are designed to work at 1300 to 1800 FPS..Good to know however.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Ray,
The 350 speer was designed for the 458 win mag. I wouldn't push it to 2700 which the lott is capable of, but at 2400-2500 it turns the 458 win mag and lott into a equivalent of the 375 H&H and makes them way more shootable.
I know you're a propenent of full power loads vs. downloading, but for those of us that can afford just one big bore, the 458 can cover alot of ground when loaded appropriately.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,472 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,472 Likes: 2 |
I'd use the Lott. Load it up to about a half inch below full with FFg, then seat a 500 grain cast roundnose deep enough to compress the charge a bit.
Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
458 Lott,
I have shot a lot of game with full bore .458 Lotts and 500gr. bullets and some with the std .458..Those big tough heavy jacketed bullets ment for buffalo, Hippo and elephant, just core a broom stick size hole through and Impala or Hartebeest and you can eat right up to the hole and trust me the animals don't make many tracks. In many cases I have just used GS Customs flat nosed solids and I suspect 90% of the game shot fell to the shot or made less than 40 yards. My favorite load in any big bore for plainsgame is the North Fork cup point, it expands just a tad and kills like lightening stuck them, yet I would not hesitate to shoot elephant with it if I had to.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 48
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 48 |
Thanks for all the help,I thought I was crazy but found out I'm in good company here.I'm going to try the 350 Hornadys (I have alot of them) and load them to 2200-2300fps and see how that works,I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,172 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,172 Likes: 3 |
Solids may not be legal in your jurisdiction, I'd look it up before you go that route.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 21,826 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 21,826 Likes: 3 |
458 Lott,
I have shot a lot of game with full bore .458 Lotts and 500gr. bullets and some with the std .458..Those big tough heavy jacketed bullets ment for buffalo, Hippo and elephant, just core a broom stick size hole through and Impala or Hartebeest and you can eat right up to the hole and trust me the animals don't make many tracks. In many cases I have just used GS Customs flat nosed solids and I suspect 90% of the game shot fell to the shot or made less than 40 yards. My favorite load in any big bore for plainsgame is the North Fork cup point, it expands just a tad and kills like lightening stuck them, yet I would not hesitate to shoot elephant with it if I had to. I like that attitude! BMT
"The Church can and should help modern society by tirelessly insisting that the work of women in the home be recognized and respected by all in its irreplaceable value." Apostolic Exhortation On The Family, Pope John Paul II
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,151 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,151 Likes: 5 |
This is no contest. Leave the shotgun for the birds. Take your Lott and I agree with using the Horn 350-gr RN and working up a reduced load. It should be a gas, no pun intended. Full loads? Ah, no.
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