Hi fellas, just bought a Ruger No.1 and was wondering if anyone on the forum was reloading the 458 Lott, and if so, what kind of brass life can I expect? Thanks in advance.-Chris

In my experience, brass life with the 458 lott is near infinite! Eventually (15 or more loadings) the necks split, but it takes quite a while.

May I suggest IMR4320 as the powder of choice?

That's what I wanted to hear, thanks 500grains. When my brass comes in from Midway I'll definately try 4320.- Chris

It realy depends on the weight of the bullet you want to shoot. With my 500 grain bullets I have had great luck with H4895. Even here in the Arizona desert this powder is very forgiving of broad temp swings. Today 68 deg at sunnrise and 99-101 midafternoon.

With my 350 grain (vamint) bullets Reloader 7 works very well.

I realy like my Lott in a Ruger Safari Magnum.

Best of luck

I have used both IMR4320 and H-4895. I find I can get the same velocity with two or three grains less powder when using H-4895. Therefore there is less powder compaction.

465H&H

Thanks for the info, are you guys full length sizing each time? Will I get more uniform ignition and better accuracy with a crimp?(Lee factory crimp die)Thanks again for your advice.-- Chris

Not being a powder whiz kid, the best powder for the Lott would seem to be a combination of burning rate and packing density. There has to be a powder density issue in order to get enough powder in the case to get the velocity desired.

Anyone have any insight on this? Anyone know the relative packing densities of Varget, 4895, V540, and 4320?

If you use IMR-4320 or H-4895 and go for full velocity you will have a heavily compressed charge. I just neck size but I know from testing that those cases will feed and chamber reliably. I have had trouble with bullets creeping forward on heavily compressed loads with my Lott so I always use a moderate crimp. Could be disastreous if that would happen on a hunt and bind up in the magazine.

465H&H

h335, 4320, 4895 (either), rel7 all work very well.

just remember, to make "book" velocity you havev to push 62kpsi (saami on the round)

but if you aim for 2225 or so, the brass will last a long while

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Not being a powder whiz kid, the best powder for the Lott would seem to be a combination of burning rate and packing density. There has to be a powder density issue in order to get enough powder in the case to get the velocity desired.

Anyone have any insight on this? Anyone know the relative packing densities of Varget, 4895, V540, and 4320?

Packing density and energy density:

energy content kJ/kg-----gr in Lott case for 100%-------relative energy content


4895- 3890- 80.8- 0.89-
4320- 3890- 84- 0.92-
Varget- 4040- 83.1- 0.95-
PCL 516- 3920- 88- 0.97-
V 540- 4100- 86.2- 1.00-

The most appropriate burning rate is of V 540. Not as peaky as other.

PCL 516 is a ball powder, compaction not possible,
V 540 can easily compressed up to 10% without problems.

I use V 540.

I have a Lyman neck sizer for 45/70,90 and 100, will it work for the Lott? I'd also like some opinions on sights, I contacted a local gunsmith(Dale Story)and priced a proper rear express sight to replace the cheap folding Ruger sight,it was $300 installed,which is very reasonable,and I'll know it's done right.I also considered a DGR scope,but want to avoid "magnum eyebrow" at all costs. Any advise is greatly appreciated.-- Chris

Norbert,

I know that you use V540. I guess I'd better try it if those 550 gr. bullets are going to get out of the barrel!

Thanks for the information.

I also use VihtaVuori N540 in my Lott and have long recommended it on this board and elsewhere.

Ed Plummer, of AHR, first tipped me to the benefits of using this powder in the Lott.

It delivers excellent velocities with 500 grain Woodleighs, from 2,150 fps (about 82-83 grains) with very little compression, up to 2,300 fps (about 86-87 grains), with good compression.

I have not had any problems with the brass. But I have not loaded any case more than four times. I would anneal the necks after five or six loadings, I think.

Hodgdon makes Varget look good in the .458 WM, their data claims 2,150 @ 48,100 CUP with a 500gr bullet. I'm going to try it in my Lott and see what i get.

Varget is the Unique of rifle powders.

Rick,

Indeed, I can get 2150+ fps with Varget in a 22" barrel with the 458 WM.

Seems like it should also work with the Lott, but V540 may just be better.

Whenever my Lott shows up with its 22" barrel, we shall see.

Hodgdon's Varget Extreme will give the least surprise with temperature variation, of all the powders being discussed.

I suspect that the VV540 might give the greatest velocity and pressure variations with temperature.

85 grains of Varget in Hornady brass with the Hornady soft will push that 500 grainer faster than the Hornady factory ammo does. I got about 2200 fps with their factory ammo that they claim to yield 2300 fps.

With 85 grains of Varget, the same bullet and brass and an F215 primer, I got about 2220 fps in the same rifle, and better accuracy with less spread in velocity standard deviation. A grain less of RL-15 will do about the same thing and give intermediate temperature stability, still better than that of VV540 or IMR4320.

You could do a lot worse than 85 grains of Varget. That is my standard to compare all others to.

quote:

Indeed, I can get 2150+ fps with Varget in a 22" barrel with the 458 WM.

Will

That makes me wonder if we really need the Lott.

Jason

Jason,

I have wondered the same thing many times. There are so many folks using the 458 WM/470 NE/etc. successfully that it gives one pause as to the "need" for a Lott.

At least on paper you have to drive those big diameter bullets fast in order to get the penetration. To match the 416's penetration at 2400 fps you have to get those 500 gr. 458 bullets up to 2300 fps, and, ouch, that gives plenty of recoil.

But what the heck, I have forgotten how bad the Lott recoil can be! When this new one shows up, I'll be complaining about the recoil, again.

You're backsliding Will, because you know that more is better and less is not more!

RIP,

Thanks, I'll stairstep it up to the vicinity of 85.0gr of Varget and see when my shoulder begins to show pressure signs.

I'd think 2,200fps will do for me.

Rick

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:
RIP,

Thanks, I'll stairstep it up to the vicinity of 85.0gr of Varget and see when my shoulder begins to show pressure signs.

I'd think 2,200fps will do for me.



Rick

My rifle may be sloppy and slow, but 85 grains of Varget with the Hornady bullet is dang close to the Hornady factory loads. Then you can get sighted in and use either your handloads or the factory loads with abandon.

Or get really fancy and use 450 grain North Forks, TSX, or GSC's and add some more coal to the fire.

quote:

I also considered a DGR scope,but want to avoid "magnum eyebrow" at all costs. Any advise is greatly appreciated.-- Chris

Magnum eyebrow is not so bad - just a good excuse for a few whiskey's around the fire. I managed to break the scope mounting screws on my 8lb 458Win Mag using my forehead.

Get the scope and ask your doctor to show you how to use Superglue to close up superficial lacerations (you DON'T put it in the wound, just across the top with the wound edges opposed).

mike

quote:

Originally posted by AussieMike:

quote:

I also considered a DGR scope,but want to avoid "magnum eyebrow" at all costs. Any advise is greatly appreciated.-- Chris

Magnum eyebrow is not so bad - just a good excuse for a few whiskey's around the fire. I managed to break the scope mounting screws on my 8lb 458Win Mag using my forehead.

Get the scope and ask your doctor to show you how to use Superglue to close up superficial lacerations (you DON'T put it in the wound, just across the top with the wound edges opposed).

mike

And if the lac is superficial enough, some Steri-Strips and benzoin/mastisol is enough.

RIP:

quote:

I suspect that the VV540 might give the greatest velocity and pressure variations with temperature.

That is not the case. I use N 540 solely since 1995 in hottest africa safaris without any problems. The basic recipe is the same as for Varget, two base propellant with some additives.