Hi

Just interested to know has anyone used 458 WM with 400 grain bullets on plains game? And how did they perform?

Cheers

Stu

Zebra off the sticks at 250, didn't go 30 yds.
Was a little overkill on bushpig, impala, and bushbuck at much closer range. It should be excellent for the large antelope inside 250 yds.

I would not use it on anything bigger than Impala. Penetration is poor unless using premium bullets then I would only shoot up to Nyala .....

Cheers SGraves155, what brand of bullet were you using?

stu

Ghundwan SD is .272 which is about the same as 270 grain 375H&H, a good killer, should be ample on soft skinned game.

stu

Stu, If you can shoot her, no animals will need a second shot...

Mike

I have seen it put down Elephant and Hippo but I just dont think it has the penetration for Impala.

Hey Stu

I have used the 400 Swift and the 400 Woodleigh on a regular basis in 458 WM. Currently I use them in my 458 B&M. In the WM I run the bullets at 2350 fps and used them for sable, kudu, impala, zebra, and lion. Ranges from 15 yds to one zebra at 175 yds. On everything the bullet slammed them to the dirt on the spot. All were good hits, nothing marginal. While the 400 Swift is great at 2350 the 400 Woodleigh is a little soft--it expands too much at that velocity reducing penetration. Since I have dropped the velocity for the 400 Woodleigh to 2150 fps and it performs much better at the lower velocity giving good expansion and better penetration.

The latest batch of 400 Swifts have not done so well in my rifles in the accuracy dept, but that might just be my rifles. I still use the 400 Woodleigh, and have been using the 350 Barnes X of late. Today I think I would try out the 350 Barnes X, I have pretty good confidence it would do a very good job for what you are looking for.

Michael

I used 400 gr TBBC. I now use the 450 gr A-Frame.

Am going to take a .458 AR for plains game at the end of May if brass arrives in time. Not because I need it but because it needs to go to Africa.

Going to use the 425 grain Rhino bullet at 2400 fps. The Rhino is a solid shank, bonded core bullet known to be a bit tough.

I doubt it will give me any problem at all on the bigger fellas such as Eland, Wildebeast, and Kudu.

So I think you'll be fine ... as my intent is just of little bit more of the same

Stuey,

When I lived in Alaska I used the 458 WM with the 350X for moose and caribou. It worked great at about 2500 fps. I think today I'd try the TSX. So yes the 458 would be great for plains game at moderate ranges but do stick with premium bullets. The cup and core bullets I've seen work poorly when driven over 45-70 velocities.

Mark

Cheers guys, very interesting.

I have an FN in 458 that just fits me like a glove and is a pleasure to shoot so I thought I would like to have an all round option with the same rifle.

Sounds like some good bullet options out there too.

With the animals mentioned above did any of you recover the bullets or did they pass through the beast?

Regards

Stu

I recovered some of my Woodleighs, between this and the confirming test work I determined that 2300 + fps was too much velocity. Now I have dropped that to 2150 fps for that bullet and it is superb at that velocity.

No Swifts were recovered from plains game or lions. I did shoot a buff with the 400 Swift-Yes a little light for buff but that is what I had at the time. It stopped on the far side after going thru both lungs-perfect performance.

Michael

I like the 350 grain X at 2500fps.

Hey michael458 thanks for the reply.

What distance do you limit yourself to with 2150 fps? I would emagine the velocity would wash off pretty quickly when getting out to 100 yards. Bush veld rifle no worries, Namibia or Kalahari may want to step up the velocity?

Stu

Thanks buckeye, what load are you running? Any observations on bullet performance?

Stu