I don`t know why, but I`ve decided that I would like to use my .458 to take at least one deer this year. Normally I would start working up a load way before hand, but this year, deer season is only a bit over a month away, and a couple weeks of that will be used up getting my 2 antelope, my 2 boys each 2 antelope, and a good buddy who hasn`t hunted in a while his 2 antelope. That leaves only 2 weeks to get a load ready, the rifle sighted properly for the load, etc, etc. I have several other rifles to use, but I have one any deer tag and one antlerless only tag. I`d like to use the .458 to take a doe. Does anyone have a specific load worked up using somewhere around a 350 grain bullet that is suitable for deer? I was thinking of using a 350 grain Barnes X, but that might be a little too much bullet for a small South Dakota deer. I`m looking for specific recommendations, bullet, powder, primer, etc. Thanks!
Posts: 284 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 13 December 2001
quote:Originally posted by hoss101: I don`t know why, but I`ve decided that I would like to use my .458 to take at least one deer this year. Normally I would start working up a load way before hand, but this year, deer season is only a bit over a month away, and a couple weeks of that will be used up getting my 2 antelope, my 2 boys each 2 antelope, and a good buddy who hasn`t hunted in a while his 2 antelope. That leaves only 2 weeks to get a load ready, the rifle sighted properly for the load, etc, etc. I have several other rifles to use, but I have one any deer tag and one antlerless only tag. I`d like to use the .458 to take a doe. Does anyone have a specific load worked up using somewhere around a 350 grain bullet that is suitable for deer? I was thinking of using a 350 grain Barnes X, but that might be a little too much bullet for a small South Dakota deer. I`m looking for specific recommendations, bullet, powder, primer, etc. Thanks!
I can't provide a specific load, as I worked up with a 458 lott, but I believe you'll find RL 7 and a 350 gr speer or hornady should do the trick at 2400-2500 fps.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
With the bullet size and bullet weight, wouldn't just about anything work?? Figure the bullet would pass thru and the size of the wound channel would be big enough to have it bleed to death.
Hope you post your results. I feel like such a panzie after loading up a 223, with a 53 grain Barnes XLC at 2600 fps. The muzzle blast of your 458, probably has more terminal energy than this 223 load even with a Barnes X bullet.
I don't know much about 458Win, but I'm using 45/70 Marlin loads from my Guidegun. The other day at the range 440gn hard cast LBT style flatpoints were doing 1680fps from that 18" barrel and they kill deer deader than canned tuna. The 350gn Horn works very well also from 1600fps to as fast as you care to throw it, something right about 2200fps ought to work very well without beating you up or pummeling the ears too badly. 55gns of IMR 4198 or 65gns of IMR 3031 ought to be a good place to start according to Horn 6th Ed. S/F...Ken M
If you want explosive try the sierra 300 gr .458 HPFN's at 2100 fpf from my Marlin 45/70 there a bomb so they may not give an exot at .458 win mag speeds but rather give you a nosler ballistic tip type fragmentation.
I think speer make a 350 gr mag tip which would suit your needs and I think it is a rather stream lined profile as well.
Woodleigh also make a 400 gr protected point bullet that may interest you.
Posts: 7505 | Location: Australia | Registered: 22 May 2002
A buddy of mine used my 338win to shoot a small 2point. It was a snap shot at 50yds with a 225 partition. He hit the sholder and could put his hand all the way in.
Posts: 2924 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 23 December 2002
While not a 458 WinMag, I've settled on the 350 gr Speer HotCor for deer and elk this fall in my 45-70. I've heard good things, and will (hopefully) be able to give a full report on performance at the end of November....maxman
Posts: 337 | Location: Minnesota, USA | Registered: 23 December 2002
Any 45-70 duplication load will do fine, as long as trajectory is not an issue. If it is, and you still don't want to live with gross overkill, I would look at the Barnes 300 gr X bullets for the 458 Win Mag and 2) 45-70.
#1 has a BC of .340 and will be plenty flat out to 200 yards as slow as 2200 fps. #2 has a BC of .204 but will open up better at low velocities. AA XMP 5744 beats everything for reduced loads in the 458...start at 45 grs and chrono your way up to 2200 fps. Good hunting!
[ 10-01-2003, 05:12: Message edited by: Sabot ]
Posts: 1111 | Location: Afton, VA | Registered: 31 May 2003
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