As David Christman is working on my CZ I need to gather the small things. I ordered Redding's 3 die deluxe set today. I have both Hornaday and Norma Basic Mag brass. I am in good shape on different powders. For fireforming and load development what bullets should I get? I will worry about the game bullets after playing for a little bit. Thanks Butch

I just use Hornady 500 grn. softs for my pratice rounds. I use Hornady and Bell brass.

For load development I'd choose the bullets that you'd LIKE to use for game and use them. I say like as you might need to switch bullets to get what you'd like.

As for fireforming, I wouldn't do if for the Hornady. I like to FL size for this gun. It is a DGR, after all.

Here are my pet loads, so far. They are out of a Ruger RSM. Remember to reduce the powder weights by at least 10% and work up from there.

-Steve

----------------------------------
Load Name: 458 Lott plinking load
Bullet Mfg: Hornady
Bullet Type: #4507 FMJRN
Bullet Caliber: .458
Bullet Weight: 500
Ballistic Coeff: 0.295
Powder Mfg: IMR
Powder Type: 4320
Powder Weight: 82.000
Powder Lot Number: Unknown
Primer Mfg: FEDERAL
Primer Size: 215 LRM-MATCH
Primer Type:
Primer Lot Number: unknown
Case Mfg:
Case Length: 0.000
Case # Times Loaded: 0
Cartridge OAL: 0.000
Comparator OAL: 0.000
Av. Group size: 0.693
Av. Group Velocity: 2155
Cartridge Mfg Date:
Cartridge Lot Number:
Moly Coated: No
Crimped: Yes

Shot String Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# 1) X Distance: -1.427 Y Distance: 0.435 Radius: 1.492 Velocity: 2162
# 2) X Distance: -1.737 Y Distance: 0.600 Radius: 1.838 Velocity: 2153
# 3) X Distance: -1.210 Y Distance: 1.050 Radius: 1.602 Velocity: 2151

-------------------------------------



Load Name: 458 Lott Softs
Bullet Mfg: Swift
Bullet Type: A-Frame
Bullet Caliber: .458
Bullet Weight: 500
Ballistic Coeff: 0.361
Powder Mfg: Hodgdon
Powder Type: Varget
Powder Weight: 80.500
Powder Lot Number: Unknown
Primer Mfg: FEDERAL
Primer Size: 215 LRM-MATCH
Primer Type:
Primer Lot Number: unknown
Case Mfg: Hornady
Case Length: 0.000
Case # Times Loaded: 0
Cartridge OAL: 0.000
Comparator OAL: 0.000
Av. Group size: 1.038
Av. Group Velocity: 2218
Cartridge Mfg Date:
Cartridge Lot Number:
Moly Coated: No
Crimped: Yes

Shot String Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# 1) X Distance: 0.000 Y Distance: -0.410 Radius: 0.410 Velocity: 2226
# 2) X Distance: -0.510 Y Distance: 0.494 Radius: 0.710 Velocity: 2222
# 3) X Distance: 0.235 Y Distance: 0.526 Radius: 0.576 Velocity: 2207


----------------------------------------------


Load Name: 458 Solids
Bullet Mfg: Woodleigh
Bullet Type: FMJ
Bullet Caliber: .458
Bullet Weight: 500
Ballistic Coeff: 0.405
Powder Mfg: Hodgdon
Powder Type: Varget
Powder Weight: 79.500
Powder Lot Number: Unknown
Primer Mfg: FEDERAL
Primer Size: 215 LRM-MATCH
Primer Type:
Primer Lot Number: unknown
Case Mfg: Hornady
Case Length: 0.000
Case # Times Loaded: 0
Cartridge OAL: 0.000
Comparator OAL: 0.000
Av. Group size: 1.328
Av. Group Velocity: 2142
Cartridge Mfg Date:
Cartridge Lot Number:
Moly Coated: No
Crimped: Yes

Shot String Data
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# 1) X Distance: 0.045 Y Distance: 0.112 Radius: 0.121 Velocity: 2135
# 2) X Distance: -0.525 Y Distance: 0.095 Radius: 0.534 Velocity: 2157
# 3) X Distance: 0.760 Y Distance: 0.430 Radius: 0.873 Velocity: 2133

Steve, thanks for your reply. Your info can save me a lot of time. Butch

No problem!

One thing. The softs and solids load's groups are probably smaller than indicated. I scratched the cornea of my shooting eye last Thanksgiving. Its not been the same since. Those loads were worked up in the intervening period.

I just got the eye zapped with a laser a couple of weeks ago. Should be geting better.

-Steve

bl

For just easy practice, getting a good cast load is a must since there're so many out there who cast a nice hard flat point w/gas checks. In fact, the cast loads can do yeoman's duty on all NA hunting.

Steve

Since you've been using Varget, how does this compare to using the standby 4320? I've gotten nice shooting with 4320 w/o any pressure signs.

When I had my Lott put together I started out w/ some 400gr/.45-70 bullets because that's what I had on hand. They make a nice starter load @ 2100-2200fps. RL12 or IMR4064 worked fine.

80 gr of Varget behind the 500 gr woodleigh.....Good In My Rifle start below and work up.

The Hornady Interbond 500gr RN has been improved and is now a bonded core with a tougher jacket compared to the old Interlock version. They're accurate and affordable.

475,

D'Arcy Echols reccomended the powder to me. As he knows FAR more than I do about these things, I followed his advice. I see a bit less pressure signs from Varget and I'm getting similar velocities with a bit less powder. I think that is a good thing so I went with it in this DGR.

-Steve

Damn, another powder to try out.

I've got a full shelf of different powders that I've tried at somebody's recommendation and I never found the right combination. But, this is something worth looking into. Thanks.

you can try them all but if you own a chronograph and use it, you will find out that IMR-4320 is the only powder that can get you a safe 2350 FPS in a 24" barrel,with a 500 gr. bullet in the 458 Lott, and brass will have good to great life..but then do you really need 2350 FPS?? Up to the individual but 2200 will do about all anyone needs IMO....

Since I've got a 458WM with some stuff going at 2175 f/s or so, I figger that getting to the Holy Grail at 2350 f/s is the raison d'detre for having a Lott in the first place. After all, after I find the right combination, then run with a bunch of plinker loads.