I was reading up the other day about the famed .458 mag used in big game hunting in the 60's. It mentioned compressed loads in the article.

My question to those of you who have the knowledge is this. Now is there anything wrong with loading compressed loads in say a varmint rifle caliber or a big game caliber like the .458 as long as the pressures are below Max CUP?

i use a compressed charge of H1000 in my 300 win mag. 81gr of H1000 with a 180gr Hornady SST for 3125fps from a 26" barrel

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Death Before Dishonor

I try to use a powder that gets the job done without compression but I haven't had any problems with the compressed loads I've used.
I have read the heavily compressed charge in the .458 was to help keep the bullet in place under recoil. Aren't these "mini mag" rounds that hornady and others are putting out based on heavily compressed powder charges???

My (limited) experience has indicated that slightly compressed loads (IMR4064) tend to be the most consistent.

Maybe this is due to the fact that the powder can't shift in the case, and is always consistent in relation to the primer.

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Life is more exitin' when yer stickin' suppositories inta a wildcats behind!

Anyone know a place to get drop-tubes for my RCBS powder rig on line?

Bear, try SinclairIntl.
http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=REPMSP&type=store
Hope this helps
*Nut*

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If guns are outlawed, Only outlaws will have guns.

I always try to use a slow powder that will give me 90% plus load density in all the cartridges I reload up through 338 Win Mag. The most accurate loads in all of them are slightly compressed.
Don't know about the .458 though.

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The older I get the better I was.

Way back when I was learnign about reloading Elmer Keith wrote an article in which he said the best results will always come from a powder that fills the case. My 270 and 300 all fit this criteria. Compressed loads seem to be the best.

T/Jazz,I once loaded 80 grains of N135 behind a 400 Grain speer,giving a compressing of 10 o/o, the case wass full with that load and I had to force the bullet to seat deep enough, there was not a single problem with that load exept it kicked.
Hugh.