Worked up a load last weekend with a 300 grain bullet. Was hoping to hit 3000 fps, but only managed 2750 with 93 grains of IMR 4895. Was going to try more powder this weekend and then realized that I had forgotten this :



Trying to decide if I should just be happy with this, or try a different powder. According to Quickload I might be able to get another 50 fps or so using IMR 3031. Any thoughts?

Speer 350 gr. Hot Core bullets work well.

I think Hornady's making a 220 grain SX for the Lott now (Super Explosive) since it's become such a popular prarie dog cartridge

They might have some data with the new Superformance powder for top speeds. Then there's always RL-17

Hawk, what does quick load say about Ramshot Tac? I use it with 350 grain Speers to get 2750 fps, 300s should be impressive!

Grumulkin - Nice, a head shot with a 458 Lott. I have some 350 Grain round nose bullets, but figured the 300 grain hollow points would be a better choice.

rcamulia - Seriously though I wish Barnes would make a varmint grenade in 458, or at least a 338.
That Superformance powder sounds interesting. They don't list any loads bigger than the 300 WSM on their website though.

doubledown - Quickloads lists Ramshot Tac as being about 15 fps slower than 4895 at the same pressure. Looks like it's a denser powder though so I might be able to get more in the case. What load are you using with the 350 grain bullets, and how high does it fill the case? I'm impressed that you are getting the same velocity as me with a heavier bullet.

Think I'll probably stick with the 4895 load though. I use 4895 in most of my other rifles, so not sure it's worth getting another powder just for this.

I don't think the Lott is accurate at all with any of the lighter bullets.Certainly not past 100yds and even at 100yds and not varmint like at any distance.That's not to say you can't kill a varmint with it but there is no light bullet load that is as accurate as the 500gr bullet load.

Hawk, I use 90 grains of Tac in my Ruger 77 Lott, (it is a published load, and has been SAFE IN MY GUN)

Shootaway, I have to disagree with you on 350s not being accurate, With the above load I shoot one hole groups at 50 yards regularly, 1" at 100 yards off the bench with a 1-5x Sightron scope, longer shots are steel plates out to 200 yards off hand 12x12 steel hit with little problem.

On the other hand my rifle will not shoot Barnes bullets of any weight well at all. Even my browning 375 H&H does'nt like them, go figure.

Another argument against decriminalizing illicit drugs.

I got 4-5 inch groups with the 405gr Rem bullets at 100 out of a brand new Ruger lott.It will now no longer shoot within a 2 foot target at that distance.If you look at the reloading pages on this forum you will see how bad the 458WM did with 300gr bullets out of I believe brand new Lilja barrel.It got as bad as 6 inch groups at 100yds.You want me to believe the Lott can shoot 350gr bullets within an inch at 100yds from a used Ruger? No way!

Tested some different bullets today on soda bottles. I managed to find some frangible bullets, and they were pretty impressive.

I think the hollowpoints are more effective, but like shootaway said I didn't get very good accuracy at 100 yards with them. Was shooting about a foot group. I've previously gotten around 4 inch groups with the 500 grain bullets, and that was with iron sights.

I haven't shot the frangible bullets for accuracy yet as I was working up the load with them. They might be more accurate though because they are almost as long as the 500 grain bullets.



http://youtu.be/TNN_t62Hp-c http://youtu.be/TNN_t62Hp-c

There is a company that makes light aluminum, yes, aluminum bullets for the .450 SOCOM. These have been fired at over 3,000fps. Might try them for prairie dogs.
Hmmm, I might have to try that.

quote:

Originally posted by prof242:
There is a company that makes light aluminum, yes, aluminum bullets for the .450 SOCOM. These have been fired at over 3,000fps. Might try them for prairie dogs.
Hmmm, I might have to try that.

Found them: http://lehighbullets.com/products.asp?cat=32

Plugged the info into quickloads and it says that I could get over 4000 fps using 80 gr of H110. I'm tempted to give it a try, but I'm worried about using that much pistol powder in a rifle case.

I have tried 115gr of h4831 with hornady 300gr hollowpoints. I am not quite sure of the velocity but they only penetrate 3 inches into wood. And no, I don’t wouldn’t try that much pistol powder.

Well, I took my 458 varmint hunting at my parents place this last weekend. Used the 300 grain frangible bullets at 2700 fps. These bullets are super accurate, but I wasn't very impressed with the results. Last time I took a 223 and it was a lot more effective.

As a side note some of the neighborhood kids came over and I let them shoot it. They were all excited because they had seen the American Guns episode on the 458 Lott build. The youngest was 12, and even he managed to do just fine with it.

quote:

Originally posted by 56hawk:

quote:

Originally posted by prof242:
There is a company that makes light aluminum, yes, aluminum bullets for the .450 SOCOM. These have been fired at over 3,000fps. Might try them for prairie dogs.
Hmmm, I might have to try that.

Found them: http://lehighbullets.com/products.asp?cat=32

Plugged the info into quickloads and it says that I could get over 4000 fps using 80 gr of H110. I'm tempted to give it a try, but I'm worried about using that much pistol powder in a rifle case.

Not to worry; it will work. Once, for sure! Can't promise any repeats.