I asked a similar question about scissor sharpening, and ended up in my current vocation.

I've just noticed there doesn't seem to be anybody producing practice ammo for the big stuff. Maybe it is because nobody would have any use for it. Or maybe I'm just not aware of the companies that are already making it. Or maybe there is indeed a need.
Just curious.

I think the biggest benefit of downloaded ammo for a big bore rifle is in encouraging a shooter to use the rifle more often and for other game. Taking a 458 out for some spot-and-stalk Doe culling is a great way to get familiarity with a big bore.

but you have to use a clever name to keep the macho factor working

..in other words a cowboyqueer loaded .45colt versus maxpacked .357Magnum.

Give me the .357Mag at anytime.

I presume this equation is adoptable to big game cartridges too.

Have you tried downloaded ammo from Nyati? Expensive! Would love to know their powder ingredients!

http://nyatiinc.com

They don't make ammo for the 505 Gibbs or 577NE.
Could a low-recoil practice round be produced by loading less powder but adding more wads as filler, and using cast bullets to save on cost?
Or could this cause potential problems eg ignition of the round, or barrel 'leading'?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
I think the biggest benefit of downloaded ammo for a big bore rifle is in encouraging a shooter to use the rifle more often and for other game. Taking a 458 out for some spot-and-stalk Doe culling is a great way to get familiarity with a big bore.

I'm actually about to do this with my .458 Win Mag. My first run of handloads will be with Accurate 5744 to load some 405gr soft points down to 2000fps or slightly lower. You could also use Trailboss for a more reduced loading. No buffalo hunt in the budget any time soon, but I'll be shooting deer and pigs with it until then.

Loaded down big bore ammo makes perfect sense.
I have shot a lot of deer, and pigs, with some other stuff thrown in with calibres like the 375 H&H, 416 Rem mag, 416 WbyMag, 458 Win Mag, 450/400 and the 450 No2, using reduced loads.

You just do not need an "elephant gun" to kill deer and pigs.

But, the more you shoot and hunt with your "elephant gun" the better you will be with it, when you do go after the big stuff.

Also you will get much better performance on smaller game with a bullet suited to smaller game instead of using buffalo or elephant bullets.

And the lower recoil is a plus, for you, and for the rifle.

I've got some friends who are professional "boutique" loaders, and they are very reasonably priced. I'll talk to them and see what we can come up with.

I have a .458 win mag and I'm shooting the 325gr plastic tipped bullet at about 2000 fps. If I could have just bought them at a reasonable price I would buy them by the hundred.

Been doing this for years. From cast bullets through std cup and core bulletss to keep costs down. The extra practice is great...just a little surprise with the first fully loaded round after a layoff. My grandkids like them too.

As NE 450 No 2 said.

Very much a need.

Quite often one of the stated reasons
for the 75% rule in Double rifles.

I shoot many practice loads in my big doubles and have made lite loads in many standard cartridges so little kids can shoot 308s and bigger but not get hurt by them. A friends two grand daughters ages 4 and 6 have used my lite loads in their 243s. They have killed several deer with these loads running around 1800 fps with a 90 grain bullet. One little girl got a lot of attention when asked what she shot her deer with. "A 350 Rem Mag"

srose

That reminds me of a story about my Nephew.

He wanted to go turkey hunting. So we went to the deer lease and he shot some shotguns, a 410, and a 20ga doubke barrel that my dad had shortened to 18.5" several years ago.
he shot good with field loads of No6's in the 20gs, so we went hunting.

In called a gobbler in pretty close and he baged it no problem.
Pictures were taken of course.

Well, a few weeks go by and he bangs his head at school and needs some stitches so he goes to the hospital.

While the Docter and Nurses are talking to him they ask him what he has been doing, and he proudly produces a picture of him, the shotgun, and his turkey and states proudly, "I killed this turkey with a SAWED OFF SHOTGUN".

The relatively light 440 gr 58cal hardcast Minie bullets
are just the balls for loading down the 585HE.
The younger guys can shoot them at 20-2200 with no
trouble and step them up in speed as they get bigger
and they will be murder on deer,hogs, bear, and water jugs..
And they cost a tenth of jacketed or Barnes or CEB.Ed

At least 80+ percent or more of what goes through my .375 H&H and .458 Win mag are reduced loads. Either jacketed bullet, or cast. I've done a lot of work-up over the years to allow me to shoot'em more. Easier on the rifles, easier on me and (so far...) the whitetails and Hogs haven't noticed the difference.

I would have absolutely no use for it.

I've had some really fun times using Trailboss for the 500NE and 577NE. I makes them a real pleasure to shoot, even by my oldest boy who is very recoil shy. I haven't tried Tony's 75% rule to date but it sounds like a good way to go.

I prefer full house loads practicing for safari but the reduced loads makes me grab the rifle more often to take afield for pigs and such.

Due to the high cost of big bore ammo many load their own ammo already.
Lighter loads are very common. So I guess there is a need but people take care of most of it themselves.

One of the most common down loads of the 45-70 is a 300 grain cast bullet using Unique.
With the most common loads you get about 500 rounds/lb of Unique.

I use 19 gr Trail Boss in my 450 Watts, 405 cast at about 1100.
It is low recoil and quiet enough that I can hear the bullet hit the paper target.
Mark

I've been casting bullets and downloading with 5744 for my 470 and 416 Rigby for fun practice for years. Cheap and easy.
Need? Does a woman "need" an epidural to have a baby? Let's just say it is an option, but a good one.

quote:

Originally posted by Marty:
I've been casting bullets and downloading with 5744 for my 470 and 416 Rigby for fun practice for years. Cheap and easy.
Need? Does a woman "need" an epidural to have a baby? Let's just say it is an option, but a good one.

I'm a little surprised Nyati is the only company and they charge $250 for a box of 20.

I'm also a fan of gas-checked cast bullets and A5744 powder in my 416 Remington and my 458 Winchester for about 1800-2000 fps. Loads are accurate, plenty powerful (think hot loaded 45-70) and cost between 50 and 60 cents each.

quote:

Originally posted by whelenite:
I'm also a fan of gas-checked cast bullets and A5744 powder in my 416 Remington and my 458 Winchester for about 1800-2000 fps. Loads are accurate, plenty powerful (think hot loaded 45-70) and cost between 50 and 60 cents each.

Does it leave any lead in the barrel?