Thought I would pass this along. In my 458 WM I have been having trouble getting over 2000 fps (without pressure signs)with 500 grain solids for many months and had abandoned the idea and went to shooting 450 grain Barnes X.

The load I am speaking of is 72.0 grains of Hodgedon Varget with 500 grain Hornaday solids. I have a short magazine in my converted Mauser which limits COL to 3.280" and I find this load delivers 2060 fps, without any pressure signs and with good accuracy, around 0.5" at 50 yards.

Thought there might be others out there who could put this to good use.

BigBullet

Hello,,

Big bores,,how long is that barrel you shooting with?

Sounds like to me you got it all under control, thats good enough for any hunting I know of....

That said,it wouldn't take much to open up that box in the rear and give yourself some more room, and you might evern consider punching it out to a 458 Lott while your at it...I'd rather load one down than up...

PPSweeden,

The barrel on the 458 WM is 24". I very much like the longer barrel for balance, weight and steadiness.

I hear ya' Ray! I have been thinking of the thinning the back of the magazine box for a long time. Just one of those things I haven't gotten to yet. As for the 458 Lott...the 458 WM is about enough to handle for me. Though larger capacity case, lower pressure is a reasonable goal. One of the reasons I like the Varget, its supposed to be less temperature sensitive. I guess I believe their marketing, though in the hot Floridia temps we are having the pressures still appear reasonable.

BigBullet

Big Bullet,
Use the same powder as you, except it is called ADI AR 2208 here in Aust, use 73 gr, with no signs of pressure, in all climates. from 40+ deg to 6 deg.

cheers 338w

I am beginning to load for my .458 WM. I contacted Geoff McDonald at Woodleigh bullets and he gave me the following load:

74 grains of Hodgdon Varget
500 grain Woodleigh bullets
2150 fps at 48100 C.U.P.

I have not developed and chronographed this load in my rifle so be advised as the results may vary. FWIW.

RCG

Big bullet,
let a good smith cut the rear portion of the box off and replace it by tig welding and then shorten up the whole thing and you will get a buch of room to seat your bullets out or go with the Lott, your choice and its not expensive to have done...I like to use the Lott and load it at 2100 FPS...very low pressure and you can then use monolithic bullets which are very long for their weight....and you still have the option to shoot 458 Winchesters..