Anybody got a good .458 WM plinking load. Need a cast bullet that can be bought, powder type, and quantity.

While I don’t have a good source for cast bullets (well I do have a couple of friends that have cast bullet co. but they aren’t working it right now). I have used Rem 405gr or Hornadey 350 gr hps. They can be bought nearly as cheap as cast. You can use 47-70 trapdoor loads for a light plinking load.
Bill

I use the Hornady 350 jacketed, which as someone else observed is as cheap as nice cast bullets and 35g of AA5744 with Winchester brass and a standard rifle primer. Generates about 1350 and regulates nicely in my double

Here is what I use for plinkers:

http://www.berrysmfg.com/388.php

These are copper-plated cast bullets, not jacketed. Though the manufacturer recommends not using them at over 1,700 fps, I use them at up to 2,000 fps with no problems from MY rifles. They should be perfect for about 1,250 to 1,500 fps.

Some folks have reported problems with them on the internet, but I personally have found them absolutely excellent in my firearms.

(Though the reports MAY be correct, for their guns, sometimes I suspect hidden agendas when I see negative comments on products which have worked flawlessly for me over entended periods of time.....especially when those reports are only found on the internet.)

Edited to add load info...in the .458 Win I have used them with up to 68 grs of IMR 3031.

In the .45-70, I commonly use either 59 grs. of TU 5000, or 29 grs. of H-110. I do NOT recommend EITHER LOAD for anyone ELSE OR ANY GUNS EXCEPT MY OWN.

Oregon trails lasercast 350gr (no gas checks)
30gr SR4759
CCI magnum rifle primer

Good for about 1500fps from my 24 inch barrel ruger. In addition, SR4759 burns fairly clean.

In my rifle, I can shoot less than 1 inch groups at 50 yards with a simple peep sight from NECG. Pushing these bullets much faster only spreads the groups.

I use a 550 grain hardcast WFNGC in .459 for my 458 Win Mag. It's my own design. I load it to about 1600 fps. It's great for target practice and provides awesome penetration on large game. It punches straight through anything in its way. I put one through 60" of wet newspaper. I'm designing one for the 45-70 in the same weight but with a shorter nose.

Another plinking/target load is a 420 grain WFNGC at 1500 fps. Very light recoil and fun to shoot. It can also be used for North American hunting.

It's custom loaded if you're not a reloader.

I used a lyman mold 458459 with Linotype( shot unsized-.459) which is , a non gas checked. 500gr bullet as I remember over 25 grs of IMR 2400 with a dacron filler. it shot 1 hole groups at 50 yrds. I developed thios load 35 yrs ago and found I needed a real hard bullet to get good accuracy. Can't remember what lube I used then but I'd try SPG now.-Rob

The two loads I use most in the 458 Lott are:

Remington bulk 405gr jacketed flat point. Hornady brass-34.5 grs IMR4198 and a federal 210 primer. I use cotton wadding above the cherge in the Lott, but you may not have to in the WM

Lyman #457643 flat nose, no gas check-Hornady brass-32.0grs IMR3031 and a Federal 210 large rifle primer. Again, I use cotton wadding above the charge. This load has given me many groups under 1/2 moa. The folks that shoot here at the farm with me are always amazed how accurate this big rifle is. Good shooting

Joe

Try here.

I've used several of the loads listed with great success.