I could only find RL7 locally and was hoping to load up some 500gr Hornady rounds. Has anyone tried this powder in the WM? I also have some Varget if that would work.

I once read an article by Jack Lott were he was talking about the problems in the early days with the .458.

At the end of the article he said all the problems would be cured with RL 7. I got a couple cans with all the intent to try it but years have passed and I havent gotten around to it yet. Let us know how it works out for you.

In my experience, Varget works ok. Not the end all, be all powder for the 458wm and 500 grainers, but is is good. Burned dirty in my tials with it, but provided fair velocity and good accuracy.

No experience with R-7.

JPK

JPK I'm a little confussed. What is your preferred load for 500 gr. .458's

I realize your rifle is a double so your load is for regulation but I'm sure you have very good insight for us bolt trash .458 guys.

Ian

I have used RL 7 extensively for lighter bullets, 400 grs, in 458 Winchester for many years, with excellent results. 70grs/RL 7 and a 400 Swift has been a proven load for several different rifles over the years. However, when going up in bullet weight I have found that I started pushing pressure limits with 450s and 500s trying to get to where I wanted to be with those weight bullets and standard velocities. It has also been a few years since I played with 458 Winchester on a regular basis, back in the day RL 15 was giving excellent results with the 450 and 500 gr bullets in 458 Winchester, at reasonable pressures. So my rule of thumb was RL 7 for lighter bullets, RL 15 for the 450s and 500s.

Varget? Maybe, I think it is pretty close to RL 15, I have had good luck with Varget in 470 Capstick! But have not messed with it in 458 Winchester.

Hope this helps a little.

Michael

i have used it a bunch for 405s ... and its a preferred powder for the 470 capstick+500grs

don't take my word for it though...
http://www.alliantpowder.com/r...ulletid=167&bdid=877

What Michael458 and jeffeosso said.

As michael stated well, the R-7 is great for lighter bullets in the 458wm. I have used R-7 in the 458wm the max load with 500grain bullets is 64grains great accuracy you just won't get the velocities much over 2000fps in a 22inch barreled rifle. I got pressure signs using the R-15 with 500 grainers the Varget is very close to the R-15 powder which is not a bad powder for the 458wm not a good one either, I personally would stick with the R-7.

Jeffe

RL 7 is perfect for lighter and heavy loads for all the 400s. I used 405 Remmies in working up and down in all the 458s, but in particular in 458 Winchester. I see the Alliant book says a little higher than the load I always used, 70 grs RL 7 and 400s. I got 2325 consistently for years in a 22 inch gun, 24 inch gun would give 2360-2380 consistently.

I don't have any data on RL 7 and 470 Capstick???

Dirk
Exactly the same issues RL 7-500s, around or just very slightly better than 2000 fps and did not like the looks of things to come.

RL 15 and 500s I would stuff 76.5 RL 15 and various 500s-Woodleigh-Hornady Interlock and Hornady Interbond for velocity from 2120-2170 in the order of bullets listed, pressures 54000 psi. As for 450s 79 grs RL 15 for 2200-2250 depending on bullet and barrel length, pressures running 47000 psi. I mean stuffed, very heavy compressed. Have seen and used these in the field extensively without any issues, even in extreme hot 115 degree weather. But today I think I would search for a different powder for the heavy bullets, you see the last I messed with 458 Win was 2004-2005. And the RL 15 loads were developed in 2003.

For lighter bullets 400 grs RL 7 is a champ and would not change that at all.

Michael

I use IMR4320 for my 458 Lott. I would not try any other powder. This powder does what I want
out of my 458 Lott.
I'm not saying thst RL7 wouldn't work But I'm satified. RL7 it might work out better in the 458 WIN.

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:
JPK I'm a little confussed. What is your preferred load for 500 gr. .458's

I realize your rifle is a double so your load is for regulation but I'm sure you have very good insight for us bolt trash .458 guys.

My prefered load is XXgrs (would need to double check before posting) of AA 2230 in Norma cases, with Fed 215 primers and a 500gr Woodleigh solid for 2145fps at the muzzle(s).

A touch more powder for the softs to get the same POI's.

JPK

Thanks for the replies everyone. I will give it a try and see how it performs. I also have some Hornady 480gr DGX and DGS bullets that I want to test. Seems Accurate powders are hard to come by up here in Canada. Might also try some H335.

Ian

I found the following RL 7 load data for the 458 Win:

From the Swift Manual
500gr A Frame
Start 56.7 for 1910fps
Max 61gr for 2037fps.

From the Barnes Manual
500gr X and 500gr Solid
Start 55gr for 2024fps
Max 60gr for 2208fps.

Hope this helps.

Many thanks for the data.

I have used 64gr behind the 500gr Hornady SP for ~ 2100 fps out of a 22" tube. I would consider that a MAX load so work up to it.

quote:

Originally posted by ScottS:
I have used 64gr behind the 500gr Hornady SP for ~ 2100 fps out of a 22" tube. I would consider that a MAX load so work up to it.

Confirm RE-7?

That would be Reloder 7.

Use the A2230.

72grs with 215 primers and the 500gr Woodleigh should give you around 2,150 fps out of a 24in barrel.

This would be a non compressed load and the A2230 is very heat stable if you plan on a trip to Africa.

I'm using this load with the 480gr Woodleighs with the 458 Win Mag cannelure and getting over 2,200fps.

I, too, am just starting out reloading for the .458 Win. From the information I've received from a wide variety of sources, using 450 and 500 grain bullets, the powder of choice seems to be AA2230. I have to find some and I have some RE-15 on hand so I may try that out just for the heck of it, but the 2230 seems to be the go-to for heavier bullet weights.

I have been able to locate some A2230, so hope to try some soon. In the meantime, I loaded up some Hornady 500gr RN with RL7. Waiting for the weather to improve so I can get out to the range.

quote:

Originally posted by IanD:
I have been able to locate some A2230, so hope to try some soon.

Ian, IMO the A2230 is the premium powder for the 458wm, good find.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
From the Barnes Manual
500gr X and 500gr Solid
Start 55gr for 2024fps
Max 60gr for 2208fps.

Hope this helps.

That Barnes data is outdated, from manual #3. You'll need Barnes new data from Manual #4.

According to Barnes, H335 and TAC are best in the .458WM for 450s and 500s.

According to Hornady, H335 is best, though AA2230 gave slightly better MV.

My experience is that H335 is far better than RL-7 for the 450s and 500s. And more recently, H4198 has proven to be better (less temp. sensitive)than RL-7 for the 400s and 405s.

Like Ian, I've had difficulty locating any AA2230, but I do get an easy 2200 fps from Hornady 500s from H335 in my CZ 550.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

I too am a fan of AA2230 for my .458WM but I am shooting 450 grain North Fork Cup Points and 450 grain GS Custom Flat Nose solids.

When I first started loading the GSC FNS, Gerard suggested H4198. I tried it and was able to achieve 2250 fps with no pressure signs and no compressed loads. I see on his website that he now recommends IMR4198. Similar burn rate, IIRC.

Mike Brady @ North Fork suggested AA2230 and I have not looked back. Meters well, no pressure and no compressed loads for an easy 2250 FPS MV with 450 grain bullets.

Good luck.

RCG

PS.. Fed 215 primers and Winchester brass

I have a friend that uses RI7. in his 458 Win Mag

quote:

Originally posted by .458 Only:

That Barnes data is outdated, from manual #3. You'll need Barnes new data from Manual #4.

According to Barnes, H335 and TAC are best in the .458WM for 450s and 500s.

According to Hornady, H335 is best, though AA2230 gave slightly better MV.

My experience is that H335 is far better than RL-7 for the 450s and 500s. And more recently, H4198 has proven to be better (less temp. sensitive)than RL-7 for the 400s and 405s.

Like Ian, I've had difficulty locating any AA2230, but I do get an easy 2200 fps from Hornady 500s from H335 in my CZ 550.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Hi Bob,

I also have a CZ550. What length do you seat the Hornady 500gr RN at? I will try some H335 in the meantime until I round up some A2230.

Ian

It is interesting that Hornady shows a maximum charge of over 76 gr of AA 2230 to achieve 2150 FPS with a 24" barrel Ruger as the test platform (458 win mag).
The Accurate Arms load data stipulate 72 gr. of AA 2230 to achieve the same velocity out of a 24" barrel.
I loaded up some 458's this afternoon (500 gr Hornady softs, Rem brass, Fed 215's, and charges of 73 and 74 gr. of AA 2230). Hopefully I can chrono them tomorrow and let you guys know what I find.

EZ
Every gun can give a different velocity!

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
It is interesting that Hornady shows a maximum charge of over 76 gr of AA 2230 to achieve 2150 FPS with a 24" barrel Ruger as the test platform (458 win mag).
The Accurate Arms load data stipulate 72 gr. of AA 2230 to achieve the same velocity out of a 24" barrel.
I loaded up some 458's this afternoon (500 gr Hornady softs, Rem brass, Fed 215's, and charges of 73 and 74 gr. of AA 2230). Hopefully I can chrono them tomorrow and let you guys know what I find.

EZ
Every gun can give a different velocity!

Look forward to your results. Keep us posted.

[/QUOTE]

Hi Bob,

I also have a CZ550. What length do you seat the Hornady 500gr RN at? I will try some H335 in the meantime until I round up some A2230.

Ian[/QUOTE]

I normally seat the 500 Hornady RN Interloc to a COL of 3.51" (leaves about .25" in the case).

Recently, to keep Jeffe happy I've loaded some to 3.34" (SAAMI) with the same load and got the same MV = 2200 fps. That's 78grs. I've seen as high as 79grs somewhere, just can't recall where at the moment. Hodgdon shows 75.5grs for 2163 fps from a 24" at 50,300 cup (about 59,350 psi). That's from a 24", mine's a 25", as is your's I believe.

There have never been any signs of undue pressure at either COL. I now have some loaded at 79 and 80grs at 3.34" COL. I've already tried 80grs at 3.51", MV was 2245 fps. So, I'm expecting to get about the same MV at 3.34".

The unique thing, so far, about H335 is that it never seems to vary from lot to lot, or regardless of temps. Similar to AA2230 I'd guess in that regard. Being a ball powder, it's quite easy to load 78 to 80 grains without undue compression at SAAMI COL.

A NOTE TO EVERYONE: those are MY loads, they are not recommended loads for anyone else's rifle!

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Bob,

Thanks for the information. I got some A2230 (16lbs) rounded up, but will also try H335.