Looking for some 458 caliber bullet options for handloading ammo for non-dangerous game such as one might use on a mixed bag hunt, maybe in the 300 to 400 grain size. Imagine this is not an original idea and others have done this, so any bullet suggestions will be appreciated.

I just use 480grn sorts from Woodleigh or Bertram for general hunting with Woodleigh 480grn fmjs and softs for buffalo

I'd imagine one of the lighter TSX's would fare well for what you describe. I've a box of the 300gr TSX's I've been meaning to load light in a 458 Lott for a while now.

I'm loading the 245gr HV Bullet from GSC in my 416. For the 458 they make a 315 or a 400gr Bullet. Barnes TSX should also work.

The Hornady 350-grain RN is useful. The various 300-grain hollowpoints can be a little soft if driven much beyond 1800 in my experience with hot-loading .45-70s.

Take a look at the Hornady 350 Round Nose, or the 350gr North Fork.

500 gr. Hornady Interlock. They will drop pig in its tracks!

Hello Jackalhunter,

I've used the 500 grain TSX in a .458 Lott quite successfully on kudu, gemsbok, and giraffe as well as buffalo on a hunt a few years ago. Also the 300 grain CEB Safari ESP Raptor in the same .458 rifle at over 2700 fps (much flatter shooting with a different scope already sighted in and quick change rings) worked well on zebra from the right flank quartering away with base of bullet found under the skin after traversing the body and breaking the left shoulder. I think that would work well for most plains game. Penetration and tissue damage were as suggested elsewhere on this site.

Best,

jpj3

Thanks everyone, from Australia, USA including my home state, and RSA where I am currently. I count eight bullet options.
jpj3 I have also thought of quick remove mounts for a extra higher power scope for longer range shots.
Deon Where is Umshwati, do not recall seeing that on my map of RSA?
FFemt5287 Perhaps we could range shoot together sometime, maybe late Oct in Ledyard?

Don't forget the Northfork bullets. They make great soft points. Several bullet weights to choose from. They don't foul as bad as the Barnes bullets and with their driving bands you can push them faster with less fouling and powder. At least that is what I have experienced.

I use the 315 gr GS Custom extensively in my 458 wm and get great results with it.
Shot end to end on a lot of game including gemsbuck and kudu.

They mushroom perfectly and penetrate like hell.
GS Custom are also now based in the US so Gina will be able to get your order to you.
their site is http://www.gscustomusa.com/

I also shoot their 450 GR FN solid on DG and it also works a treat and reduces recoil under the same load compared to non drive band bullets.

When I lived in Alaska I used the 458 quite bit and the original 350 X bullet worked great for caribou and moose. I got 2500 fps and 1 inch groups out of 20 inch barrel. I would expect the the TSX would offer you the same.

Mark

Didn't see the CEB Raptors listed---several of us have had great results with them also.

Would try a few before laying in too many boxes as all 458"s don't shoot lighter bullets well.

So far most all of my 458s have shot lighter bullets well.
Light bullets in a 458 don't make it a long range rifle but for 300 yards they flatten the trajectory pretty good. I don't reccomend the 350 gr Hornady Inter Locked. It tears itself apart
And doesn't penetrate worth a hoot.

I used 350 grain TSXs in the .458, loaded to around 2650 fps and crimped in the second groove. I shot a couple dozen pigs and about 60 water buffalo with them. They work quite well, and cut recoil down to .375 perceived levels.

In my .458s for non-dangerous game I have a lil treasure! A paper patched .458 diameter solid soft lead 500 gr bullet! Punches a smoking ball of soft lead deep into the critter! Sometimes even exits! I drive em near 2100fps with no issues and surprisingly good accuracy at 100 yards. You'll have no trouble following the blood trail about 15 ft if that! It whacks baboons like the hammer of Thor! -Rob

I used the same bullet for DG and PG, and had no complaints..I used the 500 gr. Woodleigh SP and solids on both without any complaints, back then we didn't have a lot of choices on bullets but even the solid punched a big hole thru the small stuff and they made few tracks and left lots of blood on the ground..

I used the 500 grain .458 CEB 13 solid for impala, buff, and bushbuck. Puts 'em right down.

rem 405gr bullets .. these expand like mad and have two crimp grove ... that way you can load them "short" to not waste powder for mild loads. speaking of mild loads, you won't want them much over 2300 fps... well, maybe you do, but the bullet expands at 1200 or less fps and explosively defeats bullet construction above about 1800 .. at 2300 they expand NOW ... and at 2500, well, its exciting but not very deep penetration.

i've been using them "for ever"

If you are going to use your 458 just for planes game, this idea is great.

But, if you are planning to hunt dangerous game as well on the same hunt, you are asking for trouble by having 2 varying bullet weights.

I would stick to one, and use it for everything.

Give the 258gr SOCOM bullet from Cutting Edge Bullets a try. It is an amazing bullet that has incredible penetration and deadly results.

The 300gr ESP Raptor is also a phenomenal bullet-tipped, untipped, or turned around as a solid.

I think even EssKay would agree.........

Andy B

I have, and do use the 458 350gr Speer Hot Cor on deer out of my Lott for practice. These are one tough bullet, still adequate for scrub bulls here in the Top End.
I have several boxes, don't know if they're still available or not. I bought them to use in my 45-70, originally.

Cheers.

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
I used 350 grain TSXs in the .458, loaded to around 2650 fps and crimped in the second groove. I shot a couple dozen pigs and about 60 water buffalo with them. They work quite well, and cut recoil down to .375 perceived levels.

+1 on the 350 gr TSX. It's a great bullet that really adds range and versatility to a .458 Lott or Win.

quote:

Originally posted by Sean Russell:
Didn't see the CEB Raptors listed---several of us have had great results with them also.

I've yet to try the Raptor bullets or any CEB's for that matter. I really need to though. I've heard nothing but good things about them.

Why not cast bullets?
I've shot a munch of Alaska and African game with cast bullets.
Cal

Cal has it right. Proper cast bullets get the job done in good order. There is no reason to not use them.

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
I used 350 grain TSXs in the .458, loaded to around 2650 fps and crimped in the second groove. I shot a couple dozen pigs and about 60 water buffalo with them. They work quite well, and cut recoil down to .375 perceived levels.

do not mind sharing your load.

Phil

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by Dogleg:
I used 350 grain TSXs in the .458, loaded to around 2650 fps and crimped in the second groove. I shot a couple dozen pigs and about 60 water buffalo with them. They work quite well, and cut recoil down to .375 perceived levels.

do not mind sharing your load.

Phil

I settled on 71 grains of H4198 for 2650. I could have easily have went higher, but this level shot to the same POI as the heavier bullets, and that was too handy to resist.

thanks a lot.

I've never liked carrying two different weight bullets for the same rifle on a trip. Rather, I carry solids for the small stuff in the same bullet weight as my solids/softs for the big stuff.

Usually, they shoot pretty close to same point of aim, but just got back from the range today checking final zeros (leave for Tanz in a week). My solids are nearly 1 1/2" low at 100 compared to my softs. So maybe I'd have been better off loading some 450 grain softs that are available now.

Too late at this point, I'll just have to adjust, but that is exactly what I try to avoid by using the same bullet weights.

We killed a bunch of deer with 350gr Hornadys
when I got one of the first Ruger 77s in a 458 Win 45 years ago.

Then I put my wildcat 458 in it and shot it with
400gr heat treated lead Fuseliers a guy wanted us to test
at top speed which was 3200. Murder on deer. Hard lead are
my favorites, light or heavy. Ed

Woodleigh makes a very nice 400 gr PP SP semispitzer that my 458 likes a lot.

Recoil at 2,200 fps is quite pleasant.

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
Give the 258gr SOCOM bullet from Cutting Edge Bullets a try. It is an amazing bullet that has incredible penetration and deadly results.

The 300gr ESP Raptor is also a phenomenal bullet-tipped, untipped, or turned around as a solid.

I think even EssKay would agree.........

Andy B

I used the 258gr SOCOM in my .458B&M this summer on PG. At 2900fps and very accurate. Absolutely deadly. Dropped a Gemsbok in its tracks, the amount of blood on surrounding ground and vegetation was amazing for an animal dropping so quickly.

I also hit a blue wildebeest on a hard quartering away shot. Not sure the blades had much affect. But the "solid" shank went through the intestines, stomach and punched a hole both sides in the heart. Intestines were pushing out of the entry hole. Needless to say the animal did not go far.

I have used the various 350 gr sp in 458wm, lott, they expand and usually shed the core, tsx 350 gr is good but too hard for deer, i used these on buff, worked well, penciled through 100 kg pigs. The woodleigh 400 gr pp is soft but good for plains game, or just use the 480 gr for all, as you can actually get decent speeds with these, in the small 458wm case. If i was to choose one pill, i like the 350 gr speer .458