These were really reduced loads. The book had them at about 1400fps for 400gr. So they were very mild. Still, I just had do shoot it. Now I'll scrub the barrel down good again. I did notice feed problems. The replacement follower from Brownells is supposed to correct exactly the problem I am having. The last round stays stuck to the side, instead of popping to the center like it is supposed to.
Also, with the hard plastic but plate, these reduced loads showed me I will need the recoil pad I have ordered.
It makes a big hole in a cinder block.

Frank I must have missed all the details about your 458.

Give us the scoop.

Not a lot of details. Unless you count the endless questions I have asked here and in the gunsmithing forum.
I picked up an older savage 110 7mm used on line. Then I ordered the Brownells kit which had the .458 barrel, wrench and guages. I inletted the stock and bedded it. The trigger was already very good.
I need a recoil pad, and I need to think about optics.

Frank, on a 458 a recoil pad is always a good idea.

As to sights/optics, I would have a good set of express sights, and a scoe in QD mounts.

As to scope I would pick something in the 1.5 on the low end to 6x on the high end.

Also I have found that the Hornady 350gr RN feeds real well in most bolt 458's and kills deer and pigs like the Hammer of Thor at velocities from 1800fs and up.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Frank, on a 458 a recoil pad is always a good idea.

As to sights/optics, I would have a good set of express sights, and a scoe in QD mounts.

As to scope I would pick something in the 1.5 on the low end to 6x on the high end.

Also I have found that the Hornady 350gr RN feeds real well in most bolt 458's and kills deer and pigs like the Hammer of Thor at velocities from 1800fs and up.

Yeah, I picked up a box of the Hornady 350s, but I havn't loaded any yet. They do look like the cats meow. Not too heavy, more aerodynamic than others, better feeding shape, and a soft nose.

If I try then and find I like them I think I will buy them in bulk. They are the only bullets like them. So if Hornady stopped making them, there would be nothing to replace them.

Killing like the hammer of Thor is the whole goal here.So that's good news.
I lost a deer 2 years ago with a good hit from my 10mm pistol, first time ever. No more of that.

If Hornaday were to have a collective brain fart and stop making the 350's, I think Hawk bullets could fill the bill.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by frank4570:
These were really reduced loads. The book had them at about 1400fps for 400gr. So they were very mild. Still, I just had do shoot it. Now I'll scrub the barrel down good again. I did notice feed problems. The replacement follower from Brownells is supposed to correct exactly the problem I am having. The last round stays stuck to the side, instead of popping to the center like it is supposed to.
Also, with the hard plastic but plate, these reduced loads showed me I will need the recoil pad I have ordered.
It makes a big hole in a cinder block.

My deer hunting load is 400gr @ 1500. Nice shooting, and leaves big holes in little critters, without destroying too much meat.

FYI (from experience): Hornady 350's driven near 2100 fps will destroy too much meat on deer, hogs, etc. I lost most of a side of ribs on a hog, and the bullet mushroomed to the base. Personally, I wouldn't drive the 350 Hornady over 1800 fps or so..

h335 or rel7 for this one, guys.. don't screw about with anything else, especialy with lighter bullets.

My SMLE action 458 WM toy...23" bbl, 9.7 lbs...still working on the balance and deciding what barrel length. Can shoot 45-70 and 45-90's in it also, but the belted case feeds much better than the rimmed cases.

Tried several bullets Horn 350, Speer and Rem 400, Horn, Sierra 300's, 430 gr Oregon Trails True Shot (excellent)...all work great at different velo's...several powders work great from RE7 to 4895...check the manuals and do your load work...I like the 400-430's from 1600 to 2200 depending. Can't get ahold of any 500's yet without a 2-6 mo wait so will struggle along with the others... YOU have to decide what you like.

This round is as bad as the 45-70, 223, 308 and 338 as far as personalities go...you can get bowed necks, backs up and stuck out chins without hardly trying.

Use 405 grain Remingtons intended for the 45-70 for low-cost plinking and messing around.

So, I fired a couple more shots. I shot at the poplar tree out back. First shot was one of the reduced velocity rounds, about like a .44mag in a rifle. The second was a bit more serious. 400gr at about 2100. I don't have any recoil pad on yet. And I have been working out again so my shoulders and chest are sore........anyway, it whopped me. I won't do that again until I get the pad installed. Then I'll work up.
When I looked at the tree there was shrapnel all over it. What happened? Did the bullet blow up in flight? It wasn't fast enough for that. Unless it hit something on the way. No way it hit one of the bars on the cattle panel. No way. Oops.

Frank, did you replace the magazine box with the one built for the 458?
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewp...productnumber=476779
I have not yet replaced mine, and it only works with two in the box, one in the chamber.

I have shot the 350 hornady's, 405 Remington's, and 400 Barnes Originals (for 45/70).

My cousin and I killed a buck and 2 does with the Barnes 400's. His buck ran 100 yards from a heart shot. My doe ran 150 yards after a double lung hit, huge blood trail. Doe #2 I hit through both shoulders, it dropped. Don't expect spectacular kills with your 458 on deer. My 270 killed faster.

quote:

Originally posted by bja105:
Don't expect spectacular kills with your 458 on deer. My 270 killed faster.

That's news to the rest of us who've used 45-70's for years and will drop game on the spot with good loads! The 458 WM can be loaded to mimic a 45-70.... so, a 458 with good loads will work as well as any 270 on deer! With good loads, that is, and placing a 300gr to 405gr at 1800 to 2100 fps in the boiler room! The Barnes may be too tough if driven below 2200 fps, especially on doe.

quote:

Originally posted by .458 Only:
The Barnes may be too tough if driven below 2200 fps, especially on doe.

The Barnes bullets I had were marked for 45-70, So I figured they would be soft enough. The blood trail was spectacular, just didn't drop her.

bja105,
Hmmmm, I don't know about the savage replacement mag.
Have you used it? This rifle was a 7mm win mag before I made it a 458 win mag.
Please tell me about this mag if you have experience with it.

The mags for the Sav LA for the 300 WM have the pressed in grooves on each side to hold the cartridges from whacking their points...they are at a different point than those for the 7mm RM...the box mag for the 458 DOESN'T HAVE THE PRESSED IN GROOVES...the sides are smooth...the 458 is a straight walled case.

You have to check the follower to see if it has a tapered raised section on the left side...it SHOULDN'T be tapered for the straight walled 458 case. You might have to contact Savage direct for the correct follower and maybe the mag also.

The pressed in grooves could cause the 458 WM cases to hang up.

At one time you could get a 375 H&H mag box but the receiver needs to be re-milled because the mag is longer and was made for the early 375 H&H and STW cartridges...won't work with a normal LA receiver.

The link will take you to Midway for a picture...Brownells also has some Savage parts. but the 458 mag is listed for the 112/116 receivers.

quote:

Originally posted by bja105:
Don't expect spectacular kills with your 458 on deer. My 270 killed faster.

shoot placement means everything. my experience is the opposite, as a .277 bullet basically can't EXPAND to .458, and a .458 bullet STARTS at .458

There are many reasons that a bullet kills and just as many or more why a bullet DOESN'T kill....the questions will never be answered.

The Barnes bullets are basically FMJ's with a small hole in the center...as are all the other "solid constructed bullets"...they will open up under certain circumstances and give spectacular kills...but they will just as readily give spectacular F.U.'s under other conditions.

I definitely wouldn't use a 400 gr/.458 cal solid unless I didn't have anything else handy, for a deer size animal without understanding the high probability of the bullet just punching a 45 cal hole through the animal, leaving a nice blood trail and would expect a bit of tracking...not withstanding all the ad hype...even though I hunt with the larger calibers and heavier bullets for the most part, I match the caliber and bullet construction to the animals construction. I want to eat right up to the hole and hi-velo small bullets just waste too much meat...they work great on varmints.

I also suggest the Barnes bullet did it's job...it killed the animal but not spectacularly...and there are a lot less "bang/flops" that all the "smoke and mirrors" on the net suggest.

I can guarantee a "bang/flop" if you hit something in the CNS...brain, spinal cord, and "usually" an anchoring shot if it hits a the shoulder bones...but not a heart or lung shot...both basically just blow through thin tissue, and produce/leave plenty of adrenaline for the animal to work off.

I would offer a "war story"...way back in the day the FBI agents were using a hollow pointed bullet with a very large hole...One day two got into it with a large, mean biker covered with leather...they blugged him with several shots...center mass...the shots finally killed him, but initially all they did was piss him off and he killed the two agents and messed up a few more with a Ruger Mini-14...the FBI bullets had been and found to be excellent as far as expansion etc...but no one bothered to test the bullets in anything resembling actual conditions...the large nose just filled with leather and acted like a solid...the shots just punched right through the lungs. The ammo used by the FBI has been redesigned, lowered in velocity and the bullet construction issue addressed. There is no 100% kill ratio ammo but some reach into the hi 90's.

The object lesson to me was be careful with whow or what you stake your hide on and don't believe the BS...do your own testing and DON'T believe that for 100%...a few tests don't really cover all the bases.

The Barnes bullets and most others of cup and core construction do a great job if you stick them in the right spot, and match the bullet to the animal...but if you don't, expect a bit of humping.

Anyone using hard cast lead bullets in the 45-70 or 458 can give you all kinds of stories...those bullets are also basically solids...they DON'T upset very much but still make a 45 cal hole going in and out.

Many hunters don't understand the dymanics behind the different bullet construction types, don't want to be bothered with learning and depend on stories and ad hype or price to determine what they buy...it is amazing to me that with all the "by guess and by golly" that most hunters are successful...most of the time...that says quite a bit about todays bullets.

Luck on your quests.

Scroll down to Sharpshooter's picture of the different magazines.

http://savageshooters.com/Sava...p/topic,12984.0.html