i was loading up some 458lott loads last night using 84.5 grains of RL15 and barnes 500gr SS. looked liked the powder would be slightly compressed. Is this correct? i saw where some go up as high as 87 gr of RL15. My scale seams to be weight correctly with know weights.
dean

Yes, you will be compressed using RL 15. I went up to 87 gr with a 500 gr hornady soft, no idea what proper loads will be with the Barnes. My personal take on working up loads in the lott is to start with max 458 win mag loads, and work up from there. There are alot of differences in Lott chambers, so be careful using others data. The Lott I worked up loads in had a very long throat, so my loads might be too hot for a tighter chamber/less throat.

The only powder I liked in the Lott was IMR-4320..You can get 2350 FPS with it in a short barrel....

I couldn't get another powder to do that within pressure limits...start with 80 grains and work up to ??? I had one rifle at 85 but most are max at 84 it seems...David Miller used 84 and so did G. Sitton as I recall..Jack Lott used IMR-4320 and 85 grs I have been told......I even know of one rifle that used a good deal more than 85, I shot it a bit and just couldn't get used to the idea, though all seemed fine and cases lasted 5 loadings, so I cut back to 85 with it and it was a velocity race horse with its 26 inch barrel...

In the end, you'll find a faster powder is best with longish monolithics, such as the Barnes SS. Such bullets negate much, if not most, of the extra .300" of powder space provided by the Lott.

thanks I had a lb of rl15 given to me I wanted to use it up and a 85gr a drop I thought it would be gone fast. Has anyone used 2230 in the lott?
Dean

I have used it but with the Barnes 450 grainers.
It shot very tight but velocity dropped off quite suddenly, as it did with a dozen other powders. If you wish to use the Barnes or other mono's, I suggest giving RL-7 a chance.

I second the RL-7 with Barnes bullets, it's the best recommendation I have had to date with my rifle( thanks Nick). I have been using it with the 450 X bullet and have had great results for several years now. I'm still waiting to recover the first bullet all have exited from every animal. Start around 68 grains, I'm able to use more then that but you will have to be the judge with your gun. With my load I get 2300 fps with the 450 X bullet and it is one hella powerful tool! With the performance I have seen so far on every animal shot I don't feel the need, or desire to increase the power at all. My Lott has a 22" Pacnor barrel. Those big X bullets are amazing penetrators. When they open up they sure tear things apart! I have had many exit holes approaching 2" with loose flaps of skin hanging over the exit wounds!

Jim,

Your qoute reminds me of an even better quote, if you didn't have time to do things right the first time, where do you think you'll find time to fix your screwup?

RL15 is definately too slow for the 450 gr X in the Lott, I was only able to get 2200 fps with a heavily compressed charge. The 450 X is a loooong bullet, compared to the hornady 500 gr, the 450 X turns the lott case into a 458 win mag, it is that much longer.

RL7 is also outstanding for 350 gr practice loads, 76-80 gr under a speer or hornady produced 2400-2500 fps, and recoil on par with a 375 H&H.

fortunately RL-7 is fast enough that you don't need much! It's an easy fit to get 70 grains or a bit more into the case, not compressed at all with airspace remaining!

ok I want to use barnes 500 grain super solids. I have RL7 can I get enough in for a decent load? How much should I start with?
Dean

anyone got a suggestion on what to start with rl7 and 500gr super solids?
thanks Dean

Tonto,
I am using 63gr of rl7, in 458 win... that's the starting load... start there, load 5, and go up a grain....

jeffe

jeffe, what velocities are you getting with RL-7 in the Winchester?

[ 08-19-2003, 22:44: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

Nick,
I dunno... just started shooting it 2 weeks ago or os.. and I know, isually chrono everything.. but just having fun with it... book say 385 at about 2200-2250, if i recall

I loaded up a few 458 lotts I used 70 grains of rl-7 and 500 grain barnes SS.
#1 2230fps
#2 2220fps
#3 2218fps
This was out of a ruger # 1
They grouped just about an inch at 60 yards with open sights.
It didnt look like the powder was compressed and i didnt see any signs of OP. Shells popped right out. Think I should add another grain?
Dean

Best results with IMR 4320 in 458lott. velocity as high as 2350, but I backed my loads off to 2150fps., for a 500gr., 2000 for a 600gr. bullet. The old British loads were similar to these, and killed thousands of head of game.