Here is some RL-15 data:

Oehler 35, 2 screens
25" CZ barrel, 14" twist, .458 Lott
90 degrees F
3-shot average vel.
3-shot 100 yard group size
Hornady brass
F-215 primer (GM215M is interchangeable)
all 500 grain weight bullets

80.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady RNSP
2105 fps, ES = 12 FPS, Sd = 6 fps, 1-3/8" group

Hornady steel FMJ
2171 fps, 12fps, 6fps, 1"

Swift A-Frame
2146 fps, 27fps, 14fps, 1/2"

Barnes X
2159 fps, 15fps, 10fps, 1-3/4"


81.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady FMJ
2184 fps, 17fps, 8fps, 1"

82.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady FMJ
2192 fps, 18fps, 8fps, 1-1/4"

83.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady FMJ
2230 fps, 13fps, 6fps, 1-1/4"

84.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady FMJ
2239 fps, 12fps, 5fps, 1" (Matches velocity of Hornady factory "Brass Encapsulated Solid" load--preferred solid load charge)

Hornady RNSP
2224 fps, 15fps, 6fps, 1-1/2"

85.0 grains RL-15
*****************
Hornady RNSP
2245 fps, 11fps, 5fps, 3/4" (Shoots to same POI as above preferred solid load)


These are small size samples! Rough data. Don't try to make sense of it without remembering the small sample size. P values weak. A place to hang the hat.

Of course, I don't use round nosed FMJ solids anymore , but this ought to be good for 500 grain Woodleighs too, or about any good 450 to 500 grain TSX, GSC, North Fork, Bridger, etc., soft or solid. Just start about 80 grains of RL-15 and work up as usual.

RIP,

Thanks for the info...

It's nice that the two Hornady 500gr bullets both shoot to same POI... Always a delight when possible. Was the Hornady RN the new Interbond or the old Interlock? I've noticed I get about 20fps greater velocity with the newer bullet compared to the former version.

Is the 85.0gr RL15 a max or near-max load or did you stop with "best performance" in mind?

458RugerNo1,
These were all the old version of the Hornady bullets in my handloads.

I stopped when I got close to the velocity for the Hornady factory load .458 Lott with Brass encapsulated lead core "solid." There were no pressure signs or problems with my handloads in this rifle.

I did fire 5 rounds each of the Hornady factory soft and solid to get an idea of what Hornady thought was a max safe load. They claim a velocity of 2300 fps on the box for both the soft and solid, and they might get it in their test barrel.

Here is what I got on an 86 degree F day in 2002:

Brass encapsulated solid, 500 grains, .458 Lott:
2244 fps ave
ES = 19 fps
Sd = 9 fps

InterLock RNSP 500 grainer:
2198 fps ave
ES = 26 fps
Sd = 9 fps

No groups just chronographing.
Very good for factory loads, but it seems they just used the same powder charge with both bullets.

This is old hat, but it is good to have a handload that is close to a readily available factory load in a rifle like the .458 Lott. Same sight setting always, would be the goal to aim for.

Your mileage may vary.

I went with G. Suttons article and the recommendations of David Miller and Curt Crum, backed up by D'Arcy Echols if I recall a converstation we had sometime back..The shoot 84 grs. of IMR-4320 for 2350 FPS...In my 26" barrel I got a bit more and I went up about 3 grs. to that guns max, then back to 84 grs. and stayed there, recoil is bad enough at 2350 FPS as far as I'm concerned...Good load, great gun if you can handle the kick.

Well,
Here we go again ...
83.0 grains of IMR 4320 with the Hornady 500 grain FMJ, same gun, 90 degree F day, 3 shots,
gave:

2211 fps ave
ES = 14 fps
Sd = 6 fps
group = 3/4"

This is an excellent load.
However it is no faster than RL-15, for me, and may be more temperature sensitive.

Remember, Your mileage may vary, powder lots vary, guns vary: loose or tight, short or long?

BTW, that Gary Sitton article claimed, with IMR-4320 charge of 83.0 grains, using Barnes RNSP 500 grainer (Original): 2321 fps, comment: "very accurate" This was the only IMR-4320 load in his table of loads.

He showed RL-15 84.0 grains with same bullet giving 2261 fps, comment: "normal"

Your mileage may vary. IMR-4320 is faster burning than RL-15, in fact it was supposed to be right next to RL-12, when you could get RL-12.

RIP,

Thanks for the information. I'm getting a big, honking binder of Lott stuff accumulated.

Thanks

Minkman

Folders? Me too.
So many variables, in gun and powder and brass and bullet and primer ... and chronographs and temperatures ...

Ross Seyfried had a little piece on the .458 Lott that hinted at high pressures around 2200 fps with 500 grain loads ... he made me think it had something to do with the barrel of the pressure gun being used ... he never finished the story ... got canned.

Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised with load results, but more often I find the manual stuff is over-optimistic ... and sometimes the manual data is very underwhelming ... and internal ballistic programs are cooked to be so safe as to be useless ... unless there are a few good applications approximating reality that I haven't found yet.

The stuff on Saeed's Reload pages is about as good as it gets, for many cartridges, but pretty limited for the .458 Lott. Check out the .458 Lott there.

Here's a couple more: Fed.215 primers, Hornady brass, 24" barrel.

510gr Rem. SP, 82.5gr IMR-4320, 2175fps

500gr Horn. SP, 80.0gr IMR-4320, 2103fps

405gr Rem. SP, 68.0gr IMR-4895, 2112fps

350gr Horn. RN, 76.0gr Re-7, 2480fps


Hog Killer

Hog Killer,
Thanks for that. YOUR IMR-4320 seems more like MY IMR-4320.

RIP,

Some how I do not think that adding another 1.5gr of IMR4320 will get me to the magic 2300fps. However, next time, I will load and chronograph the 84.0gr/500gr load.

Hog Killer

Update: 84.0gr IMR-4320, Hornady brass, Fed.215, 3.60" OAL

510gr Remington SP 2230 fps

500gr Hornady Interbond SP 2245 fps

500gr Hornady New FMJ 2269 fps
(compressed load)

Hog Killer

Hog Killer,
Some more excellent data.
I'd use it if I didn't like RL-15 so much.

Rip,

I use what's on hand. If I get a good deal on Re-15 next time I buy powder I will get some. As you say there is lots of good loads with it too.


Hog Killer

Here's proof once again that there is...

"Better living through Handloading"

Thanks

Minkman