I Used cast bullets for too many years to count in handguns. Most of my PH "co-workers" in South Africa use cast bullets in their 458's and 500 Jefferys.

I have a couple boxes or new design bullets coming from Beartooth bullets in Idaho, and I also looked at the bullets from cast performance in Wyoming. Any experience with lead fouling from a full power load using cast bullets in a 458 or 458 Lott? If they are all you ever shoot will they typically foul the barrel real bad?

Typical of South African PH's, the normal lead fouling or cleaning process is One borrowed jacketed round for every couple weeks of shooting cast bullets, Roughly speaking! Could be they only do it when ever they bump into a guy with jacketed bullets in the same caliber!

Just curious on your gas checked cast bullet experience with full power loads.

Jim,

In my 416 Rem I could shoot the 375 gr Beartooth bullets to about 2450 fps before I ran into lead fouling.

I suspect that if you load to 2100 - 2200 fps in the 458 you will never see any leading from the BearTooth bullets. He uses LBT Blue lube and hard bullets (BHN21).

You will get a smooth grey "fog" or uniform film after the first round. Many who shoot hard cast lead never clean -- or need to.

Don

Don, thanks for your reply, I respect your opinion and fully intend to stay in the 2100-2200 fps area. I am going to be testing some new bullet designs for Marshall in the next month with my 458 Lott. They are not shown on his web page right now(yet) He is anxious to see how they work and I am anxious to try them. I'm glad I can shoot less expensive bullets and you know I have plenty of Brass now. I even have actual 458 Lott dies as well! Hope I get a chance to poke a few animals with this rifle during my up coming Season.

I have a cast bullet selection ranging from 420 grains, 440 grains 460 grains and 500 grains now for the Lott. Plenty to shoot and figure out in the next few months!

Don, thanks for your reply, I respect your opinion and fully intend to stay in the 2100-2200 fps area. I am going to be testing some new bullet designs for Marshall in the next month with my 458 Lott. They are not shown on his web page right now(yet) He is anxious to see how they work and I am anxious to try them. I'm glad I can shoot less expensive bullets and you know I have plenty of Brass now. I even have actual 458 Lott dies as well! Hope I get a chance to poke a few animals with this rifle during my up coming Season.

I have a cast bullet selection ranging from 420 grains, 440 grains 460 grains and 500 grains now for the Lott. Plenty to shoot and figure out in the next few months! Thanks again Don. jj

Howdy Jim. I have never shot cast bullets from a Lott, but do have about 25 years of experience playing with cast bullets in rifles in the 2000-2700 fps range with the .30-30 and .308 Win. Also played a good bit with a .444 Marlin at around 2200 fps. And like you I�ve fired literally thousands of full power gas check bullets from .44, .357 and .41 Magnum revolvers. Although the rifle velocities are similar, of these only the .308 at 2700 fps would be in the same pressure range as your Lott with full power loads.

The bottom line of my experience is that a hard cast bullet of BHN 18-22 or better with a gas check and decent lube will NOT lead the barrel at all. Those gas checks are great for preventing leading. The other main consideration to watch for would be the size as an undersize bullet WILL give some leading even at lower velocities. Like a pistol, cast bullets about .001� over bore diameter seal well and do not lead.

Wish I had more scientific data to back this up, but it is my feeling that pressure has as much or more to do with leading as actual velocity. Pressure = temperature (simplified), and temperature is what melts the lead, so keep the pressures down and you can drive the bullets far more than 2200 fps with no trouble. Use slightly slower powders than you might for jacketed bullets, this will help keep the pressures down.

So, I�m guessing that with your Lott firing the lighter 420 grain bullets in the 2100-2200 fps range the pressure should be down around 45,000 psi or so which is lever action country, pressure wise. Piece of cake for a gas check cast bullet. Even the 500�s at full speed should be fine if you do not let your barrel get hot.

P.S. Re-reading this it looks like a lecture on reloading, did not mean to do that as you are already experienced at this. You just hit upon an area of this hobby that I pursued for quite some time so I tend to be bit long winded on it.

[This message has been edited by Jim in Idaho (edited 01-29-2002).]

Thanks guys, Jim your info is what I was hoping for so now I just need to get this going. I will not likley ever shoot this rifle over 2400fps and probably leave it around 2200 with 400-500 grain bullets.

Sure I'll have the 2300fps 500 grain bullets for the serious stuff, but for the majority of hunting I'll likely use the Cast bullets.

You know Swift makes .458 450 grain Aframes now!!