Any great accuracy combinations out there for 300gr.JHPs in the .458? Any good light bullet (300-330gr) cast loads? Thanks.

I have never been able to get better than 3-4" groups with 300 grain bullets in the .458. Accuracy was OK with 350 grain bullets, and very good with 400 grain and 500 grain. I would use the Rem 405 grain FN bullet for varmints because it is soft and will open dramatically when you push it at 2300 fps insted of the 1300 fps that it was designed for.

That elusive tight shooting combination with the lighter, lower recoiling 300gr is the goal. I too have had very good luck with the 400/405gr. shooting well but it does so at a much greater price on the shoulder as I'm sure you are aware. I am hoping that someone has hit on something that might show promise. Maybe this cartridge, chamber, throat, pitch, doesn't play well with the lighter slugs. Thanks.

I've not tried the 300's either, but the old Rem 405gr is very accurate out of my M77 .458 Win with the following combo. You did mention recoil, and I know that's hard to judge between one individual and the next, but to me this load is pleasant to shoot and also shoots to nearly the same point of aim as my 500gr Hornady RN at 2100fps.

.458 Win Mag light load...
405gr Rem JFP, 67.0gr IMR-4064, CCI200, W-W case

This load gives 1915 fps in both my 24" M77 and my #1. Still plenty of whallop for any deer/black bear/hogs, yet easy on the shoulder for year-round plinking.

458RugerNo.1: I had found loads with that bullet and the Speer 400 using 3031 that produced groups around 1-1.5" in my No.1. Unfortunatly three M77s in 458 were so dismal in grouping ability that they had to go. I'm glad someone found one or some that would shoot. I was about ready to taint the whole lot. After almost 20 years I gave up that No.1 a Christmas ago to a close pal who is now also thrilled with it's target potential. I just picked up an unfired Whitworth. In past years my buddies and I always refered to these as being more suitable as 45-70s. It is light! I have had wonderful results with the 300 Hornady in various 45-70s. Not so good in my 458s. I bet the long throats play hell with those short slugs. I'm looking forward to trying your load. Thanks.

What's the twist rate on the .458's v 45-70s? Not sure off-hand what it is, it may be that?

The .458 Win is perhaps my favorite rifle caliber. It's fun to shoot and load for and components are cheap and plentiful.

350 gr Speer works good, and I point the nose
so it is spitzer(takes about a minute), and zip them out of my 458HE.Shoot as flat as 150
in 300 Win.Ed.

I have had some luck with the Lyman 350gr cast bullet. The 300gr cast bullet shot pretty poorly. The difference is the as-cast diameter. The 350gr bullet comes out of the mould at .464, while the lighter bullet comes out at .459. .459 should be fine for the bore, but it is WAY too small for the gaping throat that most .458's are blessed (?) with.

I load the 350gr bullet as-cast and finger lubed. I have to bell the cases way beyond normal to get them to seat without shaving lead. The loaded round is almost too big to chamber, but if I put a hard roll crimp on the bullet, it will chamber without problems (reduces the case diameter at the tightest spot).

I load this bullet to less than 1600fps. Less than 1500 is better. There are several fast rifle/slow pistol powders that are suitable for this application (3031, 4198, 4895, 2400, 4227).

I have been able to get three touching shots at 50yds, and 100yd groups under 2".

YMMV

47-70 twist rate is 1 in 20. 458 is 1 in 14 or 1 in 16. I can't get the lighter pills to fly straight out of my .458 win either. 400 gr and up do just fine. Might be the twist rate.

I bet that long throat will deserve some blame somewhere along the line.

billhilly,

Yep I just looked and you're right... that faster twist rate in the .458 may not favor those stubby lightweights as much... The 45-70 is 1:20" and the .458 is 1:14" - that may be just enough to begin giving trouble with accuracy.

Any comments from others who've tried 300's in 1:14" .458 Wins?

light bullets require less twist...


i've had great luck with 405s in 458 and 45/70 and 450 alaskan...

it's the ballistic tip of the bigbores!!

let it TOUCH hair at 2300 and it blows up

hell, at 1800, it's still on the top edge of the designed impact

jeffe

I have had some luck with 300gr Hornady with 70gr 0f IMR 3031. I have not got a chance to shoot anything with them but they can be shot of the bench with out beating your self up. I have an Enfield P14 with a 26" Douglas Barrel on it.

I have been getting good accuraccy with my 458 Lott and 300gn Barnes X spitzers. I was getting around 2800 fps and 1-2" groups at 100yds with a 2.5X scope. The only problem was that it hits about 12" higher at 100yds than the normal 500gn load and 10" higher than the 400gn bullets. This is with my gun anyway. I will continue to use the 300s for general hunting but will leave the open sights set for 500gn loads.