I am trying to develop a .458 Win Mag load for the 550 grain Woodleighs. Before everyone jumps on the notion that the 550's will take up too much case capacity, the crimp groove on the 550's is in exactly the same place as the crimp groove on the 480's. The difference in weight is made up by making the portion of the bullet above the crimp groove longer. Bottom line, the 550's take up no more case capacity than the 480's and still have an OAL that is acceptable.

I used the 480's this year in Zim for elephant, leopard, zebra, bushbuck and hyena with good results. The load was 66 grains of RL-7 behind the Woodleigh 480 with a Federal 215M primer. Velocity was right at 2200 fps. I want to step up to the 550's for more uumph on elephant. Okay, so what's my question? I am trying to figure out how much I should reduce the RL-7 load to reflect the heavier bullet and achieve a velocity around 2050 to 2100 fps with the 550's. Any idea, 62 grains of RL-7, 63 grains? I know that I can start way low and build up, but would like to try and start in the same zip code of where I would like to end up, i.e., 2100 fps.

Thanks.

Mike,
I don't believe you'll ever get 2100 fps using R-7 and the 550 grain bullet. I've used 64 grains of R-7 with 500 g bullets and the best I could do was 2040 fps with a 21 inch barrel, of course keeping pressures safe. You might have to look at a different powder. With the R-7 I would start with 61 grains and work up, give it a try.

I am using a CZ with a longer barrel, so that may give me a little help over a 21" barrel. The 480's with 66 grains are easily getting right at 2200 fps, which is why I was encouraged that I might be able to get velocity with the 550's.

Mike

If I thought I needed more "performance" on elephants in a 458 than 480 Woodleigh's, I would go with the 450gr North Fork Solids.

I have shot elephants with both in my 450 No2, no problems with the 480 Woodleighs, but the 450 North Flat Points do give a lot more penetration.

Mine were going @2200fps.

JPK has also had excellent results with them in his 458 double.

NE 450 No2,

The North Forks are great -- when they feed. The problem I have experienced with them is that it is tough to get some bolt actions to feed the flat nose bullets like the North Forks. In a double, you are right, they are wonderful. In a bolt though it is tough to beat a nice round nose solid for easy and reliable feeding.

.......The Barnes # 3 manuel shows 60 gr RL 7 as being MAXIMUM with their 500 gr X bullet ans Super Solid..They show 2208 as the max velocity with it ..The starting load for RL7 is 55 grains ...If I were working up the load that is the data I would work from ...Starting with 55 grains would give you a cusion .. loading 2 rounds each grain weight from 55-61 would give you a good bit of data to work from .....As a cross refrence They list 56 gr H4198 as a max load with the 600 gr Orig. bullet.... With the 500 gr X they show 62 gr of the H4198 powder for the max load ....,., I,ve loaded quite a bit of 458 ammo and I have learned for myself to start with starting loads ... -------Have you tried the Sledge Hammer Solids ., They feed very well in my 458 Win mags ...Almost NO win mag ammo feeds well in my CZ Lott .,,.But Lott ammo feeds well execpt with seriously flat nosed bullets ..,.,.,