The Accurate Reloading Forums
Best 458 win big game bullet for N.A
09 November 2005, 20:52
416 taylorBest 458 win big game bullet for N.A
Those of you that hunt moose and grizz with the 458 win which bullet have you had the most seccess was the performance what uyou expected?
I like the 40gr x,but am curious how the 350gr speer would hold up to about 2500fps
thanks
09 November 2005, 21:16
500grainsI have used the 400 grain Woodleigh PP out of a 458 Lott and it worked great. The 350 Speer is a 45-70 bullet and would work great on rabbits and coyotes, but would not be my choice for grizz as it may turn inside out within a few inches of hitting the animal.
09 November 2005, 21:59
458WinThe 400 X was my favorite until they dropped it. I have personally not used the 350 but believe, both from my testing and talking to those who have, that it should work very well also.
The 400gr Swift and 400gr Kodiak are my current favorites at that weight and for serious use the new 500gr Hornady Interbond.
Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship
Phil Shoemaker
Alaska Master guide
FAA Master pilot
NRA Benefactor
www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com 09 November 2005, 23:04
Don In ColoradoI have had outstanding success with 400 grain Woodleigh Protected Point bullets loaded to a chronographed velocity of 2,240 feet per second in a 458 Winchester Magnum. It provides excellent expansion at this velocity, good penetration, and is very accurate. The lighter bullet weight also helps "minimize" recoil.
Best of all he loved the Fall....
E. Hemingway
10 November 2005, 16:24
MAKOPPAI have used a 450gr Barness X with excellent results in my .458 Express (.458 3") with great success. On my BRNO ZKK602 the recoil is nothing to flinch about at 2250 f/s. Accuracy is superb with almost 100% bullet retention as can be expected from B"X". I am comfortable to take on Cape buff with this combination and suggest that it should be equally addequate for anything that N.A can come up with.
Addicted to Recoil.
11 November 2005, 23:09
.366torque416 have you tried North Fork 350 or 400 grainers ?
11 November 2005, 23:23
Paul HA friend has taken several moose with the 350 speer driven 2500 from his 458 win mag, and has been very pleased with the results. I was pretty impressed with what it did to a 1" thick steel plate when launced 2500 fps from my 458 Lott, left a crater the dia of a shotgun slug 5/8" deep, not that steel is a good testing medium, but interesting none the less. It wouldn't be my bullet of choice for quartering or heavy bone shots in the big bears, but for everything else, I'd have utter confidence it would do the trick.
As far as absolute best bullet, I'd look at the 400 gr North Fork.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
11 November 2005, 23:59
boom stick
as far as the best, what paul h said...
designed for the 458 win mag
here is a quote from his web page in this bullet.
The main use for this bullet is Alaska. It can comfortably reach 2400 to 2500fps from a 458 Winchester Magnum, depending on barrel length. That combination will smite, with finality, any and all beasts found within that state. Moose and big bear of any size will have met their match. It would also be suitable for much of Africa but, due to the sectional density, I would leave the Cape buffalos to the 458-450 grain bullet.
good luck and let us know what you use...
12 November 2005, 00:02
boom stickquote:
The 350 Speer is a 45-70 bullet and would work great on rabbits and coyotes
now now grains

that is cartridge baiting...that in the 45-70 has been used on bears fine but i dont want to go there

12 November 2005, 01:53
DanEPWoodleigh 400gr PP weldcores are rated at .458 win velocities.
Barnes Originals pointed 400gr bullets are also rated at the same velocity range (according to a reply to an e-mail enquiry to Barnes) as the weldcores, professing decent weight retention, but might have a little more expansion.
But aren't all animals in NA coyote size -- compared to Loxodontus?
Dan
12 November 2005, 20:40
BiggestGunA 350 Barnes X at 2600fps goes end to end through 350 lb hogs so should do fine on moose or Griz.
Marshall Jones
13 November 2005, 06:42
Paul HA big moose can run well over 1200#, a big bear starts at 700# and tops well over a 1000#, they are not the same as a 350# pig. That said, a 350 gr X is a fine bullet, but 2600 fps is way too hot for a 458 win mag.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
13 November 2005, 23:10
MartinPottsquote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
quote:
The 350 Speer is a 45-70 bullet and would work great on rabbits and coyotes
now now grains

that is cartridge baiting...that in the 45-70 has been used on bears fine but i dont want to go there
LOL
01 December 2005, 03:42
BiggestGunquote:
Originally posted by Paul H:
A big moose can run well over 1200#, a big bear starts at 700# and tops well over a 1000#, they are not the same as a 350# pig. That said, a 350 gr X is a fine bullet, but 2600 fps is way too hot for a 458 win mag.
2600 is mild for the 458 lott. I would be surprised if the 350 gr bullet didn't exit on a broadside shot on any north american animal. A 350lb hog end to end is as long as anything broadside. Personally I would still take a little heavier bullet but would stay with the "X"- my favorites. It probably doesn't mater what bullet you shoot in a 458 anyways, they aren't too finicky. Standard bullets pushed too fast are the exception. Hard lead penetrates great too. Good shoot'n
Marshall Jones
01 December 2005, 04:02
jeffeossoquote:
Originally posted by BiggestGun:
I would be surprised if the 350 gr bullet didn't exit on a broadside shot on any north american animal. A 350lb hog end to end is as long as anything broadside.
on the other hand, I have experience in the arena, and broadside shots are probably less than 20% of shots taken HUNTING (outside of a stand). Want a most impressive example... click on my website, and STC 2004... there's a 750gr woodleigh .585 launched at 2350fps, hit eland shoulder at ~65 yards.. and DID NOT EXIT BROADSIDE
350 barnes, hornady, or even a brass rod, are great hog bullets...
400gr barnes X bullets begin to be serious..
450gr tripleshocks are just about perfect....
But, for north american game that you can 100% of the time take with a 350gr bullet, there is no other choice but the rem 405 for pigs and down.
cheap
heavy enough
accurate
need a heavier bullet, but not hunting THICKSKINNED game... hornady 510 SP...
need something a tad more for dangerous...
450 triple shock...
all in all, most 45's are loaded with 405 rems.. which means you get alot of trigger time.
Paul,
2600 with a 350 in a 458, 26" barrel, is actually a fair load
jeffe
01 December 2005, 04:04
tiggertateThe new Hornady Interbond 500 gr bullets should be a good match for moose and bear. The Interlocks were a bit soft and frangible but the bonded core should help.
"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.
01 December 2005, 04:05
500grains http://www.northforkbullets.com01 December 2005, 04:52
Paul HThe beauty of the 458 win mag for NA game is, you really don't have to be too picky on what bullet you use, as it'll do the job with an appropriately constructed 350 @ 2500, a 400 @ 2300 or a 500 @ 2100.
Bullet choice always is a compromise, sometimes you want more penetration, sometimes you want the bullet to upset more. That said, a 400 gr X or Northfork will give you enough penetration and enough upset, you just gotta place it right.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
01 December 2005, 06:32
jackfishquote:
The 350 Speer is a 45-70 bullet and would work great on rabbits and coyotes, but would not be my choice for grizz as it may turn inside out within a few inches of hitting the animal.
This statement shows no understanding of the .458" 350 grain Speer bullet. This bullet was not intended for the 45-70, but was designed for the 458 Win Mag. Driven 2500 fps in the 458 Win Mag, the 350 grain Speer is entirely adequate for Grizzly Bear. For Brown Bear I'd probably look to a 405 grain Kodiak Bonded, or 400 grain X, Woodleigh or Northfork.
From Speer supplemental reloading data for the 450 Marlin:
The Speer 350 grain 45 caliber bullet is profiled for the 458 Winchester Magnum and will not feed properly in lever-action 450s and 45-70s. Of course the Speer 350 grain can be used in the 45-70, but it must have an impact velocity of at least 1600-1700 fps for reliable expansion.
You learn something new everyday whether you want to or not.
01 December 2005, 08:24
browningguyI like the 500 gr. Speer SP, they run about 2100 out of my 24" barrel and will take all the fight out of a Texas Chupacabra.

Browningguy
Houston, TX
We Band of 45-70ers
01 December 2005, 16:36
RangerBobA question for those who've tried it:
How fast can you drive the 405gr Remington bullet and still get acceptable bullet performance on deer? Elk? Moose?
I've shot them at close to 2400fps, but they seemed like a varment bullet at that velocity. But, I have never shot them into any game.
I'm wondering about bullet construction. I assume that you could drive them faster if you were deer hunting since the game is lighter.
How fast is OK for deer? Elk? Moose?
Thanks for any experience.
01 December 2005, 19:06
surestrikequote:
Originally posted by browningguy:
I like the 500 gr. Speer SP, they run about 2100 out of my 24" barrel and will take all the fight out of a Texas Chupacabra.
I am quite fond of the 450gr X in my .458 Lott. It should be fairly useable in a .458 Win as well.
Browning guy,
When you refer to "Texas" Chupacabra are you refering to a common southern chupa or a greater northern high plains chupacabra?
There is quite a bit of difference in bone structure and hide thickness you know.

01 December 2005, 21:19
kutenayI wonder exactly how many of the posters on this issue have any personal experience dealing with Moose and especially Grizzlies? I have seen VERY large bull Moose killed with a .308 Win., a .270 Win. and .30-06 rifles and they are not a difficult animal to kill with a lung shot, many are cleanly taken with .30-.30s.
Grizzlies are quite easy to tip over, fairly difficult to kill and ALWAYS dangerous. The last one I was involved with was killed with a single 180 NP from a .300 Win., a single shot raking through the lungs did the trick. I can see why a professional guide would use a .458, but, why would anyone want to pack such a beast when a lighter rifle will do just fine. I prefer a .338 in Grizzly country, but, I used a .30-06 for years, working in some of the most wild and Grizzly "rich" parts of B.C. and it was just fine.
I honestly cannot conceive of any reason to tote around an elephant rifle in North America unless you are a working guide, but, each to his own. For what it's worth, my hot .45-70 bear loads use Swift 400s over 54-H-322 and I would pick a 450 SAF, if I had a .458 I just had to use.
01 December 2005, 22:49
Paul HKute,
There are folks that go the store to get a gallon of milk, and they drive a 1 ton dually powered by a turbo diesel

__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
01 December 2005, 23:02
retreeverSpeaking with experience a X bullet will do anything you ask it to do..even a head shot up close...Front to back back to front and lots of tearing and ripping equal massive destruction..
Mike
03 December 2005, 11:29
GSquote:
Originally posted by kutenay:
I wonder exactly how many of the posters on this issue have any personal experience dealing with Moose and especially Grizzlies? I have seen VERY large bull Moose killed with a .308 Win., a .270 Win. and .30-06 rifles and they are not a difficult animal to kill with a lung shot, many are cleanly taken with .30-.30s.
Grizzlies are quite easy to tip over, fairly difficult to kill and ALWAYS dangerous. The last one I was involved with was killed with a single 180 NP from a .300 Win., a single shot raking through the lungs did the trick. I can see why a professional guide would use a .458, but, why would anyone want to pack such a beast when a lighter rifle will do just fine. I prefer a .338 in Grizzly country, but, I used a .30-06 for years, working in some of the most wild and Grizzly "rich" parts of B.C. and it was just fine.
I honestly cannot conceive of any reason to tote around an elephant rifle in North America unless you are a working guide, but, each to his own. For what it's worth, my hot .45-70 bear loads use Swift 400s over 54-H-322 and I would pick a 450 SAF, if I had a .458 I just had to use.
How many times were you charged, and how many bears did you shoot?
"Once you've been among them, you are never over gunned."
458= short cartridge, lighter action.
GS