Hi guys, Long time no chat...
I finally got the rifle I wanted when I first found out about rifles: a Weatherby. (nomex on) Anyway, at least I got the right one. A left-handed 460 WM. I'm used to seeing notice that a load in compressed in the manual and these were significantly compressed. I checked multiple sources and measured and remeasured and still the charge (not a max load by any means) is about 3/8" from the mouth of the cartridge.
Is this normal / expected?

Slower powders are probably a compressed load. I normally try and stay below 110%

Don't know what you want to use but powders like 4895, RL15 Rl17 etc shouldn't be a compressed load

The 4350 of the world are around 100-102%.

Do you like recoil ? I know there are a lot of guys here that are into excessive recoil. I'm not.
What bullet / velocity goal do you have ?

Seems like the 460 W would be an awesome round with a 500 gr bullet at 2400 fps MV.
Should be not too bad to shoot at that velocity.

Honestly this is going to be my first Safe Queen. Shoot 25 and then on the wall. So I loaded up 25 rounds in a variety of loads. I reload everything from .223 to 458 Lott and I've never more than kissed the powder with the bottom of the bullet. This was serious compression.

quote:

Originally posted by Collins:
Honestly this is going to be my first Safe Queen. Shoot 25 and then on the wall. So I loaded up 25 rounds in a variety of loads. I reload everything from .223 to 458 Lott and I've never more than kissed the powder with the bottom of the bullet. This was serious compression.

Compressed loads are not dangerous, it is a widely held myth.
The ONLY cause for concern with HEAVILY compressed loads is the fact that the compression can cause bullets to back out over time. If you load above around 115%, then this MAY be a problem if you load, then store the rounds for some time.
I load a 300WM for 1000yrd comp, the load is HEAVILY COMPRESSED, I load them long the night before, then seat them to nominal just before I shoot the match. The ones left over from the match have been known to back out as much as .030" or more just from sitting a day or so. These get pulled, necks re-tensioned and seated long again ready for the next match. There are 2 reasons these back out so much; 1) The neck tension on these is considered light, .0015" resistance. 2) The powder is pre-settled prior to bullets being seated, so the compression is much tighter than with loosely poured powder, essentially, there is little air space between kernels.
Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Yes it helps!
Many thanks...

I think nothing of 105% loads, easy compression.
I don't like going higher than that routinely due to the bother.

115 grains of H4350 is about a 100% load, volumetrically with just about any 500-grain bullet of your choice.
It is a moderate pressure and velocity load, and very accurate in the two 460 Wby rifles I have owned and shot.
Gives about 2500 fps.
Great load.

I've tried a number of powders in my 460 Weatherby and in most couldn't get enough powder in the case with 500 grain bullets. Vv 160 seems to be working well barely compressed.

You might use a longer drop tube and not get such a compressed load.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:

115 grains of H4350 is about a 100% load, volumetrically with just about any 500-grain bullet of your choice.

It is a moderate pressure and velocity load, and very accurate in the two 460 Wby rifles I have owned and shot.
Gives about 2500 fps.
Great load.

In 460s I have owned or been involved with that is the load. 115 grains of 760 also good.

On the reduced load end 85 grains of 4064 and 500 grain Hornady and shoots an inch and right on 2000 f/s. That 85 grain load is almost 20 grains under a max load of 4064, that is, 104 grains.

You might try similar weights of Reloder 17. It is dense and gives better velocities for me in the Rigby-sized cases.

I found this with h4350 h4831sc, aka aussie adi 2209 2213sc, compressed loads no problems, i have since chaged to reloader powders and have no compressed loads, even when using 450 gr mono pills,ACP, reloader 17 is great and reloader 15 for the lite weight pills. Burns clean, gives good velocity and meters easier through my powder chucker.
Presently using 550 gr woodleighs and 500 gr hornady rnsp for plinking rounds, using 450 gr aussie copper projectiles ACP, for hunting. I guess when i am out of reloader powders can resort back to adi powder. With rl17 i push the 550 gr @2440 fps at low pressure, shoots great.
Enjoy your 460wby, they are a great thing, you can load from 4570-- full power with ease, like my safari custom

Yep, RL-17 is a great idea. I will try that too in many different carts when compressed H4350 is encountered.
RL-17 is indeed denser and might be a 98% load where H4350 is +100%, for about same velocity and pressure usually.
Sometimes RL-17 will be champ for velocity, sometimes H4350.
I suspect RL-17 has good thermal ballistic independence, but few powders are as good for this as H4350.
I do know that a mere shotgun primer (209 magnum) will reliably set off 180 grains of RL-17 with no duplexing with pistol powder required in the 12gaFH.
Something special about the way deterrent is applied in the RL-17. RL-17 is special for sure.

Yes, the reloader powders are a greathing for sure, i normally load 2209 115 gr 500 gr pill, but since changing to rl17 i have gained extra fps, not that it mattets in the 460wby. I run the 550 gr also with rl 17, a great combo. I did have a play with rl 19, giving similar speeds to both 2209 , rl 17, but it takes up more room in the case, didnt shoot as tight as the rl17. I have even tried h4895 with pills from 350 gr to 500 gr, leaves room in the case for monometals up to 450 gr, 500 gr tsx no way, heavily compressed and not at full charge. I maxed out at 105 gr 2206 h, with 450 gr, seated tsx to fit in mag, speeds were down, compared to reloader powders, and i must say recoil was very sharp with the faster powder. Using rl 17 enables me to load any weight pill to full power without running out of case room, the coarser powders 2209, dont allow this with mono pills, and are compressed loads usually, not thats a problem. Rl15 worked well with tsx 500 gr pills, although you dont reach the speeds of the slower powders, but 2400 plus fps is fine for any 500 gr pill.for now will stick with reloader powders, also use it in my 378wby, 375 hh, with great results also.