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.460 Wby load testing

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21 November 2010, 05:21
IanD
.460 Wby load testing
Put together some starter loads, and also have some old "elephant" boxed factory ammo in case these are too tame Wink

500gr Hornady RN
115grs IMR4350
Fed #215
3.710 COL

Hope to get out to the range soon. Mounted a Leupold 1-4x.
21 November 2010, 05:28
CCMDoc
that should do the trick tu2 BOOM


NRA Lifer; DSC Lifer; SCI member; DRSS; AR member since November 9 2003

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21 November 2010, 05:36
Biebs
Ian, the old Elephant boxes tend to be a bit hotter than current loads, made when Weatherby was trying to live up to the 500gr @ 2,700 fps claim.
21 November 2010, 12:28
IanD
Biebs, yes the ammo is loaded pretty stout. Not sure I even want to fire them until I get more practice with the rifle.
21 November 2010, 21:42
Robgunbuilder
Chrono it and see what you get. I tried for years to see the magic 2700 fps from my .460 and it never happened.-Rob


Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers to do incredibly stupid things- AH (1941)- Harry Reid (aka Smeagle) 2012
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21 November 2010, 23:00
IanD
Yes, I will run them over the chrono. Mine is an older Mk V with the pendleton brake. I want to save some for my African safari Wink
21 November 2010, 23:34
RIP
Yes, great 460 Wby load, 115 grains of IMR-4350 with 500-grainers.
That is the load I settled on for my 460 Wby.
I had the same factory Weatherby Mark V rifle as you.
Gave about 2500 fps with the 500 grainer, and was easily sub-MOA for 3 shots at 100 yards.
Should do well for you too. thumb

IIRC, you could go up to 125 grains of IMR-4350, but there is no need for that.
21 November 2010, 23:56
IanD
RIP, do you remember the OAL that you loaded yours to? I just went with the data in Hornady's manual.
22 November 2010, 00:24
RIP
IanD,
I see that the current manuals stop at your load and do show about 2500 fps with various 500 grain bullets and 115 grains of the 4350s.
Back in the old days they went higher!
Powder lots may vary.
My old COL was 3.740".
Starting at the 3.710" of the Hornady manual is good.
You will not be getting into the lands or pressure problems with any COL of 3.750" or less, given the Wby throat is generous.
You might experiment with COL if accuracy is your thing, or just crimp it on the cannelure and go with anything between 3.700" and 3.750".
Shorter usually feeds better.
22 November 2010, 00:31
metric
Think my .460 G&A does quite well;
2400 f/s with 500RN Hornady and 95grains of N150!

m
22 November 2010, 06:45
IanD
quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
IanD,
I see that the current manuals stop at your load and do show about 2500 fps with various 500 grain bullets and 115 grains of the 4350s.
Back in the old days they went higher!
Powder lots may vary.
My old COL was 3.740".
Starting at the 3.710" of the Hornady manual is good.
You will not be getting into the lands or pressure problems with any COL of 3.750" or less, given the Wby throat is generous.
You might experiment with COL if accuracy is your thing, or just crimp it on the cannelure and go with anything between 3.700" and 3.750".
Shorter usually feeds better.


Thanks RIP. I will try this COL and see how she performs. I haven't crimped them though. Should I?
22 November 2010, 08:10
Biebs
quote:
Think my .460 G&A does quite well;
2400 f/s with 500RN Hornady and 95grains of N150!

Hey! A fellow 460 G&A fan! I used my Rifles Inc 460 G&A in Tanzania on Buffalo. Simple cartridge (blown out 404J) that gets the job done, for sure.