Ozhunter. What loads do you use for the 550 gr Woodleighs, and what velocities? Also btw, I believe I read where Geoff Broom used the 550 solids (with a Dakota) for elephant and was pleased.

Purely a matter of taste, but I would prefer to use the added capacity of the Lott to push a 550 gr at a lower velocity than pushing the 500 gr at higher velocities. I have used the 500 gr X bullet (Dakota) at 2400fps with good result. The Woodleighs are xlnt but I don't think are meant to be speed demons.

We haven't loaded any with my friends big CZ yet. But know doubt when we do, We will start with 74grns of AR2206H (H4895) and work for a MV of approx 2150fps.

JohnDl

I have used RL 15 with the 550 Woodleigh soft. In one rifle with 81.5grs it gave 2175 fps in another with 82 grs it gave 2140 fps. Different rifles, different barrels. I would start of course a bit lower, work the way up. Never used it in the field however.

Michael

I have taken 5 elephants with the 550 grain Woodleigh out of a Lott. I got 2,150 fps out of a 22" barrel using H-4895. Start at 76 grains and work up until you get 2,150 fps. You will find this load to be comparable to a 500 Nitro in stopping power with even more penetration.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
I have taken 5 elephants with the 550 grain Woodleigh out of a Lott. I got 2,150 fps out of a 22" barrel using H-4895. Start at 76 grains and work up until you get 2,150 fps. You will find this load to be comparable to a 500 Nitro in stopping power with even more penetration.

465H&H

The use of the 550 Woodleigh soft/solids appeals to my since of simplicity (Keep It Simple Stupid, or KISS). On my first safari in 1991 I took 3 rifles, multiple bullets (this for buffalo, that for lion, etc.) The Lott 550 Woodleigh soft/solid will work for any dangerous game (yes, it would work fine for leopard too). The older I get, the less sophisticated I become.

I'm a little late to this topic, but I used 86.2 grs of W748 in my Lott with Hornady softs and solids at 2250. 1.5" at 100. I shot this group off hand at 100 yds.



My target corrects me, 87 grs, but I settled on 86.2 grs.

It`s interesting: About 50% recommended 550grains bullets. The other half tend to 500grains. Only one prefers 450grs.
Didn`t know that the 550grainers are so popular.
Do they really give an extra punch on ele?

quote:

The Lott 550 Woodleigh soft/solid will work for any dangerous game (yes, it would work fine for leopard too). The older I get, the less sophisticated I become.

JohnDL, the negative sideeffect would be: My other rifles must stay at home. And I don`t have confidence in my Lott-shooting-abilities from a bench like in a leopard blind. With the Lott shooting standing (offhand or with sticks) ok, from bench without scope acceptable, but the fear of getting knocked out by the scope while seating will effect me personally shooting worse or flinching). I´m already member of the weatherby eyebrow club...
There are some better choices IMO.

To 450/400
Great shooting.

quote:

1.5" at 100. I shot this group off hand at 100 yds

. That`s much better than I shoot.

Thanks for your knowledge, guys!

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:

quote:

Originally posted by Dentist:
Thank you, but I´m limited to 500grains woodleigh solids, because I already have them.

That's the worst reason in the world.

Anyone contemplating an elephant hunt would be well advised to obtain the best bullets they can. Anything is false economy.

George

.....................

Thanks for saying that George as I was thinking it real strongly ........
Not Knockin Woodleighs , But If Not very likley if , but any way ,,,, I were going Elephant hunting , I would be loading GS FN solids .........

Dentist. Most of us on this forum are members of the Weatherby club. I am a charter member. The first rifle that I bought as an adult was a .378 (1975). My coronation in the club took place in 1991 when I shot a lion in the forehead with a .416 Wby and was cinched up on the gun. Quite literally, I bled far more than the lion. Scar's still there.

Seriously, though, you can't go elephant hunting with a gun that's over your recoil limit. One can usually overcome it with practice. Use exlnt hearing protection while practicing--part of the problem with big rifles is muzzle blast. One can, of course, shoot 458 WM through a Lott as a last resort. That having been said, if recoil is that big a problem (and it doesn't reflect poorly on you if it is), it is better to go down to a .375. A .375 works just fine on elephant and everything else.

Many of us on this forum are gun nerds and enjoy fiddling with bullets/powder, trying to optimize the round, but in reality just enjoying the process. The reality is that any commercially available solid in a Lott will probably work just fine. It's far more important that you feel comfortable with the end product and enjoy shooting it. Good luck on your hunt!

quote:

Seriously, though, you can't go elephant hunting with a gun that's over your recoil limit. One can usually overcome it with practice. Use exlnt hearing protection while practicing--part of the problem with big rifles is muzzle blast. One can, of course, shoot 458 WM through a Lott as a last resort. That having been said, if recoil is that big a problem (and it doesn't reflect poorly on you if it is), it is better to go down to a .375. A .375 works just fine on elephant and everything else.

JohnDL, in general I agree with you. What I stated before is that I don´t want to get a scoped .458 Lott in my face in a seating position from the bench. I shoot acceptable groups from nearly the same size again and again with my Lott and Hornady factory ammo (hope to improve this with one of the posted loads- at least from the gun/ammo view, ) in all positions and with open sights. My eyes are still good, shooting will not be far and it`s just more fun. Cannot understand why somebody wants to use a scope on an ele rifle that has a bigger caliber than .416 and will be used for this purpose only (with the exception of people who got eye problems.)
While practicing with the Lott I always wear ear protection. While hunting I never used one.

quote:

Many of us on this forum are gun nerds and enjoy fiddling with bullets/powder, trying to optimize the round, but in reality just enjoying the process. The reality is that any commercially available solid in a Lott will probably work just fine. It's far more important that you feel comfortable with the end product and enjoy shooting it. Good luck on your hunt!

good summary and also the reason for starting this discussion.