I just returned from a ground squirel shoot in NE Oregon. My buddy and I take a variety of firearms for this, from 17HMR, 17 Rem, 221 FB, 223, 220 Swift, 308 and assorted big bores. The main action is with the 17HMR and smaller centerfires but I enjoy shooting the bigger stuff to just to change it up a bit. Last year I used my Ruger #1 458 Lott with 500gr solids and Barnes 450X bullets. Fun but little effect (other than a dead critter) from the bullets just wizzing through. This year I wanted to try something different with my new Ruger RSM Lott. I used the Rem 405gr soft/flat point over 70 grains of RL-7 which is an honest <1" 100 yard load in this rifle. The results were spectacular! Instead of leaving just a caliber hole the squirels suffered from what to paraphrase RGB calls the "big bore hydraulic effect." Wow. They didn't react like a 223 or 220 hit, they simply ruptured. This is not politically correct stuff but the flat point big bore simply displaced the little critter. Later we had a chance to check out the 458 Lott 405gr performance on rock chucks and I was floored. Not bullet expansion at work simply total disruption. If any of you have a chance to do any varmint shooting I reccomend bringing your big bore along to expand your experience

John

JKS,

Great Stuff!!! Do you have any crono results for this load? What distances were you shooting?

Thanks

Jerry

Yes I can only imagine

Try the 300gn Hornady HP over 89 grains of H335

I've never considered using my 458 Win Mag on rockchucks. I guess it would give you the option of shooting through the smaller rocks that were in the way. I'll try it next week out by Riley.

Minkman,

I haven't chrono'd the load but I'd guess 2200+. I could push it more but this load is nice to shoot and very accurate...and it seems to have enough muscle for the varmints

OldElkHunter,

Try it and you'll like it! Take your long range rifle AND your 458. Use the 458 for defensive close encounters

John

quote:

Originally posted by JKS:
........ If any of you have a chance to do any varmint shooting I reccomend bringing your big bore along to expand your experience.....

I use the .375 H&H for busting prairie dogs.

fla3006:
Have you had any luck with 300s in the 458WinMag? I have been looking for an accuracy load. Sorry to invade this thread off topic.Thanks.

JKS,

I just got 400 grain Speer FNSP's last night!!!

I'm hoping these will work also. Were the 405's RP or FP?

Thanks

Jerry

Minkman,

The Remington .458 405gr bullets are soft/flat points that are intended for 45-70 loads. Your Speer 400s should be great! I will chrono my load when I get to the range in a couple of weeks and will post results. I wanted a lighter practice/plinking/varmint round for my 458 Lott RSM and am very happy with the results. Less recoil than full loads but you still know you are touching off something of importance! The .458 405s are cheap (around 68.00 per 500) and accurate. Good stuff.


John

Oh i see there are others who own up to this bit of insanity. Well i will come clean. To show my son ( he was 14 at that time)the power of penetration that solids produce, I took the .470 with Woodys" out to pop some chucks. At 60 yds or so i shot through his look out mound and bagged the bugger. My son understood from then on. Charlie

Tanker, I haven't tried the 300 grainers in a Winchester case, only the Lott in my Ruger #1. Haven't really tried to gauge the accuracy either, cheap gun show bullets that work well on 5 gallon water pails at close range. At nearly 2800fps, haven't recovered anything left of the bullets:

JKS,

You're right, 12 bucks for a 100! Tomorrow I'll be at Cabelas, so then I'll have the powder.

Look out Whistle Pigs!!!!!!!

Thanks

Jerry