Anyone out there know how to get 2500 fps from a Ruger #1, 24 inch barrel, 450 watts
firing a 500 grain bullet. I've seen some published loads of 89 to 98 grains using IMR 4320. 85 grains is all I can get into the
case. And that is a slightly compressed load. 85 grains gets me an average of 2300
fps. I've fired my 458 win for a long time
before boreing it out to 450 watts. I went
with factory loads in the 458, but experimenting with a bigger calibre is new to
me. Ideas anyone?

Keith,

I think 2500 fps is more than pushing it!

I'd expect 2350 with a carefully worked up max load. 2400 fps is at the high end of normal.

Use the search engine (top right of page) and look for 458 Lott loads. The case capacity is virtually the same, and they are often discussed on this forum.

Welcome, and enjoy the rifle!

Don

Keith,
One method of getting more powder into a case is to use a long drop tube.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

There's a product out there called GunJuice that can add up to a hundred fps to you barrel by sealing the steel and super-lubricating the bore. It is NO joke. The blamed stuff was awarded a medal from the Swiss government for one of the best inventions of the 20th Century. Now just because something is possible doesn't make it a good idea. The Class III .450's are designed to work at 2300-2400 fps because that's what does best on game. When you get over that, you lose penetration and increase recoil for no purpose . . . unless you just like to show off how tough your shoulder is. 2300 fps will give you 6,000 ft. lbs. and that is enough for anything clear up to baluchatherium, should you ever find one.

Sarge

Keith
I shoot a Ruger #1 450 watts and when I had it chambered I sent in a sample case with a 500 gr barnes X bullet seated to one half a bullet diameter with .50" freebore. The Idea was to use the extra .239" for powder with the 500 gr bullets and since it is a single shoot and the dies put a good crimp on the bullets you don't have to worry about recoil dislodging or moving the other bullets in the mag since you don't have one. I have fired 500 or so rounds throught it and I seat all bullets half a dia. It will eaisly push a 300 gr at 2900 and I only worked up one load with the 500 gr to 2350-2380 fps with no signs of pressure just a good stiff load. I hope to get back to the range with my chrony to continue the work with the 500 gr. Also I was using 375 H&H cases blown out which are a little shorter than the 416 cases. Once I switch to the 416 and try a few different powder I should be able to get between 2400-2500 fps but I am pretty happy with the load I have now. Anyway good luck, hope this helps RNS

[This message has been edited by RNS (edited 01-01-2002).]

Easiest way is to rechamber it to 450 Dakota. No way will a Watts, Lott or Ackley ever get 2500fps w/o a 30" barrel!

Or a Rigby!

Keith, I am going to venture out and guess that you have seen the Watts data in "cartridges of the World". Just one note of caution about that book, there is not one but many, very optimistic numbers in that book. It is a great reference but I wouldn't bank on some of the data. On a good day with 4320 powder I can get a little over 2400 fps with my CZ, with a 500 gr bullet. It has a 24" tube, that same load out of my #1 is about 40 fps slower with its 22" barrell. Believe me a 500 gr slug at 2300-2400 is enough for anything that walks or crawls. The really great thing about getting bit by the big bore bug is that after shooting this for a little while it'll seem to gentle and you'll want something bigger. Trust me it never stops. Good Shooting.

Sooner

I have heard some rumers that if you use vit n540 or n550 you can get up to 100 fps more. Anyone try it yet?? or as normal is it a far stretch of the truth?

In a post some time back Norbert listed Vit N540 90 gr to achieve 2380 fps with 500 grain bullets in his 458 Lott. He also found using 95 grain he acdhieved 2580 fps with 400 gr bullets.

Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

/

To All:
I have not used a watts, but have played with a .458 Lott some. The best I could come up with, using a 500 gr bullet was 2320fps and 4320 powder. There are some new powders on the market since that time, and you might gain another 40-50fps with some of those.
However, 2300 fps will kill anything that walks the earth today. Any more veloicity than this with a 500 gr bullet and recoil gets to a point of NO FUN, You will not gain enough penetration with another 150fps to justify the effort. Ackley, was very optimistic with all of his wildcat velocities. I have never been able to get closer than 200fps of his quoted velocities.
He did not have available good chronograps in his day, as we do know. I remember using some of the earlier style chronographs that used what looked like 35 mm film with silver
placed on in a zig-zag pattern. When you broke both pieces that stopped the clock and you used an conversion number to find your velocity. I later reshot many of these old loads and found that they were 50-75 fps
than with todays better machines. In othere words, some of this older information should be taken with a liberal dose of sodium-chloride.
George

[This message has been edited by George Hoffman (edited 01-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by George Hoffman (edited 01-01-2002).]

quote:

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Originally posted by Santala:
In a post some time back Norbert listed Vit N540 90 gr to achieve 2380 fps with 500 grain bullets in his 458 Lott. He also found using 95 grain he acdhieved 2580 fps with 400 gr bullets.

Steve

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That�s right. I posted many information regarding .450 Watts, Lott or Ackley. You may search for older topics in this forums or e-mail me for loading data.
Norbert
www.grosswildjagd.de

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Thanks Guys.

Your posts have given me a lot to think about. The published loads I mentioned WERE from "Cartridges of the World" and from a couple of places on the net. Since my only goal is to have a rifle that will knock your
shoes on to the wrong feet when you pull the
trigger, I'm already considering going to something bigger. Have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that I won't get the energy from the watts that I had hoped.
Yes, "Sooner" the bug has bit so I'm looking
at a 460 Weatherby (re-bored 458 Ruger #1 just to keep it cheap) or maybe having a
T-Rex or 585 Nyati built. Is there a way to
build one of these without shelling out 3
grand?

Keith

Well Keith, if you are just wanting your shoes blown off when you pull the trigger that #1 in 460 ought to be just what the doctor ordered! I don't think you could build a T-Rex or Nyati very cheap. Brass availability will rule out the T-Rex. The cheapest big bore I have built was a 500 Jeffrey on a #1 action. $250 for a pac-nor pre-threaded, pre-chambered barrell. And $200 for gunsmith labor and sights, a buddy bought that one. I am doing another one now but I am putting on a muzzle brake. Just one more thought, I read somewhere that you can put up to a 577 Nitro in a #1, that may be the cheapest way to get a 577 caliber rifle.

Sooner

Keith,
If you want a #1 in 460 Weatherby,all you have to do is have your 450 Watts rechambered.That's it.The 450 Watts and 460 both use .458 inch bullets.The 460 reamer should clean up the Watts chamber fine.If you want something that kicks,an unbreaked 9 pound 460 is just about as ferocious as they get.A 500 grain bullet pushed 2600 FPS from a 9 pound rifle without a muzzel brake would generate 120 pounds of recoil at around 30 FPS.Not only is it belting you with almost twice the recoil of your 458 Winchester,it's hitting you at 30 FPS,which is flat out FAST.

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I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

[This message has been edited by Brian M (edited 01-02-2002).]

You may be able to hit 2400 fps, but I seriously doubt you will be able to hit 2500 unless you re-chamber to a 460 G&A, 450 Rigby or 460 Weatherby.

There are also a dearth of "ideal" powders. I used RL 15 with my 458 lott, and was pushing 500's 2280 from a 20" barrel. The Watts my gain another 50 fps with its .050" longer case, and the extra 4" of barrel ought to gain you 100 fps.

I tried VV N550, but even massively compressed, the best I got was 2200 fps. N 540 might hold some promise.

PS, I just had a thought, since you mentioned it is a Ruger #1, you could have the throat deepened, seat the bullets with just ~.30" in the case, and use a modified Lee factory crimp die to give some resistance on firing. This would certainly gain you some fuel room, and be less exspensive then re-chambering.

[This message has been edited by Paul H (edited 01-02-2002).]

Well, I hope y'all have fun. Personally, I plan on having my rifles hurt something other than me.

Thanks again guys.

Will probably rebore another #1 into 460 Wby.
If that does't hurt my shoulder enough, then
I'll look at going up. My son is convinced
I have a death wish. They (family) just don't understand.

As for the Watts, I will try the long drop tube as well as trying some other powders.

Ya'll (I'm originally from OK) have a great
New Year!!!

Keith