For those of you that have or had one what do you have listed as Max. loads for the .458 Win. Mag. in the following bullet weights. 500, 450, and 400 grain bullets. All spitzer or round noose types. Lawdog

With 500 gr bullets, AA2230 is the best max velocity powder I have ever used in the 458 Win Mag. With WLRM primers and 72 grs of 2230 I clock 2160fps over my chronograph at 45,000 CUP in a pair of 22 inch barrels (Double). Speer runs this up to 78.0 grs with their AGS Tungsten solid for 2239 fps, taking advantage of the extra casae capacity from the shorter bullet.

I have a Ruger #1 which I throated super long ( .250 over factory). With 500 gr Hornady's loaded out to 3.450 and 81 grs of WW748 (compressed), I can get over 2200fps. I put a second cannelure on the bullet and crimp it in place. Shoots sub MOA at 100 yrds. Comes pretty close to Lott performance.-Rob

I'm glad to see this - and I have question for Robgunbuilder:

With your chamber .250" over standard, what seating depth are you getting with 400, 450 and 500gr bullets? Can you still get 400gr bullets close to the lands while keeping .458" in the case?
Does this long chamber make it a one-bullet gun?

I've been thinking about building a 458WinMag and want exactly what you did, a nice long chamber to free up some powder space. But if that means it won't shoot 400gr bullets I may have to reconsider. I'd still like some flexibility in bullet choices.

As to the original question, search the Reloder site, they have a 400gr bullet with RL-7 that seems nuclear.

GFP- With this throat you can seat the bullets Way out. I typically load them at 3.450-3.500 before hitting the lands. I basically only use either the 350 gr Hornady or 500 gr Hornady/ Woodleighs or some RCBS 525 gr cast bullets in this gun and rarely use 400 gr bullets. The 350's of couse can't be loaded out to touch the lands, but it doesn't seem to effect accuracy to any appreciable extent. I'd imagine the same would hold true for the 400's. I did the throat on this gun with a throater I made for a 45-70 to see if I could get 2100fps with a 400 gr bullet. That worked too.-Rob

[ 10-03-2003, 04:36: Message edited by: Robgunbuilder ]

This is a couple of mine :

all are win cases, all are CCI 250 primers, all are crimped in the cannelure.
350 speer flatpoint
IMR 4198
68 2412
68.5 2422
69 2442
69.5 2498
70 2480
70.5 2466 2497
71 2505 2513 2508

350 barnes X
IMR 4198
68 2446
68.5 2472
69 2441
69.5 2505
70 2522
70.5 2542 2536
71 2518 2522 2525

I am going with 71gr for the speer and 70 or 70.5 for the barnes X ( 71gr with the X bullet deformed the cases ) . 22 inch barrel.

For 400 barnes X I use 67.5 imr 4198

[ 10-03-2003, 10:21: Message edited by: RMiller ]

Don't worry about seating to the lands with such heavy, long bullets. The inertia at rest gives you great ignition, and you just can't tilt one of these big bullets much in even a long throat. My double 458 has an INCH of freebore and shoots fine.