Does anyone have any good recipes for 450 Dakota practice loads?

Thanks

45-50 grains of Accurate 5744 behind a 400 gr lead gas-checked bullet should give 1800-1900 fps. No fillers needed, as 5744 is position insensitive, though you should use a magnum primer. I use Federal 215s.

You can use IMR Trailboss. Here is a Link to the formula. I use it in 458 Win Mag with cast bullets!!!

http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

I gotta get some of this Trailboss and try it out in the 577 and 600s. Sounds like fun

You'll like it Doc----I'm using 5744 in my 600's right now & might give Trail Boss a try when I'm out of 5744.
600JDJ---800gr cast bullet---65grs 5744--<>1500fps

That's nice!

I have some cast bullets I got from Biebs that would go nicely with that recipe.


Excellent!

Thanks

My go-to load with the .450 Dakota, practice or otherwise, is 94 grains of Reloder 15 and a 450 Barnes TSX. That load runs right at 2400 fps in the 24 inch barrel of my gun.

As you can see I am new to the forum. Many thanks to the members who have given me a different perspective and been a resource much beyond the mainstream party line.
I believe my 450 Rigby is about the same platform. I've had good luck with 350 gr Hornady RN # 4502 and 85grains H4895. Burns clean, has a little pop to it and hits close enough to the same spot at 50yds (iron sights) as my regular load (Northfork 500 gr @ 2300 fps).

I'm kinda with Dave on this one. I have a 460 Weatherby (Close enough to the 450) and feel that unless your trying to cure a bad flinch or have some other reason to really tone things down I'd opt for a heavier load or a lighter less recoiling rifle. Here's my logic I missed a big Elk 2 years ago with my 500 Jeffery. I had been fooling around with relatively reduced loads and when the time came to pull the trigger with a descent full stean load I thought WOW this full house load is going to kick my %$# and I pulled the shot. I would have had meat in the freezer with my 416 Rigby or 458 Lott. I like the idea of inexpensive loads to shoot a nice expensive rifle at range rocks but do not get too comfortable with light loads or you may find your brain messing with you if you really have to use the rifle. I change the rifle around if it kicks too hard. Just a thought I'd rather see a nice rifle on the range with reduced inexpensive loads that sitting in the safe with factory ammo.

Brad

I also share the philosophy that "practice loads" should mimic actual "hunting loads" with the only substitution being a cheaper bullet. I had to "learn" to shoot my 450Rigby with 500 grain bullets at 2400fps.....the more I shot the more my recoil tolerance increased. I can now shoot that rifle as well as any I have......but it was an "acquired taste".

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
I also share the philosophy that "practice loads" should mimic actual "hunting loads" with the only substitution being a cheaper bullet. I had to "learn" to shoot my 450Rigby with 500 grain bullets at 2400fps.....the more I shot the more my recoil tolerance increased. I can now shoot that rifle as well as any I have......but it was an "acquired taste".

That's my rationale. My thinking is to achieve the maximum load with the action/case brass maximum safe limit and use the cheapest bullet. In this case it's .460 Wea. COAL. 4.2"/2130fps/735gr/27"barrel no muzzle brake hardcast.

Pyzda

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
I also share the philosophy that "practice loads" should mimic actual "hunting loads" with the only substitution being a cheaper bullet. I had to "learn" to shoot my 450Rigby with 500 grain bullets at 2400fps.....the more I shot the more my recoil tolerance increased. I can now shoot that rifle as well as any I have......but it was an "acquired taste".

I've always enjoyed amber beers with a nutty finish but I've also acquired a taste for the hoppy India Pale ales.

I sympathize with Brad. We've all made mistakes and miscalls of various kinds due to the occasional nature of most of our hunting. The important thing with a rifle is to get used to shooting it as a rifle, just another rifle, because in truth, that's what it is, just another rifle. If one treats a rifle as more than just another rifle they are in for trouble and disappointment. And how does one make something just another rifle? By shooting. If it needs to start with a limit of 6 to 10 rounds a session, so be it, as long as it doesn't intimidate for that shot threading through the trees at a patch of animal.

I agree with the above posters on using full power loads for practice.

Dave

I fall into a hybrid camp I guess...

If the shooter is brand new to heavy recoiling rifles then my recommendation is to start with reduced loads while working on bolt cycling and accuracy while acclimating to the greater recoil. Once accomplished with good hunting accuracy, rapid bolt cycling (reloading), and comfortable with the recoil it time to move up in powder volume. Repeat as often as needed until you're completely comfortable with full power loads while delivering needed accuracy within rapid bolt cycling (reloading). Then stay at that power level for practice.

Throughout this journey I recommend using cheaper, but accurate, bullets and saving the premium cost premium performance bullets for final load development with full power loads and once developed save them for hunting.

And of course we must understand that every individual will have a certain threshold of recoil - or pain should the rifle be ill fitting - that they prefer to not exceed. I would hope that all intending to hunt DG should endeavor to assure their personal threshold at least meets the cartridge performance level proven to be DG successful in the early 20th century with the smokeless powder Nitro Express cartridges.

Personally, once my .500 caliber rifle is finished it will be the first rifle that I have owned larger in caliber than a 350 Remington Magnum that I once owned (chambered in a factory M600 Remington). Though I have fired Michaels B&M M70 WSM based rifles in .416, .458, and .500 caliber. Anyway, I plan to develop my accurate hunting loads first (relying heavily on RIP's load development work for the 12.7x68/49-10 cartridge) using CEB and NF monometal bullets. Once I've finalized my most accurate hunting loads, I will develope a reduced practice loading somewhere in the 1900-2100fps range using the Hornady 500gr .500 caliber C&C bullets that will match the POA/POI of my hunting loads at 50yds and 100yds. Then I will commence acclimating my body to my .500's enhanced recoil while practicing rapid and accurate delivery of these 500gr's at 50yds with both partial and full magazine reloading. Once accomplished I'll move to 100yds and become just as proficient there. Oh yes, practice will be with scope and with iron sights.

Once I become proficient with the above at 50yds and 100yds - which I believe will also have drilled my eye and hand coordination into the proper fast POA acquisition to deliver the desired bullet POI for DG hunting - then I'll increase the load level to closely match that of my hunting loads and repeat my practice scenario until full load proficiency matches reduced load proficiency. Afterwards all practice will be with full performance loadings...

Edit Added: I thought it might be pertinent to add, when I go on a DG hunt it will be my first DG hunt. I fully intend to NOT be one of the hunters often seen on the television hunting programs who after their rifle has finished recoiling is left gawking at their fleeing game because the first shot failed to put it down and they've failed to chamber a new round - and then when their PH yells to shot again they begin fumbling with the bolt trying to chamber a round. My intent with the above practice is to unconsciously have chambered a fresh round so that I'm ready to fire the second round, etc., once I've reaquired the game through the scope, or iron sight, if is still on its feet.

Anyway that's my plan and my belief on how it should be done with a first time BB owner...

Here is my load data for all sets I recorded velocity for.



Use at your own risk! They did not blow my gun up, but one never knows about yours!

I beg to differ, my 1st. rifle that I've ever bought in 81 was .460 Wea. From the day one it was a factory ammo and then full power loads in all 9 other .460 ever since. I've destroyed my first lot of 220 case on the first reload as I was too ignorant to take any notice of the Hornady reloading manual.

Was it soft brass, faster lot of 4350 powder, too much of powder (125gr.) the rifle itself who cares, I've dropped the charge to 122gr./500gr. bullet and it worked, honest 2600+fps. from 24" barrel.

Once I took my then 14 years old nephew in an attempt to help him to solve his boredom to have a few shots. He was just skin and bone, I don't know how but he played rugby at school and competetively rides motocross, drinks and smokes and chases girls, generally he's not interested in guns.

The rifle was 9 pounds 26" barrel.458W loaded hot 74gr/3031/500gr Hornady clocking 2180 fps. He did'nt ask and I didn't tell him anything about a recoil. I gave him brief instructions just where to put the butt and take a tight grip on the forend and the grip. He had first shot and his reply was, "Shit I was not expecting that" When I asked him what was he expecting? He said " hmmm something different".

Not to let him to dwell on the recoil crap, I pointed at a tree about 30 yards away and said shoot through it. He did and fired about another 12 shots after that and he was hiting different dinner plate size objects at 15-25 yards away.

The next day he proudly showed me his yellow blue and bit tender pec but no complaints. He was not a super kid, but he WAS NOT TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECOIL CRAP so he had nothing to be afraid of.

It is like a street fight or a contact sport. Do you ask the street fighter or your sport opponent " Please do not punch me, do not kick me, do not run into me too hard I need first to get use to it".
Lets say a 240-270 pounds rugby player runs in to you at 25fps and throws you backwards 5 yards where you land on your ass and you get up and on the first occasion you do the same to him. Have balls and spend time behind the gun with full loads aim at bigger things, shotgun like approach with control trigger squeez and you will never look back.

Pyzda

Rob H thanks for the data nicely done. I believe any practice is good practice but in the end a constant diet of full loads is a must. How one gets there is up to them.

112 gr.gr. of INT 4831 and a hornady 500 gr. Soft point is a great full power practice load. Fed. 215 primer.