Did a run through 30 pages here and found 2!
Someone has to have some load data here !

I've got two loads I like in my .458 WM's...

One is a plinking load with the 405gr Rem JFP that give me 1915fps - a great load for deer, hogs, bear, elk, etc. It's a "starting load" as far as the .458 goes with this bullet. Recoil is pleasant and this is an affordable and fun load that still packs plenty of wallop for most NA big game.

405gr Rem JFP
W-W cases
67.0gr of IMR-4064
CCI200 primer

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The second load I like is with the 500gr Hornady RN. I'm getting just over 2100fps in my #1 with about 98-99% case capacity (not compacted). Start at 64.0gr and work your way up, as this is maximum according to Speer (Speer #12 shows 66.0gr as Max with their 500gr SN bullet). My rifles show no signs of pressure, but individual rifles will vary of course.

500gr Hornady RN
W-W cases
66.0gr of Re7
CCI200 primer

I've had two 458WMs in the past, these loads were safe in my rifle, cant vouch for anyone elses:
350gr Hornady RN, 67gr AR2207 (Hodgdon H4198), WW cases and WLR primer: 2470fps
500gr Woodleigh RN, 70gr AR2206, WW cases and WLR primer: 2060fps.
Cheers...
Con

I have good luck with 70gr of IMR 3031 with 300 and 350 gr hornady bullets with WLR primers. It is not a hot load but it shoots good out of my Douglas barrel.

For plinking, use 405 grain cast over 12 grains of Red Dot. No recoil, sounds like a .22, and about 1100 fps.

I would really beware of 12 grains of anything in a .458 win case. If you want that level of performance look at bulkier powder like 5744 or Trail Boss. Do not use 12 grains of whatever dot

I used 71 grs. of 4895 with a 500 gr. hornady in mine.

450 gr. Barnes TSX / 76 gr. H335 .

Not maximum, but very accurate in my rifle.

45nut:

Be sure to do a search on the "Big Bores" and "Reloading" forums as well. I know there are more threads.

I have developed a load for my VZ-24 Mauser .458WM using 450 grain North Fork Cup Point bullets. I have a 22" barrel. I use 68 grains of AA2230, Fed 215 primer, WW cases. I then use a Lee Factory Crimp Die at 3.340" COL. I get 2230 FPS with no pressure signs and no powder compression IN MY RIFLE. This load, and my .375 H&H, will be going with me this summer to Zimbabwe for buffalo

I have also used H4198 powder. I really like the way the AA2230 ball powder loads. Others have used Reloader 7.

This is my load, but remember to start low, say 63-64 grains then work up. As you know every rifle and chamber seems to be a little different.

Good Luck.

RCG

North Fork 450 gr Solids. Winchester cases. Fed 215 or 215M primers. AA2230 powder through a 2 foot drop tube. Start at 66 gr and work up. Should end up at around 70 grains. Chronograph the rounds and your goal should be a round that shoots between 2250 & 2300 fps with no signs of pressure. Crimp with Lee Factory Crimp die. I seat mine to a little over 3.30 OAL and crimp in the 6th groove with case mouth edge right against the 5th ring in the bullet. This load shoots great for me.

I am no expert at reloading and Mike at North Fork and another AR member helped me to get to this load.

I shot quite a few of Speer 400gr jacketed bullets over 70 gr of IMR 3031.

60gr of RL7 pushes the Barnes 500gr banded solid at 2140 fps in my CZ550. Good working load, minimal powder compression, very accurate.

I used 70 gr IMR 3031 with the 500 gr Hornady and the old 500gr Trophy Bonded bullets for over twenty years. Velocity in my 20 " barrel is a around 2050 fps.
I have tried numerous other loads and they are all written down in my loading data at camp but I'd be afraid to try to remember tham all here.

I do know that if top velocities are your goal with 500 gr bullets then AA 2230 seems to be the best. I have been told by a top exec at Hornady, as well as a very serious African PH who reloads, that measured velocites of 2300fps are within reason in the standard 458 Win!! H-335 also works well.

TTT

Keeping near the top, I have a feeling I will have one of these in the next week or so

A middlin' load in my rifle that performs well on cape buffalo and elephant:

72.5grs of AA 2230
Norma case
Fed 215 primer
500gr Woodliegh solid

2135fps in my rifle.

No drop tube, no trouble, great consistency. Fine in 115* and more in the Zambezi Valley in October. Very little temperature sensativity.

I'm sure that the 500gr Woodleigh soft would shoot similar velocity with a load close to this one, but I haven't tried. I'm still using up a run of 500gr Woodleigh softs over IMR 3031, which I wouldn't recomend. Too much temperature sensativity with too much velocity variance.

I prefer H 4895 for 450gr North Fork flat nose solids. Mike Brady changed his bullet and added additional bands and I haven't loaded for the new version yet. At 2190fps, which is very mild, performance was fantastic with increadible penetration in buff and ele. Well beyond what a 500gr round nose will do with my load.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Head Trauma:
60gr of RL7 pushes the Barnes 500gr banded solid at 2140 fps in my CZ550. Good working load, minimal powder compression, very accurate.

I have been reading up and it seems like RL7 is best as it leaves enough room for little compression compared to the other powders

..........One of my favorites ,.,., and possibly the best Alaskan load [I would prefer it for everything execpt elephant .] 79.5 gr AA2230,and a 400 gr X bullet .,no longer made I think , so I also use the 400 gr Kodiak Bonded Core soft point .From the 19.5 " barrel on my Spruceking rifle it is very consistant @ 2380 fps ,15 feet or so from the muzzel ...Easier to shoot than the 500 gr loads and a bit flatter trajectory ...The bullets expand to .9 " dia ,.,The 400 gr Fed Trophy Bonded load is the same ,., Amazeing ...{I,ve gone up to 81 gr but backed off ..]

Some 9 years ago I tinkered quite a bit with developing a 458 load for Africa. Tried 4320, 4895, 3031 and 4198 (both H- and IMR-). I struggled with compression (trying to avoid it, frankly) and magazine length.

Best of the bunch was 64.0 of IMR 4198. Gave very uniform velocities, 65.0 shot without any sign of pressure, and 64 gave me 2140 FPS through the choronograph with the 500 Hornady Soft. CCI 200 primers and W-W cases, in a pre-64 Model 70. So that's the one I took to Africa. Worked wonderfully on a Cape Buffalo.

Please don't be shy of the Red Dot Load.
See Handloader's Digest, 12th edition, 1990, Page 84, by C. E. Harris for "THE LOAD". It is 13 grains of Hercules Red Dot in the following conditions...
1) the case must be the capacity of the 35 Remington or larger.
2) the rifle must be of modern design for smokeless powder and of 30 caliber or greater.
3) the bullet must be of the normal range for the cartridge.
4) the use of case filler or Dacron is neither recomended nor necessary.
Also, see RCBS Cast Bullet Manual #1.
Sincerely,

The reason why the Red Dot load is not one to fear is the properties of the powder. Red Dot is very bulky and extremely easy to ignite, regardless of its position in the case. Further, it is very fast burning, so you get a high enough pressure for a good burn and proper case seal. This pressure just drops off rapidly as the bullet travels down the barrel.