458 Lott 720gr cast
- Thread starter Rode
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Welcome to CGN. Your first post is a head scratcher for sure!
I'm very hesitant to pass along any ideas because a .458/720 is so far outside the normal parameters of the caliber that without a bullet to measure for shank and nose length and to weigh, it would be truly shooting in the dark. Is the 720 gr weight the weight as sized and lubed with a gas check or is the weight that the mold is suppose to drop? If it is the weight that the mold is supposed to drop, with which alloy? What is the extreme weight variance you are loading? What is your OAL?
I'm very hesitant to pass along any ideas because a .458/720 is so far outside the normal parameters of the caliber that without a bullet to measure for shank and nose length and to weigh, it would be truly shooting in the dark. Is the 720 gr weight the weight as sized and lubed with a gas check or is the weight that the mold is suppose to drop? If it is the weight that the mold is supposed to drop, with which alloy? What is the extreme weight variance you are loading? What is your OAL?
Unless you barrel has at least a 1:18 twist (rare for a 45 cal), it's not worth even trying as the bullet probably won't stabilize.
With a bullet that heavy, you'll be working in the 1500-1800 fps range. I'd use a powder like H4895 - I've seen loads with it for a 600gr bullet, and it listed 70.0 to 75.0 grs. I'd work in the 55.0 to 65.0 gr range with a 720 gr bullet and stop at 1800 fps. H4895 works well at reduced loads, and is a good powder for this kind of experimentation.
With a bullet that heavy, you'll be working in the 1500-1800 fps range. I'd use a powder like H4895 - I've seen loads with it for a 600gr bullet, and it listed 70.0 to 75.0 grs. I'd work in the 55.0 to 65.0 gr range with a 720 gr bullet and stop at 1800 fps. H4895 works well at reduced loads, and is a good powder for this kind of experimentation.
I've seen quite a few molds for the .45 rifle of up to 645grs., but custom makers can/will make anything, and you'll have to match barrel twist as my 1-18" wouldn't work. Recoil of course would be fierce. I have only worked with heavy .45 bullets using black powder, where you can't get into pressure trouble.
The rifle is a Ruger #1 and has a 1:14 twist.
The 500gr bullet that I normally load is 1.486" long and OAL is 3.600"
The 720gr bullet is 1.675" long
The 500gr bullet doesn't touch the lands so I'm sure there will be room.
I have a picture of the bullet but I don't know how to attach it.
The 500gr bullet that I normally load is 1.486" long and OAL is 3.600"
The 720gr bullet is 1.675" long
The 500gr bullet doesn't touch the lands so I'm sure there will be room.
I have a picture of the bullet but I don't know how to attach it.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Damn, that is gonna kick in your #1 
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I think I would try 15 grs of Unique in the Lott case without any filler as a starting load, that should give you about 1000 fps, and you can work up from there as you think prudent.
A bullet length of 1.67" is not much more than the length of the 380 gr Rhinos (1.59")that I shoot in my .375 which has a standard 1:12 twist, so the 1;14 might work with the larger bore. Let us know what you discover.
A bullet length of 1.67" is not much more than the length of the 380 gr Rhinos (1.59")that I shoot in my .375 which has a standard 1:12 twist, so the 1;14 might work with the larger bore. Let us know what you discover.
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
about 12 years ago i had worked up some loads for my 45-120 on a ruger #1 using 825 grain cast bullets a guy gave me .
i can't find the load data , but i'm pretty sure i was using imr4831 .
such a heavy bullet WILL kick your ass , and repeated firings may even cause your stock to crack .
and with myself after firing off a dozen rounds at the range , i had the most violent headache , i thought i was getting another migraine and went to the hospital .
turns out i had a concussion and they where talking about keeping me over night for observation .
i can't find the load data , but i'm pretty sure i was using imr4831 .
such a heavy bullet WILL kick your ass , and repeated firings may even cause your stock to crack .
and with myself after firing off a dozen rounds at the range , i had the most violent headache , i thought i was getting another migraine and went to the hospital .
turns out i had a concussion and they where talking about keeping me over night for observation .
There is a picture on the first page. They are lead with a copper bottem? These are the first cast bullet I've bought and don't know much about them.
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
i'm thinking that maybe when the mould was cut , the cherry wasn't perfect and left light maching marks that a cast bullet would pick up and look like it could be turned in a lathe .
'Regroup' back to reading what I said before. I don't know much about cast bullets as they are the first ones I ever bought. So if they're even classified as cast bullets, I don't know. I'm just looking for some load data... Ben
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
been doing some digging for you , 470 capstick ( ww w.shooter.co.za/470capstickdmc.html )
is very very close to the 458 lott any reloading info you find for it will be close enough to work with the lott .
you could email some of the powder companies out there tell them what you have and what would they recomend in the way of powders and charge weights .
if that doesn't work you could try this ( it is what i had to do with my 45-120 )
find a nice slow burning powder that fills the case as close to 100% as possible for the heaviest weight bullet you can find reloading info on ( lets say it is a 600 grain bullet ).
work a load up till your either noticing signs of pressure , or can't fill the case with any more powder .
now take one of your heavy cast bullets , and trim the back of the bullet away till you get 625 grains of weight .
cut your powder back around 10 grains .
fire a few rounds till you get signs of pressure , or can't fill the case any further .
then repeat , but cut your bullet back to 650 grains , and reduce your 625 max powder by 10 grains .
repeat , bullet at 675 grains , powder charge 10 grains less than the max 650 weight . ............. keep doing this till you get up to the real weight of your bullets .
this is the most painful and time consuming way to do this
the powder i used for my 45-120 was imr 4831 , i would imagine it would work fairly well in your situation too
working up a load blind can be very dangerous , if your not very careful and take very small baby steps , watching carefully for signs of pressure .
in no way can i assume any liability if you manage to blow yourself up .
i am also assuming your rifle is on a modern action that will take high pressure loads , and not something made out of butter .
btw barnes bullets used to make a 600 grain " original " bullet if you can get reloading info from them that might save you some time rather than trying to work up a load from a 500 grain bullet.
hope this helps somewhat .
is very very close to the 458 lott any reloading info you find for it will be close enough to work with the lott .
you could email some of the powder companies out there tell them what you have and what would they recomend in the way of powders and charge weights .
if that doesn't work you could try this ( it is what i had to do with my 45-120 )
find a nice slow burning powder that fills the case as close to 100% as possible for the heaviest weight bullet you can find reloading info on ( lets say it is a 600 grain bullet ).
work a load up till your either noticing signs of pressure , or can't fill the case with any more powder .
now take one of your heavy cast bullets , and trim the back of the bullet away till you get 625 grains of weight .
cut your powder back around 10 grains .
fire a few rounds till you get signs of pressure , or can't fill the case any further .
then repeat , but cut your bullet back to 650 grains , and reduce your 625 max powder by 10 grains .
repeat , bullet at 675 grains , powder charge 10 grains less than the max 650 weight . ............. keep doing this till you get up to the real weight of your bullets .
this is the most painful and time consuming way to do this
the powder i used for my 45-120 was imr 4831 , i would imagine it would work fairly well in your situation too
working up a load blind can be very dangerous , if your not very careful and take very small baby steps , watching carefully for signs of pressure .
in no way can i assume any liability if you manage to blow yourself up .
i am also assuming your rifle is on a modern action that will take high pressure loads , and not something made out of butter .
btw barnes bullets used to make a 600 grain " original " bullet if you can get reloading info from them that might save you some time rather than trying to work up a load from a 500 grain bullet.
hope this helps somewhat .
