458 Win. Mag. & 350gr bullets

[Slamfire]

Got a super deal on a couple of boxes of Hornady Dangerous Game Series 500gr 458 Win. Mag. ammo ($140 regular price). Nice artwork on the ammo box.

Muzzle speed is stated as 2260 fps on the back of the box. I've used the 500gr Hornady Interlock bullet on Moose in my 458 WM at about 1900 fps muzzle speed with excellent results so I see no need to drive a bullet that heavy that fast

Instead I pulled the rounds apart and re-did these using 350gr bullets and Re7 (in hindsight I should have verified the claimed muzzle speed which seems inflated?). The 7th edition of the Hornady Handbook lists 350gr bullet speed around 2400 fps using 72.0 gr of Re7 and chronograph results agree. 3 shots off the bench at 100 yards grouped about 1". Loads with Speer 350gr HCFN bullets have approximately the same impact point.

I would hate to crack the stock firing the factory loads. Recoil energies compared: 82 ft-lbs for the factory load vs. 51 ft-lbs for my 350gr handload.

http://www.shooterscalculator.com/recoil-calculator.php

350gr load chronograph reading 6m from the muzzle

Remington 798 458 Win. Mag. with Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm

 

[Buckmastr]

That's too bad you couldn't find a reason to shoot the 500 gr hornady factories. That's what a 458 is for!

 

[Slamfire]

Not worth the risk of developing CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

 

[8x68]

Stock shouldn't crack. You've got a good strong Mauser action and two crossbolts. Rifle looks like it has a bit of weight to it and a decent recoil pad. 458WM is a pussy cat compared to the 458 Lott I had. I prefer to shoot my 450 Rigby instead. I played around with the 350gr Hornady bullets as well. They were zipping out at 2700fps.

 

[Slamfire]

I also have a 458 Lott, it's a custom Sako AV. Capable of firing a 500gr bullet at 2300 fps. Same as with my 458 WM I see no need to fire a bullet that heavy that fast. Works just fine with lighter bullets.

 

[8x68]

I'd be interested to know what rifle/barrel length they used to test it. Some boys like it hot some don't. If I'm going after Cape Buffalo though 2260fps is going to get the nod over 1900fps

 

[Slamfire]

Their website currently lists 458 DGS 500gr ammo at 2140 fps from a 24" barrel, not 2260 fps.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/458-win-500-gr-dgx-superformance#!/

 

[Dogleg]

I used the 350 grain TSX @ 2650 fps a fair bit culling water buffalo. It worked OK, and dropped perceived recoil
Down into .375 H&H territory. The Hornady was my plinking bullet, I don't remember shooting anything with it.

 

[Slamfire]

Oh ya right what was I thinking - if those various species of British Columbia Pachydermata I've been hearing about ever begin to migrate eastward then I would have a need to fire a bullet that heavy that fast. No problem just re-assemble back to original form. Except head shots are required then it would be a real bugger to properly bleed out these massive beasts.