hunting moose/elk with a .458 win mag

Actually the .416 Rem. loaded with a 300X bullet at 2900 or a 350TSX at 2650 shoots plenty flat. The Rigby's just more of the same, and a big step up in recoil.
 
The 458 makes a great moose rifle,the 350gr X @ 2550 works wonders out to 250yds.I think the 350gr speer would work well at that speed as well.Just stay away from the 45/70 bullets as they are to soft when driven @458 speeds.
 
Use a well constructed bullet like a Barnes, in the lighter weight ranges (300-350g) and when you start to handload, tone them down a bit. If you shoot a load similar to a Ruger #1 45-70 load you should have plenty of power plus lighter felt recoil due to the heavier (generally) weight of the rifle.
 
ya sure 458 would work but why it's not going to kill any critter deader than say 308 or 270 and your only going to have a sore shoulder, less money in your wallet and an animal with a big hole in it. but it's you call
 
uphere said:
ya sure 458 would work but why it's not going to kill any critter deader than say 308 or 270 and your only going to have a sore shoulder, less money in your wallet and an animal with a big hole in it. but it's you call
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why do anything? i can't think of a better reason to get a 458 than "just because".
 
uphere said:
ya sure 458 would work but why it's not going to kill any critter deader than say 308 or 270 and your only going to have a sore shoulder, less money in your wallet and an animal with a big hole in it. but it's you call
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It may not kill them "deader" but I would sure rather a hit a 1500 pound Bull Moose in the shoulder with 458WM than with a .308 or .270 :) I think he's just putting the chances on his side plus he can say he has a .458 WM which is a previously mentioned a good conversation piece.
 
uphere said:
ya sure 458 would work but why it's not going to kill any critter deader than say 308 or 270 and your only going to have a sore shoulder, less money in your wallet and an animal with a big hole in it. but it's you call
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I think you will find a big slower moving slug causes less meat danage than a lighter and faster bullet.

I'm not saying the .458 is my first choice for Alberta game, but if it turns your crank, go for it. There are certainly worse choices. A .458 for moose certainly isn't much different than a hot loaded 45-70 or .450 Marlin for whitetails.
 
I shot a moose with my 450 Ackley and a 500 grain hornady soft nose.Moose was walking away from me a about 100 yards,gave it a texas heart shot down it went.I found the bullet just under the skin by the neck the bullet weighed 495 grains yet and was as big as a quarter.AS far a meat damage it was not bad the biggest mess was going through the intestines.If you have a 458 go for it.Its just like a car there,s no subsitute for Horse Power:D
 
doing a trade deal for one and should be in my possesion hopefully this coming weekend. thx for all the insight guys. it may be a bit much, and other calibres will do just fine, which i know first hand, but a .458 to me is like some sports cars to others, that you just have to have them and park them for most of the year. i am looking forward to posting pics of next years elk or moose with a 458 layingon its side:D i never did post 2006's elk did i?? lol
 
uphere said:
ya sure 458 would work but why it's not going to kill any critter deader than say 308 or 270 and your only going to have a sore shoulder, less money in your wallet and an animal with a big hole in it. but it's you call
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A .458 has certain advantages over the small bores.

These advantages are related to the .458's low to moderate velocity. Being a low velocity cartridge, bullet failure with soft points loaded in a .458 is a non issue. Meat damage is a product of bullet construction, velocity, and placement - the .458 will not ruin meat to the extent that a high velocity bullet will, if you keep the shot out of the shoulder. As for cost, it is cheaper to load the .458 with cast bullets than it is to load a .270 with premium bullets. Unlike some high velocity cartridges, the .458 does not need a premium bullet to work to it's potential on North American game. Cast bullets, Hornady Interlocks, and Remington 405gr flat points work every bit as well as Barnes X's in the .458.

As to recoil, these things are designed to be used by people, and the recoil can be managed by most if you allow yourself to work up to it. I had a light weight Interarms Mauser X prior to getting my 602. With full powered loads I could hold 3 shots prone without difficulty. If memory serves 5 would of been a chore. In normal weight bolt action rifles, most powerful rifles I find are similar in perceived recoil. My .375 Ultra is similar to what my .416 Rigby was, and the various .458's I've shot are again similar, and this is born out by the recoil calculator on my ballistics program. Even the .500 Nitro Express double rifle I shot in Tanzania did not have more apparent recoil, although the gun weighed about 13 pounds.

The .458 has short comings. Due to a steep trajectory, long range shooting is problem unless you have done a lot of long range shooting with it. Powder capacity is an issue with the .458's short case, and the standard 500 gr bullet seldom achieves the velocity claimed by the manufacturers. Lastly, being a straight wall design, normally loaded with a bullet which weighs an ounce or better, in some rifles, feeding is not as good as it might be.

I would not purchase another .458 unless the rifle's action was long enough to build it into a .460 G&A, essentially a .458 Ultra. I've had such good luck with my .375 that it is unlikely I will go to the expense of another custom rifle of this power.
 
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