Last year my boy shot a 350 pounds black bear with my Zastava 458 WM. It was dead before it it the ground, i would compare the killing same like when you shoot a marmott with a 22-250. This caliber is so powerfull, i was colored impress when i saw that
Hunting North American game with dangerous game calibers?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
With modern bullets the .416s can be plenty flat for longer range shooting. Trajectory suffers with .458 diameter because of BC, when I’ve packed .458s I’m considering it to be sort of inside a couple of hundred yards. Totally agree on the decisive kills with smaller magnums. Shot lots with 300 win and wby also 340. They work very well. I just like to use my big guns.
I'm hoping to do the same this year, I've been seeing some big black bears in recent years.
Blood shot meat could be limited by using big heavy bullets traveling at moderate speeds (approx.1,800fps-2,200fps.), is the theory as I heard it on here. It's one of the reasons I'm for it.
I own a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .416 Ruger.
It's Stainless Steel with factory synthetic stock and Leupold scope. Empty it weighs 8.6lb on the bathroom scale.
With factory rounds it shoots about as hard as any of my 12ga. pumps. Loaded down, I find it's pretty easy on the shoulder.
Haven't had any luck hunting with it yet!
It's Stainless Steel with factory synthetic stock and Leupold scope. Empty it weighs 8.6lb on the bathroom scale.
With factory rounds it shoots about as hard as any of my 12ga. pumps. Loaded down, I find it's pretty easy on the shoulder.
Haven't had any luck hunting with it yet!
Sounds like a sweet rig right there. When you say factory synthetic stock, is that different from the green laminate ones shown today on the Ruger website? Ruger lists the current rifles as 8.1lbs.
So following that guideline, it sounds like 45-70 and 458 WinMag would produce minimal bloodshot meat.
No, it's a rubber (of some sort) Ruger stock. Feels weird but shoots well and you would have to be really trying to hurt it, to do any damage to it.
I have the Ruger green laminate stock on their Scout rifle but that is made of glue and wood.
Question for you more experienced big bore hunters.
I picked up an assortment of .458 WinMag ammo for my new Model 70 and am trying to sort out what would be the most practical loads for Moose and black bear this fall.
Half of what I purchased were 500 grain solids, I'm guessing I can set these aside as my expensive plinking rounds or "one day trip to Africa" rounds.
Of the remaining expanding options I have:
1. Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw - 400 Grain
2. Barnes TSX Triple Shock - 450 Grain
3. Hornady DGX - 500 Grain
4. Federal Trophy Bonded Bonded Bear Claw - 500 Grain.
I've seen many on here recommend using 300-350 grain loadings for their .458's but those seem to be exclusive to reloading which isn't on the table just yet. All hunting will be done inside of 200m.
I picked up an assortment of .458 WinMag ammo for my new Model 70 and am trying to sort out what would be the most practical loads for Moose and black bear this fall.
Half of what I purchased were 500 grain solids, I'm guessing I can set these aside as my expensive plinking rounds or "one day trip to Africa" rounds.
Of the remaining expanding options I have:
1. Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw - 400 Grain
2. Barnes TSX Triple Shock - 450 Grain
3. Hornady DGX - 500 Grain
4. Federal Trophy Bonded Bonded Bear Claw - 500 Grain.
I've seen many on here recommend using 300-350 grain loadings for their .458's but those seem to be exclusive to reloading which isn't on the table just yet. All hunting will be done inside of 200m.
Is that available in any factory ammo?
Buffalo Bore also does .458 WM 400gr TSX ammo @ 2250 fps mv lightest bullet factory load AFAIK along with Federal 400gr TBBC. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=589
500gr work pretty good for me.
I like how they put it: "458 diameter bullets, if constructed properly, are serious killers. In fact, you really do not need expanding bullets in 458. The bullet diameter alone, even with solids, simply kills assuming sufficient penetration."
500gr work pretty good for me.
I like how they put it: "458 diameter bullets, if constructed properly, are serious killers. In fact, you really do not need expanding bullets in 458. The bullet diameter alone, even with solids, simply kills assuming sufficient penetration."
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I was just looking at that Buffalo Bore load, haven't been able to find any in stock in Canada though. Looks like 400 grain is about as light as I'll find until I start reloading.
I'd use 400gr TBBC @ 2250 fps mv w/o hesitation should work pretty good too on whatever. https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/premium-safari/safari-trophy-bonded-bear-claw/11-P458T1.html
i do not think so.
7in drop at 200 on those isn't horrible either, especially compared to say a 45-70.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The solution really is to buy a .375 H&H. It does everything you’re wanting to do, better. Shoot the two side by side on moose and bears, and you’ll see a trend over the seasons in favour of the faster .375. I have more reverence for the .458 Lott, however few including myself enjoy the recoil.
.458s aren’t without merit, they smash heavy bone and penetrate six feet when needed. Problem is that’s a rare calling on this continent, of thin skinned game that react more to a modicum of speed than bullet weight. It’s becoming a rarer and rarer calling anywhere frankly, as we destroy the last great wildernesses.
That’s the .458’s allure, it’s a monster rifle, without truly monster recoil. That captivates the imagination, even if a .30-06, .300, .338, or .375 will serve better for what we want to do here.
.458s aren’t without merit, they smash heavy bone and penetrate six feet when needed. Problem is that’s a rare calling on this continent, of thin skinned game that react more to a modicum of speed than bullet weight. It’s becoming a rarer and rarer calling anywhere frankly, as we destroy the last great wildernesses.
That’s the .458’s allure, it’s a monster rifle, without truly monster recoil. That captivates the imagination, even if a .30-06, .300, .338, or .375 will serve better for what we want to do here.
