Stick a fork in me!

[corbanzo]

Cause I am done testing these loads!!

Well, I did it, I broke 3,000fps with my .458 lott. 

And I did it, for the most part, with a book load.

And my shoulder is glad he doesn't have to get through any more.  About half way through the .458 session, I put on my big carhartt coat and put a folded up towel under it on the shoulder.  Nice.

The max for a 300 grain bullet with H4198 is 85 grains of powder.  With 85 grains, I achieved a max speed of 2986fps

The results for that load were:
 
2986 fps
2978 fps
2974 fps
2963 fps

The max speeds achieved today were

3017 and 3052, but were with loads I will not post.  I don't recommend it, but just FYI it can be done.  Most of the hot loads were only around 2990, so you really won't gain too much.

I also just sat the bullets just up to the bottom of the crimp groove, leaving a little bit longer OAL with such a small bullet in the case.

[gwindrider1]

Should be hell on Gophers!

[jro45]

I didn't know they or who makes 300gr bullets for the 458 Lott. I usually shoot 500gr bullets out of my lott.

Thats good news

[Thebear_78]

I bet you could have gotn those 250gr X bulelts really scooting!

[corbanzo]

Yep, I'll have to get my hands on some of those!!   My shoulder is doing better now, that day I shot over 100 rounds of -06 for accuracy load testing before I pulled out the .458... long day!

These are the 300grn HP from Hornady.   Hornady and Barnes are the only ones I know of who makes a .458 bullet that small. 

[jager]

Interesting load you developed there, Corbanzo! I've a friend in VA that has used a 300grHP Sierra (yup, they make them in .458 diameter) "stoked" to 2500fps in a Browning 1885 to shoot ground hog (for effect!). He said within 150 yards the resulting hit was a "fur bomb" with no disernable parts to be found. I've shot my 1885 with 300gr. bullets loaded to 2300fps and that was all the recoil I wanted in a 8.3 pound rifle! By-the-way, my friend told me the Hornady 300gr. had a "thicker" jacket than the Sierra; he has reason to know since for two seasons he used both bullets on several axis deer, goats, and wild pigs on his friend's Texas ranch. He has since settled on 2100fps as a maximum with either bullet, as have I. I'd be interested on what kind of accuracy you got with you "3000" load? I'd imagine a pretty good "jump" to the riflings for that "shot for caliber" 300gr. bullet. I heard of good reports from .458 WinMag users when using Speer's 350gr Flat Nose bullet; combining good accuracy and much less recoil than the usual 500gr load. I've used this bullet on paper and it performs very well in my 1885.

[corbanzo]

All that I put throught the tube where chrono specifics, I might load up a few more and see what I can hit with them... maybe something???  We will see. 

[Lone Star]

Currently available 300-grain jacketed .458" bullets include the Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Nosler, Barnes and Remington.  350s and 400/405s are available from some of those too. 



.

[john keyes]

The max for a 300 grain bullet with H4198 is 85 grains of powder

Holy cow.  I load 45/70 and thought the 458 was just  a little more. 
correction: its a WHOLE "lott" more.

[handirifle]

The max for a 300 grain bullet with H4198 is 85 grains of powder

Holy cow.  I load 45/70 and thought the 458 was just  a little more. 
correction: its a WHOLE "lott" more.

Just remember the 458 Mag is less than the 458 Lott, those are BIG cases!

[corbanzo]

And believe me, making a compressed load in a .458lott case is an awesome sight. 

[Tencubed]

The 85 grain load giving just under 3000 FPS would indicate the Lott, which I have never been around, is very similar to the old 450 Watts Magnum.  The loads for the Watts give 2950 FPS with that load and 3030 with 90 grains of 4198.  It's possible to exceed these levels a little but the velocity gain is very slight for the additional powder burned and, as you have mentioned, the recoil and muzzle blast are at maximum levels.

I've seen experienced shooters decide they wanted some lighter loads after shooting a few rounds of the near maximum stuff.  When shooting off a bench I use a shoulder pad and put a heavy sandbag between my shoulder and the butt.

H. B. Anderson, of Yakima, Washington, developed the Watts at the request of the fellow it's named after.  Mr. Anderson built the two 450's I have and told me he saw no real purpose for "that much horsepower in a rifle used on this continent".  I respect his point of view but still enjoy those big old cannons.  Both of my Andersons are built on heavily modified Enfield actions and have 24" barrels, they could use a bit more length.

Mike