Author Topic: 458 American or 458 X 2  (Read 1526 times)

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Offline btmidwest

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458 American or 458 X 2
« on: December 18, 2011, 04:16:49 PM »
Hi Folks,  I'm purchasing a 458 American bolt action and would appreciate any reloading data anyone could give.  I also would like to experiement with trimming some brass to 1.8" to use for deer hunting in Indiana.  Any help with that would be appreciated as well.  Thanks, Bill   

Offline Thebear_78

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Re: 458 American or 458 X 2
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2011, 03:32:46 AM »
I had one built on a remington 600 action.   Really slick little rifle.   The only real load I shot out of mine was a speer 350gr SP @ just under 2000fps.  It was a really accurate and deadly load.   The 450 marlin is almost identical case capacity and you can use 450 marlin starting loads to start 458 2".  I think I have some more load data squirreled away around here somewhere and will see if I can dig it up for you.





Offline btmidwest

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Re: 458 American or 458 X 2
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2011, 07:43:13 AM »
Nice rifle!!  Thanks for any data you can dig up.  I've looked at the speer 350's.  Did you shoot any deer size game with them and if so did the bullets expand?  I've been told they were designed for the 458 mag and I'm curious how they did in your American.  Thanks for sharing. 

Offline Thebear_78

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Offline btmidwest

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Re: 458 American or 458 X 2
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2011, 11:50:12 PM »
Thanks Bear,   I appreciate the link.   One of those loads showed a COL of 2.5 with a 300 grain hornday bullet which seems a little long for a bullet .728 long.  Do you have the COL of the round you were using?   The best I've come up with so far would be a max COL of 2.45" using 450 marlin spec's and adjusting for the .1 difference in case length.  I realize different rifles could vary and bullet length/seating depth has to be worked out.  Thanks again.

Offline Pine Point

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Re: 458 American or 458 X 2
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2012, 06:49:52 AM »
Cartridges of the World  5th edition   gives 51gr. 4198 for 350 and 400gr. jacketed.
These are from Frank Barnes,the originator.

Offline bigswede

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Re: 458 American or 458 X 2
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2012, 12:03:34 PM »
My grandfather had a 458 American when I was a kid.  My great grandfather had built it off of a VZ 24 mauser.  Don't remember much else about it.  The rifle and dies went to one of my uncles who sadly doesn't shoot or hunt, it will probably sit in the back of his clothes closet for another 30 years :'(
"LIVE TO HUNT, HUNT TO LIVE"