.458 Hornady 500 gr Jacketed soft point expansion

[WJM]

What is the minimum speed that you would get any significant expansion on a .458 Hornady 500 gr Jacketed Soft Point? I have some loaded for a 45-70 Gibbs bolt action at 1,600 and 1,750 fps. The 1,750 fps is what a .458 Magnum loaded to 2,100 fps would still be doing at 130 yards. At some point these would act like solids, but how slow a speed would it take. I e-mailed Hornady, but got no response.

[Con]

WJM,
On Sambar (elk-sized) the 500gr Hornady soft-point (reloaded) acts pretty much as a solid at 458WM velocity, and that's up close as well, on a frontal shot. At least that's what a mate of mine says. Now the Winchester 510gr soft is indeed soft and in my 458WM begins to expand even on game in the 100kg range. In my opinion there is a real need for someone to produce and make available to reloaders a non-premium soft 480gr projectile for medium to medium-large game. I realise this hasn't actually answered "how slow can the Hornady go before it fails to expand" but based on a friend's experiences I've steered away from this projectile in the 458WM... it doesn't suit my needs.
Cheers...
Con

[Lawdog]

WJM,

What are you planning on using them on ou of that Gibbs rifle of your?  If it is deer, hogs or Black Bear size game why not go down to the Hornady 350 gr. RNSP instead.  Works great out of my M70 .450 Marlin.  Lawdog
 

[Con]

Lawdog,
Ditto on the Hornady 350gr RNSP out of the 458WM at 2470fps. I've also heard its a great bullet in the 45/70 Marlin with the nose filed flat, but have yet to get round to that experiment.
Con

[Lawdog]

Con,

I've also heard its a great bullet in the 45/70 Marlin with the nose filed flat

Why go to the effort when Hornady already makes a 350 gr. flat nose for use in all .458 cartridges(.45-70 in a lever action) that require flat nose bullets?  The last wild boar I shot I used the Hornady 350 gr. RNSP out of my Ruger No. 1 .450 Marlin and the boar dropped at the shot with his mouth still in the hole he was eating from.  Very satisfying.  Lawdog
 

[Con]

Lawdog,
I'm in Australia remember?! The RN Hornady is easy to find as I've a feeling quite a few are used in 458WMs etc... the FN is less popular and hence a bit more challenging. When the 450 Marlin was released here there were rifles available but no ammunition, and no cases or dies for a few months. Regarding projectiles, I had a standing order with the Australian distributor for 300 Speer 0.475 Gold Dot projectiles, after 6 months of waiting I cancelled the order... poor service is the norm over here for "exotic big bore" stuff.

You guys in the States have it lucky but PLEASE dont take it for granted, we did to some extent and lost all our semi-autos (military, shotgun, rimfire) and pumps (shotgun) in 1996.   Now the "pistol buy-back" ends on the 31st March and we've lost to some extent most over .40 calibred handguns and those with barrels under a certain length.  :cry: In my state (Victoria), swords are about to be banned?!.... it seems there are too many Ninja and Lord of the Ring impersonators running at police. It's a sad state of affairs and a reflection on our notion of "freedom and safety" when criminals start to dictate State and Federal policy....
Cheers...
Con

[Lawdog]

Con,

I have a few friends down under and I know about your troubles.  What you need down there is a totally new leadership.  They can outlaw every type of firearm, swords and sharp implements of people choices and those that want to kill will find something to get the job done.  You guys need to exercise the power of the vote and get a governing body that will repeal those stupid laws you are being forced to live under.  I hope the Australians get everything straighten out.  Like to go down there someday and get in on some of that hunting.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[WJM]

Lawdog,
For my 45-70 Gibbs bolt action only (not my Marlin), I am just getting the 500 gr soft points loaded at a 2.93" OAL to 1,750 fps to have them. I am also getting some 350 gr Speers loaded at a 2.75 OAL to 2,225 fps and 400 gr Barnes (pointed bullet) at 2,050 fps.

[oso45-70]

LAWDOG,
this is kinda off the topic but had to say some thing about cons situation
down under, knowing how the country down there was settled by a bunch
of outcasts from their home land and being strong hearty people how in the world did they let somthing like that happen to them ? I've got a bunch of friends down under that i have met on the two way radio and they are some pretty neat folks, just seems a shame that some thing like that can happen. the great
 UN is trying to do the same thing to us here.
Ill shut up now that i said my bit. con if you are still on, good luck.
thanks lawdog,  Keep your powder dry,,,, Joe

[pc]

A brass company in Australia has just commenced making bullets and they have produced a non premium 480 gr .458 bullet. It is the same company that makes Bertram Brass.

[50 Calshtr]

Con,
   Try splitting the jacket noses with a Dremal tool and their cutoff abrasive tool. I haven't done it with this bullet but have with some .510 dia. 380 gr. bullets for my 500 BPE and produced bullets similar to the old British split nosed rounds.  Cut 4-6 slots, evenly spaced, back about 1/4 inch from the front of the jacket. This works great with the heavy jackets in my 500, they expand to the size of a quarter and retain 80-90% of their weight.
Best.