Reloading for the 458 win mag

[Dogmann]

Anyone load the 458 win mag light? Maybe in the the mild to mid 45/70 range.... What are you using and how much?

[vk4ale]

Hi Dogmann,I have been loading the 458 for a good while now , I use Winchester brass, win primas and have tried caste and jacketed and now I just use jacketed bullets,The powder I use is Ar2206H low loads and  Reloader 7 for  faster loads in 350gn and 405gn bullets and Ar2206h(H4895) for the 500gn bullets.I only partly size my brass and I crimp using a Lee factory crimp die.A good accurate  medium  load is win brass win prima 68gn Ar2206h powder 405 rem bullet OAL 3.240inLee crimp die 1850FPS.    .I use win brass win prima 64gn R/7 powder 405 rem bullet same OAL and crimp 2000 FPS 22inch barrel, for shooting deer any where out to about 300yards on Oat crops with this load.  I use same brass ,prima, and crimp die and 500gn hornady interlock bullets 64gn AR2206h OAL3.310 ,  1850FPS.All these loads will average around 1in at 100yards.Australia make AR2206H and export it to the U S A to be sold as H4895 also AR2208 (Varget).I do have lighter loads if you need .Cheers Allan.

[Dogmann]

Lighter loads and info would be great. Thanks

[vk4ale]

Hi Dogmann,With trimmed winchester brass ,Win mag prima and 405rem bullet  and AR2206H powder and using the Lee Factory crimp die   with OAL of 3.240,   ,62gn  of powder 1600fps  65gn of powder 1720fps.  with no filler.

[Dogmann]

Will this work with a 400-405 grain cast?

[vk4ale]

Hi Dogman, Win brass, win mag prima Hornady 500gn bullet Lee factory crimp die  with OAL of 3.320.  56gn AR2206H=1550 fps ,  57gn=1605fps,  60gn =1675fps. thats with trimmed brass and 22in barrel I have my own Chrono.Allan

[vk4ale]

Hi Dogmann, I only tested 500gn caste bullets from 1450fps  up to 1630fps.     53gn AR2206H 500gn hard caste OAL 3.220  .  1450fps.    55gn AR2206H=1545.    56.5gn AR2206H =1630fps.

[Dogmann]

I have
350g cast gas check pile drivers
400g cast gas check pile divers
500g round nose solids

That's what I'd like to work with right now. 

[vk4ale]

Most 458mag  rifles have a long throat so I never tried the 400, 405 caste bullets as even the 405 rem jacket had to be crimped on the bottom canular in my rifle 3.240OAL, and at that length it can cut holes at 100yards. the caste 400 may work in your rifle ,check the Hodgen loading data for OAL of the caste.Allan . 

[vk4ale]

Start the 400gn gas check at 60gn of AR2206H  and that should give you about 1500fps. the 500gn round nose would be fine to try the low 500gn caste load  I gave you .Cheers Allan .I am not  good at typing.

[JeffG]

460 gr Cast Bullet Performance gas check.
40-50 gr Hodgdon H322
Remington magnum primer.
1600-1700 fps
Easy recoil.
They hit like wet snowballs!

[mauserand9mm]

A really light load is:
405gn cast bullet and 20gns Trailboss for 1000fps (ie sub-sonic).
I've only used it on rabbits so far (seriously). I used 500gn cast at 1600fps on pigs but suspect the sub-sonic loads may have had some merit here too.