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Naa - LOL - just playing with it and various loads since 1975. Some light loads too along with 400's at 2,150fps, 350's at 2,296fps and 510gr. WW at 2,060fps. In an 8 pound rifle, they still booted somewhat.
Ya...I am shooting 350 gr. Speer and 350 gr. TSX out of my .458 for hunting at home. Using AA2230 and pushing them along at just over 2,450 fps. I could no doubt get a wee bit more velocity but there is no point. Both bullets shoot nice tight groups and they are putting out more than enough horsepower for anything I pull the trigger on here...which is usually bear and they are always DRT with a bounce. Certainly do not need to use it here either but the only way to stay completely familiar with it is to pack it around hunting at home.
Why not! With better powders the .458 Win Mag is very capable. I would load 480 gr Woodleighs in it not 500 or 510 gr projectiles. A much much more capable cartridge than a .45/70. The .458 Win Mag has an element of recent vintage nostalgia. IMO.
I considered a Whitworth K98 sold by 4seventy on here once. I remember the .458 Win Mag M70 African with fondness from catalogues maybe 1980? I wanted one back then. A cannon!
Yes all of the new advances in powders and bullets, etc. has changed things for so many older cartridges. I used a Brno 602 in .458 WM to shoot my first cape buffalo close to 40 years ago. Back then most of the PH's wanted you to use solids as they didn't trust many of the cup and core bullets at that time. Now we have so many great expanding bullets that are bonded or monmetal that are up to the job and as you mentioned, you can back down a bit on weight with a 480 grain Woodleigh or the Hornady bonded DGX. There are also 450 grain bullets in both expanding and solid configuration that are good choices.
My current and last .458 is a Win. Model 70 CRF version of the Safari Express. It now has a composite stock and the barrel was shortened to 21 inches and NECG sights put on and Cerakoted. It is a joy to pack around.
Modern bonded bullets are amazing, IMHO... I have told this story a lot.. BUT, during one hunt in Zim I shot a buffalo at about 80 yards using my .416 Rem.. 400gr A-Frames.. PH asked if I had a soft in ..said yes..he said take him.. I fired.. took him AND the bull standing on his off side.. PH said he had never seen that happen before in 20+ years of guiding buff hunters..
Have never used anything other than those bullets since.. with the exception of high mtn hunts..using accubonds..
Differnce I have found is the Swift's hold up to crazy velocities where the Accubonds will not.
I am running my 28 Nosler at 3150 with Swift 175's .. Ran my 300RUM at over 3300 with Swift 180's.. all held up no matter what the distance was near or far.. Accubonds will not do that.. much thinner jacket.. Accubonds work best with 3000 fps or less ..used them in Africa the first trip out of my 300RUM.. mistake..
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