It has taken eight years, but finally there is a post on a major forum that recognizes the full ballistic potential of the now historic .458 Winchester Magnum.
(The CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum .It was loaded for bear using the 350gr TSX.)
On that forum, I became a member nine years ago and began posting my results from handloads of a CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum. Not only did the moderator himself but many other powerful and influencing members gave me a tongue lashing you wouldn’t believe! They indicted me for not only publishing loads that were “impossible” but down-right dangerous that might get someone killed from an exploding rifle! At least that’s my lasting impression of the verbal exchanges of that era. Yet today, on the same forum, there is an extended presentation of several pages on the excellence of the great .458 Winchester Magnum. There are still a few naysayers, but on the whole the discussions are very positive with a great deal of sane testing results presented that bode well for the future of a very versatile cartridge that has proven itself to be one of the best for anything from hogs to elephant. There are several proofs for the justification of that belief and statement.
What are they?
FIRSTLY: My own experience. Of course, that is not objective proof for someone who doubts the probability of my results. But then, it has been, and still is, revealed time and again that some on the forum in question will not accept the outcome of tests presented by honest people — regardless of the objective data submitted. So, frankly, I just ignore such prejudice from those who pontificate that the returns introduced in favor of the .458 Winchester Magnum are neither possible nor safe. Why? Because they choose to lie about the methodology employed in assuming that those who put forth favorable evidence are lying. You know that universal truth: Every thief believes that everyone else steals so that’s the justification for their thievery! Everyone lies, so that’s the justification for lying! They are unable to discern truth when it is staring them in the face! You know, I’ve been a professional in my “job” for exactly sixty years this month of September. During that period, I’ve counselled thousands of people whether from pulpits or one on one, and what I discovered long ago is that some do not want to hear truth if it contradicts their lifestyle or the way they think!
In my personal experience with a CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum, using common components found at gun shops, 2200 fps was EASILY attained, or surpassed, firing the 500gr Hornady RN Interloc at SAAMI specs. When seated “long”, which that action and magazine permitted, I EASILY attained 2283 fps from a common, “off the shelf” powder (All of this is in my reloading manual on the .458 Winchester Magnum.). And none of that was obtained from AA2230, which is perhaps the best all-around powder today for that cartridge. That gunpowder was not available in our area until well after I’d finished my own testing and hunting with that rifle. Just before it was sold, I received a call from a gun shop that they had a one-pound can of AA2230 reserved for me. I picked it up and gave it a try. 74 grains gave a corrected to muzzle MV of 2227 fps from the 500gr Hornady. That was at a COL of 3.39″. Had I seated the bullet “out”, I don’t objectively know what the results could have been. But from H4895, with that bullet seated long, I attained 2283 fps without any hints of undue pressure.
Moreover, my hunting load for North American big game was the 350gr TSX at 2700 fps. That was from using RL-7. After the moose hunt in N. Ontario using that rifle and load, I found that in colder temps it lost 100 fps, and the bullet hit several inches below where it was sighted for the moose hunt! I then switched to H4198 (one grain less) and got these results: (H4198, as well as H335 proved to be very temperature resistant gunpowders.)
2746; 2745; 2748; 2748; 2744;; 2746 and 2746. Average = 2746 instrumental. Corrected to muzzle = 2760 fps/5919 ft-lbs.
Had that been the load taken to N. Ontario for the moose hunt, and a bull had shown up within 500 yards, I’d have taken the shot! Why? Take a look at this:
Rifle: CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum (Weight with five cartridges = 11.25 lbs)
Bullet = 350gr TSX (B.C. from my tests = at least .338)
Barrel = 25 inches
Powder = H4198 (80 grains – taken from Barnes #3 for the Lott at 82 grains max behind the 350gr XFB with a single groove. The B.C. of that bullet is listed at .402! But the 350 TSX is the same bullet with a couple more grooves. The bullet was crimped into the bottom groove for my rifle.)
Primer: WLRM
Case: Winchester
Ballistics:
MV = 2760 fps/5919 ft-lbs (zero @ 250 yds)
100 = 2505 fps/4876 ft-lbs/+ 3.37″ trajectory
200 = 2264 fps/3984 ft-lbs/+ 2.77″
300 = 2037 fps/3224 ft-lbs/-4.65 ”
400 = 1824 fps/2585 ft-lbs/-20.48″
500 = 1627 fps/2057 ft-lbs/-46.81″
NOTES:
1) Trajectory is nearly identical to my 9.3 x 62 load of a 286 NP at 2622 fps.
2) Recoil = 51.5 ft-lbs (I never noticed the recoil of that load when used in shooting a bear)
3) This is material from my manual on the CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum.
4) Barnes declares that the 350 TSX will give some expansion down to 1600 fps impact on big game.
5) For a moose-size animal, just hold two feet over the hump at 500 yards. There is still plenty of velocity and energy at that range. As a friend says, “It’s like the .30-06 on steroids!”
6) During a five day hunt for a bull moose in N.Ontario, I never noticed the rifle’s weight or length, both of which contributed to steadiness of hold. The only condition where I would have wished for something handier and lighter was in moving through tight brush and alders. There, I would have preferred my former Ruger M77 in .458 Win Mag with it’s 22″ barrel and shorter action with overall weight at about 9.5 lbs. That too had previously gone on a moose hunt in extreme weather conditions.
(Average results from the 350gr TSX from my CZ550)
ABOUT B.C. (ballistic coefficient)
This topic is important for a number of reasons:
It is useful in helping to predict the trajectory of a given bullet. There are a number of easily accessible online programs, such as hornady.com and realguns.com. I’ve had one on my desktop for years. There are places for input of muzzle velocity (which we must know) and ambient conditions, such as temperature, elevation and relative humidity. Also for wind direction and strength.
If we know the muzzle velocity of a given bullet and its B.C., we can then know its impact velocity and energy.
Taking into account the construction and shape of the bullet, as well as impact velocity, we then can generally have confidence as to results, or if that particular bullet is appropriate for our intentions. For example:Just now I’ve begun a testing sequence for a couple of .458-cal bullets. So far, I’ve only partially accomplished my first goal — their suitability at reduced velocity for shorter-range hunting of black bear, deer or a calf moose. The velocity will be about 1700 – 1750 fps.
Accuracy has significance that may be somewhat challenging, which has only partially been achieved in my current tests. But we want enough for the purpose envisioned So far it’s looking pretty good, especially from the lighter of the two bullets. The first was purchased only a few weeks ago, being a 25 count box of 500gr SPEER African Grand Slams. The other is a 480gr Hornady DGX that I purchased a few years ago, and have shot twenty of the fifty in two rifles, the CZ550 and my Ruger in .45-70. Just now they are being tested in my Ruger. At 50 yards, three Speers went into 1″ and three DGX went into a ragged hole at 0.45″. The Speer was chronographed at 1700 fps and I assume at the moment that the 480 is doing about 1750 from the same charge of powder. I’ll test that bullet over the Chrony to be certain of that assumption. It has a flat point verses a RN of the Speer with a lot of lead exposed. More tests coming to confirm accuracy at 100.
While this has little to do with B.C., yet it’s very important. It has to do with penetration tests. That will be upcoming and reported on. I use dry glossy magazines in a cardboard box… this is a tough test for any bullet and simulates bone. I’m expecting the DGX to out-penetrate the Speer 500gr AGS, but the Speer may make a broader cavity. We’ll see.
SECONDLY: (as proof) At least four of the reloading manuals in my possession give loads that reveal muzzle velocities for 500 grain softs and solids in EXCESS of 2150 fps. These results are from Hornady, Hodgdon, Barnes and Accurate Powder. The average for 500s is 2188 fps/5317 ft-lbs from 24″ test equipment. Interestingly enough, former writer and PH, Finn AAgaard, tested .458 Win Mag factory ammo in five rifles, and his own 23″ semi-custom .458 gave the best results from a 500gr Federal Premium load at 2188 fps without a hint of excessive pressure!
THIRDLY: (as proof) the current thread on Accurate Reloading Forum (referenced at the start of this article) under “BIG BORES, .458 Winchester Magnum”, provides ample proof against any possible legitimate argument that the now historic (and in my view “great”) .458 Winchester Magnum is more than capable for any large and dangerous game on this planet!
(My load for moose and bear in the CZ550. A bl. bear was cleanly taken with this load)
Of course, all that has been demonstrated since “forever”. A close friend and buddy who went to Kenya in the early sixties as a teacher/administrator at the famous Rift Valley Academy, took two Winchester rifles for personal hunting of big game: a Model 70 in .300 Win Mag and a Model 70 in the original .458 Winchester Magnum African. He shot “truckloads” of DG and plains game, including many Cape buffalo and elephant with the supposedly “weak” factory ammo of the era! Amazingly enough, he never once recognized any weaknesses on those beasts, or complained about it! He used the sale of the elephant tusks to finance his and his family’s furloughs to Canada.
ABOUT S.D. (sectional density)
S.D. is explained in several ways, but the simplest and most common is to state that it’s the ratio of weight to the diameter of the bullet. Of course, bullets may vary in diameter, especially the nose profile. But assuming the bullet was a cylinder of a particular weight, the formula would look like this: the weight of the bullet in pounds divided by the square of it’s diameter: (example: a 500gr in .458-caliber) S.D. = 500/7000 = 0.0714285/0.209764 ((.458 x .458 = .209764)) = .3405 S.D.)
The Hornady Handbook, 9th Edition states: “Bullets of the same shape but with more weight in relation to their diameter retain their velocity and energy better”, pg 912.
I would add: “and same construction also penetrate better, other factors being equal”. That’s why, for example, that for large-tough game where penetration is a must to break bone and reach vitals, the heavier (or “heaviest”) bullets are used in a given caliber even though energy may be equal at impact. It’s a demonstrable fact (I believe) that a 330gr FP solid in .458-cal at 2612 fps MV (5000 ft-lbs) will be out-penetrated by a 500gr solid FP at 2122 MV (5000 ft-lbs), if construction and shape are the same, in a frontal impact on a bull elephant. Why? Because for the 330gr to have the same momentum it would have to leave the muzzle at 3215 fps! Plus, it will lose it’s initial velocity much quicker as S.D. is a real factor in B.C. as well. I have some 330gr Barnes Banded Solids in .458″. They have a FP and their B.C. was rated at less than .200 (before they were “Banned”!) whereas their 500gr Banded Solid FP is rated at .394! The 330s shoot well and give excellent velocity from my Ruger but I’m unsure they’re legal for anything this side of the pond. But which would you choose for elephant? In ALL the videos I’ve watched on elephant hunting, heavyweight bullets per caliber were used with high S.Ds.
(A 480 Hornady DGX and a 500 Hornady Interloc RN – with the tip made flat on purpose to give better effect)
I’m firmly persuaded that for large-dangerous game where breaking of bones is often a necessary factor, as well as deep penetration, nothing beats a large caliber employing bullets of proper construction with high sectional densities. Of course, bullets must be placed where they will do the most good (harm).
The .458 Winchester Magnum leaves nothing on the table in that regard. With today’s bullets and powders, it is better than ever.
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL