With the current proliferation of “new and better” rifle cartridges, why would anyone choose a rifle cartridge of over a hundred years old? Yet, some of those are still favorites among many knowledgeable hunters and handloaders. Here’s a short list: .45-70 (148 years old), .223 Remington 1957), .243 Winchester (1955), .25-06 Remington (as a “cat” to 1920), 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mauser (1894), .270 Winchester (1925), 7 mm Remington Magnum (1962), .30-30 Winchester (1895), .30-06 Springfield (1906), .300 Winchester Magnum (1963), .338 Winchester Magnum (1958), .35 Whelen (1922 as a “cat”), 9.3 x 62 (1905), .375 H&H (1912), .416 Rigby (1911), .458 Winchester Magnum (1956), and .500 Jeffery (1920). Apologies for not including your favorite.
But the point is that any found in that list can more than accomplish all that was intended for them at the time of their introduction, and they are even better today in newly manufactured rifles and in loading the best available components in both powders and bullets. In fact, it is claimed that any of those mentioned, plus some others that have not been, can accomplish with lighter bullets today than what was deemed essential in days of yore. But none of those rifle cartridges are less than fifty-eight years old and nine are over one-hundred, with the still favorite .45-70 wearing that crown at 148 years!
< A modern single-shot in .45-70 Springfield
Lest I be misunderstood, I’m not necessarily negative toward anything that’s new or better, as such! Yet, name one rifle cartridge (not the rifle) that has been introduced in the 21st century that’s “better than” anything that has preceded it! Granted, we are still less than a quarter century into the 21st, but let’s notice how many innovative cartridges were introduced during the first quarter of the 20th century, some as wildcats that became favorites with hunters and later legitimised. Of those listed, I’ve never owned (or handloaded) a 243 Winchester (though I recommended it to our youngest son), a .30-30 Winchester, a .416 Rigby or the .500 Jeffery.
A couple of .223 Rems and a .25-06 have fulfilled anything a .243 Win could do for me, and as to .30-calibers, I’ve owned three .30-06’s and eight .300 magnums. Several mediums have been owned and on the top end the great .458 Win Mag does it all, plus! All have been handloaded and taken on some hunting expeditions. So, really, I’m not fascinated by anything introduced this century or less than fifty years old!
But I do like new rifles and “best” handloading components, as well as improved methods and technologies!
If I had to choose three rifles from those listed — and I already have two of ’em — they’d be:
1 – a .25-06 Remington (for varmints and predators – except bears)
2 – the 9.3 x 62 that I already have (for deer to moose)
3 – the .458 Winchester Magnum that I already own (It can do it all — whatever I want!). There are 250gr monos to 550gr Woodleighs. My favorites thus far are: 300gr TSX’s at up to 2980 fps (that’s “up to”, not necessarily what I plan to use for hunting. My hunting load is around 2775 fps). The 450gr Swift A-Frame at “up to” 2400+fps and/or the 450 TSX at the same approximate speed. Then I’m just taken with the 480gr DGX (by Hornady) at anything between 1750 fps to 2350 fps. If it never expands, it’s still a killer with that flat point! I’d really like to have a suitable 400gr for most anything at up to 2600 fps. I’ve gotten 2590 fps from my favorite 400gr X-Bullet but, alas, Barnes doesn’t make ’em anymore! Yet, I still hold onto a handful for the right bear or moose.
So many things to do, and so little time to do it in! So I’ll be content with what I have…. there’s really nothing lacking therein!
Right now…
My load for bear come September 1st is either the 405gr Remington at 2085 fps or the 400gr Barnes Buster at about the same speed. From the same 75 grain load of RL-15 they shoot into a single hole at 50 yards! COL for the 405gr load is 3.26″ and the 400gr Buster load is 3.3″.
Following are some ballistic profiles of the 405 Remington and 400 Buster from the Ruger #1 Tropical in .458 Win Mag — keeping in mind that these are relatively modest or reduced loads, more than adequate for bear at any suitable range. And should there be need for full penetration of any large critter then the Buster will deliver that at down to 1200 – 1400 fps impact. Also, a comparison with one of the .458’s offsprings will be made for interest’s sake. Please also keep in mind that 2100 fps is a median load for a 400gr from the great .458 Win Mag. I’m sure you’ve noticed that 2600 fps is available for certain 400s from .458 Win + loads. That is with a COL that equals or exceeds the Lott. 2600 fps = 6004 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at the muzzle and about 2800 ft-lbs at 500 yards from the 400gr X-Bullet. So, my “bear” load, while not “mild” at just over 3900 ft-lbs at the muzzle is still “only” 65% of my .458’s full potential! That’s why a .458 Win Mag has to be considered one the most versatile cartridges extant for the handloader who understands and can manage its potential in either direction… up or down!
Cartridge: .458 Winchester Magnum in a Ruger #1 Tropical
Bullet: 405gr Remington; SD = .276; BC = .281
Powder: 75 grains of RL-15
WLRM primers
Hornady cases
MV = 2085 fps/ 3909 ft-lbs/ 178 TE
50 = 1954 fps/ 3433 ft-lbs/ 156 TE
100= 1829 fps/ 3007 ft-lbs/ 137 TE
150= 1709 fps/ 2627 ft-lbs/ 120 TE
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Bullet: 400gr Barnes Buster; SD = .272; BC = .242
MV = 2100 fps/ 3916 ft-lbs/ 176 TE
50 = 1948 fps/ 3369 ft-lbs/ 151 TE
100= 1803 fps/ 2888 ft-lbs/ 130 TE
200= 1539 fps/ 2102 ft-lbs/ 94 TE
250= 1420 fps/ 1792 ft-lbs/ 80 TE
300= 1314 fps/ 1532 ft-lbs/ 69 TE
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Cartridge: .338 Win Mag
Bullet: 250gr Nosler Partition; SD = .313; BC = .473
MV = 2750 fps/ 4197 ft-lbs/ 118 TE
50 = 2658 fps/ 3922 ft-lbs/ 110 TE
100 =2569 fps/ 3662 ft-lbs/ 103 TE
150 =2481 fps/ 3416 ft-lbs/ 96 TE
200 =2395 fps/ 3183 ft-lbs/ 89 TE
300 =2228 fps/ 2754 ft-lbs/ 77 TE
350 =2148 fps/ 2557 ft-lbs/ 72 TE
Some notes on the above:
A – Sight-ins are not included because that is a variable depending on hunting area and game. However, my Ruger #1 in .458 is already sighted with the two loads: 50 yards zero for the 405 Remington and -0.69″ at 100 yards. The 400 Buster is sighted at 100 yards zero; both for bear. At 50 yards they made a single ragged hole from two of each. The 400gr Buster could be used on anything at any practical range where velocity is still 1400 fps or better. A side brain shot on an elephant would completely penetrate the skull at 1400 fps, or perhaps even less.
B – The TE (terminal effect) numbers are a particular result of KE, SD and CSA (cross-section-area of bullet). It’s similar in some ways to TKO. But the point being that bullet momentum plus caliber and sectional density have a greater effect on larger game than KE only, however those are combined.
C – So, for bear I rely on bullet caliber and weight more than KE only. That concept has proven itself to me more times than not.
D – That .338 Win Mag load is considered max or nearly so from a 24″ barrel. Recoil from an 8.5 lb rifle ready to shoot is about 40 ft-lbs KE. The recoil from the two “bear loads” in my #1 Ruger in .458 is 31.5 ft-lbs. Of course, the .458 is two pounds heavier and has (for some) the dreaded Mag-na-ports, especially for any standing beside the muzzle which NEVER happens in the type of hunting I do. From my end of the rifle, I never notice the muzzle “blast” more than a non-ported rifle. In actual fact, my Ruger 77 in .458 Win Mag was far worse with its 22″ barrel, non ported! And, yes, those loads were “mild” too.
< Two 405s made the “hole” at target center and two 400 Barnes Busters made the hole to the right of it slightly higher. The ragged hole measures .458″ x 1.08″. Widest spread from center to centre of the four is .60″ as best I could measure with a caliper. The target was at 50 yards and shot Wednesday, July 21, 2021.
(The small holes were made a month earlier in shooting my CZ 455 .22LR at 100 yards).
Of course, you could kill almost anything with a side brain shot. Our oldest son, Brent, has taken many warthogs in Africa with such shots from his single-shot .22 LR. Warthogs were their source of protein.
< So, how well do I like the Ruger No.1 in .458 Winchester Magnum? Since I very much like the No.1 Rugers (I’ve owned several) and the .458 Win Mag cartridge, together they make an excellent marriage in my view. Of course, something nobody wants is a “lightweight” .458 Win Mag! Lightweight rifles are “in”, but idealism rarely works well enough in the real world! The problem with lightweight rifles is in cartridges that produce too much felt recoil for the light rifle! I know because I have one! As I load my 9.3 x 62, which is in a Tikka T3 Lite, it generates between 40 to 50 ft-lbs of real recoil! It’s great to carry, and get it into a tree stand, but shooting it at the bench in load development and practice isn’t fun if I shoot too many! In hunting shots from a tree stand, it’s quickness has surprised me but never hurt me. So in adding another five cartridges to a buttstock holder, plus three in the clip and one “up the spout”, it all comes in around 8 lbs. 8.5 lbs would be better. The point being that recoil from the 9.3 x 62 Tikka is faster than the .458 median loads.
But, it has been said by several “experts”: “Get off the bench” as soon as you have your loads and sight-ins! Find a place for practice from realistic positions… but NOT from prone with “heavy hitters”! Standing offhand, kneeling or using some natural object for a rest — like a mound, branch, deadfall, etc. In a tree stand usually there’s a built-in rest for the seating position. Mine didn’t have that feature from the factory so I fabricated one.
“Old” is still “IN” for some of us. After all, I seem very acquainted with that designation!
Til the next…
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL
Lovin' The Big Bang 