[Marshall Stanton]

Halfbreed,

Have you checked the throat diameter on this gun yet?  If so, what dimensions did you come up with?
If the bullet has any opportunity to yaw or tip in the throat it can really wreak havok on their concentricity entering the bore.

Also, have you tested these bullets in any other gun?  Have you obtained good results in other applications with this bullet?

Try a load of 73.0g H335/WLRP and see if the situation improves, provided the throat diameter vs. bullet diameter relationship is right.  My very best loads with cast in the .458WM has been using H335.

Let us know what you find!

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Halfbreed,

I'd be surprised if your throat diameter isn't at least .4605" and larger wouldn't be a shock.  I also would suspect that .460" diameter bullets would help in this application for the reasons mentioned in my earlier post concerning yaw before entering the bore.

Too, this cartridge thrives on a solid, tight, consistent crimp on the bullet.  Nothing better in this application than the Lee Factory Crimp Die.  It is a special order die from Lee, as it isn't a normal catalog item, however, right now Midway USA has these Factory Crimp Dies in stock as an exclusive, (to my knowledge).  It saves the custom fee charged by Lee to make one for you.  Here's the link if you want one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/online....=312525

The H335 load mentioned also MUST have a very tight crimp, and when varying crimping depth to accomodate throat length, you need some way to crimp the bullet whether or not there's a crimp groove convinently located where you need it!  Yes, these load should have the bullet engraving the lands when a round is chambered for best results.

If you don't get accuracy out of the bullets/loads in your .458WM, try them in another .45 Cal rifle such as a .45-70 and see what the potential of the bullet actually is in terms of accuracy.

Just a few more thoughts to muddy the water for you. <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->

God Bless,

Marshall

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Halfbreed,

The standard Lee three die set for the .458 does NOT include the Lee Factory Crimp Die.  The included die is only their standard roll crimp version the same as most other die manufacturers.  The Factory Crimp Die is a different critter altogether!  Get one, you'll be glad you did!

I'll fiddle around and see if I can locate a round or two for my .458, and get a photo of the land engagement I'm talking about.  It should be firm, and leave an impression of the lands on the front driving band, but not be so excessive as to either hinder chambering or especially uncorking a live unfired round.  There's a fine line here, and only experience will tell you where that is with your individual rifle.

I do hope all this helps you out!

Until later, God Bless,

Marshall