Hunter 257W said:
CR500AFX said:
45-70, 458WM. I hate tracking...
What load do you use in that 458 Mag? I have used several bullets in my 460 Weatherby for deer. The Hornady 350gr Round Nose and 300gr Hollow Point were the 1st I used. I have also tried and like the Barnes 300 gr spire point and like it a lot with one reservation. The spitzer tip does not center in the bullet seater die and you end up with very non-concentric bullets. I ended up making a seater plug myself to fix that. But back to the loads - these 458 calibers are really pleasant to shoot with 300 grain bullets contrary to what some people might expect and they don't ruin nearly as much meat as the typical dear rifle either because these big bullets don't blow up like smaller calibers. OF the bullets I mentioned above, the Barnes seems to be by far the softest. I had 2 out of 3 stay inside a doe one time just under the far side hide. Yes, I had to shoot a doe 3 times with a 460 Weatherby - 118 or 120 grains of IMR4350 and the Barnes 300 grain spire point. If you shoot enough deer you are liable to see anything no matter how unlikely or weird.
In the 458WM, I use the following loads.
1) Barnes 300 Tipped TSX over 68gr RL7 = 2450fps
2) Hornaday 325 FTX over 65gr RL7 = 2325fps
Always start lower and work your way up...
I tried to stop a 300 TTSX but it penetrated 7 milk jugs full of water and passed thru a 6 inch log I used as a backstop. I found the polymer tip and 2 petals but that's it. Using the above mentioned loads, I have not had a deer move more than 10 yards and all were pass thru's. That cheap little 325ftx from my Savage 10ML II at 2250fps topped a 1" sapling 10 yards from my stand and continued 65 yards further, striking the deer exactly where I was aiming and was a complete pass thru. Plus, you can eat right up to the hole.
