458 WIN MAG LOVE
I have noticed your fondness for the 458 Winchester Magnum, and am also a fan. For many years I marveled at its accuracy with a variety of hand loads, from 350- to 500-grain bullets and several suitable powders. And then one day it dawned on me that every one of these loads, when approaching the maximum recommended charge in several loading manuals, was slightly compressed. Perhaps the beauty of the round comes from the case being just the right size to reach design pressure (53,000 CUP) at the same time that there is enough powder to be slightly compressed.
Hunters who don't understand maximum penetration and the absolute requirement that the bullet must get in there and destroy life-supporting vitals, will not appreciate the velocity of the 458 with 450- or 500-grain bullets. However, the deep and reliable penetration of 500-grain bullets, with their sectional density of 0.341, is much more effective at this job than cartridges such as a 505 Gibbs or 600 Nitro Express. That's why the 458 all but displaced the big (mostly) British cartridges within a few years after it was introduced in 1956. Some of the larger-bore cartridges do have an advantage when it comes to knock-OUT power on elephant, should the bullet miss the brain; but who's hunting elephant these days? For the most popular dangerous game in Africa, the 458 is superb on Cape buffalo. The thick hide and massive muscle pack must be experienced first hand to be understood. Bullets of at least 0.305 sectional density are truly recommended for adequate penetration.
I have found an excellent (plus) alternative bullet to be Speer's 350-grain Mag-Tip. I load it to 2550 fps, and it is incredible on game ranging from North American elk, moose, and brown bear to Africa's eland. Take your shot into the vitals at any angle, and lengthy tracking or spoiled meat will not be part of your hunt. I caused a few raised eyebrows on a guided elk hunt in Arizona several years ago, the first time I used the 458 stateside, but I also took the largest elk, from the greatest distance, with the least amount of bloodshot meat. Since then, guides and other hunters have come to expect that I will be carrying a 458.
For whatever reason, inexperienced hunters/shooters apparently imagine that the fat bullet of the 458 Winchester Magnum is going to fall out of the end of the barrel and hit the ground a few feet away. I would like to remind them that the 350-grain Speer exits the muzzle at the same velocity as the 17 HMR, and that even 500-grain bullets move along at 200 feet per second faster than a 22 Magnum. Further, 500-grain bullets have a much better ballistic coefficient than a 40-grain 22 Magnum, so they retain velocity much better and shoot much flatter.
After so many gun writers and bloggers have been negative on the 458 for so many years, it is refreshing to read the words of someone who actually has experience with the cartridge. I enjoy your website very much; especially your frank discussions on various cartridges. It's the best on the Internet.
Tom T., California