Easiest Way to make 458 Winchester Brass?

I have been hitting all the local Gunshows , and buying old stock Winchester/Remington loaded ammo. Most times the guys who sell obsolete ammunition at the show are shocked when asked for .458. Last 3x i was able to haggle down price usually 50-60 for 20 loaded rounds. So you get practice rounds than reloadable brass. Currently on gb someone selling 20 brass for $200. Insane. .
 
DocHolliday said:
Been that way for a year. I'm resorting to using 338WM for my 416T. (Proper head stamp 416T is >$4.00/pc. I'll save that for Africa!). Good luck!
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There is some on sale right now for half that price - I just bought some for my recent purchase

IMG_0547.jpeg
 
What about buying factory ammo, shoot it and then reload it???
Easier than making brass.

If cost is a serious concern, make a post here about buying some.
 
Xpraetor said:
Yes, buying new brass is "the easiest" , but that is if it is available and if budget allows for it. I remember when I first got into reloading on my own dime, it took several pay periods and a couple years to an adequate equipment & supplies, and that was over 25yrs ago & the only thing I spent discretionary funds on.
The OP is a legitimate question, especially if brass is in short supply or there is budget restrictions ..... know what alternatives are out there is good preparation & sound logic.
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I assumed that if a person wants to make a barrel of another caliber by pressing barrels of one caliber, he must have equipment for reloading
 
There are extremely high quality .458 cartridges in Norma. They have a slightly higher price but also top quality. I would never press make a new one from another caliber. Maybe in an exceptional case, but that procedure is very dangerous and I do not recommend it to anyone. In some places, the brass is stretched so much (unpredictably) that it explodes after just one firing
 
Miletic said:
I assumed that if a person wants to make a barrel of another caliber by pressing barrels of one caliber, he must have equipment for reloading
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Not sure what your point is .... the OP isn't trying to "make a barrel" , he is asking for options to get more .458WM brass for reloading.
 
Miletic said:
There are extremely high quality .458 cartridges in Norma. They have a slightly higher price but also top quality. I would never press make a new one from another caliber. Maybe in an exceptional case, but that procedure is very dangerous and I do not recommend it to anyone. In some places, the brass is stretched so much (unpredictably) that it explodes after just one firing
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Well, there is inherent risks with just about everything in respect to firearms. However, repurposing brass is not an issue as long as the proper surrogate is used and proper inspection & measuring is adhered to.

"out of spec." is well, "out of spec." & it is possible with any ammo, new MFG or reload
 
Xpraetor said:
Not sure what your point is .... the OP isn't trying to "make a barrel" , he is asking for options to get more .458WM brass for reloading.
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The point is that I don't mention the barrel, you didn't understand it well. I said that, when you want to get a case for another caliber by pressing the case of one caliber, deformation and fatigue of the material occurs, and in that case, the case may break. I think it's more worthwhile for this guy to buy new tires, even though he'll make a little more effort. Nothing more than that. I probably spelled it wrong. I apologize
 
BKS1 said:
New guy here. I've purchased a 458 Winchester Model 70 and now I need brass to reload for it.

I've read where converting 458 Lott brass is just a simple trim and chamfer? I've ready about fireforming 300 Win mag, 338 Win mag etc....

This will be for plinking so the mis-stamped brass doesn't bother me.

What has everyone found to be the easiest/best way?

Many thanks.
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the easiest way to get you into 458 brass if you are not concerned about head stamp right now is to buy 416 Taylor brass from Midway and load a medium powder charge with the cheapest bullet and fire it in your rifle and bingo you gave 458 brass, that is what I did when I had a 458 Lott built and there was no brass I took 375 HH loaded it and fire formed it with the cheapest bullets I could find worked great. or buy 338 win mag brass put pistol powder in the case and a bunch of cream of wheat put a wax plug in the end and fire it off was told it will for out to 2.50 case length .
 
Miletic said:
The point is that I don't mention the barrel, you didn't understand it well. I said that, when you want to get a case for another caliber by pressing the case of one caliber, deformation and fatigue of the material occurs, and in that case, the case may break. I think it's more worthwhile for this guy to buy new tires, even though he'll make a little more effort. Nothing more than that. I probably spelled it wrong. I apologize
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No worries. I agree new brass & off the shelf MFG ammo can be preferred to acquire reloading brass over "re-necking" other caliber brass.
The facts are .458WM along with other heavy calibers have been deemed by the 3 major ammo MFG to be obsolete and the shift is being felt, supplies are shrinking.
 
BKS1 said:
New guy here. I've purchased a 458 Winchester Model 70 and now I need brass to reload for it.

I've read where converting 458 Lott brass is just a simple trim and chamfer? I've ready about fireforming 300 Win mag, 338 Win mag etc....

This will be for plinking so the mis-stamped brass doesn't bother me.

What has everyone found to be the easiest/best way?

Many thanks.
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Why would it be easier or less expensive to convert .458 Lott brass than to just buy .458 Win brass? I would think that expanding .338 Win Mag might be the easiest one to obtain and convert but I doubt if it would be less expensive.

I have a .458 Win, but I've only loaded factory brass for it.
 
Doug Hamilton said:
Why would it be easier or less expensive to convert .458 Lott brass than to just buy .458 Win brass? I would think that expanding .338 Win Mag might be the easiest one to obtain and convert but I doubt if it would be less expensive.

I have a .458 Win, but I've only loaded factory brass for it.
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Doug, as stated above, .458WM brass has been unobtanium for a year at least.
 
I buy 50 458 Lott cases for 66.00
RCBS file trim - Run the case up in the die and file/cut the excess off.
Chamfer and load.

Seems easiest to me.

I sent Hornady an email today asking about it, also whenever all this gets here. I’ll cut one and measure the case thickness.

I really appreciate the replies and friendliness I’ve been shown.
 
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DocHolliday said:
Doug, as stated above, .458WM brass has been unobtanium for a year at least.
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I haven't needed to buy any for the last couple of years. Guess I'm A little out of touch Does anyone know what the problem with supply is?
 
Doug Hamilton said:
I haven't needed to buy any for the last couple of years. Guess I'm A little out of touch Does anyone know what the problem with supply is?
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I made a post about Olin/Winchester has ended production of .458WM, and there will be no .458WM produced for 2026. Olin/Winchester had already stopped producing .458WM new brass a couple years ago. In my post I complained about Olin/Winchester stopping production of several WInMag cartridges, and the reply comments essentially attributed it to "supply & demand" & that WInMag calibers like .338WM , .458WM etc.... are "obsolete", it is a sign of the changing times, and to essentially suck it up.

Also, Hornady has decided to stop producing new brass for .458WM , but for now will continue to MFG .338WM & .458WM in small runs & limited projectile batches.

As of 2026 only Federal , Norma , Barnes , Nosler , Swift , Hornady , Buffalo Bore are the only MFG producing .458WM off the shelf ammo, none of which will be under 400gr .
 
Bertram still make 458 Win Mag brass. Maybe you could contact their US agent and order a batch.

Although Hornady don't list 458 WM brass any more, its quite possible they’ll do an odd batch every now and then, as they have for some other non-listed cartridges.
 
Hunter4752001 said:
Bertram still make 458 Win Mag brass. Maybe you could contact their US agent and order a batch.

Although Hornady don't list 458 WM brass any more, its quite possible they’ll do an odd batch every now and then, as they have for some other non-listed cartridges.
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when I spoke to the to Hornady last they told me no more at all, BUT if a bunch of people would contact Raven Rocks and show them that they could sell a bunch of brass they might be able to get Quality or Leigh to run a bunch
 
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