Barnes TSX for 458 Lott

[Davidm]

Hi everyone. I just got my licens for my BRNO ZKK 602 in 458 lott. The gun is on its way and I can't wait It's been almost 1 year since I fired a big bore rifle. I have bought some 500gr Hornady RN bullets for practice that I got a good deal on but for hunting I'm thinking about using Barnes TSX, either the 400gr or the 500gr. Since I live in Sweden the animals I will be hunting is wild boar, moose and maybe brown bear. Should I go for the 400gr or 500gr or maybe even lighter like the 350gr? Shooting distance will be no further than maybe 80-90 yards most within 40 yards

 

[gillettehunter]

See what the rifle likes best and that's the one to use. For me I'd start with the 400 gr and then one of the others if accuracy wasn't there. Good luck. Bruce

 

[Mekaniks]

If your a handloader here is where I would start...

Measure one each of your proposed bullets and then-

Bullet diameter squared, times 150, and then divided by the bullet length, will equal the optimum twist rate for that particular bullet.-

Then measure your rifle barrel twist and the bullet that closest corresponds to your rifles twist rate is the bullet that I would start using first.

Chuck Hawks has a similar equation that also incorporates velocity, but I have found this simple one to work just fine.

 

[Royal27]

See what the rifle likes best and that's the one to use. For me I'd start with the 400 gr and then one of the others if accuracy wasn't there. Good luck. Bruce

This.

And @PHOENIX PHIL had some great success with a 458 and some light for caliber bullets. I'm sure he will be along shortly to comment.

 

[Mekaniks]

And Welcome to AH

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If you can get them to Sweden both North Fork Bullets and Cutting Edge Bullets offer some great lighterweight bullets in .458 caliber.

www.cuttingedgebullets.com

www.northforkbullets.com

 

[bassasdaindia]

the Lott packs a bit of a punch , I personally prefer a 450g to the 500g from a comfort point.

I don't see the necessity for a 500g bullet for wild boar when a lighter and more comfortable bullet will suffice.

Barnes makes a 350g bullet as well , if you are hand loading be careful not to purchase the 45/70 bullets that Barnes makes as well .

 

[Davidm]

Ok thanks everyone. Maybe the best thing to do is to buy both a 350-400gr one and a 500gr one and just see which one the rifle prefer

 

[matt85]

I would not recommend using a 500gr Barnes in a .458" diameter. mono-metal bullets do not need the same weight and you run the risk of the bullet not stabilizing properly due to being too long.

sadly Barnes does not make a 400gr .458" TSX so the next best thing would be the 450gr .458" TSX. I would run the 450gr TSX at 2300fps or more for dangerous game. Barnes makes a 350gr TSX but I feel this is too light and would lose too much energy on heavy bone.

I use a 300gr Barnes in my 416 RM and ive found it works very well at 2650fps. this yields the best accuracy and excellent performance on game. ive only recovered a single bullet using this load and that bullet passed length wise threw a blue wildebeest before coming to rest under the skin next to his tail. I would absolutely trust this load for any game that I would use expanding bullets on.

-matt

 

[Berettaco]

I have a 458 Lott and the 500 grain are a bit punishing recoil wise. I would suggest shooting a few different bullet weights and see which patterns the best and go from there. Also pretty sure a lighter bullet in a 458 is plenty for a hog.... if hunting something bigger the 500 grains might be in order

 

[Hunter4752001]

Barnes also make a 300 gr 458 TTSX projectile. Hodgdon list loads for it in 458 Win Mag with velocities up to around 2700fps. I wouldn't use it for thick skinned DG but I would be dynamite on wild boar. Ultimately the key will be what shoots best in your rifle.

 

[fourfive8]

DG or quality bullets of any kind here are almost an endangered spp. I don't know about Sweden? But for what you are asking about hunting with the Lott, I would think most any reasonable bullet in the 400-500gr range would work. I would suggest either the Hornady 480 DGX Bonded or 450 Barnes TSX. The bonded DGX is much improved over their non-bonded version- difference of night and day really. You could even load the Lott down a little to maybe 2100-2200 fps and it would still be plenty for the game you will be hunting. And be a little easier with recoil.

Here's a target I shot with my older cousin of the Lott. 5 shots at 50 yards from rest, 450 gr TSX, 2.5 X fixed power scope, 2297 fps mean MV.