Compiling a list of Factory .458 WinMag Ammo

[Northern Shooter]

I'm compiling a list of all the currently available factory loads for .458 Win Mag to compare ballistics and cost before stocking up for my new rifle. Are there any others available that I don't have included below? Are there any factory loads available in less than 400 grains or is that exclusive to the reloading world? Does anyone produce a factory load that hits that magical 2,150 fps with a 500grain projectile?

458 Win Mag	Weight	Muzzle Energy (ft-lb)	Muzzle Velocity (fps)
Federal (Bonded Bear Claw)	400	4,496	2,250
Buffalo Bore (Dangerous Game)	450	4,835	2,200
Barnes (VOR-TX)	450	5,015	2,240
Federal (Bonded Bear Claw)	500	4,849	2,090
Nosler (Safari)	500	4,895	2,100
Swift (A-Frame)	500	5,100	2,143
Hornady (Dangerous Game)	500	5,084	2,140
Norma (African PH)	500	4,897	2,100

 

[Northern Shooter]

I see that Winchester used to produce a 500grain load that traveled at 2,240 fps and 5,570 ft-lbs but have been told that it was discontinued.

Wikipedia also has the following load data listed as examples but I don't see these specs matched with any factory loaded ammo:

300 gr (19 g) HP	2,606 ft/s (794 m/s)	4,525 ft⋅lbf (6,135 J)
350 gr (23 g) RN	2,557 ft/s (779 m/s)	5,083 ft⋅lbf (6,892 J)
400 gr (26 g) FN	2,468 ft/s (752 m/s)	5,411 ft⋅lbf (7,336 J)
500 gr (32 g) RN	2,192 ft/s (668 m/s)	5,336 ft⋅lbf (7,235 J)

 

[Don458]

I'm compiling a list of all the currently available factory loads for .458 Win Mag to compare ballistics and cost before stocking up for my new rifle. Are there any others available that I don't have included below? Are there any factory loads available in less than 400 grains or is that exclusive to the reloading world? Does anyone produce a factory load that hits that magical 2,150 fps with a 500grain projectile?

458 Win Mag	Weight	Muzzle Energy (ft-lb)	Muzzle Velocity (fps)
Federal (Bonded Bear Claw)	400	4,496	2,250
Buffalo Bore (Dangerous Game)	450	4,835	2,200
Barnes (VOR-TX)	450	5,015	2,240
Federal (Bonded Bear Claw)	500	4,849	2,090
Nosler (Safari)	500	4,895	2,100
Swift (A-Frame)	500	5,100	2,143
Hornady (Dangerous Game)	500	5,084	2,140
Norma (African PH)	500	4,897	2,100

Federal Safari use to make a 350 gr sp. I had a couple of boxes. Im sure its not produced anymore

 

[Northern Shooter]

Federal Safari use to make a 350 gr sp. I had a couple of boxes. Im sure its not produced anymore

Yeah I haven't seen that one listed anywhere in my search.

 

[SETH RINGER]

SORRY I CAN'T ADD TO THE LIST BUT AM WATCHING THE THREAD TO SEE WHAT ELSE EVERYBODY COMES UP WITH.

 

[SETH RINGER]

WAS THINKING ABOUT ORDERING SOME OF THE CEB 260GR MAXIMUS BULLETS TO HAVE SOMEONE LOAD TO TRY OUT IN CASE MY SON WANTS TO USE OUR NE .458 O/U FOR LEOPARD.

 

[Northern Shooter]

WAS THINKING ABOUT ORDERING SOME OF THE CEB 260GR MAXIMUS BULLETS TO HAVE SOMEONE LOAD TO TRY OUT IN CASE MY SON WANTS TO USE OUR NE .458 O/U FOR LEOPARD.

WHY ARE WE SHOUTING?! Haha

 

[R&M FIREARMS]

Here are a few that I know readily available.

Barnes 450gr TSX
Federal 400gr TBBC
Federal 500gr TBBC
Federal 500gr Swift Aframe
Hornady 500gr DGX

In solids.
Hornady 500gr DGS
Federal 500gr TBSH
Federal 500gr Woodleigh Hydro

 

[Don458]

Yeah I haven't seen that one listed anywhere in my search.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/987909727. Apparently this just sold on GB

 

[Safari Dave]

With DG ammo, I wouldn't believe that it even exists, unless I could find it for sale on ammoseek.com or it is actually in stock and for sale somewhere else on the internet.


There are many "phantoms" out there that can't be had for any price.


Of course, Safari Dave Precision Cartridge Company could make a run of .458 Winchester Magnum ammo that would push a 500g bullet faster than any .460 Weatherby Magnum, but you would have to sign a waiver!

 

[Northern Shooter]

Looks like everything I'm seeing in stock may just be every option there is on the market. Swift and Hornady appear to produce the hottest loads with federal offering some lighter (less recoil?) I
options. I'm really surprised neither Winchester or Remington produce 458WM ammo today.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Even though both are listed as officially still being manufactured, I have some degree of doubt as to whether or not the Norma 500Gr monolithic solid factory load and the Nosler 500Gr Partition factory load are still in production.

Your list omitted the Federal Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solid 500Gr factory load, but I don’t recommend it anyway. Velocity is only 1950fps.

Out of the currently manufactured 500Gr factory loads for the .458 Winchester Magnum, my personal favorites are:
- Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (absolutely lovely for Cape buffalo)
- Swift A Frame

Bullets available only to reloaders or those who have access to custom loaders ?
I strongly recommend you take a long, hard look at Cutting Edge Bullets.

Rifle Bullets - Our Store - Shop

Default Description

cuttingedgebullets.com

Their 450Gr all-brass flat point Safari Solids and 470Gr all-brass hollow point Raptor bullets are excellent choices for the .458 Winchester Magnum.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I just picked up 6 boxes of various factory loads to get me started.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I was able to pick up everything on my list except for the Nosler, Swift and Buffalo Bore loads.

hoping to find some more loads in stock so I can figure out what the rifle prefers.

 

[R&M FIREARMS]

Let me know any you may be looking for. Be glad to help

 

[Northern Shooter]

Side note, why does 458 Lott ammo appear to be cheaper than 458 WinMag?

During my search I've found Lott ammo to be $20-50/box cheaper than WinMag despite longer cases and powder load.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Just open up two browsers on ammoseek.com
Search for 458 Win Mag on the first browser,
and 458 Lott on the second browser.

The results will be over 90% of what is available.
Ammo Seek also provides price per round.
My quick comparison showed that for 500 grain bullets (amazing what one can search for) the Federal Cape Shock for both Win Mag and Lott are the lowest price per round.
Win Mag: $3.74 each
Lott: $5.55 each

One must of course figure in (allocate per round) the cost of shipping for the total purchase.

This Internet stuff is so handy...

 

[Northern Shooter]

Just open up two browsers on ammoseek.com
Search for 458 Win Mag on the first browser,
and 458 Lott on the second browser.

The results will be over 90% of what is available.
Ammo Seek also provides price per round.
My quick comparison showed that for 500 grain bullets (amazing what one can search for) the Federal Cape Shock for both Win Mag and Lott are the lowest price per round.
Win Mag: $3.74 each
Lott: $5.55 each

One must of course figure in (allocate per round) the cost of shipping for the total purchase.

This Internet stuff is so handy...

Those prices sound like bargains, must be USD.

everything I'm seeing here (Canada) is $8-11/round for WinMag and $8-10/round for Lott with more options on the lower end.

 

[Northern Shooter]

So a little update since making this post. I have now purchased 160 factory rounds of 458 WinMag Ammo from Hornady, Barnes, Federal and Norma. I have a mix of softs and solids ranging from 400 to 500 grains.

I haven't yet been able to find Buffalo Bore, Swift or Nosler Ammo in stock but will grab some if I ever find any.

A few questions:

1. How far back was the Winchester 458 WinMag ammo discontinued? I have an option to buy some at $90/box.

2. What is the highest velocity availible with factory ammo? So far the fastest I have are the Federal TBBC at 2,250 fps. Are there any factory loadings in 2300-2400 fps range?

3. Who else makes a good partition bullet aside from those above? As I will exclusively hunting North American game this year with my 458 I'm looking for more options in the 350-450 grain range.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

So a little update since making this post. I have now purchased 160 factory rounds of 458 WinMag Ammo from Hornady, Barnes, Federal and Norma. I have a mix of softs and solids ranging from 400 to 500 grains.

I haven't yet been able to find Buffalo Bore, Swift or Nosler Ammo in stock but will grab some if I ever find any.

A few questions:

1. How far back was the Winchester 458 WinMag ammo discontinued? I have an option to buy some at $90/box.

2. What is the highest velocity availible with factory ammo? So far the fastest I have are the Federal TBBC at 2,250 fps. Are there any factory loadings in 2300-2400 fps range?

3. Who else makes a good partition bullet aside from those above? As I will exclusively hunting North American game this year with my 458 I'm looking for more options in the 350-450 grain range.

1. 2010 (loaded with 500Gr Nosler Partitions & 500Gr Nosler monolithic solids at 2100fps).

2. Barnes does 2240fps with 450Gr TSX all-copper hollow points. You mentioned the Federal with 400Gr bullets. There is nothing faster.

3. Hendershots Custom ammunition offers 300Gr & 350Gr loading options with the Barnes TSX bullet. And 400Gr loading options with the Swift A Frame bullet. You could also persuade them to load you up some ammunition on special request with Speer Jacketed Hollow Point, Hot-Cor & Jacketed Soft Point bullets in 300Gr, 350Gr & 400Gr weights respectively.