Upcoming Moose hunt with .458 350'ers... questions

[19_A_CPT]

Have an upcoming Moose and Wolf hunt in Alberta in the fall and figured I'd drag my ole 458 up loaded with either 350 grain Double Tap Barnes TSX or 400 grain Federal TBBC.

I haven't shot enough lighter bullets to know, but what's a semi-accurate trajectory for the 350s? They are advertised at 2500 fps out of a 26" barrel.

+2.5" at 100 yards
0" @ 200 yards
-6 @ 300 yards

Or am i being overly optimistic on that?

 

[ftrovato]

Have an upcoming Moose and Wolf hunt in Alberta in the fall and figured I'd drag my ole 458 up loaded with either 350 grain Double Tap Barnes TSX or 400 grain Federal TBBC.

I haven't shot enough lighter bullets to know, but what's a semi-accurate trajectory for the 350s? They are advertised at 2500 fps out of a 26" barrel.

+2.5" at 100 yards
0" @ 200 yards
-6 @ 300 yards

Or am i being overly optimistic on that?

I'd want to test the trajectory before I trusted what I read.

But what you wrote seems reasonably possible and should be devastating on a moose!

For the sake of conversation let's say you find that you have to adjust for even 12" drop at 300 yards...as long as you know that and do it you're good to go (in my humble opinion).

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Have an upcoming Moose and Wolf hunt in Alberta in the fall and figured I'd drag my ole 458 up loaded with either 350 grain Double Tap Barnes TSX or 400 grain Federal TBBC.

I haven't shot enough lighter bullets to know, but what's a semi-accurate trajectory for the 350s? They are advertised at 2500 fps out of a 26" barrel.

+2.5" at 100 yards
0" @ 200 yards
-6 @ 300 yards

Or am i being overly optimistic on that?

Here's some simple math on this problem...

The Barnes website lists the following in .458 TSX,
300 gr
350 gr, Ballistic Coeficient of .278
450 gr
500 gr

0.458" 458 CAL TSX FB

Pioneering the world's most effective all-copper hunting bullet. For over 30 years, we've been engineering the most advanced hunting bullets, trusted by the world's best hunters and shooters.

barnesbullets.com

Shooters Calculator Trajectory page provided the following trajectoy graph for the above 350 gr TSX at MV of 2500 fps

https://shooterscalculator.com/ballistic-trajectory-chart.php

100 yd zero

200 yd zero

 

[ftrovato]

Here's some simple math on this problem...

The Barnes website lists the following in .458 TSX,
300 gr
350 gr, Ballistic Coeficient of .278
450 gr
500 gr

0.458" 458 CAL TSX FB

Pioneering the world's most effective all-copper hunting bullet. For over 30 years, we've been engineering the most advanced hunting bullets, trusted by the world's best hunters and shooters.

barnesbullets.com

Shooters Calculator Trajectory page provided the following trajectoy graph for the above 350 gr TSX at MV of 2500 fps

https://shooterscalculator.com/ballistic-trajectory-chart.php

100 yd zero

View attachment 694294
200 yd zero
View attachment 694295

I suspected 12" drop at 300 yards was more realistic...

 

[19_A_CPT]

Here's some simple math on this problem...

The Barnes website lists the following in .458 TSX,
300 gr
350 gr, Ballistic Coeficient of .278
450 gr
500 gr

0.458" 458 CAL TSX FB

Pioneering the world's most effective all-copper hunting bullet. For over 30 years, we've been engineering the most advanced hunting bullets, trusted by the world's best hunters and shooters.

barnesbullets.com

Shooters Calculator Trajectory page provided the following trajectoy graph for the above 350 gr TSX at MV of 2500 fps

https://shooterscalculator.com/ballistic-trajectory-chart.php

100 yd zero

View attachment 694294
200 yd zero
View attachment 694295

I am glad somebody has been able to find somewhat accurate numbers on these. I've been looking but have been unable to do so. I have no plan to shoot past 200 yards, hopefully more like 100, but want to be prepared regardless. Long as I have a good idea of what to look for when I start dialing in. Thanks for the input on this!

 

[RedTag]

What’s the impact velocity at 300 yards? Is that sufficient to expand the Barnes?

 

[ftrovato]

What’s the impact velocity at 300 yards? Is that sufficient to expand the Barnes?

Great Point! I've heard a few stories of Barnes acting like a solid when they get down below 2000 fps.

Might be worth a call to Barnes to get their input.

At the very least it is .458 in diameter without expansion....

 

[Green Chile]

Moose often don't react much unless you drop one on the spot...so put a couple of bullets into one. Those should be great. You might be giving up some distance on a wolf shot but get a ballistic program and put some drop numbers on your stock. You might get a chance on one of them.

 

[Mountaineer]

I was shooting my 458 win mag today with 300 grain TSX traveling 2623 fps. Shooting 1 inch high at 100 yards it was shooting 4 inches low at 200 yards.

 

[KEC]

It would be a good idea to ask your outfitter what the expected shot distances would be. Wind drift with big low bc bullets might be a bigger concern. You can compensate for drop but drift can be fickle. I have been hunting Newfoundland most every year since 2010, most all the moose I have taken have been in the 300-350 yd range with wind blowing most all the time. My .300 win mag is my moose rifle of choice in these conditions.