460 Weatherby - Old Barnes Bullet Load Data
- Thread starter jstanfor8
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IridiumRed
Member
Im THINKING (which can be dangerous) that if you go to any trusted source of reloading data, you could use loads for any 500 grain convential bullet (cup and core) bullet of that shape (500 gr RN) and be ok. (If im wrong on that please tell me, id like to know).
Also, having had direct experience w the 378 weatherby, i bet if you start extra low with loading (like 20% down on powder where safe) and work upwards in loading, unless youre a recoil junky, your body will max out on fun before you max out on pressure
There might be 458 lott level load (2400 fps w 500) that would give awesome terminal performance (noticeably better than 458 win... many have thought 2400 was a "magic" speed for game performance, look at 458 lott, 450 rigby, 416 rigby, etc), have low pressures, noticeably less recoil then top end loads, and give great case life. From my experience wthe 378 weatherby (and 338-378 too), norma (who made a lot of the factory 378 based cases) brass is on softer side, starts showing pressure signs early (like at 65k loads starting to look like its 75-80k in other brass, with ejector marks and such). I think of "full power" 460 wby in full size barrel (24 to 26") as being 500 gr at 2600 to 2700 fps.
oh, one last thing, if using factory weatherby rifle / chamber, it usually has a very long throat / freebore, gives bullet long jump to rifling, allows more powder / velocity w same pressures. That jump could be .500", .750" long...If you have a more conventional chamber (where bullet has short jump to rifling), youll def want to start low and workup, most of the load data out there will be for the factory long-freebore weatherby chamber. Note - out of curiosity i went and looked up chamber specs, and it looks like weatherby has shortened its freebore from .975" (superlong) to .756" (still decently long). Where your actual freebore is will play into loading for your rifle... shorter freebore = less max powder, all else being equal.
Btw, what i recommended about downloading was to point it out as possibility, if youre one of the people that loves to max everything out, more power to you, not knocking it Ive done plenty of things like that in my own life in various ways. Good luck, have fun, report back
Also, having had direct experience w the 378 weatherby, i bet if you start extra low with loading (like 20% down on powder where safe) and work upwards in loading, unless youre a recoil junky, your body will max out on fun before you max out on pressure
There might be 458 lott level load (2400 fps w 500) that would give awesome terminal performance (noticeably better than 458 win... many have thought 2400 was a "magic" speed for game performance, look at 458 lott, 450 rigby, 416 rigby, etc), have low pressures, noticeably less recoil then top end loads, and give great case life. From my experience wthe 378 weatherby (and 338-378 too), norma (who made a lot of the factory 378 based cases) brass is on softer side, starts showing pressure signs early (like at 65k loads starting to look like its 75-80k in other brass, with ejector marks and such). I think of "full power" 460 wby in full size barrel (24 to 26") as being 500 gr at 2600 to 2700 fps.
oh, one last thing, if using factory weatherby rifle / chamber, it usually has a very long throat / freebore, gives bullet long jump to rifling, allows more powder / velocity w same pressures. That jump could be .500", .750" long...If you have a more conventional chamber (where bullet has short jump to rifling), youll def want to start low and workup, most of the load data out there will be for the factory long-freebore weatherby chamber. Note - out of curiosity i went and looked up chamber specs, and it looks like weatherby has shortened its freebore from .975" (superlong) to .756" (still decently long). Where your actual freebore is will play into loading for your rifle... shorter freebore = less max powder, all else being equal.
Btw, what i recommended about downloading was to point it out as possibility, if youre one of the people that loves to max everything out, more power to you, not knocking it
Ive done plenty of things like that in my own life in various ways. Good luck, have fun, report back cdherman
Well-Known Member
Plinking with a 460 Wby?????
IridiumRed
Member
Weirder things have happened!
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I had a 460Wby for a number of years. The only thing that I ever shot with it, other than paper, was fat groundhogs. LOL
Using 300gr HP bullets, the 460Wby wasn't all that bad to shoot.
Using 300gr HP bullets, the 460Wby wasn't all that bad to shoot.
Frank in the Laurels
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,808
..now that's a "plinker" if I ever saw one....not for the faint of heart.
Thanks! I found some load data on Hornady RN 500 grain that appears to be very similar so I think that's a good starting point. I'll let you know how it goes--I'm targeting 2450 muzzle velocity for 500 grain Cutting Edge Safari Solids for hunting Ele this fall and these Barnes RNs will be for practice and to just use them up.Im THINKING (which can be dangerous) that if you go to any trusted source of reloading data, you could use loads for any 500 grain convential bullet (cup and core) bullet of that shape (500 gr RN) and be ok. (If im wrong on that please tell me, id like to know).
Also, having had direct experience w the 378 weatherby, i bet if you start extra low with loading (like 20% down on powder where safe) and work upwards in loading, unless youre a recoil junky, your body will max out on fun before you max out on pressure
There might be 458 lott level load (2400 fps w 500) that would give awesome terminal performance (noticeably better than 458 win... many have thought 2400 was a "magic" speed for game performance, look at 458 lott, 450 rigby, 416 rigby, etc), have low pressures, noticeably less recoil then top end loads, and give great case life. From my experience wthe 378 weatherby (and 338-378 too), norma (who made a lot of the factory 378 based cases) brass is on softer side, starts showing pressure signs early (like at 65k loads starting to look like its 75-80k in other brass, with ejector marks and such). I think of "full power" 460 wby in full size barrel (24 to 26") as being 500 gr at 2600 to 2700 fps.
oh, one last thing, if using factory weatherby rifle / chamber, it usually has a very long throat / freebore, gives bullet long jump to rifling, allows more powder / velocity w same pressures. That jump could be .500", .750" long...If you have a more conventional chamber (where bullet has short jump to rifling), youll def want to start low and workup, most of the load data out there will be for the factory long-freebore weatherby chamber. Note - out of curiosity i went and looked up chamber specs, and it looks like weatherby has shortened its freebore from .975" (superlong) to .756" (still decently long). Where your actual freebore is will play into loading for your rifle... shorter freebore = less max powder, all else being equal.
Btw, what i recommended about downloading was to point it out as possibility, if youre one of the people that loves to max everything out, more power to you, not knocking it
yeah and the kick isn't that bad as long as you're not at the bench--sticks and off hand are no issueA little bit related, hope to not step on your toes.........
I'll be loading for 416 Wby with 350-gr Barnes, essentially a factory combination.
What powder and how much to start with ? Not looking for the last ounce out of this.
Try H4350 about 112 grains to start.
Thanks !
