.458 Win mag Reloading
Fabrizio
I would like to reload a .458 win mag with Vihtavuori N140 powder and
300-350 grain bullets. VV told me that its not possible because the
powder has a burning rate that is too slow. Has anyone has any
experience? Maybe should i load it with less powder charge to avoid
problems.. maybe with charges for the 45/70 gov? I was thinking of
about 58-59 grains or, since i'm mounting a light bullet for this
caliber should i load it up to 76-77 grains? Could this be a good idea
or would i have pressure problems? Please give me some info since i
live in Africa and the N140 is the only powder i have at the moment.
Can any problems arise by underloading bullets or do problems come out
with overloading only.
Best Regards,
Fabrizio Mazzoni
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Buzz Chandler
"Fabrizio" <fabrizio...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ctppqo$e9a$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
# Hello all,
#
# I would like to reload a .458 win mag with Vihtavuori N140 powder and
# 300-350 grain bullets. VV told me that its not possible because the
# powder has a burning rate that is too slow.
I think you should stop right here and listen to the pros. If you don't want
to take Vihtavuori's word that this is unwise, perhaps reloading isn't for
you.
SpiceScoot
#
#I would like to reload a .458 win mag with Vihtavuori N140 powder and
#300-350 grain bullets. VV told me that its not possible because the
#powder has a burning rate that is too slow. Has anyone has any
#experience? Maybe should i load it with less powder charge to avoid
#problems.. maybe with charges for the 45/70 gov? I was thinking of
#about 58-59 grains or, since i'm mounting a light bullet for this
#caliber should i load it up to 76-77 grains? Could this be a good idea
#or would i have pressure problems? Please give me some info since i
#live in Africa and the N140 is the only powder i have at the moment.
#Can any problems arise by underloading bullets or do problems come out
#with overloading only.
There have been many reports of problems including blown up rifles with
underloads of slow burning powder. It does not always occur and so is hard to
study and the mechanism by which a slow powder detonates instead of burning had
not been determined the last time I read anything about the subject. When I
was a lad WWII surplus 4831 was cheaper than flour or aquarium sand, pennies a
pound. I loaded full cases of it with cast bullets in a .222. Killed
jackrabbits dead but left the bore full of 1/2 burned powder granules. You may
be able to use a case full or nearly full of powder but you will probably get
sub-standard velocities and a fouled bore. Any game you need a .458 for should
not be tackled with anything less than the best loads you can produce. Find
another powder. If you must use the N140 do NOT use reduced loads. Larry
Doug T
Lee's manual show a VV load for 500 gr bullets using V-N140, it also has
N120 and N130 loads for 300 & 350 grain bullets. At VV website it does
show N140 as slower than most of the powders that are used in lighter
bullet weights.
Be careful.
Doug T
Fabrizio wrote:
# Hello all,
#
# I would like to reload a .458 win mag with Vihtavuori N140 powder and
# 300-350 grain bullets. VV told me that its not possible because the
# powder has a burning rate that is too slow.
snip
# Best Regards,
#
# Fabrizio Mazzoni
selw...@yahoo.com
You show good sense in checking here so please show the same good sense
and follow the reloading advice of the manufacturer? You will do
nothing but perhaps blow up your gun or at the very least ruin it.
Even though most .458 rifles have a strong action, they are not immune
to blowing up with misuse.
Wait until you can get a more compatible powder.
Cheers
Ol S&B
Dad
#
# I would like to reload a .458 win mag with Vihtavuori N140 powder and
# 300-350 grain bullets. VV told me that its not possible because the
# powder has a burning rate that is too slow. Has anyone has any
# experience? Maybe should i load it with less powder charge to avoid
# problems.. maybe with charges for the 45/70 gov? I was thinking of
# about 58-59 grains or, since i'm mounting a light bullet for this
# caliber should i load it up to 76-77 grains? Could this be a good idea
# or would i have pressure problems? Please give me some info since i
# live in Africa and the N140 is the only powder i have at the moment.
# Can any problems arise by underloading bullets or do problems come out
# with overloading only.
#
# Best Regards,
#
# Fabrizio Mazzoni
You can go one of two ways but not both. Go to a 500 grain bullet and use V
V 140 or use your 300/350 grain bullet and use V V 120. NEVER light load a
slow powder and not expect rapid disassembly of your gun and maybe some body
parts.
--
Dad
One more gun is just enough, maybe.
jadel
# Can any problems arise by underloading bullets ....
Yes.
Underloading large capacity cases can cause dangerous hangfires or even
detonations which will wreck the gun and injure or kill you.
Take the powder company's advice. They know what they are talking
about.
J. Del Col
Ken Marsh
In article <ctppqo$e9a$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu>,
Fabrizio <fabrizio...@gmail.com> wrote:
#Can any problems arise by underloading bullets or do problems come out
#with overloading only.
Light loads of slow powders in large cases are one of the most dangerous
combinations possible. The result is usually erratic performance, but
could result in SEE (Secondary Explosion Effect). An SEE event can
destroy your gun, perhaps injure or kill.
If you must try reduced loads, use fast powders, with non-plastic
lightweight fillers (like Kapok) to keep the powder near the primer. If
you are truly desperate, fast rifle powders can be scavenged from other
caliber rifle cartridges.
Ken.
--
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Clark Magnuson
Are you in some country that makes getting a second powder problematic?
If you must use N140, my Quickload program calculates that for 458WM,
with a 350 gr. jacketed bullet, 85 gr. N140 fills the case and makes 50
kpsi and 2500 fps.
The danger with so much slow powder is that it might not all burn.
At worst, a stuck bullet could result. I see as many guns blown up from
stuck bullets as overloads.
If you shoot this load, make sure that the bullet comes out.
You should feel recoil and hear a loud "BLAM" before you shoot again.
The second problems would be unburned powder in the barrel.
I have never seen a gun blow up from this, but it does not help
accuracy. I would look down the bore after each shot, and clean if needed.
I would also use a heavy crimp to keep the bullet seated longer giving
the primer every chance to ignite the powder.
I would use the hottest large rifle primer you have. Look for the word
"magnum" on the primer box.
I don't worry about detonation, no one has ever been able to replicate
it, and many have tried.
I don't believe in crop circles, UFOs, global warming, second hand
smoke, the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, or leprechauns either.
--
Be careful what you pray for, it can happen.