I replaced the powerstem breechug for the simple fact that it wont work with Blackhorn . If you use triple 7 then its great as it adds a couple hundred fps

Another bullet in 458 that has a very high advertised BC (.389) is the Barnes Original 400gr SSP. I like the BOs but ive found them to expand better with more fps. I wouldn't even shoot the 300gr BO SSP in my Savage unless the load was good for at least 2150fps. Preferably 2300fps to get the most long range benefit.

It will expand fine with much less fps than that but was happens at 300 yards where that BC has some real value.

I have shot a few 400gr bullets in my 54cal but nothing intended for long range. The 1-28 did stabilize them enough for close range work. They THUMP on both ends with max loads. The 385gr ive shot with 120grV of BH209 is very unpleasant on the bench in such a light rifle.

I wish i had a 54cal with a longer barrel and faster twist to try the Rem 50cal 385gr at longer distances. Its BC isnt anything stellar but its pretty good for a 50cal.

I really hate it when i agree with TB.

BTW Rocky Mountain bullets makes a .458 310gr for smokelessmz.com. Its very very similar to a Parker Match Hunter with a similar $2each price tag. BC is very high (.430) for a bullet of this caliber and weight.

+1 ....... Me too

Well I made up my mind that I would hunt his year with the .52 especially for over 200 yard shots.
Now to get a gun ready and work up the right load and get the ballistics figured out is the goal during the summer . That way I'm ready come time to hunt.

I decided to go with the Mountaineer simply because its bare primer and Blackhorn compatible if I want to use it instead of triple 7.

I pulled out a 52 Mountaineer that had never been shot.
It had a Williams peep sight mounted on the back where the rear base goes.






I took the peep off it and mounted a Nikon Omega. I would prefer a different scope but that is what I had laying around .



Next goal is to sight it in, or at least get it on paper and somewhat close. I figure for that I will use the 325 gr ftx and around 100 or 120 gr powder, ( the bullet on the left )

Once I get it on paper then I will up the powder charge to roughly 130 or 140gr still using the 325 gr.

Next step will be move up to the bullet I want to hunt with , which is the 375 gr Barnes . ( the bullet on the right)
The reason for the 325 to start with is simply less recoil till the final stages of sight in.




Final step will be get it as accurate as I can with the higher powder charges and the Barnes 375.

That way even at 300 yards I should have 1400 fpe minimum.

That's the goal anyway

I also might change out the stock as I'm not much on the funky green color. But will definitely stay with the Thumbhole as I've grown accustomed to them.

Then I will report back after the hunt. s2:

Nice 1874! Good info on the .52. I think probably there is misconception among the regular ML hunters, that the only bullets available are from Knight. Obviously the more serious or educated ML'ers know you have more options, but I wonder if that has alot to do with the gun just flat not taking off.

That mountaineer with the green stock, looks just like my Elite. I actually like the green...its different. I guess you can always get it dipped if you don't like it.

130-140 of BH with a 375, that's gonna pack a whop on both ends!

Curious...what do you feel is adequate energy for 300yds? That seems like alot more than what most folks would be using, maybe I'm wrong. Of course I guess you need more if its an elk, vs a deer or antelope.



SL, are you saying that the white/brown mimicry is no longer available, that the new pattern is whats on those other two guns? I actually like both, but lean more towards the white/brown. I have a stock I'm gonna get dipped at some point, still kicking ideas around.

I like the green a whole lot better than black, and gray or tan better than either.

I just remembered i had this video

325gr FTX 2190fps 254gr retained weight.


BTW i ran the .475 375gr through a couple twist calculators. Around 1850fps is the minimum needed to stabilize a 375gr 1.2" copper bullet in a 1-26 twist. I used the actual bullet diameter and not the sabot diameter. I supposed you could add about 13gr for the sabot and use .520 for the diameter too.

Me thinks it would be an error to include the sabot in the twist calculation. The sabot isn't with the bullet long, and doesn't really have any thing to do with whether the bullet will be stable out at 25 yard, 100 yard, 150 yard, etc. Does it? If the bullet yaw, at the target, isn't it because there isn't enough spin for the length of the actual bullet?