The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Straight-Walled Cartridges

Trapper L · October 19, 2007, 10:21 PM

Might take a look at the 458 American. It is also known as the 458x 2 inch. It is the 458 Winchester Magnum shortened to 2". It can move a 300 gr bullet at a little over 2500'ps or a 350 gr bullet at 2300'ps. This is out of a rifle so you would lose some but it is a much better bore to case capacity adjustment than some of the full rifle cartridges. It also, comparing cartridges as a rifle, is about another 150'ps faster than the 405 Winchester but has the capacity for heavier bullets if need be. Shooting this thing is going to be a handfull. It will also be a custom chambering. RCBS does have dies for it but I'm not sure I'd want to be the first to shoot it. I would definitely want a muzzle control device of some kind on it.

I just ran a ballistic calculator on it and a 350 gr bullet at 2300'ps will get you 4100lbs energy. Your velocity probably won't be that high but from a 14" barrel I'd expect something around 2100'ps which equates to 3400lbs energy at the muzzle. The 300 gr bullets would make 3200 lbs energy at 2200'ps.

October 19, 2007, 10:21 PM	#4
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	Might take a look at the 458 American. It is also known as the 458x 2 inch. It is the 458 Winchester Magnum shortened to 2". It can move a 300 gr bullet at a little over 2500'ps or a 350 gr bullet at 2300'ps. This is out of a rifle so you would lose some but it is a much better bore to case capacity adjustment than some of the full rifle cartridges. It also, comparing cartridges as a rifle, is about another 150'ps faster than the 405 Winchester but has the capacity for heavier bullets if need be. Shooting this thing is going to be a handfull. It will also be a custom chambering. RCBS does have dies for it but I'm not sure I'd want to be the first to shoot it. I would definitely want a muzzle control device of some kind on it. I just ran a ballistic calculator on it and a 350 gr bullet at 2300'ps will get you 4100lbs energy. Your velocity probably won't be that high but from a 14" barrel I'd expect something around 2100'ps which equates to 3400lbs energy at the muzzle. The 300 gr bullets would make 3200 lbs energy at 2200'ps.