458 Express

458 Express

Photos of the 458 Express

Arranged by case length. (see table below with more detail)

From left to right: .458 Express (2000), 450 Watts (1950), .458 Lott (1971), .458 Winchester Magnum (1956), .458 500 grain solid, .458 500 grain soft.

Photo by Werner Booysen

The length of the brass cases in inches:

458 Express	3.00
450 Watts	2.85
458Lott	2.80
458 Winchester Magnum	2.50

*** It is good practice to start with case length, because bullet weight will determine bullet length and then naturally the overall length of the specific caliber.

The case capacity - measured using water and then weighed in grains:

458 Express	111
450 Watts	104
458 Lott	103
458 Winchester Magnum	92

*** Again it is important to use water, because no propellant will be filling all the corners of the case due to the structure and surface area of the propellant. The water provides for a very accurate an ideal medium to conduct the test with. As we all know that propellant type, shape and form is different, I do not want to open a "campfire debate about powders", but will refer to different types of propellants in the rest of this e-book.

*** All cartridges loaded with the same bullet, and not compressing a load. Compressed loads does not mean a thing in as test of thios nature.

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