Short 458’s

25 August 2025, 20:35

Wendell Reich

Short 458’s

I just got a Mod 70 458 Win Mag and an Interarms Mark X also 458 Win Mag.

I have seen guys shooting 19” 458’s. And I kind of dig the look.

I want to thread one or both for a suppressor. Have a cap made from the piece chopped off that will snug up against the front barrel band sight. When it’s on, you can’t tell the barrel is threaded, but, you can pop it off and put a can on it.

I have questions.

Anyone done this on a big bore?

Anyone take their cans to Africa? Zambia or Zimbabwe? They sell them over the counter in some African countries like SA and Botswana.

Also, if I ream this out to be a Lott, I suspect that will negate the loss of velocity caused by chopping it down.

26 August 2025, 09:07

sambarman338

quote:
Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
I just got a Mod 70 458 Win Mag and an Interarms Mark X also 458 Win Mag.

I have seen guys shooting 19” 458’s. And I kind of dig the look.

I want to thread one or both for a suppressor. Have a cap made from the piece chopped off that will snug up against the front barrel band sight. When it’s on, you can’t tell the barrel is threaded, but, you can pop it off and put a can on it.

I have questions.

Anyone done this on a big bore?

Anyone take their cans to Africa? Zambia or Zimbabwe? They sell them over the counter in some African countries like SA and Botswana.

Also, if I ream this out to be a Lott, I suspect that will negate the loss of velocity caused by chopping it down.

I take it maintaining the value of the rifle means nothing. The 458WM has been criticised for lacking power, over the years, but IIRC the original M70 Winchester had a 25" barrel, which should give at least 100fps more than a 19" barrel. Rechambering to the Lott to make up the difference might work but sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Neither of those actions are really meant for long cartridges, so extensive action/magazine alts might also be needed.

And, thinking of Lotts and noses, tuck your thumb in to prevent real nasal damage.

26 August 2025, 13:19

Saeed

He wants a short barrel rifle, nothing wrong with that.

Except I don’t like short barrel rifles.

458 Winchester is one of my least favorite cartridges.

Putting a silencer on is no big deal.

We do it here all the time.

Trying to recover some of the lost velocity by re-chambering it is also a sort of hit and miss.

And the amount of recovered velocity is not to make one iota of a difference in a hunting situation!

End of the day is, he wants to do it, and he can find out at the end if what he had wished for actually happens!

Good luck!

26 August 2025, 18:52

Wendell Reich

This mod 70 has a 22” barrel. The interarms has a Douglas barrel, 24” I believe, heavy target profile.

I saw a CZ 458 Lott for sale, and just missed buying it. It had a 19” barrel and it looked sharp. Would not have thought about chopping one off if it weren’t for that gun.

26 August 2025, 20:31

vvreddy

How often do you plan to shoot them that would justify having a suppressor?

27 August 2025, 18:44

Wendell Reich

quote:
Originally posted by vvreddy:
How often do you plan to shoot them that would justify having a suppressor?

I like to carry my DG rifle in Texas. There are always opportunities to hone your skills here. Pigs, coyotes, deer etc.

I have carried my 375 since ‘94. It’s been all over the world. Even to Europe a few times.

Now it’s time to carry a 458 in preparation for the next adventure.