My brother and I recently purchased new .458 Win Mags. He got a Ruger No.1 and I got a Model 70.
It seems to us, as ignorant as we are about it, that the specs of our rifles chambers would allow these guns to shoot some of the .458 Lott rounds without modification to the rifles as the chambers seem plenty long enough in our rifles for that. We are definitely not stupid, or smart enough to try shooting .458 Lotts in a Win Mag. What does it take to change our rifles to handle the .458 Lott? Can some .458 Lotts be fired out of our rifles without modification, theoretically speaking?

Don't shoot a 458 Lott in a 458 Mag! It only works in reverse. Some others with more gunsmithing expertise will chime in I'm sure.

.

OAL case length for the .458 WinMag - 2.5"
OAL case length for the .458 Lott - 2.8"

It's a little tough on the ole chamber to shoot a .458 WinMag in a .458 Lott chamber, but it can be done in an emergency. You will NOT chamber a .458 Lott in a 458 WinMag without a hammer or hydraulic press!

Just have them rechambered to 458 lott. should be a couple bucks, and mebbe under 100 each, if you get them both done at the same time.
it's a GREAT idea, and you will never regret it.
good hunting
jeffe

This thread will answer a "Lott" of your questions about both rifles. http://www.serveroptions.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=003588

Thanks, Longbob and everyone!

As repayment for all the help you were given. We require that you post pictures of the progress.

As all have already mentioned you will not be able to fire 458 Lott out of a standard 458 Win Mag. I have had my 458 WM converted to a Lott, and it is the best thing I have done. it has to be reamed out. I now shoot a 500 gr Woodleigh solid at 2230 fps and a 450 gr GS at 2360 fps. They are comforable rounds and not compressed. Pressures are good as well. With the standard 458 WM my loads were compressed in order to get a better velocity.
These velocities are with South African powders, so I am sure you can do better with the USA powders.
Get it done you will not regret it.
If you need any other details mail me direct.
Selwyn
Maclaren Safaris

Selwy,

More detail please. What type of rifle? Did you have to rework the magazine for flawless feeding?

Citori3,

The rifle is a semi-custom on a BRNO model 602 action.
The magazine did not need any major re-work on it. Just a bit of extra polishing of the feed ramp. Otherwise nothing.
For interest sake here are the results of the various loads.
PLEASE NOTE: : the powders used are SOUTH AFRICAN powders.
458 Win Mag----before conversion was done
1) 500 gr Woodleigh(FMJ), 79 gr --S341-------Compressed load
1) 2140 ft/sec 2) 2150ft/sec 3) 2123 ft/sec 4)2155ft/sec 5) 2157ft/sec 6) 2189ft/sec

2) 500gr Woodleigh(FMJ), 81gr --S341----compressed loads
1)2178ft/sec 2) 2207 ft/sec

458 Lott---after conversion was done
3) 500 gr Woodleigh (FMJ)--82 gr--- S341--COL 91,6mm
1) 2288ft/sec 2) 2257 ft/sec 3) 2240 ft/sec 4) 2254 ft/sec 5) 2299 ft/sec

4) 450 gr GS Bullet--FN ----81 gr S341--COL 90,3mm
1) 2247ft/sec 2) 2253 ft/sec 3) 2265 ft/sec

5) 450 gr GS Bullet---FN----82gr S341 COL 90,3mm
1) 2281ft/sec 2) 2273ft/sec 3) 2303 ft/sec

6) 450 Gr GS bullet--FN--83 gr S341--COL 90,3mm
1) 2301 ft/sec 2) 2323 ft/sec 3) 2272 ft/sec 4) 2328 ft/sec 5) 2336 ft/sec

Selwyn
Maclaren Safaris

Do your self a favor and send the rifle to John Ricks in Port Angelas Washington. He built one for me on a Model 70 which is 100% flawless in feed, extract and as accurate as any rifle I own. Anything you get back from him will be done right without any cut corners. Everyone who has seen and shot my rifle is very impressed with the work he did to build it from the action up.

His Email is: rifles@earthlink.net He also has a web site

http://home.earthlink.net/~rifles/_wsn/page4.html

[ 07-28-2002, 17:31: Message edited by: JJHACK ]