Are the African Express actions long enough to convert to 458 Lott?

The safe way is to use a .458 WinMag and use new bottom metal that is extended to the rear.

The .375 rifles have a magazine that is lengthened in the front, already forcing metal to have been removed from the lower lug shoulder (feed ramp) of the action.

From previous posting, it is said to be possible however a lot of metal has to be removed to make this possible. Conduct a search and you'll see what has been said. I too was thinking about such a conversion, however with newer powders, I'm getting the velocity of 2150 fps, without signs of pressure in the Nevada summers.

Use the whitworth, it will work fine, and open it up in the rear, and that will require less than about 50 thousands in the ramp area, that won't hurt anything...

To start with the Whitworths and the Mark 10's are standard 98 length actions and come from the factory in 458 and 375 openned entirely in front and they have stood the test of time in those calibers, so I wonder how do the experts explain that one. I'd say both are mild pressure cartridges and it works fine, not so with a 7 SYW for instance....

KurtC has got it right.

The .375 is already opened up to the front, but the .458 is not, in the Whitworth Mark X. So Ray is a bit wrong here, and we have been around and around about this before. Old dogs don't even want to learn?

That said, the Mark X seems to be strong enough opened up anywhich way, so Ray is right about that.

I have Mark X .375 actions rebarreled or rechambered to:
.358 STA
.375 Wby
.416 Barnes Supreme
and
450 Barnes Supreme

All the above with nary a hitch, though I have pushed some of them to max loads, in testing, I would recommend a moderate pressure steady diet of ammo for them. For example, do not exceed 2250 fps with 500 grain bullets in a 24" barrel for the .458 Lott. But that is plenty of whomp!

I also have a .458 Win Mag Whitworth unaltered. It is not opened up to the front to any appreciable degree.

I do have a .458 Mark X that has been rechambered to .458 Lott, but the magazine is still short, and I plan to have it opened up to the rear with new bottom metal as KurtC explained.

[ 11-17-2003, 23:11: Message edited by: RIP ]

Sounds like I might be better off with a CZ Magnum action, for about the same $$. Any thoughts?

You betcha, go with the CZ.
You can convert one of those to .458 Lott, starting with the their .458 WinMag, for about $150 smithing. I did that too. Much better! 5 in the mag and one chambered.

Or better yet, wait to see if they are bringing out a factory chambered .458 Lott with American stock by CZ.

Available in .458 Lott (when and how much I haven't heard).

Regards,

Terry

Now it's like waiting for Christmas.