I just received my new left handed Zastava in 458 Win Mag and I'm concerned with the weight. My Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H weighs in at 10+Lbs and this Mauser tips the scales at under 9 Lbs. The barrel is only .660" at the muzzle (looks like a 25" barrel) so it is decidedly muzzle light. Personally, I like 10 Lb rifles (less scope and ammo) especially in harder kicking calibers.

I have to remove some wood from the stock which is going to shave a couple of more ounces off it so I was thinking of adding some weight to the forearm.

What can anyone recommend?

No suggestions but I am with you. I like a heavier rifle in the larger calibers. Hope it works out.

Maybe put it in a laminate stock and kill both birds with one stone.

Well I was looking to come in at 8 to 8-1/2 pounds empty on my last .458, so maybe try it like it is? Stay off the bench as much as possible, although you probably don"t need me to tell you that.

My Interarms Mark X Whitworth is nearly identical. It is a thumper for sure with full house loads. Good recoil pad is a big help. Slightly reduced loads, 405 @ 2200, is actaully pleasant off hand.

Mine weighs about 9.5lbs which is about ideal for me. Shot a couple Buffalo in the past month with it and find it both pleasant to shoot and carry.

I always thought that 10 to 10 1/2 lbs. was a proper weight for a 458 Win. My 465 and 470 doubles weigh in that range and are good thumpers with significant recoil and I didn't want more recoil than that. I found a Browning Safari in 458 Win at a price that I couldn't turn down. Much to my consternation when I weighed it, it only weighed 7 lbs. 12 ounces. I was expecting to get the living s&%* kicked out of me. To my great surprise it actually has a felt recoil significantly less than either double. I can only attribute the low felt recoil to the design of the stock. At that weight it is really a joy to carry on long elephant tracks. I have now taken four elephants with it.

465H&H

I have one of Browning 458 win. mag. FNs like 465 H&H mentioned and they are certainly light. As 465 mentioned, stock style and length of pull are significant factors in "felt recoil".

After enough long walks under the African Sun, I want my rifles lighter than heavier and balanced so they come to shoulder..

If it was me, I would have it bed and shoot the rifle to see what it feels like before I did anything else.

If the stock style or LOP do not work, I would find a replacement stock, possibly syn...weighted, if need be..

Using the 450 grain loads/bullets (for hunting) and reduced loads for practice will help.

I ascribe to the lightest weight reasonable approach. A .458 win Mag IS NOT A HIGH RECOIL Cartridge. I built one years ago that weighted about 7.5 lbs on a VZ24 action and a #5 contour Shilen barrel with a synthetic stock. Red Dot sight and opens too. What a wonderful rifle to carry on long hunts! Remember your going to carry it far far longer than your going to shoot it. Every pound slows and beats you down. You will never remember the Recoil from the one or two shots you get off anyway.-Rob

Thanks guys, considering that it took 4+ years to find a left handed 458 I don't think that a heavier laminate or synthetic stock is going to be any easier to find.

I actually don't mind 10 Lbs of rifle, I caried one in the Omay last year and my regular deer hunting gun is a heavy, 26" barreled, laminate stocked MRC that weighs 10 Lbs. I hump it up and down the hills of Wyoming at 6,000 feet.

True I won't feel the recoil shooting it at game but for every shot at game there's going to be 100 shots at the range.

I was thinking of having an 8 Oz, 1/2" diameter mercury tube inletted into the forearm, if there's enough room.

Fjold,

Since you are left handed, a custom stock may be a most logical choice for you. If so, have the stockmaker copy the Browning Safari (in 458) stock shape. You won't be disappointed.

465H&H

My 450 Rigby weighs 10.5 pounds and I would not want it any heavier.

I'm with Rob on this.

Lighter is better, within reason. And after you add rings and a scope you're going to be close to 10 lbs., if not over. Check out a Nikon Slughunter with 5" eye-relief (that Rob says we don't need. He's partially right. A friend cut his eye with my 500 AccRel even though it had the 5" eye-relief scope. Technique is first.).

On you thin barrel, you might consider cutting the barrel down to 22" if you have a reliable gunsmith. That will thicken the muzzle up a bit and provide a tad more stiffness. If you're still looking for an 8oz reducer in Nov, let me know. I've got an unused, unmounted one that I've decided not to put on the 500AccRel.

Seriously, Try a lightweight M98 Mauser in .458 Win with a light stock, designed to be slightly barrel heavy and RMR red-dot sight. The sight will cost nearly as much as the rest of the rifle! I absolutely guarantee you that you will never want anything else. Except maybe a nice double. It will be feather light for those long hikes after Ele/Buff. SWING LIKE a SXS Purdey and be faster on target than any scoped gun. No possibility of a scope cut either. This recipe is as close to PERFECT for a short range stalking gun as anything I ever played with and I've played with alotta Guns!-rob

This is exactly what I am going to build out of an unused ZG 47. With new ammo and maybe 450 grain the 458 should be a nice setup also for elephant. Good stock design and a good cap should make it tolerable.

I have to agree with Rob on this one

A light weight 458 with full power loads does have significant recoil but not so much it can't be handled.

Mine weighs a couple ounces over 9# with full magazine and 2 1/2 scope.

Phil

Baised on your personal experience, what do you consider the four [or five] best bullets, in the 458 Win Mag for Big Bear hunting...

For those that want to duplicate my build, I suggest using a VZ24 action as they were heat treated properly and won't set the receiver lugs back. They used to be dirt cheap, but I think the words out now and prices have escalated. I've checked my receiver after over 500 full power .458 win loads and no changes were noted. This is a very easy build and very well worth it. If you like shooting offhand with big bores this set-up will really impress you with the way it handles.-Rob

Remove the rear sight and have a quarter rib installed to add more weight to the barrel. If you need more weight install a forward mounted scout scope.