Is it worth re-chambering the 458 win to the 458 lott,I'm considering doing it to my win super express.
Will the lott push a 400gr to 2500fps,or a 350gr to 2600fps?

Thanks

It is only worth doing if you really enjoy shooting calibers that kick the stuffing out of you. If the express is the correct weight and/or you add a dead mule (read mercury reducer) to the butt you will have a caliber that far exceeds the limits of WM.
I am having it done to a Whitworth I have as soon as I clear Christmas time.
Frank

The lott can be downloaded to 458 win mag levels, so you don't have to get the stuffing kicked out of you. A lott pushing a 350 gr to 2400-2500 is a pussycat, it's the 500's @ 2300 that getcha

As far as whether it is worth converting or not, you have to figure if it's worth the loss in value of the current gun. Also realize poking out the chamber is the easy part, it's assuring that the rounds fit the mag, feed and eject properly that takes the real work.

I'm a huge fan of the 458 lott, it is a great round.

quote:

Originally posted by 416 taylor:
Is it worth re-chambering the 458 win to the 458 lott,I'm considering doing it to my win super express.
Will the lott push a 400gr to 2500fps,or a 350gr to 2600fps?

Thanks

RIFLE July 2005 #220: .458 Lott Who cares?
An article written by Phil Shoemaker that covers the subject quite nicely, about the two .458's.

As I've said before, the 458 win mag isn't nearly as bad as it's harshest critics will claim, nor is the 458 Lott nearly as good as it's most ardent fans contend.

That said, it goes without question that a 458 lott will do anything the 458 win mag will do, as well as everything the 458 lott will do, and the same cannot be said of the 458 win mag.

Anyone who can't get more velocity out of the Lott than the Win Mag isn't using the right powders! Or perhaps is intentionally underloading the Lott.

I do have a hunch that for whatever reason, the chambers cut for the 458 lott test barrels are cucolded with very tight dimensions, especially short throats. A properly dimensioned Lott chamber and even a 22" tube has no problem pushing 500's to 2300.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H:
As I've said before, the 458 win mag isn't nearly as bad as it's harshest critics will claim, nor is the 458 Lott nearly as good as it's most ardent fans contend.

That said, it goes without question that a 458 lott will do anything the 458 win mag will do, as well as everything the 458 lott will do, and the same cannot be said of the 458 win mag.

You may be right on the money, I think, Paul.

Was just re-reading Boddington's book on African cartridges the last couple of days. I still don't share some of his views, but in the back he has a survey he sent to ALL the members of the African professional hunting associations asking what they use and what they recommend for clients. Fully half of those who responded chose the .458 Winchester as their own "heavy" for DG. (A fair number stipulated, though, to use handloads only.)

Still, I like the .450 Ackley better than the .458 Win OR the .458 Lott, for my own use. (I have both the standard .458 and the .450 Ackley.)