How does the 458 perform with shoter barrel lenths? I was thinking about having my 300 win made into a swap barrel with a 458 being the second barrel and would like to keep it shorter. If it performs just as well from a 20 or 22" barrel over a 24-26 I would perfer the shorter of the two. I was thinking that 22" would be a good comprimise barrel length, handy yet enough barrel length to get good performance. Thanks

I believe that a 21"-22" barrel would be just fine. Anything really short like 16"-20" would give you a huge fireball everytime you light it off. If you go to the Alaska forum, you'll find that a few like the really short barrels for their handling needs.

I have a 20" barrel on my 375 H&H and really like it and a 18" barrel on my guide gun but was worried I would lose too much velosity with the 458.

Mine is 20 1/2" - which has no particular meaning, it is just where the hacksaw fell and I have been completely happy with it for twenty-three years. It seems I loose around 100fps over a 24-25" bbl but it is easy to acheive 2050fps with 500 gr bullets and 2250fps with 400 grain ones which is more than plenty for anything in Alaska.

Mine is a hair under 21", and ditto with what 458win said!

505ED