i just had my Whitworth 458 rechambered to the Lott; According to gunsmith, no problem with the go/no-go guages. Tried chambering a reload, bolt wouldnt close; tried this with 3 different shells, same problem
I was using new Hornady brass, miked at 2.79" and hornady 350 gr bullets with OAL<3.2"
I have no idea what is going on, other than my gunsmith used the wrong go/no-go guages. Any suggestions from Lott owners or gunsmiths?
Also, I was wondering, if it comes to rechambering, would it be better to go to the Watts chamber (2.85") rather than the Lott (2.8"). Wont have to resize the cases as often!

I have a box of Hornady 500gr 458Lott ammunition sitting here in the bookcase. OAL they are 3.5945". How close do your FL sized cases compare to factory? Will empty cases chamber? Will factory rounds chamber?

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Try chambering a case without the bullet, if that works chamber a case with the bullet in it but not crimped, if that works try chambering a round with the bullet crimped. It could be that the crimp is a little heavy and is a bit swelled in the crimp area. If thats the case, back off on the crimp a bit. This is often the problem

The only way there would be a headspace problem is if the smith had gone too deep with the reamer. The headspace for the Lott and the WinMag are the same, they don't use gauges that are chamber length because they headspace on the belt. There has to be something else wrong with the chamber. I would take it back to him. Or, as Woodrow S. said

I havent tried chambering a factory 458 lott, but a 458 win mag will chamber and fire. An empty Lott case WONT chamber; at least, bolt wont close on it. Case is 2.79 overall length.Will get some factory Lott amoo and try; Thanks guys!

Dude, take it back to the "smith." You shouldn't have that much trouble chambering the Lott. I bet he didn't go in deep enough.

well, basically, IF the rifle was rechambered, it's "impossible" that a 458lott won't chamber on a recut 458winmag chamber... IF it was cut... it was SCREWED UP, sleaved, setback, etc etc etc, then MAYBE...

my opinion? the chamber wasn't recut

I agree with Woodrow and 475, if an empty Lott case won't feed then the chamber hasn't been cut deep enough, (or perhaps not at all as Jeffe suggests).


Dan

Take it and a few dummy rounds back to the "gunsmith" and tell him to finish the job you paid him for.

thanks again, guys. i have talked to him and he has agreed to take the rifle back and "recut" (or cut, as jeffy suggests) the chamber. Will let you know how it turns out.