Does anyone have experience or knowledge about making a .458 Lott using a Springfield 03-A3 action into a left handed rifle?
thanks!

BTT
I guess with 80+ views and no comments, this appears to be a first attempt at a left handed .458 Lott on a springfield action???

you are posting "2" projects..
1, converting springfield to left handed (do you mean left bolt,or a full cut to left bolt and left feed?)

2: doing a lott on a springfield...

I don't think you can do either perfectly... and both of them, well, unless you have a machine shop with time on your hands, it can't be done for a reasonable amount of money.. or unreasona ble...

jeffe

Mich,

It would definitely be cheaper to either (a) purchase a double rifle (starting at US$8K+), or (b) commission a custom rifle based on a left handed magnum mauser action (US$10K+)than to perform the Springfield conversion you mention properly.

But where there is a will (and hard cash) there is a way!

It's supposed to be a gift for a PH from a client so by the very nature of it being a "gift" one can't demand much but take what is given

Being left handed myself i found it a weird action to start on, especially with other left handed actions like winchester being so easily available, so thought I should ask the forum.

Apparently it has worked on the .404 jeffery (left hand) that the client has....

Jeffe, you mention you don't think either can be done "perfectly". What sort of problems do you envision?

Can a 375H&H be successfully rebarrelled to a .458Lott? [or maybe one of the new AR calibers!!!]

If so see this listing onGunsamerica.

Maybe Jeffe will comment?

Les

I had a LH Win Model 70 in .30-06 converted to .458 Lott. Long actions can be converted, if you have the $, and a reliable gunsmith.

Pertinax

quote:

Jeffe, you mention you don't think either can be done "perfectly". What sort of problems do you envision?

Goodness me... okay, i'll start, assuming you mean a full on conversion
1: redesign of bolt, as its camming action will have to either be reversed OR a contradrive built to run the bolt the correct way. BUT a contradrive would still eject RIGHT, and load right.

comclusion - will have to be a left bolt, right feed/eject to avoid a totally new receiver

2: design of reversed bolt.. you will actually either have a bolt handle that is UP to be closed, down to be opened (shortest path, but weird) or a designed reverse gear (contradrive) either that the bolt lever operates and that operates the the movement of the bolt, or a gear rack on the end of the bolt. either would not be my choices for a DGR

3: stretching the actions capacity lengthwise... an untouched 1903 is dONE about 3.28.. and a lott is 3.65.. means some fancy movement of bolt stop, ejector, and (suggested) rear ring... lots of custom fitting at this point

4: action WIDTH.. a rather narrow action, given that it's a hair smaller than a mauser 98 for width... your gunsmith had better be darn good at feeding to get a lott up/down the spout of a 1903

5: action actractiviness.. a 1903a3 would be the order of the day, for strength, and perhaps a heavily worked bottom metal from a 1903 (milled) and probably changed to hinged. WOW what a money pit, at $50 an hour gunsmithing time.

6: action overal DEPTH.. now we've entered intot he custom bottom metal.. the springfield is NOT very tall, and mine in 300 win barely lets me close the bolt over 3.. the lott might be 2, might be 3

triggers.. let's see, you ahve your choice of timney.. and timney



All in all, finding a win model 70 in 375 lefty and converting would be years faster and cubic dollars faster (i guess that's cube root dollars, actually).. give it a springfield cocking piece, and a great piece of wood...


or, seriously, buy a merkel in 470 and give it to a stockmaker to make a lefty stock.. or order one... and be 1/2 the cost of what *I* would charge you per year to work on that. i honetly think you would be paying 1/3 or 1/4 of a smith's income for 2 years to get this down.

each challenge is high, and together, the concatenated risk failure goes over 50% for me.

jeffe