Well gentelmen, I'm new to the board and to big bore/DGR's but not to shooting. However, that being said, I just came into a ZKK 602 in 458 Lott, and that has opened a whole new world to me. Wow.

In firing the Lott with A-Square 465 gr's the 458 Wm with Win 510 gr SP's followed by 12 Ga slugs in an old (Rem Mod 10) pump gun, I can offer a first timer's perspective.

Offhand, the slugs to the 458 WM to the Lott are as to a 223 bolt gun, to a 303 brass-buttplate No4 Lee Enfield, to a stiff 375 H&H in a Ruger No 1. That's the best I can do to describe the relative recoil.

It was damn near a religious experience. Forgive me for I have sinned...Lotts.

Wht buy the Lott? A motivated seller, an unsed rifle in a safe, some boot money and boredom are a dangerous combination. I needed an excuse to muck about with cast lead and wide bullets. This is going to be fun!

No excuses necessary, Skeeter! Congrats on the purchase!

Skeeter317
Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your 458 Lott.

I think the 458 Win or the 458 Lott is the best choice for a persons big bore as there are so many different .458 bullets avialable that are affordable for plinking and hunting smaller big game.

You can load your 458 Lott from 45/70 ballistics to full bore 458 Lott.

Good choice.

Thanks. I've had a grin on my face since Sunday because of this rifle. I'm looking forward to a bit of versatility out of it with lighter loads. I'm accustomed to doing things a bit differently- 308's, 303's and 6-5 Swede on deer and 22PPC and 22 Hornets on ground hogs and crows are a different world from that long Lott case.

Still and all, there is something deeply satisfying about launching a projectile that weighs a bit more than two full 308 cartridges.

Skeeter
I have killed quite a few deer and wild pigs with my 450 No2 "elephant gun".

Try the Hornady 350gr Round Nose at any velocity from 1800fps to 2300fps.[depending on how much recoil you want]
It should feed in your bolt action.

Welcome to the Lott club!

The Lott is great fun, even for those of us with no DG safari planned. Buy Rem 405s in bulk and get some Hornady 500s for the good times! The 405s can be loaded from mild plinkers to decent levels and the 500 grs at full throttle for gravel pit fun.

I love my RSM Lott and it and my Cooper LVT .17HMR are my main ground squirrel rifles

Handloading is the key to Lott happiness IMO.

John

LOL. I never quite envisioned the Lott as a ground squirrel gun, but I can imagine a groundhog in early season trying to scare somebody off with a chatter and a rolly-polly run meeting a rather spectacular end.

What I have enjoyed about reading this forum to date has been the absoltute joy that most people seem to have writing on these topics. So far, the reactions I've met from friends has fallen into two camps- those who have enjoyed big bores get a wistful grin (or grimace) and those who haven't look quizical. Fun stuff.

For those who'd like to chime in, what would your powder choice be for a single choice? Anybody try Varget? Hodgdon lists several loads in 458 WM and that would simplify logistics for me.

Also, is it fairly easy/possible to fireform Lott from 375HH?

Skeeter
Actually while hunting wild pigs with my 450 No2 using the 350 Hornady RN I have killed 2 squirrels. One was a head shot, the other was just below the head in the neck, no edible meat damaged. Both were fried up mmmmm good. I have also shot 2 coyotes with my 450 No2, several skunks and armidillos, and a few raccoons.

The big bores ae fun to hunt with and very effective.

The more you shoot it the better you will hit with it.

Skeeter, try the Remmy 405gr 45-70 bullets in your Lott. They are cheap and shoot real good to boot. I load mine as follows.

405ggr Remmy
68.0gr IMR 4895
3.53" OAL
Fed 215 primer
Hornady brass
2112fps/24" barrel
They will hold up on 200-lb hogs (broadside exits)

Keith