458 African Express cartridge is based on 404 Jeffrey with a 2.65 case length.Looking for dies,reamers to build a rifle .Any help or info on where to get these would help greatly.Cartridge was by Pierre van der Walt.

My advice ( I have been there): Go with Jeffes 458 Acc Rel.
Based on the same parent case (Ultra mag brass) - and you can get headstamped brass from Quality Cartridge.
Performance is the same - a 500 grs bullet at 2300 fps+ is no problem and my rifle has a 22" barrel...

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
My advice ( I have been there): Go with Jeffes 458 Acc Rel.
Based on the same parent case (Ultra mag brass) - and you can get headstamped brass from Quality Cartridge.
Performance is the same - a 500 grs bullet at 2300 fps+ is no problem and my rifle has a 22" barrel...

Good advice. I was looking for something different and based on the "Jeffery" case. I emailed Pierre and received his response as follows....

"Please refer to the cartridge as the .458 African only. Another friend of mine has designed a 3” case .458 cartridge on a stretched Lott case and he uses the ‘express’ term. So the two of us decided that I will cull the ‘express’ part from my cartridge as his was first.



Questions

1. The Winchester M-70 is one of the best actions on which to build the cartridge.

2. Reamers and gages. JGS Tools (www.jgstools.com)

Dies. Redding

Brass. Use .404 Jeffery brass from Hornady. If you want it headstamped correctly you will have to order from Hornber Hulsen in Germany and he takes his time."

Pierre Van Der Walt

I will do further research on this. I like the idea of the head stamped brass being readily available on the 458 AR. I also like Pierre's cartrigde better,it's just a personal preference though and might not be practical,but what the hell.

How does that differ from the 460 Guns & Ammo? I have one built by Lex Webernick on a pre-64 Model 70 with a McMillan Safari stock. Great Buffalo medicine.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
How does that differ from the 460 Guns & Ammo? I have one built by Lex Webernick on a pre-64 Model 70 with a McMillan Safari stock. Great Buffalo medicine.

I would guess that the G&A case is longer,but they both have the same performance. There are many variations of the 404 jeffery using a 458 diameter bullet. I think the Vincents,458-404,African,and your G&A have the same parent case.

I don't really think one has a advantage over the other,just preference.

I can only recommend the 458 AccRel.. I have taken 3 elephants with it, and build the rifle on a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan.. Flawless feed and function... Have chronoed vel up to 2370 fps but decided to stay on 2300 fps for the Oct heat of Zim... I really like that cartridge...

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
I can only recommend the 458 AccRel.. I have taken 3 elephants with it, and build the rifle on a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan.. Flawless feed and function... Have chronoed vel up to 2370 fps but decided to stay on 2300 fps for the Oct heat of Zim... I really like that cartridge...

Well I might just go that route. I have a LH model 70 chambered in 7mmstw and I already have a 300 RUM mag box and follower for it. I would think that it should be a easy conversion,am I wrong?

OK,

Here's a reamer for the 458 African. It is marked #2 but I can't find any info on a #2 version anywhere.
I'll take this down to my gunsmith and hopefully he can measure it up to the African Express cartridge specs.

I would still like to use this cartridge and using 404 headstamped brass isn't a problem for me. The dies won't be cheap,but we will see.

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
My advice ( I have been there): Go with Jeffes 458 Acc Rel.

OK I talked to the owner of the 458 African reamer and for now that is a no go.

I think the 458 AR is one hell of a cartridge. Now as I said I have a LH 7mm stw laying around,can I use that as a donor rifle?? Thanks for any help here as I doing this for my brother,it will be his first DGR.

i am flattered that you would consider this round --


the 458 Accrel or AR is a fireformed 375 rum case, but you can use 404 cases if you feel you must. I'll loan your gunsmith the reamer, and you can order dies from hornady or ch4d for about the same price. The hornady's will arrive sooner, i think.

this is likely the most practical of the rounds I've done. Rem 405s for hunting and practice in the US .. and the case is slightly larger than a lott, but fits in a standard action.

you don't need the stw, the 300 win works great.. but, you can get even more length out of it!

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
i am flattered that you would consider this round --


the 458 Accrel or AR is a fireformed 375 rum case, but you can use 404 cases if you feel you must. I'll loan your gunsmith the reamer, and you can order dies from hornady or ch4d for about the same price. The hornady's will arrive sooner, i think.

this is likely the most practical of the rounds I've done. Rem 405s for hunting and practice in the US .. and the case is slightly larger than a lott, but fits in a standard action.

you don't need the stw, the 300 win works great.. but, you can get even more length out of it!

Hi jeff I'm not quite there yet,as I have to order the barrel from lilja. I will pm you when I'm ready.

Quality has your brass already made up. If I used the 404 brass what if any difference would there be in completing the round.

I looked at several 458 wildcats but I have read you can get 2400fps with a 500gr,the African is limited to a max of 2300. Your's is a very nice round.

I already have the 7mm stw, you mention the longer action would be a plus,how so as the design specs show a max length of 3.35,please excuse my ignorance. Maybe a 550gr bullet?

Thanks!

Things change as my brother insists on going with the .458 African 'final version" as reamers,gauges,dies,and brass are available. Even though it is similar to other .458 wildcats.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/101537932

http://www.scribd.com/doc/101557238

http://www.scribd.com/doc/101537936