In responding, some basic ground rules:

- Cannot make the argument that the .458 WM is a piece of crap and you should just use the .458 Lott; and

- Cannot ask the question, if you wanted to shoot a WM, why buy the Lott in the first place.

Question: If someone elected to shoot a .458 WM in a .458 Lott as the cartridge of choice for a particular rifle -- and did not intend to go back and forth or use the WM for practice and the Lott for hunting -- essentially only using the rifle for .458 WM, are there any long term issues? For example, I have heard about possible throat erosion and that the erosion might make extraction of .458 Lott cases difficult. But if the rifle is only used for .458 WN is there still an issue regarding functioning just with the .458 WM rounds? Any impact on accuracy?

What got me thinking about this was using .38 Specials in a .357. I cannot recall anyone saying that doing that over the long term would adversely impact a pistol.

Thoughts?

quote:

I have heard about possible throat erosion and that the erosion might make extraction of .458 Lott cases difficult

The above would be an 'adverse impact' if someone tried to shoot Lott ammo in the future, or if you (or your heirs) sold that gun to someone else.

I would much rather shoot .458WM-equivalent loads using Lott brass. Pressures would be nice and low.

George

So George, is what you are saying also that to the extent someone is not using Lott down the line, there are no issues associated with the throat erosion?

M,

I am a .458 Winchester Magnum fan. My .458 Win Mag is a "lightweight" bolt rifle intended for long walks. I have a .458 Lott bolt which is a "heavy" built rifle mainly used off shooting sticks. I have a pile of .458 Win Mag Norma brass. I like to shoot .458 Win Mag out of my Lott rifle because in my case my Lott rifle is a much heavier rifle than my Win Mag and felt recoil is significantly less. To answer your questions:

1) I have had no long term issues of any kind.
2) I don't belive throat erosion is a concern because of two reasons; A) .458 caliber bore volume, and B) the Win Mag will burn powder in the Lott chamber neck area not as much in the throat of the bore. A long range session for me is 20 rounds of Win Mag through the Lott then I properly clean. I also shoot Lott rounds and have had no extraction problems with Lott cartridges after running quite a bit of Win Mag through my Lott rifle.
3) If only use Win Mag I don't anticipate any problems. There is going to be wear on any rifle. Good cleaning technique goes a long way for extending the life of the rifle chamber and bore.
4) I shoot nice 100 yard triangle 3-shot groups out of my Lott rifle whether using Lott or Win Mag rounds. I have noticed no adverse impact on accuracy using Win Mag rounds. I load my Win Mag with the bullets "seated out" which is a real plus when using Barnes or "heavy for caliber" bullets in the Win Mag case.

Buliwyf,

Thanks for the information, very informative and helpful.

Throat erosion? Are there many .458s used as target or varmint rifles?
If you use some of that old steel jacketed bullets you may wear out certain barrels with 800 shots or so.

My friend had Colt-Sauer .458Win. When going to Africa did not materialize he used it to shoot up tree stumps. He said that it was very effective.

Old wifes tales. I've shot lots of .458 win loads through a .450 Ackley and all its ever needed is a good cleaning. Of course you can also shoot Lotts in a Ackley too. Oh I forgot the Lott is the be all/end all of .458's. Forgive me!-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
In responding, some basic ground rules:

- Cannot make the argument that the .458 WM is a piece of crap and you should just use the .458 Lott; and

- Cannot ask the question, if you wanted to shoot a WM, why buy the Lott in the first place.

Question: If someone elected to shoot a .458 WM in a .458 Lott as the cartridge of choice for a particular rifle -- and did not intend to go back and forth or use the WM for practice and the Lott for hunting -- essentially only using the rifle for .458 WM, are there any long term issues? For example, I have heard about possible throat erosion and that the erosion might make extraction of .458 Lott cases difficult. But if the rifle is only used for .458 WN is there still an issue regarding functioning just with the .458 WM rounds? Any impact on accuracy?

What got me thinking about this was using .38 Specials in a .357. I cannot recall anyone saying that doing that over the long term would adversely impact a pistol.

Thoughts?

I believe the - unfounded? - well founded? - fear is that shooting lots of 458wm loads in the Lott chamber will roughen the chamber walls at he 458wm case mouth and in front, behind the throat, over time and cause possible extraction issues, especially with "hot" loads in hot temps.

I'm not sure that anyone on this thread has yet answered this question. Seems that it may be an "an old wives' tale" but have any of the posters tried to duplicate this, meaning the full house Lott loads in the heat after extensive 458wm shooting?

I find the fear plausible, but have no actual knowledge or experience.

JPK