Good afternoon.

I just picked up an Interarms Whitworth Mark X in .458 Win Mag. The rifle is new in the box, never fired. This is not my first 458 so I know there is some recoil involved.

I have read about these rifles busting the stocks and needing to be bedded and have another cross bolt installed for full power loads. Has anyone had that unfortunate experience? Also, can anyone recommend a reputable gunsmith, preferably in Florida, that can perform that stock work?

Thanks.............Larry

If you cannot find a local guy, any good gunsmith can install a crossbolt. Just sending the stock is much less expensive than shipping a rifle.

Congratulations on a fine purchase.

Do you have a pic?
Is it the Whitworth with express sight? And classic stock with the shadow cheek piece?

Ive had a few of each and I never split a stock. They all have a 2nd recoil lug under the barrel. Mine all had 2 crossbolts. . Mine were properly bedded out of the box.
As long as there is some gap at the rear tang you should be good.

Cold Finger Trigger:

Yes, it is the Whitworth with express sights and cheek piece (assembled in Manchester) but it appears to just have one crossbolt. I will pop it out of the stock this afternoon and look at it.

Thanks..............Larry

If the factory stock is really nice and you don't want to chance splitting it. But you want to shoot the rifle a lot. You might try a Boyd's classic laminate stock on it.
That is an excellent stock design for handling recoil And very easy off hand point ability. I have one on my 9.3×64 . It has an Interarms Mark X action so I know it would work well. It does have 3 cross bolts in it and I know they are necessary for a laminated stock.
Or, just use the factory stock.
It is very important to have a little gap at the rear tang of both the reciever and bottom.metal. and any angled rear facing parts of the action. . . . Tho not all big bores split their stocks. Enough do that it is something to be aware of. . Most.of mine did until I learned how to bed, bolt and relieve the stocks properly.
Incidentally. The Whitworth Express rifles were all very accurate that I had. The Alaskan models were also.