What do you guys think of the 458 Lott?

Love mine

Hog Killer

While I have yet to take my CZ550 in Lott to Africa, I have killed a few wild hogs with mine, and all I can say is that it hits VERY hard -- on both ends I might add! I love this rifle. Very accurate with its open sights. I think it's a great round and it affords you the luxury of using win mag in a pinch.

I like the round but then I own one, I will hopefully get to try it on some hogs soon.

My CZ will be here on friday, can't wait!

Add me to the "Love Mine" list.

-Steve

The great thing about the Lott, as a reloader you can load it from a very mild 45-70 (300gr/1200) to the full house at loads at 500gr/2300fps. Lighter loads have a place, they are the best way to practice geting use to heavy recoil. You can work you way up in steps adjusting to the increase. This is alao a good way to practice working the bolt from the shouldered position after the shot. As should be done, especially when shooting any game animal. The ability to get a fast follow up shot only comes with PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

Also, you do not need a max load or a premium bullet, to pop a pig or a deer.

Hog Killer

The .458Lott is my "other" heavy round and i am quite fond of it. I've killed two Cape Buffalo with mine and a number of other stuff. It's just a very adequate useable and for a heavy inexpensive round to use and reload.

I recomend it.

I like my Lott. As the others have noted it is flexible if you reload and certainly a 500 grain bullets at 2300 fps will do the job. It worked great for on the Cape Buffalo I shot last year. Possibly now the Lott is the standard that the 458 win mag. should of been.

Its a good killer..but the recoil can be a little rough if you have to squat under a limb or shoot prone or in some precarious position..so I passed on it after a couple of such shining events ..

If I could have but one big bore, it would be a 458 Lott.

It doesn't need a special action, special brass, or special bullets. If I can't kill it with a 458 Lott, I'm not hunting it. For NA use, I can go with lighter bullets and less velocity, so to the shoulder it feels like a 375 H&H. I can also load tons of cast bullets, from mild to full patch.

For an all around big bore, I can't think of a better choice. The only thing it lacks is a long illustrious history.

I agree 100% with what Paul H has said and wouldn't trade mine for love nor money.

Thanks guys mine will be here tomorrow, but there's no brass anywhere. So it'll be a 458 WM until spring, according to Hornady it'll be the end of march to early April at the best for the brass, maybe I should have gotten the Rigby!

quote:

Thanks guys mine will be here tomorrow, but there's no brass anywhere. So it'll be a 458 WM until spring, according to Hornady it'll be the end of march to early April at the best for the brass, maybe I should have gotten the Rigby!

You don't even have the rifle yet and you're finding out already why it was a good cartridge choice... cuz in a pinch 458 Win ammo will fill in if need be!

Touche excellent point

My first 458 Lott was purchased before it was a factory round. As such, my brass was necked up 416 rem mag brass. You can also do the same thing to 375 H&H brass. There is no need to use 458 win mag brass, as there are plenty of fl options out there.

Shoot one first, you may find dreaming about it is more fun than shooting it. It most certainly does everything the guys who can shoot say it does. I'm too much of whimp to like it.

I'm happy with mine. But as Ray pointed out above, it's a real agony to shoot it from certain positions.

I've never had the nerve to fire it prone. Sighting in off of a bench, with no padding or added weight is unpleasant, to put it mildly. Standing up though it's not really a big deal, as long as you can control the tendency to flinch. After a handful of shots, it does kind of rattle me.

Gets you instant respect at indoor ranges, BTW.

One more comment: Buy a Scope Eye rubber eyepiece pad, just in case.

Pertinax

Arrange to shoot somebody elses before you buy one. Also I seem to see used ones around fairly often.

Nframe,

I like my Lott a lot! I taken three buffalo with it as well as some smaller stuff. It is a handful to shoot but, just don't try to overdo it. Shoot it from the bench (preferrably a stand-up bench) only enough to get it sighted-in, then shoot from field positions. The bench will just make you think about swapping for a smaller caliber!

You never (well almost never) feel the recoil when you're taking a poke a something big, mean and nasty with malicious tendencies. After you see what a Lott can do on a head of dangerous game, you'll appreciate those miserable days at the range.

Bull1

Thanks all, it arrived today and looks/feels great!! I'm used to shooting my 458 WM so I'll start with WM level loads and SLOWLY work my way up. It seems very well put together and even has a nice straight grain stock to boot, even though it's the field grade. And those sights, WOW I think you could drop it from a bldg. and not damage them. Overall I'm impressed, I think I'll be looking for another CZ at the Tulsa show in April.

quote:

Paul H: My first 458 Lott was purchased before it was a factory round. As such, my brass was necked up 416 rem mag brass. You can also do the same thing to 375 H&H brass. There is no need to use 458 win mag brass, as there are plenty of fl options out there.

I had mine built before it became a factory loading too. I've fireformed H&H brass to make Lott cases, very easy and inexpensive too since I already had tons on hand.

NFrame, if you're used to the 458 Win, there won't be that much difference.

I think Jack Lott meant for the design to be used with fireformed .375 H&H. The 2.850" H&H shortens to about 2.800" when fired. Trim to length is 2.790".

There was method in Jack's madness. Nothing wrong with using the H&H length stuff necked up and fire formed.

A cast lead bullet with .375 cal. base and .458 cal over-hanging bearing surface is a common trick for fireforming perfect brass from .375 H&H.

I shot my CZ550 as a 458WM and it was a pussy-cat. Rechambered into a 458Lott and loaded to 2300fps it's verging on the uncomfortable, particularly off the bench. Work up slowly, I think you'll definately notice the difference.
Cheers...
Con

I'd rather not get into fire forming if at all possible, it's a little above my reloading skill level. I'll just have to be patient, As for the recoil I know it's going to be heavier than anything that I have fired before, so there is the apprehension but that will be gone with the first few shots, most of my shooting is offhand at hanging targets as well as a field full of junk cars. I'd never try prone even with the WM.

The easyest was to fire form brass and open the case mouth that I have found is to do the following. Prime case, load with 10-12gr Red Dot, fill with corn meal, lightly pack, place a small paper was or styrofoam over corn meal, and fire. If enough powder is used you get a nicely formed case that only needs trimming. If the powder charge is to light the case will not completely match the chamber. I have tried the method with 300Wby brass in my Lott it will work but I would have had better results if I had annealed the case necks first, as they were work hardened (old cases). 375H&H will not be put to such an extreem change, and new brass should work with little or no problems.

Hog Killer

Hog Killer,
Remember to add, "Point in safe direction" when fired. Lots of people believe that the fireforming loads are safe because there's no projectile. I've used powder below a toilet paper filled case and also powder below a plug made by pushing the case into a potato strip, and none of them are toys.
Cheers...
Con

Have a 458 Lott find it ok to shoot, have owned several 458wins and it is not much worse to fire, even with full power loads. Comes back a bit harder off the bench, but in the prone position more comfortable. I load only 500gr woodleighs, and have fire-formed 375HH brass and no problems encountered at all. Good luck with your new toy.

cheers cc

I agree with CC. Yes it kicks more than most cartidges out there but its not exccesive. I have used the 460 weatherby etc and found that excessive for me. I shot 12 rounds off from the Lott today on the bench and yes it kicks but not scarily. If you want a gun with a decent wallop ,I would think the Lott would be as much as you would want and not be scared stiff of shooting it ,as long as you have a bit of experience shooting bigger guns.

OK all you owners of the Lott, so far all agree it kicks, it will give you a flinch, hard to shoot off the bench so don't do anything but sight it in...don't shoot it squatting, prone, are in any position but standing up at the range after taking a bottle of Motrin, but its controlable and is a cream puff to shoot...

I agree with all of you 100%, thats why I shoot a 416 and a 404 and a loaded down .470!! I can shoot them under any circumstances and in any position, just like I can a .223 but I cannot do that with a 458 Lott, it gives me concern and I have to say "Now Ray, squeeze this friggen trigger, no rifle will kill you shooting it" and the Lott says back to me "Yeah right, sucker"

If I gotta think "oh shit, don't flinch it only hurts when I'm not shooting at live game", then I know that I'm in trouble!!

And hey, I can shoot the 458 Lott or the 505 Gibbs, its just that it takes a concentrated effort on my part, and I don't enjoy, nor trust that to every shot, even though I have killed Buffalo with both calibers, I got honest with myself and said I need a smaller rifle.....

Absolutely love my Ruger No.1 in 458 Lott. I'd sell any other gun I own before I'd sell that one.

It may not have a 'long illustrious history',but this cartridge will certainly be here 50 years from now. While it isn't the 30-06, the Lott may outlast the 458 WM, imho. It's a design that makes sense, and, properly loaded, will tackle anything on the planet.

When the adrenaline's pumping out in the field, you don't remember much recoil any way.

-Albert

Ray,

I have a Lott that doesn't kick much at all. The secret is in the stock design.

500 grs.
Uh-huh!

458 lott.......heck i used them for non magnum primers in my 700

Nframe, Huntingtons just got an order of Norma Lott brass in, it's not as cheap as the Hornady, but they have it. It is $103 per 100 rds. I picked up 100, ought to be a lifetime supply! Lee.

Met a few PH's in Zim who love the LOTT for backup.
I asked one which Woodliegh projectile's he would like me to bring him the next year, his request was some 550grn softs, his son uses a 458WIN so also brought some 500grn solids for him as I doubt the WIN would push the 550's along fast enough.
I could well imagine the effect of those 550's on the likes of Buff from a LOTT.

As a hunter in africa with a PH and all, I would want a smaller gun. I agree with Ray, its recoil is to much for good shot placement in many positions. I am building a 10,75x68 for this purpose, 400 grs at 2150 f/s.

As a PH I would want a bigger gun! .505 Gibbs would be my choise.

The Woodleigh 550 gr. solids are my pick and I have taken 5 eles with them. They are a true ele hammer. I also took one bull buff with the 550gr. Woodleigh soft. Got around 40" penetration on a quartering away shot through the stomach into the off shoulder. Buff went down within 20 yds. Velocity out of my 22" barrel = 2150 fps. Recoil is severe with this load but useable for me.

465H&H

quote:

Picture of 500grains

Posted 29 August 2005 06:40
Ray,

I have a Lott that doesn't kick much at all. The secret is in the stock design.

I believe you once posted a photo of a stock design that helped spread the recoil a bit. Would you mind posting that again. I have had several stocks made with a larger than normal butt and slight drop at heel to help with recoil on the larger bore rifles. Is there more that can be done before buttpads and suppressors are used?
Thanks,
Frank

I seldom use a large bore bolt rifle, but my favorite is the 458 LOTT, built on an FN Mauser.

It is my opinion, that everyone tries to get far too much speed out of their LOTT rifles! By this I mean, IMO, the 458 LOTT is best used as a modern cased 450 NE 3 1/4" that can be used in a bolt rifle, nothing more! I load my Lott to the exact ballistics of that old war horse, and the 9 3/4 lbs rifle feels like a hot 375 H&H when it pops. A 480 gr soft or solid from Woodliegh @ 2150 fps is all that is needed to do it's job. The 458 LOTT doesn't have to be the monster everyone seems to want it to be! Loaded properly, it will handle anything on this planet, and is pleasent to shoot! Hell, Hog Killer hunts opossums with his, and I've shot a ton of coyotes, and muledeer with mine!
Just because a car will run 200 MPH, doesn't mean you have to drive it that way!