Shot my new 458 today for the first time with Jeffeoso and a band of completely mad big bore shooters. It's built on a Charles Daly mauser action, 25" Douglas #5 contour barrel, barrel band on barrel, Dalota front and rear sights, Warne Maxima QD rings and bases, Boyds JRS laminated stock, bedded at both recoil lugs and about 2" ahead of the rear lug. I mounted a Leupold 2-7 shotgun scope on it and bore sighted. First two shots, standing at 100 yds. were high and right about 1.5" apart. Then we settled in on the 50 yd. line

www.imagestation.com/mypictures/inbox/view.html?id=4202621994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imagestation.com%2Fpicture%2Fsraid89%2Fp1c5278d38810fd75c777ab75c7c73f0d%2Ffa7eec2a.jpg&caption=4 58%20target

Using the maximum outside measurement minus the bore diameter, first group measures .594" center to center, you can clearly see all three shots. 2nd group printed touching the first but slightly lower measures .392" center to center, all three into one big hole. I'm as happy as a pig in poop. A small problem with feeding from the right side of the magazine but my trusty dremel tool should celar that up this weekend. I haven't taken any photos of the rifle myself but here is one from the guy who built it.
www.imagestation.com/mypictures/inbox/view.html?id=4202620946&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imagestation.com%2Fpicture%2Fsraid89%2Fp56dd443d53b9007cfcd968d3abde4540%2Ffa7ee812.jpg&caption=4 58mauser2

[ 11-26-2003, 06:32: Message edited by: browningguy ]

Well thats a mighty fine rifle, and some good shoot'n.
How do you like that Charles Daly action... fit and finish good when you got it?

Thanks smallfry, the action is ok, as mentioned there is a feeding problem from the right side of the magazine which a dremel tool should fix. The finish is a matte blue, nothing special, no tool marks on the outside of the action, a few marks on the lug way on the left side of the action. If you noticed the target we also shot my pre-war Mauser in 8x57, it's definately smoother than the Daly. I'm going to use some pro-gold and see if that slicks it up a bit, but overall I'm satisfied. I didn't pay a custom gun price for it and for a factory action it's ok.

Not only is it a beautiful rifle, it shoots great too. Congratulations and don't believe all the things you hear about "how bad" the .458 is.

Thanks hacksawtom, I just got through with the dremel tool and it feeds clean from both sides of the magazine now. Jeffeoso showed me where to take a little off, I would up taking a little over 1/16" off the follower to get it to feed correctly. By the way, there is a lot of space avaialable in this action if someone wanted to go for a longer cartridge.

I think this will make bad pig medicine next month, if the pigs will cooperate.

[ 11-23-2003, 06:44: Message edited by: browningguy ]