Friends,

Earlier this year I put up a post about a beautiful 416 Magnum that I wanted to buy. The gun was full custom on an old Remington Express action and absolutly gorgeous, alas I was too long in my pondering and someone else got the great deal.

Well that sad story didn't change my lust for Africa and a safari someday. So what I am going to do is take a beautiful F.N. Mauser that I have been saving and have it made into a 458 Winchester Magnum.

I am thinking a 20" barrel, laminated stock (I don't especially care for plastic and I want the stock pretty much invincible), along with express sights and a quick mount system for a low power scope.

Any ideas and experience you could pass along would be appreciated. My gunsmith thinks we should be able to do everything for well under $1,000.00

I have almost the same rifle you intend to build on a Mark X action with a McMillan stock. If I was to do it again I would go for a 23 or 24 in. barrel. The recoil of a 458 is fairly ferocious and the extra inches will help control muzzle rise during recoil and bring you back to your target a little sooner. Also I find that a longer barrel is a little steadier in the off hand position.

I would make sure that your length of pull on your stock is cut and your scope mounted to take full advantage of the maximum eye relief of your scope. A wack in the eyebrow isn't fun and causes flinchitis.

Good Luck and have fun with the 458. There are many who have a negative opinion of the 458 but I have found it to be very effective with good handloads on everything I have pointed it at.

Rever,
I would suggest, keeping to a 458 based round, that you order a cz550 in 458 winnie, have it reworked for 458 lott, and restock with the lam of your choice. you'll have the benefit of being able to use 458 win, if you like.

This would be
$600 -rifle
$100 gunsmithing work
$150 for a stock and pad www.richardmicrofit.com
and then you do the stockwork, which is pretty fun.
$150 for win model 70 safety (my choice)

or, you could buy the model 70 in 416 rem or cz550 in 416 rigby, and restock

jeffe
btw, I have a model 70 in 416 rem, with a lam stock (and orginial) that I could be talked into selling, as I want a cz550 in 416 rigby, now that i've been through this.

Jeffesso is on the right track. Go for a cz .458 and ream it out to the lott, or you could even ream it out for the .450 Rigby and get the bolt face and rails opened up.

I have a cz .416 Rigby restocked and I love it, I like the big 410 gr woodleigh's I dream of hunting in Africa

I'll agree with those who advocate the CZ 550 chambered for 458 Win Mag, re-chambered for the 458 LOTT. With the Lott you can use 458 Win Mag ammo in a pinch, and when you re-stock the CZ you will have both wood, and plastic stocks for different climates! Then I would make a good plains game rifle out of the FN action, perhaps a 338 Win Mag, for a real usable pair for Africa!

Why not just get the Ruger Bolt Action in the new 458 Lott chambering?

Can you get the ruger with a longer barrel?
s

I suppose we wont see the ruger lott in Australia for another couple of years, it takes a while before stuff gets to us.

Sounds like to me your on the right track and the 458 does perform a lot better with a long barrel and like you I like the long tubes of 26" because they do, in fact, enhance ones off hand shooting ability.