Last December I made a deal for a CZ 550 Safari in 458 Win Mag. The plan was to pick it up from my FFL holder while I was home on leave. Due to bad weather UPS was delayed in getting it to my FFL and it arrived the day after I had to return home. But I was finally able to make arrangements to get it here and now I have it in my hands.

I was finally able to get some time today to take it to the range. I AM IN LOVE!!!! I thought my CZ 375 H&H was fun but the 458 is an absolute blast!!!

I started out with some 350gr hollow point handloads that were loaded to around 2400fps. They flat smacked off of the bench but not too painful. I couldnt get the hollow points to feed from the magazine at all. Then I switched to some factory Remington 510gr soft point. They fed from the magazine slicker than frog snot. I decided to try these off hand since they were so much heavier. Recoil was not nearly as sharp as the 350's but they moved me more. They appeared to be shooting right on point so I held the bead on a 12" plate at 200 yards and squeezed one off. It rolled me back nicely but that 510gr bullet rocked that steel plate like crazy. I hit the plate 2 ot of 3 shots which I think is pretty fair for offhand with a big gun.

A couple other guys at the range had to ome down and ask what caliber I was shooting. They got a kickout of it being a 458.

I only fired 8 shots today (4-350's and 4-510's) and that was enogh for the first time. My shoulder is sporting a very nice blood bruise whih my wife patiently rolled her eyes at when I proudly showed her.

I can now proudly claim to be a true member of the big bore club.

Congrats on your new .458 and glad you're enjoying it.

The recoil of the .458 Win isn't half as bad as most make it out to be IMHO. If you mount it correctly it's not a big deal at all and in fact I've never had any bruising with either of my .458's (#1 with factory recoil pad and M77 with a good Pachmyer decelerator) even off the bench. I guess some people bruise more easily than others though.

The key is a good fitting rifle and proper mounting and it's just a big shove, not painful or anything terrible. Get it snugged into your shoulder good and get your cheek down on it firmly and just roll with it.

Have fun with it... For me the .458 has been a fun, easy round to load for and components are plentiful and cheap generally. RL7 is the key to good velocities with the 500gr bullets. I'm getting 2125fps with no problem in my 24" Rugers.

WTG !

Good Stuff !!

Damn it! I've been having a blast with my 375 and you have to add this. Do you know hard hard it is to find left handed big bores?

There is no reason that .458 should be beating you up like that. Go get yourself a good pad fitted. I like to use the Pachmayr Decelorators but Kick-Ezz and others are also very good. I have been shooting my Ruger .458 for over 15 years mostly with 400 and 500 gr. full power loads and have never gotten a bruise off it and I bruise very easily normally. Get yourself a good pad and remove the pain from shooting it. IMHO it "ain't" manly to hurt yourself needlessly, just stupid.

The rifle doesnt beat me up too bad, and the recoil isnt painful. But it is definately a handful. I really enjoyed shooting it. In fact I have shot a light 300 Wi Mag that was FAR more abusive to shoot than this rifle was. I did find it surprising that the 350gr bullets had a sharper recoil. The 510's just shoved really good.

The rifle is already wearing a Decelorator and I am very happy with it. I think the blood bruise came from leaning way down into the rifle when I shot it off of the bench. If I had of been sitting more upright I could have rolled with the recoil better. Off hand it was far less felt recoil.

Get a PAST pad to wear on your shoulder when shooting off the bench. It really helps for sighting in.

M1Tanker,

My experience mirrors yours. Offhand is fun but a low bench and high seat are a bad combo. Even a high bench and a low seat and the felt recoil is noticably more than when shooting offhand. No benches in the feild anyway!

congrats,

JPK

M1,

Great to hear about the Winnie. After you get use to it, go ahead and punch it out to a Lott. It's even more fun. When you get to Ft. Hood, maybe we can get together, and you can shoot mine.

Hgo Killer

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
M1,

After you get use to it, go ahead and punch it out to a Lott.

When you get to Ft. Hood, maybe we can get together, and you can shoot mine.

Hgo Killer

I noticed when I was loading the magaine on my CZ that there is a LOT of room for a longer OAL than the Win Mag. It appears that there is around 3/4" over even the 510 factory stuff. Opening it up to Lott has some interest for me.

I will gladly take you up on your offer to shoot yours. We will have to get you some range time with a 50 cal while I am there. How far away are you from Ft Hood?

M1,

I think it is only about 2 1/2hrs, maybe 3. It's been a while since I was through there.

If you have that kind of room in your mag box (3.65"+), all it will need is a simple reamer job and its done. Others who already have the Lott in a CZ say that they also should have glass bedded action, recoil lug on barrel(also bedded). A search here should bring up the past posts, on the subject.

Hog Killer

M1 take thr action out of the stock and the mag box should be stamped 375 H&H which means your box is 3.850".

Now to inform you of the road you are on shoot your 458 win mag for a couple hundred shots until it becomes normal then open it up to the lott and shoot another 500 rounds through it then when it becomes normal rebarrel it to 550 magnum for some real fun the when that becomes normal you can have her opened up to the 600 OK.

RNS

^^Speaking of the 600 OK, talk a little about the cartridge. Where can I find info on it?

For sighting in big bores the best bet is to sight in over the bonnet of your hunting rig..................in other ords use a standing bench for hard kickers and a past pad.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
For sighting in big bores the best bet is to sight in over the bonnet of your hunting rig..........

TRANSLATION

Shoot over the hood of your truck.........


Hog Killer

Interesting...

I just returned from the range firing my first batch of .458 Win reloads in my No. 1: 350 Hornady over 70 grains of H322. I didn't chrono this fairly light load, accuracy was so-so, around 5" at 100 yards open sights. The 350's recoil is a bit snappy - God bless the Caldwell Lead Sled...This load shoots too high - need more velocity.

Any other powder suggestions for 350's and 405's? Looking for accuracy mainly, and H322 is a benchrest powder which advertises some pretty good velocity numbers in the .458.

Jason

Re7, IMR-4895, IMR 4320, they all work in my Lott.

Hog Killer

The old double rifle shooters figured out this sighting-in stuff with heavy recoil rifles. They arranged standing rests for the purpose.

Looking for portability and wanting to use stuff I had around, I made a flat top for a large, study photographic tripod that was acquired on eBay for use with a 4 x5" view camera. The tripod has a lot of vertical adjustment so it works great for the purpose. It collapses into a reasonably small package that goes into the car easily.

When you're standing, the body tends to roll with the recoil. MUCH, much more comfortable than taking the straight slap at a bench. Works with bolt rifle too. In addition, it is a lot like using a 3 legged set of sticks and that skill might be useful in Africa.

If you're going to rechamber the rifle for the Lott, you really ought to atleast consider arranging something like this.

By the way ... Welcome to the Big Bore Club. You will enjoy the experienc!

M1,

Before you go opening that nice rifle up to a .458Lott, find a box of Hornady Heavy Magnums for the .458WinMag. They are just a wee bit slower than the factory .458Lott ammo. It would be a good comparison for you.
You probably don't even need a full box, and if my experience is typical, there have got to be partial boxes available all over the place.

Les

I am going to take your advice and try a standing bench from now on. Standing the recoil was not bad at all. But I sure felt it hunched down behnd the rifle from the bench.

Thanks for all your help and input.

M1Tanker,

Congrats on the new rifle. I was a little late coming to the 458 party as I had 375s and 416s to play with. My purchase of a #1 Lott hooked me and then I just HAD to acquire a RSM Lott. The 458 caliber (especially the Lott IMO) is just a ton of fun and very flexible. For cheap practice and varmints the Rem 405gr FP/SP for 45-70s are wonderfully (~$65.00 for 500!). I would open up your rifle to the Lott chambering, but you can make that decision after a couple of hundred Win loads.

At my range standing benches are unheard of (unfortunately) so I make do (for now) with the standard benches. DO NOT shoot your big bore like your varmint rifle-low position and loose hold. Sit up as much as possible to be able to move with the recoil. I have made this mistake with my Rigby and Lott (and I know better!) and you will take a hit straight down your spine. I can get pretty good groups sitting up as much as possible, with my left (supporting) hand on top of the rest bags, gripping the rifle firmly, as I do in the field. Pull the rifle into your shoulder with both hands. Do not let the rifle get a run at you. For years I didn't use a Past shoulder rig out of machoness but for load work I now use one.

I just returned from a 3 day ground squirrel shoot where I shot my RSM about 90 times. The Lott effect on squirrels was fantastic (with the 405 FPs) and I got great satisfaction from the looks of my friends faces on being able to shoot a "cannon" well and often.

Great choice of rifle and caliber. You will have a ton of fun!

And a sincere thanks for your service for this country.

John

JKS,

What is your ground squirrel load?

Hog Killer

Welcome to the 458 club. I use mine when I am hunting elk in the heavy timber of the Oregon Coast. It is one place where you do not want your elk to go far after being shot. The shots are under 75 yards generally and I shoot to break bone with the first shot taking out the leg/shoulder/spine. This STOPS the elk, and then I sometimes have to send a second one into the skull to finish it. It is NOT the normal way to hunt elk, but the 458 serves this specific purpose.

The rest of the time I load 405 grain cast or 350 grain Hornady hollow points and use it for deer and sometimes varmints. It is good for giving flying lessons to a badger or a close coyote. Enjoy the 458.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
For sighting in big bores the best bet is to sight in over the bonnet of your hunting rig..................in other ords use a standing bench for hard kickers and a past pad.

PC, this is the second time in a few weeks you
advised this, but I don't know that the "foreigners" have bonnets. The Yanks have
hoods. But anyway, have you very short legs?
Over the bonnet of my Jackeroo I'm nearly prone.
John L.

quote:

Originally posted by M1Tanker:

They got a kickout of it being a 458.
.

I love humour, even if accidental.
But these CZ 550's seem to have a stock designed
to kick up. I think the're called hogs back or
such.
I've just fired my new 458 also,standing for the
factory, and a bench for the 405Rem's.
The rem reloads were supposed to be a light load
but kicked like a mule, and my mate got wacked
by the scope twice. But, still he had fun.
So far the push feed M70 has fed perfectly, except upside down and 90 deg sideways due to that big heavy 500gr slug obeying gravity.
I'm going to load down even more till I get the
hang of it.
John L.

Welcome to the Big Bore Club

Regarding your feeding problems with the 350's, did you crimp those cartridges? I never crimped my first batch of 350's and they didn't feed at all.

JAL,

I have a landcruiser trayback diesel ute which is quite a high car. I am 5'11" or there abouts and it works out the perfect height for me. I have to confess I sight all my rifles in over the bonnet with sand bags etc. it is much more comforatble than sitting down for me.

Hog Killer,

For my ground squirrel load I use a Rem 405 gr FP/SP (their 45-70 bullet) over 70grs of RL 7. Haven't chronoed it yet but this load is VERY accurate out of my RSM Lott. I have used Barnes 450x and Hornady 500 gr softs and solids in the past but this 405gr flat point load is the cats ass! The bullets are dirt cheap and the results are unbelievable. This load also works well on rock chucks I used this load on two squirrel shoots this year (with the occasional chuck thrown in) and couldn't be happier. My RSM Lott and Rigby is off to Roger Ferrell now for tweaking so the next shoot I will have to make do with my 375s and small bores

Try the Rem 405s and you will be a happy camper too

John

JKS,

I have been using the Reminton 405s, they are a great plinker.

Hog Killer

quote:

Originally posted by exabit:
Welcome to the Big Bore Club

Regarding your feeding problems with the 350's, did you crimp those cartridges? I never crimped my first batch of 350's and they didn't feed at all.

Yeah, and worse still, with these short bullets,
a lack of crimp may start them in to the bore
too easely, the fire can go out or not even start, and there sticks the bullet.
John L. (bin there done that.)

JAL,
i think you meant that a lack of crimp may beat the bullets into the case, causing unpredictable presures and erratic velocities.

the reason his bullets didn't feed is that the neck was actually jamming, as his brass was probably uncamberfered, which means it WILL hang up when feeding.

No crimp, in big bores, beats the bullets to DEATH

jeffe

On my 350gr loads they were crimped and the case mouths chamfered. It appears to me that the lack of feeding in this rifle is due to such a short OAL and the wide flat nose of the bullet. When the leading edge of the bullets nose contacts the feed ramp area it "noses up" into the the top of the chamber. I loaded sone dummy rounds with 300gr round nose and they fed like champs. So I am leaning towards the bullet causing the feed issues.

But on a positive note I have taken the rifle out again and put another 20 rounds through it. I am really liking this rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

No crimp, in big bores, beats the bullets to DEATH

jeffe

If you mean in the magazine under recoil, no I was single loading. The first two were blowing
soot as far back as the bolt lugs. The third, the primer went off but not much else.
Some one here said reloading for the .458 was easy. I've just done the worst reloads ever.

I'm still mucking around with the reloads that came with the rifle, and had no dies, so just pushed the 405's in by hand. They were quite firm.
Then some Lee dies turned up and so did some troubles I've never had before. To FLS the way lee advises leaves a "ridge" of brass just
ahead of the belt, all around the circumference.

And on seating some pulled 405 rem's (after trim, schamfer, belling,) the dammed things seemed to go in a bit crooked and left a bulge down one side of the neck area. The Lee die
has a "floating" seater which I'm suspicious of.

So when the rest of the components arrive I'm going to very slightly resize (to limit the decrease of inside neck dia.) and hopefully have another seating die as well.
I was suprised there was no expander button on the deprime pin, is that normal??
Reloaded for about 45 years and never had stuff ups like it.
John L. (love the rifle though.)