I just purchased a 1917 action of Dago Red in the classifieds. He had planned to build a .458 Win Mag on this action, and all the work is done for it to feed a magnum cartridge. I have a 1917 already in .300 H&H and think it would be cool to build this into a matching .375 H&H. However, I have a .375 Ruger already so that one would have to go more than likely.

I started looking for a barrel today nothing serious yet. However I found a Shilen 28" unturned blank in .416 for a reasonable price. So I started to consider the various cartridges I could do .416 Ruger and .416 Taylor are two that came out really quick. I like the Ruger because there is no belt, and the Taylor because the brass is easier to come by making it out of .458 Win.

So that leaves Dago's original intent of making it into a .458 Win. Bullet selection is a lot better from what I can tell over the .416's. Brass is easy to come by. I have a friend who shoots a .458 Win in a Ruger and loves it, saying it is the most consistanly accurate rifle he has. Considered making it a Lott as well.

So what do you guys think? Africa, and big bears are not in my future anytime soon. I just have an intrest playing with a big bore.

Go Big....458!

You can certainly build any of those on the 1917 action but with the long bolt throw I've always felt the 1917 was better suited to the longer cartridges I.E. 375 H&H length. The shorter rounds perform well, but I prefer to use Mausers for that length of cartridge. That said, cartridge choice to me depends on what I want to use the rifle for, if your going to hunt with it and only in the US, then the 375 would be my choice, but if it just for fun then any of them that you like will be just right.

458 lott -- 500 AR

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
458 lott -- 500 AR

Jeffe...
Post that pic of the heashot on that pig from you're 500 AR
Anyone I show that pic to is impressed

The one with TAYLOR in the name seems apt 8~))

But I'd like you to go with a .458 Lott.

Todd

Big action ... put the largest cartridge you can stand to shoot in it!

.458 Lott or a .500 AR

Lott will be relatively easy to get ammo for ... the .500 AR will be a SPECTACULAR performer.

(This from the owner of a .458 AR that has performed very, very well. Jeffe's designs are terrific!)

The bigbore equivalent to 30 cal is the 45. So many choices in projectiles its just not funny.

I say ... use the big action and build a 458AR. Use the additional magazine space to be able to seat long monolithics out where they dont intrude on powder space.

Otherwise ... 458Lott.
Cheers...
Con

I'd build a matching .375 H&H and keep the .375 Ruger as well.