Well, yesterday the UPS Christmas fairy delivered the Lott ammo I ordered from Midway! So I finally got to shoot the my new toy. It was awesome! and family members that gave it a try got a good *kick* out of it too (Good thing I ordered two boxes of ammo!)

I got a prefit limbasver pad that I was going to install on it. But I didn't like the way it lined up with the stock... just looked crappy. I think I owe the nice looking rifle better than that! Plus, the bottom screw hole looked a little too low for me to be comfortable installing it. So, I had the joy of firing those Hornady full power loads with the standard Ruger Hockey Puck pad. (Ouch!) The first few shots weren't that bad... but it really started to wear on me after about 6. Then I was shooting a magazine full rapid fire and on the last round the gun slipped just a tiny bit out on my shoulder... and gave me a nice little bruise. Good lesson to pay attention! After that I stopped shooting, cause it's stupid to shoot when you hurt. (Hello flichville!) Overall the gun is amazing... the wood is SO nice I couldn't believe it when I opened the box. I've worked the action very rapidly and from weird angles. It seems to feed without a problem. The bolt throw is a tad rough and might need some smooting up. I figure I'll have that looked at, get it glass bedded, and have a grind to fit limbasver installed and call it good. Is there any smiths that people would recommed to work on my Ruger? Local guys in Iowa don't really have much bigbore experience! I'd rather have someone who knows what they are doing take a look at it.

Thanks for all the input and advice that you guys have given to me abotu this purchhase. I couldn't be happier. My father told me that I could use his .375 H&H RSM for a backup on my Safari. Now, I just have to start practicing my butt off with my Lott and get the trip booked. It's going to be hard to wait two years! Anyhow, you guys have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Congrats on the new rifle in 458 Lott. What a great cartridge...Separates the men from the boys, and builds character too!

Have you given any thought to reloading for the Lott? $60/box or so is going to get quite old, if you practice like one should.

Congratulations!
Merry Christmas!

Congradulations on your Lott.& Merry Christmas

quote:

Originally posted by akalinin:
Congrats on the new rifle in 458 Lott. What a great cartridge...Separates the men from the boys, and builds character too!

Have you given any thought to reloading for the Lott? $60/box or so is going to get quite old, if you practice like one should.

Already have the dies! I am waiting on some components that were backorded to show up. But that's gonna have to wait till after the Holidays when I get back to Iowa. Currently visting family back in Indiana. That's why I had to get some ammo from Midway sent here, since I wasn't gonna be able to load any up before heading down.

blah, glad you are enjoying your RSM/Lott. For great practice ammo, get you some of the Rem. 45-70, 405gr sp. These are the cheapest and at the same time a good bullet for practicing with your Lott. I have shot hundreds of them through mine. I load them to 2100fps for hunting pigs, but you can load them up to 2400fps for just shooting practice (handling recoil, cycling the action, and getting back on target). I know a fellow who bought a RSM and the action was not really smooth, he just worked the action while sitting at the house. (A bunch) smoothed right up. As for recoil with factory pads, be glad you were not shooting a #1 in 458 Lott. That red rubber hocky puck s#cks. You will like you rifle even more with the Limbsaver on it or with the Decelarator pad.

Have fun,

Hog Killer

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
blah, glad you are enjoying your RSM/Lott. For great practice ammo, get you some of the Rem. 45-70, 405gr sp. These are the cheapest and at the same time a good bullet for practicing with your Lott. I have shot hundreds of them through mine. I load them to 2100fps for hunting pigs, but you can load them up to 2400fps for just shooting practice (handling recoil, cycling the action, and getting back on target). I know a fellow who bought a RSM and the action was not really smooth, he just worked the action while sitting at the house. (A bunch) smoothed right up. As for recoil with factory pads, be glad you were not shooting a #1 in 458 Lott. That red rubber hocky puck s#cks. You will like you rifle even more with the Limbsaver on it or with the Decelarator pad.

Have fun,

Hog Killer

Hog,
I can't imagine shooting a No1 in a Lott . I have some of those 405grn rems on the way. You just can't beat $12 for 100!

Been there, did not like it. That damn red Goodyear rubber bummer stinks for a pad.

As for the Remmy bullets, get them by the 500.

Hog Killer

Christmas eve was a day for people shooting their new m77 Lotts!! I've been trying different projectiles: 500 gr TBBC, 500 gr lion loads (mostly, the lion loads), and a couple from a box of hornady a friend bought me when he heard my rifle was coming (that was a nice gift!!!). This was my 2nd chance to get out and shoot this rifle. I do have to say I'm not sure I'd call it "fun" to shoot... but I want to make sure I'm getting everything working right. So far, I've only put 17 rounds through it (8 1st day, 9 today).

Comparison of my #1 in .458 win vs. the m77 in .458 Lott: the Lott jabs more than the #1.

Dan

I would send the gun to Steve Heilmann in Grass Valley, California. He is considered one of the best in the business and his work is incredible. his number is 530-272-8758. You will not be disappointed. He can also polish the inside of your action and it will feel like the bolt is on bearings.

blah

6 rounds of 458 Lott is plenty for an afternoon for me. I don't overdo the big rifles, three or four shots a day, just shoot them a lot of days. The limbsaver pad is the way to go, I have one on my Ruger in .416. One thing about the big bores, they will teach you proper gun mounting in a hurry. I was watching a hunting show the other day and one of these nuts was shooting a deer, had the stock almost completely off his shoulder, only about the last 2 in. at the toe of the stock was against his shoulder. I'd like to hand him a big bore and watch him touch one off in that position!

Blah,

I tried the rem's in my .458 win. Wasn't too impressed -- lots of muzzle flash. But they're very affordable. The point of impact for 405gr bullets will be significantly different than the POI for the 500gr full loads. IF you are using the open sights, you'll find they are not adjustable (New England Custom Firearms offers front blades).

I had picked up some lion loads on sale. I thought they might be good for target practice. I should have left them. They shoot about 3" left at 100 yards.

The tallest leaf puts the point of impact in the middle of the bead (holding dead on) for Hornady's loads, and for my reloads using Hornady projectiles, at 100 yards. I found that when I shot with a 6:00 hold, that's exactly where the bullet went: 6:00.

I am still trying to sort out TBBC's...

So far -- I've found shooting off-hand to be much more pleasant than shooting off of the bench. BUT -- while I'm trying to figure out what my loads are doing, the offhand stuff can wait. I've also picked up some cross-sticks. A friend of mine has recommended limb-savers. I have been using past-pads on the bench -- which has been sufficient. I have also fired it several times without padding off the bench... doing something right -- no visible bruises, though I felt a little sore the next day. Good mounting goes a long ways to reducing punch.

It is a coincidence we both got the same model rifle in the same caliber at nearly the same time... I'm very interested in hearing what you're experiences are as you get into shooting your rifle!

Dan

You might like http://www.answerrifles.com they custom make a pad that is argued to be better than the limb saver.

i tried the limb saver , didnt like its looks either , i now use the pachmeyer recoil pad (decellerator) on my number 1 in 500 asquare and i shoot off the bench with a warm load of 120grs 4064 and a 570 x bullet , i know it is over listed , but the load is as far as i can go with recoil , and cannot get more into case even with drop tubes! try that with an original super hard red squeaker on it as mine started life as a 25-06 ! not saying im tough , just stupid as i didnt change the pad till i tried some 600 grn solids in it (oh my what was that i did to me now ?) have fun and i hope you get to enjoy your lott as often as you wish , and good luck on your hunt .

I have a Ruger #1 in .458 Win mag that I had rechambered in .458 Lott with the stock recoil pad, I don't think I had six shots out of it before I decided to get a Pachmayer Decelerator pad, havn't fitted it yet but I certainly will before I go out hunting buff again!
Pete.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
be glad you were not shooting a #1 in 458 Lott. That red rubber hocky puck s#cks. You will like you rifle even more with the Limbsaver on it or with the Decelarator pad.

Have fun,

Hog Killer

quote:

Originally posted by brent andrade:
i tried the limb saver , didnt like its looks either , ....

Don't use the pre-fits.. looks like the michiline man's gun if you do...

grind to fits look nice, and wear MUCH better than a kickeze
jeffe

Blah, I love my RSM 458 Lott, so I know how much you must be enjoying yours. I would, however consider reloading. Brings down the costs of shooting your Ruger considerably. FWIW, I would NOT buy Hornady reloading dies again. Bullet seating is a problem with the Hornady dies. The Hornady 458 Lott brass is great, however. Good shooting. Best, Starcharvski.

This kind of thread is to much fun to let die.

Last time I went to the range, I found it hard to see the sights (dark under the range cover). Usually, I shot from a different firing point. I had worked up some loads to try, shooting Hornady softs and solids, and AGS solids, and I wanted to see how they shot relative to each other. I mounted a scope, and had some fun.

Previously, I had found that A-Square Lion Loads fired around 2.5 - 3" left of the Hornadys. I found the AGS and Hornady solids hit near to where the A-Squares hit. The iron sights are regulated to the Hornady softs. Both Hornady softs and the AGS demonstrated sub-moa groups. I did not get nearly as tight a group from the Hornady solids, but it is conceivable I was getting tired by then (it was cold and windy, and I put 19 rounds through that rifle from the bench yesterday).

Funny thing -- recoil seems to be softening with that rifle. I have to admit, I found it stiffer than my Ruger #1 in .458 win; but found that the recoil from the Lott was much more comfortable than other days (maybe something different in my clothing? conceivable). No visible bruise even after (almost) 20 rounds from the bench; no significant soreness. However, cleaning the thing was a pain -- lots and lots and lots and Lotts of copper fouling. I put in hours trying to get that out yesterday night and this morning.

I must agree that playing with different loads is where the fun is. The number of loads available commercially is still miserably low. It is likely to be a little while before Federal actually succeeds in getting their announced load out the door. Best option is to load your own!

Blah -- how about an update? How's your rifle doing? and what are you doing with it?

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by DanEP:
This kind of thread is to much fun to let die.

Last time I went to the range, I found it hard to see the sights (dark under the range cover). Usually, I shot from a different firing point. I had worked up some loads to try, shooting Hornady softs and solids, and AGS solids, and I wanted to see how they shot relative to each other. I mounted a scope, and had some fun.

Previously, I had found that A-Square Lion Loads fired around 2.5 - 3" left of the Hornadys. I found the AGS and Hornady solids hit near to where the A-Squares hit. The iron sights are regulated to the Hornady softs. Both Hornady softs and the AGS demonstrated sub-moa groups. I did not get nearly as tight a group from the Hornady solids, but it is conceivable I was getting tired by then (it was cold and windy, and I put 19 rounds through that rifle from the bench yesterday).

Funny thing -- recoil seems to be softening with that rifle. I have to admit, I found it stiffer than my Ruger #1 in .458 win; but found that the recoil from the Lott was much more comfortable than other days (maybe something different in my clothing? conceivable). No visible bruise even after (almost) 20 rounds from the bench; no significant soreness. However, cleaning the thing was a pain -- lots and lots and lots and Lotts of copper fouling. I put in hours trying to get that out yesterday night and this morning.

I must agree that playing with different loads is where the fun is. The number of loads available commercially is still miserably low. It is likely to be a little while before Federal actually succeeds in getting their announced load out the door. Best option is to load your own!

Blah -- how about an update? How's your rifle doing? and what are you doing with it?

Dan

Well, I haven't actually been doing much with the thing as of late. The weather has been miserable to say the least! I no motivation to go out to the range when it's 15 deg outside I did have a decelerator pad installed on it though which REALLY helped things out. I also installed a 1-5X VXIII Leo on it in some QD mounts. We'll see how it holds up. If I trash it, I'll get a 2.5x compact. I still need to send it off for bedding. But, haven't put the leg work in to find a good person to do it. Not many smiths around here know ANYTHING about heavy recoiling rifles. Basically I've just been too busy to do the leg work on tracking a good smith, who's familiar with the RSMs down. I did get some loads worked up using the 400 and 450 gr TSX bullets. They seem to shoot really well... but I get a fair bit of copper in the bore when shooting them. Not nearly as bad as the normal X bullets though. I really want to try some NorthForks.