Last night I finally got my scope set up and fired my withworth .458!!! I was surprised at the recoil actually, I knew I had shot something but I really don't think that it is gonna be all that bad to handle. I only shot it a few times with Federal 510 grain factory stuff just to see how it felt. This is with a POS stock that doesn't really fit all that well so I figure that when I get a new stock and better recoil pad it will be a pleasure to shoot!!! gabe

Hope you enjoy it and have heaps of fun, big bores are great

I know this doesn't make sense, well maybe it's obvious, don't know, but the more you shoot something that hurts, the more you tend to realize it!
rob the guy who has had a VERY black and blue shoulder from his 10 ga and 50 cal bmg

I shot my brand new cz 550 magnum in 458 win mag for the first time yesterday. The stoch does`t fit me at all so I had to add something on it. so I actualy could se trough the sight. And I find out that that was not my limit of recoil. If that is the goal to find out.(I have just shot 9,3+62 before.) I think its in the head, your limit of recoil. if you are afraid to pull the trigger it is going to hurt. but if you can`t wait you will enjoy it. What do you think about that theory???

Yes, I think you are perfectly correct. Anticipation is huge factor in perceived recoil, and a also in bad shooting: flinch. It can be so difficult to convince your body to just relax when ya bout to set off one of these puppies, I really had quite a nice black and blue shoulder after just a few rounds with my 50 cal BMG. I figured out a number of ameliorative things, best is grab anything around like towell, book, cardboard, etc., the poormans means, also, a 50 lb sack of feed behind the bipod helps a bit
rob the guy who gettin low on ideas for these tag lines

I found a .458 Whitworth that is in great shape and well cared for for US$650. Is this a fair price?

Mod 12 That sounds like a good price. I had a 375 and a 458 Whitworth for a while, they both shot good. I used the Leupold QD scope mounts, the ones with the posts on the rings, and they held zero with no problem. If you get the rifle try the Hornady 350 gr. RN for American game. Anywhere from 1900fps to 2350 fps it does an excellent job. I think the 458 Win. is one of the best calibers for a "first" BIG bore. You have excellent bullets avialable for practice and deer and pig, elk to bear to elephant and buff. With properly taylored loads the 458 is fun to hunt with and very effective.

I would agree that the .458 win is a good first big bore (In my limited experience).

ON the recoil issue: When I was trying to decide between a 30 mag and my 338 Winnie, I had more people than I could shake a stick at tell me that the 338 was a hard kicker and unpleasant to shoot, took some sound advice from a couple of forum members from a now defunct forum and went the rout of the 338. Got it and was extremely shocked at lack of recoil. Same now goes with the 458. I am not a big guy by any stretch, I am decently muscular though for my size so I am not sure what that plays into the recoil absorbtion equation but when it comes down to it, I think it is a matter of 3 factors: Rifle fit to the individual, Shooting technique, and mental state of the shooter. Oh and BTW I got my Withworth for slightly less but after handling it I think $650 would be a very fair price, go for it I figure you will be happy. gabe

Gents,
I picked up a new, unfired 458 Whitworth Safari grade with the multiple leaf rear sight just a couple of weeks ago. This mauser came wrapped in one gorgeous piece of walnut! I took one look at it and knew it was going to be mine. I have not been temped to shoot it as am currently in the final countdown for a sheep hunt.

I have been a Mauser fan for a long time now and this is as nice of a rendering as I could imagine, even if it had cost double or triple the money! My safe is stocked with a couple of Mauser conversions that I have had customized to fit myself and my hunting style, and they did indeed cost double. It's lines are clean and it is not flashy, but has just the right features in the right places!

Though this caliber is larger than needed here in Alaska, I look forward to using it in the spring. All in all, this Whitworth 458 mauser conversion (made in Manchester) is all I could of hoped!

Congrats on "surviving" the big bore, biff

mod 12, if you do indeed want a big bore, I can't think of a better place to start. Of course, If moneys no object....
best,
bhtr