A local gunshop has a nice Interarms Mark X Alaskan in 458 mag. The rifle is in nice shape and is wearing a Burris Fullfield 3X9. The iron sights are missing but thats the only issue. Bore is like new and the wood is nice. They are asking 450 for the rig and I'd like to know everyone's take on this model rifle. I have had several of the Interarms Whitworth rifles but never the Alaskan. Thanks in advance.

Joe

Pretty good buy.

Go buy it and giggle all the way home. I've got one and wouldn't take a $1000 for the rifle minus scope. It's typically accurate for that make and model, plus it loves cast bullets.

Oh, if you don't get it, PM me with the shop's phone number and I'll buy it.

I'd buy it and throw the scope away!

I'll take it if you dont want it!

JUMP!! What in the heck are you waiting for? What's the debate about?!

Thanks guys. I'll make the trip, cash in hand, right after chores in the morning. Has anyone ever done a conversion on a Mark X to 458 Lott. Just curious about the complexity of the task as far as getting the rifle to feed well. Also, there seems to be an issue with the bottom metal of the Mark X's and the floor plate springing open upon firing a round with stout recoil. Have I been misinformed?

None of my Mark Xs or Whitworths have had a problem with the floor plate springing open under recoil.

I am having my latest Mark X .458 converted to .450 Ackley. My gunsmith is the former Interarms gunsmith in Northern Virginia (in fact he's still in the old Interarms building. You are correct that the magazine needs tweaking, but otherwise, it's a pretty straight forward conversion. PM me if you want more details, Joe.

I have a Whitworth in .458 WM. It shoots well as is, and it will throw 500 grainers at 2150 fps. all day long. What is there to complain about? No need to convert to a Lott. Besides, if you do, after you put about 5 or 6 full power rounds through it, you will be considering adding some weight to the gun...possibly ruining the balance of a nicely balanced rifle. Just my take on the situation.

Geronimo

I have another Lott and was just looking for the benefit of not having to order new brass. The stock on this rifle is way to narrow for a big bore. The Alaskan model uses almost the same stock as the standard Mark X but adds a cross bolt. The Whitworth express rifles have a much nicer stock if my memory serves. We'll see how it feels as is before any mods are done, with the exception of the safety.

Joe

They are definitely on the light side at a hair over 8-lbs. They do hurt off the bench......

great buy!

I just bought a barreled action MarkX 458 and gave that for it. It's getting sights and barrel now. To add weight, I have been using those elastic stock cartridge holders that hold 8-9 rounds---a lttle over a pound at 54 grams per 500gr. bullet/cartridge.

i just got rid of mine and i want it back....i traded it for a m70 in .458 win mag....i liked the way it handled, had the best wood ive ever seen.. the 2 things i didnt like were the safety and floorplate release....both are fixable....jump on the whitworth, you'll like it!

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Miller:
Thanks guys. I'll make the trip, cash in hand, right after chores in the morning. Has anyone ever done a conversion on a Mark X to 458 Lott. Just curious about the complexity of the task as far as getting the rifle to feed well. Also, there seems to be an issue with the bottom metal of the Mark X's and the floor plate springing open upon firing a round with stout recoil. Have I been misinformed?

Joe,
I've got a .458WinMag Whitworth and another that started as a barreled action in .458 WinMag. Both of mine were standard length actions, 3.4" box length: not opened up th 3.6" length as the .375 H&H is.

The .458 WinMag Mark X barreled action was still stamped "Whitworth" but was slick barreled. It got opened up to .458 Lott, put in a fiberglass stock and parkerized, and KDF removable muzzle-braked.

Ray Atkinson has claimed that some of the .458WinMag Mark X's come with action already opened up to H&H length. If so that would be an easy conversion to .458 Lott.

However, starting with a standard length .458 WinMag and having it opened more to the rear than front, and getting custom bottom metal would be the huckleberry.

Do the factory floorplates spring open under recoil? Only one rifle of the six I own does this. Guess which caliber:

.358 Shooting Times Alaskan
.375 Weatherby Magnum
.416 Barnes Supreme
.458 Winchester Magnum
.458 Lott
.450 Barnes Supreme

Well, it is the .416 Barnes Supreme. I suspect it is due to a weakness of latch spring or misshaping of the latch parts. I expediently fixed it by drilling and tapping a single screw through the floorplate into the rear of the box frame. This screw hole can be filled with a filler screw ... or I can get new bottom metal!

I like my .458 Whitworth being light. Much easier to carry and when you are in front of the elephant you will not notice the recoil.

Of course, if you plan to shoot hundreds of practice rounds from the bench...

quote:

Do the factory floorplates spring open under recoil? Only one rifle of the six I own does this. Guess which caliber:

Someone "fixed" my .458 so that cannot happen. It does not open, either. Not sure how badly I want it "unfixed."

quote:

the 2 things i didnt like were the safety and floorplate release.

I have changed the safeties on both my Whitworth .458 and my Alaskan .375. Both came with the inside-the-bow release, though.

The desire to tinker with safeties, upgrading recoil pads, new stock and sights for an Alaskan or plain Mark X will drive up the cost. But $450 is a pretty darn good place to get into one.

Advice taken. The rifle will be home in a few days and I will post pics shortly after. I am really leaning to making another Lott but the decision is not final. A new laminated stock is on the way as well.

If you dont have it yet in your hot little hands, run, dont walk, to the store. I bought a whitworth 458 mag for 970 recently, pretty much same gun; i had it rechambered to the Lott, no problems; Recoil is a little stiff, gun is light for full bore 458 lott loads, but a 2 inch sorbothane pad replacing the original red rubber whitworth pad fixed that. no problems with mag latch, but try it with full power loads and a full magazine, youm may need a stroinger spring.

Russ Gould had 2 at $699.

The rifle is home and is under "evaluation". I am always amazed at the crud that some allow to build up under the stock. Amazing what a little cleaning can do. The only disappointment so far is the fact that it is the magazine box measures 3.425 making it more of a chore to convert. Pictures will follow shortly

As promised, pics of my bargain rifle.

If you install iron sights, you may need a stock without the MonteCarlo cheek piece. Those are very nice pictures. Thanks.
Also, the scope appears to be a little far back for a heavy recoil rifle-- might leave a half-moon on the brow.

I was thinking about installing the Hexsight system that Jim Brockman used to promote. I fired a lever gun with the system installed and found it to be very good. My eye centers the front post better with the Hex than a standard Ghost ring. A new stock is on the way, laminated with a much lower comb.

if you decide you dont want it, ship it to me... i'll take it off your hands... nice rifle....

You did well on that rifle. I would reshape the stock, remove the raised comb and oval shape the cheekpiece with accent line, add a steel grip cap, ebony forend tip, glass if necessary and rechecker. Express-style open sights would be nice, barrel band sling stud, better quality scope mounts, possibly a M70 safety. But also nice the way it is.

If this rifle were only left hand with a tang safety, I would really be tickled. Oh well, dismount, work bolt, re-mount, and repeat if needed. The new stock is a Richard's old classic 102.

This rifle came with a set of weaver bases, would anyone be interested in them? I hate to just toss them in the drawer with countless other un-wanted bases.

Very nice, Joe! What a steal! PM back at ya......

Here are some pics of the action with a 458 Lott in the magazine. The magazine is long enough and it looks as though someone has done some work on the feed ramp. The rifle feeds 458 Lotts like its feeding butter, so what has to be done beside a simple ream on the chamber?

You don't have to do anything else. But you should add another crossbolt and fully bed the barrel and action. Thinking now by some is the full length bed for support and stregnth. If ever a rifle needed it, it'll be this one if you convert to Lott.

I have an Interarms in 416rem and it's nice. Comes in at a hair under 9 lbs. It has a mil guard box/mag box which is longer than the '06 setup you find on the 375's. Now that I'm done with going over it with a fine tooth comb it's ready.

quote:

Originally posted by jimatcat:
i just got rid of mine and i want it back....i traded it for a m70 in .458 win mag....i liked the way it handled, had the best wood ive ever seen.. the 2 things i didnt like were the safety and floorplate release....both are fixable....jump on the whitworth, you'll like it!

Jim,

I wouldn't look back if I were you.

That is a .458 Lott with a short or deep seated bullet, eh? Is it a 400-grainer for 45-70?

Looks like a 3.4" box, like the ones I have seen in .458 WinMag.

If you want to load the full length .458 Lott COAL, you need the 3.6" box.

The scallop taken out of the rear-inside edge of the front receiver bridge does not look factory. That will have to be altered some more, as well as a scallop out of the side in the ejection path if you want to eject unfired, full-COAL .458 Lott ammo by working the bolt.

Please scratch that LocTite off the receiver with your thumbnail, solvent, steel wool, whatever.

Thanks Rip, and everyone for their help. I am going to leave this one as is mainly because its growing on me. Other than the stock needed changed, this is on of the nicest handling big rifles that I have yet to experience. It points very well and comes to the shoulder without thought.

I got a voice mail last night from the gun shop where the rifle was purchased. Seems they have several guys with "these ugly old Mausers" that would like to get rid of them. Made mention of a few examples and prices. Sometimes I just feel so bad about taking advantage of the masses addicted to the latest and greatest. They will gladly spend 700 on the newest shiny push feed wonder gun, complete with a marketing rep running the ballistics, rather than spend the time on something proven on countless battle fields and hunting grounds around the globe. Oh well, pics will follow on the next batch of "ugly" guns.

Oh and yes, that is a 400 gr. 45-70 slug. I bought 2000 of them a few years back when they were almost as cheap as cast. I don't have deep enough pockets to shoot Barnes and Woodleigh into a dirt bank.