Hi!
A short question to the forum members:
What have you to say about a new Win supergrade in .458 win caliber?
Quality, finish, recoil handling of stock design, is it built on a long action......?

Regards//

I have always felt that the custom shop products like the supergrade were way overpriced because you can get a much nicer custom rifle built for the same money. Just a thought.

500grains,

I agree with you about the relative lack of value from the Winchester Custom Shop (I have a 458 Lott from them), but the Supergrades are not produced in the Custom Shop. They are a pretty good deal for the money.

To answer the original question. I would not be interested in any 458 Win. Mag. I would rather have the Lott, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, or even a standard old 375 H&H in the Supergrade. Currently, the largest you can get is the 338.

You can get a 458 Win. Mag, 416 Remington, and a 375 H&H in the Classic Safari Express. It is a pretty nice rifle.

Hi!
Sorry for the confusing question, the rifle I was thinking of was indeed the African Express.

Any how, I bougt it

//

I think one of the questions was "is it the long action?" If you mean will it take a full length H&H case like a 458 Lott, I believe the answer is no (at least not without a log of surgery). I looked at the Safari Express in 458 Win mag and it appears to be the same action as the 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag action. The scope base screws on the rear bridge were spaced .860. The Long and Express actions are essentially the same, except the Express action has the rear bridge cut back to about where the front scope base hole is on the standard long action, has a longer magazine box and follower, the bolt stop is moved further back, and the scope base holes are spaced .330.

[ 09-02-2002, 11:12: Message edited by: David ]

Softlead

Is that a new rifle.

In Pre 64 458s there was the The African and in post 64s until about 1980 or so, the Super Grades, which had the slickest actions anyone has ever felt.

Mike

Hi!
David, Yes that was what I was thinking of .
It turned out to be sutch a nice rifle that I can live with out going the Lott rute.
I agree with you that the action need a lot of modification to accept a 458 Lott cartidge with a 500 gr bullet, its just to long for the action.

Mike375
Yes the rifle is new. It is of current production with black extractor.

What suprised me was the fact that the trigger was adjustible for pull weight and backlash .

Also the rounds seem to feed as they should, given that I have not yet tested it in anger.

This rifle will be my choise for the coming Moose hunt, loaded with 500 Hornadys.

//

M70s have been adjustable for weight of pull and over travel since the year dot.

Sear engagement is and has not been adjustable.

They need a new trigger return spring as a starter.

When you put the light spring in, then you will feel the creep on the trigger.

Mike

Softlead,
You have the perfect moose rifle! The most dramatic "knockdown" I ever saw was a moose I shot at 100 yards range, in Alaska, with the 458 WinMag. I had loaded the 500 grain Hornady RNSP to 2150 fps with 71.0 grains of IMR 3031 in Remington brass, F215 primer.

The bullet went through the shoulder, heart, lungs, and broke three ribs on the off side, when the bullet came apart. No exit wound, just the jacket and two chunks of lead under the skin on the off side. The moose just flipped over onto its off side and died. Didn't budge an inch from the ground fall.

The bullet "failed" but the moose died suddenly, with one shot.

A swift A-Frame would be indicated for cape buffalo, but I think the Hornady 500 grain RNSP is tough enough for moose.

DaggaRon posted:

You have the perfect moose rifle!

and with either 300 grain Hornady Hollow Point or 400 grain Speer Flat Points you have the perfect rifle for kangaroos in the spotlight.

Bang, whuuummmpp and down

Mike

[ 09-02-2002, 18:00: Message edited by: Mike375 ]