How does the 458 Win Mag perform when fired out of your 458 Lott. Accuracy, reliability, what model rifle?

I've always wondered about this too

I am a .458 Winchester Magnum fan. My .458 Win Mag is a "lightweight" bolt rifle intended for long walks. I have a .458 Lott bolt which is a "heavy" built rifle mainly used off shooting sticks. I have a pile of .458 Win Mag Norma brass. I like to shoot .458 Win Mag out of my Lott rifle because in my case my Lott rifle is a much heavier rifle than my Win Mag and felt recoil is significantly less. To answer your questions:

1) I have had no long term issues of any kind.
2) I don't belive throat erosion is a concern because of .458 caliber bore volume. A range session for me is 20 rounds of Win Mag through the Lott then I properly clean. I also shoot Lott rounds and have had no extraction problems with Lott cartridges after running quite a bit of Win Mag through my Lott rifle.
3) If only use Win Mag I don't anticipate any problems. There is going to be wear on any rifle. Good cleaning technique goes a long way for extending the life of the rifle chamber and bore.
4) I shoot nice 100 yard triangle 3-shot groups out of my Lott rifle whether using Lott or Win Mag rounds. I have noticed no adverse impact on accuracy using Win Mag rounds. I load my Win Mag with the bullets "seated out" which is a real plus when using Barnes or "heavy for caliber" bullets in the Win Mag case.

Hope this helps.

Thx, Buliwyf, very helpful. Many feel that a 458wm on a long mag action is begging to be converted. I agree for the most part. I have a M70 Classic Safari Express and it seems all it will need is a new mag box, bolt stop and ejector. Even if I don't convert to Lott all 3 of these parts would need replacing in order to use loads with the bullet seated further out. So that'll be done.

Shooting .458 WM in my CZ 550 in .458 Lott and have noticed no issues. Velocity is about 20-40 fps less than my CZ 550 that is chambered for .458 WM. Accuracy is spot on.

This is all great to know. The boys in The Kruger have been shooting the hell out of both rounds and they have no complaints. They likely don't spend much time at the range shooting rogue bullseye paper!

This takes me full circle on converting my M70 458wm to 458 Lott. There may just be no need. I don't want to restamp a Winchester bbl, which I'll have to do only if it goes to Africa. The ream job is easy and the other parts can be swapped out, you don't even have to grind on the 458wm parts, just save 'em!

Being able to shoot both rounds is a plus. Just heard recent feedback, thru a friend, from a Zim hunter doing PAC for 12 years and he's never felt undergunned with the 458wm.

A blast from the past (2007). Perhaps someone today is wondering the same question.


Showbart, Thanks for asking this question. And thanks to the responders as well. Like others, I have wondered the same question and the replies are very good to know. Thanks!

Has anyone actually had to restamp a barrel to import it for hunting? I took mine to Australia which has much tighter regs and no one said a thing

I shot more 458s in my Lott than Lott rounds, it kicked less, and they were accurate..I liked the Lott loaded down to just a bit better than a hot 458 load with a 500 gr. bullet at 2100 to 2200 FPS. Good velociy, killed great, and pressures in the Lott were mild plus mild..the perfect combination of a big bore DG rifle IMO..but as I aged I backed off to the 375 and 9.3x62 and my 450-400-3" double..they all worked.. I never saw much difference between any of the big bores and never could be convienced.It was just balistic masterbation between those who haunted the hauls of safari club.. I mean a 220 gr. solid in the 30-06 or a 175 gr. solid in a 7x57 seemed to work pretty darn well...

For me just fine

+1

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Shooting .458 WM in my CZ 550 in .458 Lott and have noticed no issues. Velocity is about 20-40 fps less than my CZ 550 that is chambered for .458 WM. Accuracy is spot on.

Mike,
I recall that you have a "458 win" that has a lott chamber .. i could be wrong ... I also recall it shot REALLY well