I like the balance of the short action rifle and like to build a trapper rifle in .458" based on Remington mod7 or 700 actions. But I also like enregy!!

Are there any wildcat with more energy than the American which will fit into a Remington mod7 or 700? Any shorty based on 404 Jeffery or 458 Winchester.

Tom,
the 458x2" can't be improved, as such, although you could use a rigby or jeffery's brass to make your own.

just make it a 450 marlin (which is a 458x2") and load to pressure.

jeffe

Thanks Jeffe,

Do you know the dimameter of the Remington bolt? Can I use rigby case without turning the rim? (Head .590")

Her is my idea: Use a 416 Rigby case cut it to 2" and then you have 458" Tomjac Imp.


[ 03-07-2003, 20:34: Message edited by: Tomjac ]

Dan Lilja (makes Lilja barrels) has several articles on his web-site about using the Rem 700 action for larger case-heads as you describe. In a nutshell he doesn't think it's a good idea and he gives a variety of reasons.....I would suggest you read them.

As a counter-point, there are many gunsmiths who are building the both long and short Lazzeroni cartridges on Rem 7 and 700s, apparently without any problems and their case-head size is 0.580" (about the same as the Rigby) and they don't have a belt----Lazzeroni makes a short .416 he calls the Maverick and according to his web-site he gets 2400+ fps with a 400gr bullet which seems like plenty of oomph (5100 ftlbs+). I know of one custom Maverick that gets 2350fps but the barrel is fairly short at 21 inches.

Another option if you like the Rem 700 type action is to use the MCRT action from McMillan. This is the same one Lazzeroni now uses (starated out using Rem 700s) and it is a very high quality custom action.

I should also add that I have a fairly ltwt 450 Marlin bolt-action that will give you all the oomph that you can stand using a 400gr bullets at a 2100+ fps.....I can get more but who needs a flinch.

How about starting with the UltraMag case. The case head is the same size as a standard belted mag, 375H&H, isn't it? Then you could use a bolt setup for say the 350 rem mag in the Mod 7 without bolt face alterations. Not quite the same case capacity, but closer. And cases are much cheaper to come by. Screw on a light weight 18" bbl, ream, adjust action and shoot.
lar.

DB Bill,

Is it just coincident that Lazzeroni stopped with his .416 Maverick? Or, did he get problem controling the headspace on a .458?

Lar45,

Good idea with the RUM. If I remember correct head diameter is .551" on the RUM, but it has a rebated rim to .532". So a 350RemMag bot will fit without any modifications. This will also be the same as future .458" SAUM.

Tomjac......when I first talked to John about the feasibility of necking up his short Patriot case to 375-caliber, he told me they had done some preliminary work on it and were ready to go if I wanted to order the first one....I did and John gave it the fairly lurid name of 9.53 Hellcat.

Going to 416-caliber (the Maverick) was an easy jump and as I said, a lot of power in a short case.....but more recoil than I want and more power than I need. John also told me, as you suspected, that he had headspace concerns if the Patriot-case was necked up to 458-caliber....keep in mind that the only need for this kind of power is for a dangerous-game rifle and that means not only power, but reliability of feeding etc which I don't think you can get by going to 458-caliber

[ 03-08-2003, 11:26: Message edited by: DB Bill ]

tomjac

when you are thinking of a rebate case, you are thinking of the winchester. the rim specs at .535 and the body is .555. the ultra mag is NOT rebated having both a .550 base and rim diameter. this problem is easily defeated by just buying a m. 7 in one of the existing SAUM calibers and using it as a donor.

gabe