I was planning on putting together a dedicated peep sighted big bore this year. Maybe a scout but definitely peeped. It will be used mostly as backup and while bear baiting. I shook hands with too many brownies last year and even the 375 RUM is feeling small. I want something compact and quick handling. Probably 16-20" barrel.

My first leanings where to build a 50 alaskan on a marlin 1895.

Today I came into possession of a sporterized 1917 enfield action. I needed straighter bottom metal for another rifle and this rifle happened to have straightend bottom metal.

It actually wan't too badly done, really nice bolt handle and bolt face was opened up for 300 win mag. it seems I could make up a pretty dandy 458 win mag on it without too much trouble. Would basically just need a barrel and stock. The 458 win will work fine with the factory hump bottom metal but anything longer would require straightening. I didn't want to go crazy with this and would like to keep in the same length as a standard action length cartridge.

I have a handful of 416 cal barrels I can use and had thought about the 416 taylor or ruger. I just wanted something that I could shoot 500gr and heavier bullets in.

any ideas about a standard length big bore 458 and larger that will fit the bill? It has to be something that I can get the reamer for so the B&M cartridges are out, and preferably something that isn't too difficult to make brass for.

Thanks for the ideas.

416 Ruger is a nice cartridge, but pretty similar in end results to the 375RUM. and you want 'standard length' (<2.65" case, 3.4" COL)

Now a 500 AccReloading would be devasting on bears.
It is standard length and can go up to 7000 ft lbs and has that wide diameter. McGowen Barrels has the dies and Quality has the brass. (RIP blows out 338Lapua for his similar 49-10 and you can always cut back Rigby cases, assuming you don't travel across borders with customs-agents inspecting headstamps.) CEB and others do the .510" bullets. Your question/problem would be opening up the bolt and rails for the .590" case head of the 'short Rigby' cartridge. If you like moderate challenges, then that's your cartridge. The slightly bottleneck cartridge likes faster powders so a shorter barreled 18" or 20" would still be efficient and send heavy bullets over 2000fps. It'll keep you feeling warm and cozy in big bear country.


There is no such thing as 'too much gun' unless its too bulky and heavy to handle in close. The 500AccR can meet the needs of a 'medium-length action'.

As posted on 24HR look at Jeff's 458AccRl Clint

Just go standard 458win, has all the horsepower that you are looking for. Factory ammo as well as components/bullets are readily available and it will have excellent resale value if you ever decide to get rid of it. There, wasn't that easy?

I think I've kinda settled on the 458 win mag. I want to keep the hump belly on the bottom metal so that rules out any of the longer big bores. There is plenty of room in the standard mag box to hold even the longest 458 cal bullets in the 458 win mag.

I happened across a semi finished wood stock, its a monty carlo style but I think I can trim it down to a more open sight friendly express style stock. I should probably also drop in a few cross bolts and maybe a barrel mounted recoil lug.

I have a #5 contour 458 barrel on its way. I'm leaning really hard towards 20" with a banded front sight.

I'm going to put a rear protected peep on it. I'm not sure if I will go with the WWG or maybe one of the skinner tactical ones. IT will really depend on what fits best. If the skinner will fit I would prefer to stick with that since its 100% made in america. I want something protected because I'm pretty hard on rifles and they get banged around a lot. I have had the unprotected XS style peeps get broke off. Maybe down the road I'll put a scout mount on it.

Looking to make this a big brother to my 9.3x62 scout built on remington p17 enfield.

This is the 9.3

I think the 458 Win Mag would be a good way to go also.

20" barrel sounds perfect, to me.

I would use a good 400 or 450gr bullet.

Funny, I looked at a P14 in 300 Win Mag just yesterday and considered doing the same thing.

Please keep us posted on the result!

458 Acc Rel or even better - the 500 Acc Rel
Brass easy to make (or buy from Quality Cartridge)...

quote:

Originally posted by buffalo:
458 Acc Rel or even better - the 500 Acc Rel
Brass easy to make (or buy from Quality Cartridge)...

I'm with buffalo on this.
The 458 WinMag is good but has generated a lot of discontent over the decades. No sense in relearning what others have learned. The larger claibres can be loaded down for plinking at 458WM levels, too.

There was a nice 450marlin 16 inch barrel marlin for sale here.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2711043/m/3181063171

Would work well

I was dead set on a 458 WM for my 1917 Enfield build; then thought 458 Lott; but sent it off this week to the gunsmith to become a 404 Jeffery. And sent another 1917 along with it to become a 35 Whelen.

458 or 470 AR? 425 Westley Richards? One of the A-Sqaure cartridges built on the shortened 460 Wby Case?

But then again, if you already HAVE the 416 bbls...nothing wrong with the Ruger or Tayor

I almost did mine as Taylor - damn thing fed perfect without any mods to the factory rail and box setup.

How about a 450 Ultra Magnum? Real simple to load for, one pass through the 450 Ultra full length die with a piece of .375 Ultra brass and it's a done deal. I have formed some of my 450 Ultra brass from BELL .404 Jeffery cases. A little more involved than just sizing up .375 Ultra brass but I do like the formed .404 BELL cases better.

Just for inexpensive shooting, I'm using a 500gr Hornady on top of 102grs of Win748.

450 Ultra Magnum, from the closest on back, the first is a:

Fire formed BELL .404 Jeffery case
350gr Speer Hotcore 450 Ultra Mag
405gr Remington 450 Ultra Mag
500gr Hornady 450 Ultra Mag



450 Ultra Mags, loaded with 370gr CEB BBW#13's
And yes, recoil broke the scope in under 20 rounds.

Smack,

that's a very nice looking cartridge. Something like a lengthened 458 AccRel, between the 458 AccR/458Lott and 450 Rigby in power and capacity?

My recommendation is to fit a Nikon Slughunter 1.65-5 magnification with 5.0" eye-relief throughout. Good price, great value. Clear glass and rugged. And did I mention 5.0" eye-relief?

Of course, 'the Bear' needs it to fit in a .416 barrel, or at least standard length action. Hmmm?! Looks like a job for 416Ruger, 458 AccRel, or 500 AccRel.

416, your spot on with the eye relief. It's currently wearing a Leupold but it gets spooky close every time. I need to get different glass for it but with other projects going on I haven't really been looking. I'll check into the glass you suggested, thanks.

Fifth post down I believe he said he had a #5 contour .458 barrel coming?

Besides my reamer and go gauge are just laying around gathering dust.

I had been pretty much swayed to go 458 Lott but can't seem to find an extended mag box for the 1917. Actually not finding much for any mag boxes out there. ANy of you guys have any idea where I can find one??

For bears, why go with the Lott. Love the cartridge, but wouldn't the .458 Win. Mag. do everything you would need?

Frankly, a .416 Rem. would fill the bill nicely. And you have the barrels.

Either one will fit a standard action.

How about one of the BBM cartridges taht Michael458 works with the CEB bullets? He has one on a Marlin action as well.

Since it is a back up rifle with a short barrel I would go in that direction rather than a 458 Lott or any other full length H&H case.

standard action+ 416 barrel
=416 Ruger.

standard action+ 458 barrel
=458 AccRel, which equals and very slightly betters the Lott.

Bear, the 20" barrel .458 win mag gets my vote. I want to build one myself. I can't think of anything that rifle can't do inside of 200 yards.

Finally made my mind up and went with the 458 Lott. I straightened out the bottom metal, and milled the receiver flat to accept the ghost ring. The reciever on my action had been contoured previously to a pseudo mauser style and had to be milled flat to accept the wild west guns ghost ring, it turned out to be a bit low so I fitted a spacer to the sight to bring it up to the perfect height. I dropped it into a fajen stock and now just need to thread/chamber the barrel, and fine tune the magbox and feeding.

I was able to find an extended mag box for the m17 and am going to take it to a local sheet metal shop to see if they can duplicate it. Probably make up 10 or so to keep on hand at my buddy's gunsmith shop.

Square the action, and find someone who can cut square threads and make the extractor cut. The lott won't take too much effort to get to feed.-Rob

There is no need to go to the Lott for any bear in Alaska as the standard 458 puts them down with virtually any solid hit.

I would agree with you Phil but I only have access to a 458 Lott reamer, so might as well go whole hog on this one. I'll square up the action before I thread and chamber the barrel. My buddy has done a lot of these square threads for 1917s and 1903s. Aside from the $150 dollars I have into the donor rifle I really only have about $100 dollars into this build, Using all odd parts I've picked up over the years.