I just bought a used Ruger #1 in 458 Win mag two days ago. I work for gander mountain and it was employee night so I got it for 20% which meant that I picked it up for roughly $400. It was never fired and has a sweet piece of wood on it. I want to convert it to 458 Lott and was wondering whether or not there is anyhting that I need to do to the rifle aside from the obvious rechambering. I ask mainly because the last thing I want is to have the stock split on me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Andy

You will need to have a decent barrel mounted recoil lug installed( throw away the CZ550 junk) and the stock inletted and steel bedded for it. The action recoil lug and tang will also need to be steelbedded. The rechambering to a Lott is one thing, the action will also need some minor rail and ramp work to feed optimally.-Rob

CZ- all you need is a hand reamer and you're set.

Uh robgunbuilder, I think he was talking about a ruger #1...

Rob, thanks for the advice on the CZ. I can use that for future projects, but was really more interested in the Ruger.
Andy

[ 04-04-2003, 00:56: Message edited by: CZ 550 ]

Ruger now chambers the #1 in 458 Lott, and I highly doubt the factory does anything special with them. Lengthen the chamber and start shooting. One good thing to do is take that chunk of Goodyear tire off the stock and put on a real recoil pad (Decelerator or Kick-eeze). While you have the pad off, drill the stock and insert a mercury tube. This will help offset the weight of the barrel.
After rechambering and recoil reduction work, you probably will still end up below cost!

Ditch my comments, I didn't see you were talking about a Ruger number 1. With that said, please don't use a hand reamer! At least pull the barrel and use a Good Lathe! Without doing this you will probably wind up with a chamber ring where the old .458 win chamnber ended. This could cause you some extraction problems. While it's unlikely you could tell the difference in accuracy, chamber rings with Hand reamers are usually readily apparant and even if cosmetic, it's still an amateur job.-Rob

You have to remove very little metal for the job. A hand reamer will work fine. I did that exact job last week. You will probably need a thinner reamer extension than what most people have available to get by the reciever, I had to turn one down and glue the reamer into it, as the set screw stuck out too far, a little heat and the reamer is easily removed. We have chamberd quite a few .458 wins out to lotts, they are quite popular here in AK.

I don't see how using a lathe would eliminate ringing where the old chamber ended. If done properly you would use a floating reamer holder which would follow the line of the bore, if the old chamber is oversized you will have a ring either way. You won't create a ring by using a hand reamer as long as you keep the chips clear. I would suggest a good recoil pad too. They are quite shootable with a pad only for those of us that shoot heavy hitters regularly. If you are a recoil sensitive little girl, Just kiddin , a mercury reducer and even an integral break would be advised. Either way I wouldn't do much bench shooting.

I'll be starting my lott next week and should have it finished a week or so after that.
It'll be a ultra light fluted 19" barrel with Kevlar stock, detachable scout scope, banded front sight, ghost ring rear, about 6 1/2 pounds, I don't want any of my friends wanting to borrow my gun so If I make it brutal enough to shoot I'll have it all to my self . It should be a dream to carry on the Islands up here while hunting for deer or bear (there's lots of big brownies on those islands), one hell of a deer rifle huh?

Have fun with it,

Aaron

I'm not at all worried about recoil. I shoot a 416 rigby on a regular basis and on occasion, albiet rarely, take the 470 nitro out to do some dangerous paper hunting. Thanks for the advice.
Andy

CZ550

I think you are right to worry about splitting the stock. I have a friend who split 2 factory stocks before I hand fitted and glass bedded the 3rd replacement buttstock. The rifle was chambered for 458 Mag.

Ordinarily, I don't think there is a great need for glass bedding. For the hard kickers it pays to have absolute full contact on the recoil absorbing surfaces of the wood.

I will put in my 2 cents worth since I have done what you are talking about.

I sent my #1 to a qualified gun smith and had the chamber opened up to shot the lott. What I did was have him chamber it to the watts with .050" longer throat so I don't have to trim the brass. I have installed a good recoil pad and it was mag-na-ported when I got it. Shot about 500 rounds through it so far no stock problems so far and recoil is just a good solid push if you hold on. I have shot 300-600gr bullets through it. Hope this helps. RNS

What do you need? How about a weight lifting program and one of those big jugs of weight-gain powder.

Just have Roger Dremel out the chamber and shoot it.

Andy, it doesn't look like my #1 is going to sell, I just might have to come down and trade it for a CZ, time to build the OVERKILL!

I love the hand reamer guys! They are one of my best sources for actions once they figure it out!! Keep on producing those wonders!-Rob

Nice post George,
Maybe we could take some of that weight that you seem to be losing in spades and transfer it onto my skinny frame. That idea with the #1 sounds good to me, the sooner you get it done the sooner you can shoot it. We still have the cz in stock so come whenever you're ready.
Andy

[ 04-05-2003, 23:17: Message edited by: CZ 550 ]

I'm with you Robgunbuilder, hand reamers are for plumbers and ice fishermen...

It doesn't much matter now anyway guys, lost my job today so no money to throw around right now. Thanks anyway for all the advice.
Andy

So you didn't survive the purge? I hear they tossed 3/4's of the dept. Just in time for the busy Spring season.

Who played the part of Stalin? Mao?