Will the magazine handle the 458 lott cartridge?
Who might be a good smith to do the work, and what kind of $$ should I expect to pay?
1. Open up the front of the receiver. I think you will find your receiver was made for short magnums and needs to be milled out to fit the longer cartridge.
2. Replace the magazine box/bottom metal and follwer with one that (a) H&H length, and (b) tapered to handle the Lott. You can get one from Sunny Hill Enterprises or Ted Blackburn in the $300 to $400 range, plus $30 to $60 for the follower. The original box is probably short magnum length. Even if it is H&H length, its taper will be too sharp for best feeding with the non-tapered Lott, and you would only be able to fit 2 rounds in the magazine.
3. Adjust the rails and ramp to achieve proper feeding.
4. Take the barrel off, ream it with a Lott reamer, and index/re-cut threads to get the sights lined up with proper headspace.
5. Add a 2nd recoil lug to the barrel.
6. Inlet the stock for the 2nd recoil lug and bed it.
7. Reliever the stock around the rear of the receiver to avoid cracking.
8. Blue the barrel (chamber was re-cut) and the magazine box.
I would expect to pay $500+ for the gunsmithing time, having had it done by a friend on 2 military mausers recently. Wouldn't be surprised if you paid closer to $1K.
Add parts cost on top of that.
I will let others recommend the smith.
[This message has been edited by 500grains (edited 04-10-2001).]
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Ray Atkinson
I think the bolt face is the same and the 416 Remington is longer than the 458 Win. Mag. while having a diameter greater than the .375 H&H. Would starting with the .416 Rem. action help to deal with the feeding issues?
Thanks.
Tim