I'm having my Winchester Mdl. 70 Super Grade in .458 Win Mag worked up to the .458 Lott. Before dropping it off, I would like to get a few of your opinions regarding magazine fit. For those of us that have hunted dangerous game we know the value of a fast and reliable follow-up shot. Some have told me that they needed to modify their magazine chamber while others said the factory magazine is fine. I know the cartridge is a tad longer. Is this an issue..??

Your gunsmith will have to make that determination..I have always lengthened the magazine when making that conversion as it will give you the option of seating bullets out a bit further and using the 550 gr. Woodleighs. It's just a good practice IMO, and the cost is not all that much.

I like the Lott better thant he std. .458 Win because I can get an easy 2200 FPS and very mild pressure and no compaction, and I always have the option of shooting fac. 458 Win ammo in the gun.

Some folks have decided I am anti .458 Win. and that I believe its under powered, and that is NOT the case at all. The .458 with a good handload is a fine caliber for anything, but I like the above stated options, thus my preference of the 458 Lott, the same velocity at less pressure. Also if one needs 2350 FPS or more, which I do not, then you have that option.

I loaded my Lott to 2150 FPS with 500 gr. bullets, same as a 458 Win. Just wanted to put to rest why I don't prefer a .458 Win.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Your gunsmith will have to make that determination..I have always lengthened the magazine when making that conversion as it will give you the option of seating bullets out a bit further and using the 550 gr. Woodleighs. It's just a good practice IMO, and the cost is not all that much.

I like the Lott better thant he std. .458 Win because I can get an easy 2200 FPS and very mild pressure and no compaction, and I always have the option of shooting fac. 458 Win ammo in the gun.

Some folks have decided I am anti .458 Win. and that I believe its under powered, and that is NOT the case at all. The .458 with a good handload is a fine caliber for anything, but I like the above stated options, thus my preference of the 458 Lott, the same velocity at less pressure. Also if one needs 2350 FPS or more, which I do not, then you have that option.

I loaded my Lott to 2150 FPS with 500 gr. bullets, same as a 458 Win. Just wanted to put to rest why I don't prefer a .458 Win.

I kind of thought it was probably a 50-50 thing. I'll probably take your advice and have it extended. I got this rifle in an estate sale for $350.00 brand new in the box, so I figured I would up for a good muzzle break, Lott upgrade and recoil buffer. I'm with you on the Lott, the .458 does just fine and has nothing to prove! It's shown the hunting world it can handle it all. However, with that said comes personnel confidence and comfort. The extra horse power I get from the Lott lets me sleep better at night!

Please don't put a muzzle brake on it.

Many years ago I rechambered a .458 Win M-70 to .450 Watts. Since the magazine in the rifle was made to accept the longer .375 H&H, my 'smith removed the "stop" in the magazine and all worked fine. Never an issue. By the way, the M-70 was from the mid-1990s and the serial number ended with 458. Anyone seen this rifle?
Cal

I also had a .458 mag done, rechamberd to the .458-LOTT. It works like a charm and I mostly shoot 450 grain bullets out of it because it has good velocity plus penetration too. Barnes 450 X bullets!

Never could figure out why all the hoohaw over rechambering a 458 WM to 458 Lott...no different that going from 308 to 30-06 or 45-70 tp 45-90, 44 to 44 Mag..if you don't need the extra horse power you don't have to use it, but it is there when you do want or need it.

I rechambered my 45-70 to 45-120 now I can load up for sageratz to T-Rexratz and everything in between....300 gr to 720 gr...1200fs to 2600 PLUS...I just have to clean the chamber/throat well then check with a dummy 45-120 after shooting a shorter carteridge.

As far as chamber/throat erosion is concened for normal big bore hunting purposes it will happen, but your grandkids, grandkids might need to check it out or it you might see it if you do a lot of "varminting" with a light load in the 458 WM case...a few hundred rounds a year for a few years.

Yeah and I have a MB AND extra weight...I'm old and puny and heal real slow, but I still like shooting my big bores...a bruised shoulder from one of my heavy hitters keeps me from shooting the "little brothers" which is something I don't like.

Luck

i had a new fn model 70 rechambered from 458 win to 458 lott last winter. dennis olson did the work, he lives in plains montana. he reamed the chamber, fixed the magazine follower, and glass bedded the rifle. it feeds like a dream esp with 500 grain bullets. it cost me $165.00 and was done in less than 14 days. the guy is great.

I have done what you are looking at for a couple of customers. I, myself, shoot the .458 WM. I own a Lott but don't use it in Africa or elsewhere, it's not needed. Don't put on a muzzle brake, it's not needed and shouldn't be used hunting. Shot placement is key, if you sre afraid to shoot without a brake go to a caliber that doesn't kick as much......Tom

FooBar I heard a while back that those pigs running wild down in texas jump up to 1,500 pounds when the moon turns to big and Full. Yeah, amost need a 600 Nitro I was told to anchor those big pigs to the ground, other wise they will dine on your bones.

...Naw, Man...We use a 600 Nitro just to tickle them and get'um laughing and rolling on the ground...then we break out the 12GaFH's and some 1500 gr brassballbusters to put them in the pot...but ya gotta be quick, at the crack of dawn all those good ribs disappear.


Luck