I am working on a carry gun that will be used mostly in Alaska but also for tuskless elephant in Zim. I hear a lot about the stainless .458's used in your buffalo camps. What can you guys tell me about them and how they are setup? Any photos? They sound like something that I would be interested in. Thanks.

Hi Yukon

I dont have any photos at the moment but most of my 458's are built on 98's with good quality synthetic stocks. (Brown Precision). They are very light and efficient but brutal and no more effctive for a client gun than anything else in that range.

To be honest if I had to re-equip, I would probably go with the stock standard Ruger in 458Lott or 416Rigby, or equivalent in CZ. A bit more weight but hell of a nice guns to shoot and probably more effective than the 458.

Cheers
Matt

Thanks Matt. You would re-equip with the standard Ruger Express blued guns? With our weather up here, that's probably not as good a choice for me.

quote:

You would re-equip with the standard Ruger Express blued guns? With our weather up here, that's probably not as good a choice for me.

I could be wrong, but I was under the impression that Cerokote and some of the other modern protective finishes could be applied to blued guns as well as stainless. However, with the RSM you are probably going to have a hard time trying to find a drop-in synthetic stock if that is the route you're wanting to go.

CZ is now offering the American Safari Magnum with a Kevlar/Fiberglass stock. Price should be in the $11-1200 range with a "corrosion resitant finish" option available from their custom shop at $300.

If weight is a major concern, you could always just buy a stainless Ruger Hawkeye in 300 or 338, rebarrel to 458 w/a light contour barrel, then add the synthetic stock of your choice.

Good luck with the project which ever route you choose to go

I have thought about rebarreling a Ruger Alaskan. May still do it in fact, especially now that GS Custom bullets are making a .458 HV in 315 grains. The .458 can be quite versatile.

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Thanks Matt. You would re-equip with the standard Ruger Express blued guns? With our weather up here, that's probably not as good a choice for me.

Is it worse than the tropics on guns??
Just got to keep the oil up to them but the protective coatings mentioned above would be a good option too.

Cheers
Matt

I had a Ruger Express in Lott. It was a nice gun but just too heavy I thought and too thick. There is a lot of wood in the forend.

I would find a Win. M-70 SS rifle and install a SS barrel and add a good quality glass stock like the Rimrock (The old precision stock) If you used heavy no. 5 or larger 24 or 26 inch barrel I think you would like it very much..If I went with the 458 Lott then I would opt for 20" heavy barrel and that would by my personal first choice. I want any off hand shooting gun to be a little barrel heavy...

I have considered something like that with a shorter barrel like the 20".