One of these days my wife and I will return to Alaska for good - we both grew up there. I have had .458 project "in the works" for a long time.

I have a pre-64 Win action, stock blank, reloading dies, brass. Still need a barrel...but I digress. I want to build this rifle and use it as my moose/bear gun. I've already got a .35 Whelen but I want to build a big bore.

What are the downsides to this project other than recoil?

Get a stainless bbl, not too heavy a contour and have fun. They are versatile, fun, accurate and as powerful as you will need on anything.
Since you already have smaller bores I don't see any downsides.

Phil,

Spent some time in Circle Hot Springs when I was a kid. Thoroughly enjoyed myself up there.

recoil isn't a downside for me... i shoot 350 gr sp's (factory federal premium) instead of the 510 gr stuff... as i get started back to handloading again, after giving all my stuff away, i can develope a load for plinking water jugs, for south texas hog hunting or whatever i choose...go for it!!!

Since you have an action and barrel coming, I'd start to stock up on components. For practice, cast bullets w/ gas checks are the only way to go: they can also double as non-dangerous game loads. I use 5744 for cast. Lastly, to get the maximum out the short case, get some sample paks of the 450 gr bullets from NorthForks and some Barnes 450 gr stuff. You'll most probably won't shoot off the heavier loads that often and they'll last for a looong time.

Bill,

Sounds like your on the way to a very practical big boomer. When I lived in AK I used the 350X quite a bit and at 2550 fps it worked well on everything. The rifle was just a factory Mark X barrelled action in a McMillan stock and it pretty much covered all the bases with the 350 X and 500 Hornady shooting equally as well.

Mark

Actually I need a barrel still. I have a brand new krieger .284 barrel I have no use for. I should sell it.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Soverns:
Actually I need a barrel still. I have a brand new krieger .284 barrel I have no use for. I should sell it.

Well,

Is it going to the classifieds or not?

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Get a stainless bbl, not too heavy a contour and have fun.

Why stainless?

Bill,

Whatever you do. If you are using a gunsmith, I strongly recommend Stan Jackson 349-3854.

A #5 contour would be sweet!

v/r

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Soverns:

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Get a stainless bbl, not too heavy a contour and have fun.

Why stainless?

I made mine on a VZ-24 W/#5 22" Douglas finished the metal with GunKote T/Molly.
Salt spray eats stain-less almost as fast as blue steel. The next one will have a #4 Douglas.
I see no advantage to stainless and I hunt with Blued, Spray bake finish and Stainless. You have to maintain all of them!

I guess I am using a gunsmith........since Im doing the work.

The only downside of a 458 is if you build it light enough to be a joy carrying in the field, it won't be a joy on the shoulder. Asside from that, the 45's are great rounds and versatile for hunting. With a good 350 gr @2400-2500 fps, recoil is quite tollerable, and with a 200 yd zero it's a 250 yd point and shoot proposition.

My first 458 Lott had a very light barrel and tipped the scales under 9#'s Even with a ported barrel, recoil was brisk. My current 458 Lott was built with a Ruger #1h takeoff, with 2" cut off the breach. It's too heavy for a field gun, but a pleasure to shoot even with 500 gr loads.

If you want a 458 that's reason enough.

there are 3 rules to abide by
#1 - you need a new gun
#2 - you want a new gun
#3 - see rules 1&2

If you want to build it and use it, Bill, there are no downsides. Go for it!

--- I've got one with a medium heavy 20 " tube ; --- so far I'm not recoil sensitive , -- but a flinch can happen to anybody when your lizzard brainstem decides to react .

Highly recommend the 20 incher , -- especially for Alaska , and especially if your main purpose is as a Bruin Defense weapon .

If it is , -- another nice thing is that you don't have to Scope it . -- Just saw a Video with the Guide backing up a Client with a .411 wildcat of some kind , -- and he was sporting iron express sights .

I shoot mainly 400 grainers in mine at somwhere between .450 Marlin Max. pressures , and full .458 Factory . --- My rifle is about 7 3/4 lbs. , and it's a nice rolling recoil with the 400 grainer exiting the muzzle at just over 2000 Fps. --- To me , in that weapon any hotter loads become punishing .

A goodly Limb-Saver Pad , ( or similar ) , -- helps a lot too .

Good luck , it's a righteous project , -- everybody should have one .

Nose To The Trail , ------- MMCOUGAR .

Well it looks like I have plenty of excuses!!

This rifle will have to have iron sights as well. AK weather is lousy when your hunting most of the time and I wouldnt feel comfortable without backup irons.

So...Im considering the EAW quick lock mounts with the peep sight attachment.

Or Talley QD rings and a fully adjustable island sight.

Opinions?

EAW's are good mounts but sit a little higher than neccessary. Very robust, adjustable for wear and easy to get on and off. You might also want to consider Warne. I have a set on a M700 and the base has an integral peep site but not sure if they still make this model.
Joe

Bill,

If you are considering using Talleys, you could use their peep. Although it requires altering the rear base, (which Gary and Dave did for me)the scope on my 375H&H has never moved. Then you can wrestle around with a trap grip cap, as you will want to keep the peep with the rifle. I used a trap cap Talley use to make but I am not certain they still offer them.

Have you looked at the adjustable front sights from NECG? I have the ramp model on the 375 and it is a good sight, that would allow some adjustment and you could use a fixed rear if you so desired.

The latest rifle I put together for Alaska, I used the see through (lacking a better term) NECG rear that has a fiber optic insert, in place of a line. That is a good rear sight and comes in several heights, Mark at NECG and I did the math for that rear and a front banded, damned if we didn't luck out end up with it spot on. The see through is quick and allows a good sight picture. I have tryed it with small fiber optic front aswell as 3/32" white bead and like them both. Although not traditional they work well. Just some food for thought.

HBH

--- Well , --- not to torture the point , -- but if you set up the rifle as a " Stopping Rifle " or as otherwise called a Back-Up Rifle ; -- then you really don't want a big scope of any kind blocking your view when you're shooting under great stress , -- and in-close .

Hard to beat the wisdom of generations of African ,Dangerous-game Professional Guides , -- on this specific choice of sights .

And all of this fits in well , with the .458's design and majority use .

E.O. Tech's Holosight is excellent for Stopping-Rifle use , however , and has the added and great advantage , of an illuminated recticle for dim light shooting . --- Very dependable and rugged too , -- via U.S. Military specs .

Just a thought ,

---------- MMCOUGAR .

Bill,

There is a distinct similarity between us.In the 70's,I lived for over three years in Alaska.The older I get,the more I long to go back.

During my time there,I never used anything other than a 30/06,which did just fine.But since then,I've become a bit of a big bore enthusiast and have 2 458 win rifles as well as a 416 rem.

Being a practical sort,I have tried to talk myself into selling these rifles before returning to Alaska,since I intend to travel light.So I too am looking for an excuse to take one or two of them.

Boy lots of good info. I,ll throw in my view. I,m not gumboot 458 for nuthin. The Spruceking is a M77 mk II stainless that Bill Fowler put a 20 " shilen stainless barrel and his own muzzel brake on. The goober who brokered the work {he,s dead now }. Screwed on a set of adjustable sights . After a while they rusted and broke off . I had asked him to sweat on an express rear and a band front . The only thing he did well was soldering on the 2nd recoil lug under the barrel.I have kept the conoe paddle ruger stock on it and after more than 2000 rounds it still works fine . I shortened the lop to 12 15/16 " and it has had a 1x4 leupold scope on it for 6 or 7 years. I shoot the 300 Barnes X bullet @ a full 2700 fps chronographed. It makes great big holes thru bears the recoil isn,t bad with the cob on it .. I and my wife have hid behind it at least 50 times and have killed 15 deer or so with it I prefer the old 510 gr win load for deer. you can eat right up to the bullet hole and still not worry about bears takeing the deer off your back. wood stocks transmit recoil they don,t absorb it. They swell they break they warp, twist and genrally look terrible after being relly worked in ,at least coastal Alaskan conditions . I would prefer a scout mount on it and as the head space has grown over the years when I have it cut off 3/4 " and rechambered to 458 lott I will have a 1/4 rib soldered on and the express rear dovetailed to the front of the rib. I prefer shallow v express sights as they are lots easier to get the frozen snow off than a peep and I shoot them better. They don,t break as easy when you flip a 4 wheeler on top of yourself with them strapped to you back..The Shilen barrel is tops in my opinion. 12 or 14 ' twist.. Don,t let any one talk you into a slow twist. The cheapest blasting is had with the 300 gr . Remington bulk bullets and those jugs of accurate powder Natcheze sells. have fun,!!