Would it be unheard of to use a .458 Lott bolt action with a low powerred scope for Coastal Brown Bears. (boat based hunt) presuming you practice regularly and are proficient with it.
W.

Why not? You must hit the bear wether You have a .30-06 or a .458 Lott - so if You feel confident with your .458 - why not?
(I use also my .375H&H for foxes...)

If you're 458 doesn't have a synthetic stock, I'd make sure I "waterproofed" it. A lot of suggestions on this site. I just got back from Alaska and my TriNyte coated stainless/synthetic Rem XCR II has a bit of rust on it lol. It would just sit out in the rain all day while we glassed.

You won't be overgunned.

I guess its all about the bullet, neither too hard or soft...

The bullet is important but not nearly as important as where you place the bullet.

Why not? Shots won't be long, and you can't kill them TOO dead.

I hear a couple of guides at one of the lodges here use a 458 Lott. Just don't forget your ammo. I don't know where in coastal Alaska you are looking at hunting but it's not an overly common round (at least not in Kodiak)

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
I just got back from Alaska and my TriNyte coated stainless/synthetic Rem XCR II has a bit of rust on it lol.

I wish they named it rust less steel instead. There is no such thing as rust free (not around here anyway)

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:
You won't be overgunned.

Those brown bears sure do look a lot bigger when they're up close and personal. My 375 didn't feel like it was a bit overkill. Following the blood trail through the willows my 500 Jeffery with open sights would've been comforting cradled in my arms.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375: Following the blood trail through the willows my 500 Jeffery with open sights would've been comforting cradled in my arms.

This experience in the alders was the catalyst behind my entering the double rifle world....hardly possible to feel overgunned in this scenario.

Ya the Lott will work great. 350 gr TSX@ 2700 fps. Perfect!!!!!

Good grief, of course a .458 Lott would be highly suitable.

I have, among others, a LH 30-06, .338 Win Mag and .375 H&H, as well as a Ruger No.1 .458 Win Mag and a 500/450 H&H side lock double, but I would think that a .458 Lott or a .416 Rem Mag or Rigby would be perfect for your purpose.

Of mine, I would not take the double to the harsh Alaskan weather, nor the single shot, so of my current big stuff I would use only the stainless .338 or the CRF .375. That's not to say I won't get one of the others mentioned before I ever get to AK. <g>

quote:

Originally posted by woodsie:
Would it be unheard of to use a .458 Lott bolt action with a low powerred scope for Coastal Brown Bears. (boat based hunt) presuming you practice regularly and are proficient with it.
W.

If you like it and can shoot it - then bring it.

For the folks that have not endured such a hunt. It can be very physical. Most Lotts are manageable at +10.5 Lbs. That is a ton to hump in rough steep terrain. I would not want to lug anything over 8.5 lbs.
If you want a light weight big bore, I might suggest a 458 WM (shooting 450 swifts at 2270 FPS) in a Browning Safari grade. It is a very light 458. Most are a tad under 8 lbs w/o scope. I have one and they do KICK! but handle and swing like a bird gun.
One of these with a 1.5 X 5 leupold might get you close to that 8.5#.
I would have a alternative coating applied to the metal and either treat the wood or find a FG stock that would fit it.

EZ

The Rem XCR II in 375 Weatherby I took on my bear hunt weighed 7 1/2 lbs with scope (unloaded without sling). That being said my hunt wasn't very physical, I understand some brown bear hunts can be.

If you could handle a .458 Lott competently what in reality could be better. This caliber wouldn't take a back seat to anything I or anyone else could intelligently think of. With the right set up, this rules. Unless of course you only have access to the tried and true .458 Winchester mag. Then you truly have a real man's cartridge.
Good Luck
Scott

Good choice if you weatherproof it. If the airlines lose your ammo, surely a store has some .458WinMag you could shoot.

My Alaskan rifles are a Steyr Pro-Hunter in .376Steyr and a Winchester CRF Stainless/synthetic in .411/.416Rem Mag. Don't think I'd take anything with a wood stock. Last trip the GF tipped the canoe and I thought we'd lose everything.

quote:

Originally posted by kidd:
If you could handle a .458 Lott competently what in reality could be better. This caliber wouldn't take a back seat to anything I or anyone else could intelligently think of. With the right set up, this rules. Unless of course you only have access to the tried and true .458 Winchester mag. Then you truly have a real man's cartridge.
Good Luck
Scott

+1. The trick is can you swing and shoot it under pressure without thinking about the recoil. Does the sight picture just happen naturally as you raise the rifle. I hunted with a Rem 700 BDL in 270 for almost 40 years. That rifle is like part of me. I'm trying to get my CZ in 500 Jeffery to be the same, so I use it for everything including jack rabbits lol! I took a pretty new Rem XCR II (stainless / synthetic) in 375 Weatherby brown bear hunting, and though I did fine, I would've felt a lot better if I had my 500 Jeffery with me, not for the power, but because I'm so used to it now.

Actually the easiest way t go t have a perfect. coastal brown bear rifle is a Ruger Alaskan in 416 Ruger ..Work up a load with 350 gr TSX@ 2550 fps .. You can load the 350 gr Spree bullet for blasting. Then just get to be real good buddies with it. Like 458Win. Says. " if you can shoot it well" .....It will Dump a bear real well.

There's a lot of calibers that are ideal brown bear rigs! If you can place your shots with the Lott with the same accuracy as a lesser caliber by all means use it. Don't take any marginal shots though just because your carrying a big thumper.

Yup!! People just need t do a lot more shooting..my favorite Lott blastin load is a 350 gr.Berry's plated RN fn bullet and whatever powder I want t use up. At about 2400-2450 it's easy t shoot and in my rifle hit pretty close to the 350 gr TSX at 2700. Close enuf for good express sight practice.