Where can I get a conversion reamer for the 458 Win Mag to Lott? Is this a project a novice could handle?

It's probably easier to find the Lott reamer which can do the job.

As for whether or not it's a job for a novice I suggest you ask yourself if the cost of screwing it up is more than the $100 it would cost to have the chamber recut for the Lott. Of course, that doesn't take in to account costs associated with extending the magaizine so the much longer rounds will fit which may or may not be applicable. Costs for that work can go up quickly.

Unless you do barrel work all the time,and are a qualified gunsmith leave the barrel work to them. Reamers such as the 458Lott don,t come cheap.There are outfits that rent reamers out,as its monies spend,with no returns for a person to buy one to use it once. van

about 95 bucks from various reamer maker and I bet you can sell it here for at elast 75% of what you paid for it.

jeffe

That's why I only charge $90 to do it and I guarantee it will be cut right. Feeding fixes cost extra.

Jeffe- That is what I have figured. I always like the oppotunity to screw things up myself and with a little patience and a set of headspace gauges I think I could do this. I bet I could sell the reamer in a day. My best friend is a master machinest who has 35 years machining areo-space parts under his belt and with his guidance I think this whould be simple.
Might have to have a smith work on the feeding issues as I'm not that bold yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
I always like the oppotunity to screw things up myself and with a little patience and a set of headspace gauges I think I could do this.

Umm, both cartridges headspace off the belt, all the Lott reamer does is move the case mouth and throating cuts forward. If the "belt cutter" portion of the Lott reamer does any cutting at all, you've gone to deep (IIRC Mr Lott felt that reamers for his cartridge should have a "non-cutting" belt ring, to make it easier to convert from 458WM. IE run it in until the ring stops aganst the origional belt recess.)

quote:

Originally posted by Tailgunner:Umm, both cartridges headspace off the belt, all the Lott reamer does is move the case mouth and throating cuts forward. If the "belt cutter" portion of the Lott reamer does any cutting at all, you've gone to deep (IIRC Mr Lott felt that reamers for his cartridge should have a "non-cutting" belt ring, to make it easier to convert from 458WM. IE run it in until the ring stops aganst the origional belt recess.)

Tailgunner,
I thought that was the type of reamer (non-cutting belt) he was asking about. I would assume you could order them from the usual suspects (PTG) or maybe you could use something like this reamer stop but not being a gunsmith I'm not positive about that.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailgunner:

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
I always like the oppotunity to screw things up myself and with a little patience and a set of headspace gauges I think I could do this.

Umm, both cartridges headspace off the belt, all the Lott reamer does is move the case mouth and throating cuts forward. If the "belt cutter" portion of the Lott reamer does any cutting at all, you've gone to deep (IIRC Mr Lott felt that reamers for his cartridge should have a "non-cutting" belt ring, to make it easier to convert from 458WM. IE run it in until the ring stops aganst the origional belt recess.)

Conversion reamers don't cut the belt.

So... then what do you use to make sure you don't cut the chamber too long?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
So... then what do you use to make sure you don't cut the chamber too long?

Isn't that what headspace guages are for?

You have just registered your ignorance here. The headspace gauge for a belted magnum measures from the bolt face to the end of the belt. It does NOT measure the length of the cartridge.

Jim, I think you were waiting on that answer.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
You have just registered your ignorance here. The headspace gauge for a belted magnum measures from the bolt face to the end of the belt. It does NOT measure the length of the cartridge.

Please read the second sentence of the opening statement. Then tell this novice how to measure the length of the cartridge chamber. No matter how much you try to domineer me it won't work. I learn best by doing.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
You have just registered your ignorance here. The headspace gauge for a belted magnum measures from the bolt face to the end of the belt. It does NOT measure the length of the cartridge.

jim,
to be overly picky, NO headspace gauge measures the of the cart.. they all measure to datum point.

if you have a conversion reamer, you have to trust and measure that it is a lott reamer.. but the same thing applies to a 30-06 reamer... and that the headspace for the 458 win was right, then not changing it, it is still rright...

but headspace gauges are always a good idea

jeffe

Pegleg, reaming the chamber with a conversion type reamer is no problem, use lots of cutting oil, cut slowly and clean often. You have not told us what type of action you are going to use this on, if it is a bolt, altering the rails and extending the magazine, plus action alterations get a bit more complicated. Tell us all the details! I have a JGS Lott reamer with the belt ring that positively stops the reamer at the correct length, you can't screw it up and I have recut several 458 Win chambers with it. I will loan it to you if you promise never to turn it counter clockwise when reaming, and not drop it on the floor! That, and you pay the shipping. You will need a reamer extension unless you are removing the barrel. Lee.

lee440- Thank you for the generous offer. The rifle is a Model 70 post 64 CRF action. The magazine alteration should be a no brainer. If all else fails I can buy a 375 mag box to replace the 458 mag box or just alter the original box. I probably won't take the barrel off as I have found that Winchester puts their barrels on tighter than just about anyone I have come up against. The last Winchester barrel I had taken off was sent to Lee Six as Lee has an action wrench with two five foot handles so two guys can reef on the action. That's tight! So, I will need to get an extension. Again, thank you for the generous offer and I will be in contact.