I've got a Brno 602 in .458 winchester.

Its in good shape, and a rather interesting/unique rifle (single set trigger and all that).

How much do you think it would cost to get it rechambered to .460 weatherby? Just the metal work. Rechambering the barrel, opening the boltface, maybe massaging the mag rails a little.

I'd be sure to glass bed the action (which I could do myself).

Just curious. .458 Winchester doesn't interest me that much. Would rather have something more powerful (if I'm gonna have a thumper, might as well have a THUMPER).

Course, I suppose i could spend the money and have a whole new barrel put on in a .50 cal wildcat of a .460... or one of the other big calibers....

GSXR7,

you can go up the Gibb's rim .640 if you want, I have a .585 Nyati built on a 602 & I love it. I would do a .450 Rigby over the .460 Weatherby if a .458 cal rifle is what you want as you do not have the belt and you will get 4 in the mag. You could also do a nice .416 Rigby on it if you wanted. But if you want a .50 cal the cheapest and easiest is to do a .500 A2 which will be the .460 Weatherby necked up. I say go for it they make nice rifles in my opinion.

Gentlemen
A question if you will.
The 458 Win mag is designed to function through a 30-06 length action. If one was to have an action, say an Enfield pattern 14 or 17 chambered for a 458 Win mag variant that was longer and the magazine box was appropiate. Say the case only gripped a .50 inch or less of the bullet shank to increase the powder capicity.
Would I pick up any meaningful velocity.
Jim

Jim,

You can't get the H&H belted case up to a 50 caliber. The .475 is maximum and that currently is called the 470 Capstick.

The 458 Lott is like a 458 Winchester case but 3/10" longer. The 458 Lott will add about 150 f/s to 200f/s to 458 Win handloads. If all else is equal, then the 470 Capstick would add about another 80 f/s. The 458 Lott is the full length 375 case opened to 458 and the 470 Capstick is the full length 375 case opened to take .475 bullets.

So in summary, top 458 Winchester handloads will be exceeded by between 150 f/s to 300 f/s for same weight bullet by 458 Lott and 470 Capstick.

Mike

[ 10-20-2002, 16:11: Message edited by: Mike375 ]

my 375H&H Brno 602 has bolt face size of 0.703, same as the new CZ550. A previous thread brought up the issue of bolt thrust for large rim diameter cartridges such as the 505 gibbs so it got me to looking at the 460 for the cz550. Couldn't find any web pictures of the actual internal case head area but cross-sections of other cartridges seem to show a diameter that is similar to that set by the groove. So, assuming this is 0.1" less than the rim, then the 460 gives about 23% more thrust compared to 458 (and 460 is rated at 3% higher pressure, so max. is around 26%). The previous thread indicated the cz550 rated at 9700lbs. thrust, probably the 602 is similar. i think the 375HH rim size/pressure are set for around 9000lbs. SInce i am conservative, i concluded that a 460 might not be able to get full pressure/velocity from a cz550 chambering.

PS. For hunting, however, 460 on cz seems to be about perfect. Quickload shows 500g SN at 2343ft/sec. in 24" barrel with 97% load density and 46kpsi (Pmax. reduced by 10% and the 23%) which is comparable press. to a hot 416 rigby.

[ 10-21-2002, 01:39: Message edited by: steve505 ]

easy as fishing.
decent smith could do it, for
(assuming he has the reamer)
$75-100 rechamber
$25-50 bolt face
$50 for mag (might be double that due to headache)

then you still have your sights.

IF he don't have a reamer, then *I* would do a 450 rigby.

$45 (reamer rental from www.reamerrental.com)
same figures as above
jeffe

I have a 460wby on a Brno 602 action, and that works fine.
BUT if I could choose again I'd go for the 450 Dakota / Rigby. So you can skip that stupid belt!!
I've tried to post a couple of fotos but I dont know exactly how it will look.

[ 10-22-2002, 12:16: Message edited by: 460wby ]

Why the f............. cant I get two pictures to work at the same time???

My .460 Weatherby is on a Brno 602 that was originally a .375. Rebarrel and open the bolt face was all that was required if I remember. It was done about 15 years ago before I knew anything about a .450 Rigby. Has had a bunch of rounds through it, though not full factory loads. I use 112grs of 4350 and Hornady 500gr softs for practice. Good luck, Cobalt

You can build just about anything you want on a Bruno 602 up to a 600 Overkill. The 460 WBY is not a bad cartridge, it's just that it's at it's best loaded down to 2500fps at the muzzel. The way to get more performance is to go to a bigger, heavier bullet and still keep the velocity to 2300-2500 fps at the muzzel. The better options in my book are as follows:
1. 450 Rigby- No belt
2. 460 G&A- built on 404 Jeffery case,no belt
3. 470 MBOGO- Slightly More case capacity than even the 460 WBy,No belt
4. 500 A2- 575 gr bullets-800 grs, on the 460 WBY case.
5. 500 AHR- Basically a better version of the 500 Jeffery
6. 585 NYATI- Much more horsepower, 750 gr bullets, gunsmithing issues
7. 600 Overkill- What else can I say!
Just some thoughts-Rob