The Accurate Reloading Forums
Changing from .458 Win Mag to .458 Lott

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/77810864

08 February 2003, 10:39
FourTails
Changing from .458 Win Mag to .458 Lott
I have a Model 70 Winchester Custom in .458 Win Mag. If I have the chamber reamed to .458 Lott to I have to do anything else to the gun to make it function, load, shoot, or whatever to do it right? Thanks, all help appreciated. Mike
08 February 2003, 11:41
<JBelk>
The receiver will have to be milled to take a H&H length magazine box and the stock re-inletted for it. Feeding might still be a problem, depending on what bullets you use and seated to what length. You'll also need a magnum follower.
08 February 2003, 13:18
Bwana-be
My M70 (classic '06) has a 3.8" ejection port, and a magazine with a filler which when removed brings the magazine length to 3.8" inside.
I've been considering the same thing, but different, and seems to me you'll need the .375-sized boltstop, mag follower and ejector (all available thru Brownells). This'll give you the bolt throw you need, no loss of capacity (3+1) and case head clearance for feeding.
Then, of course, rechamber/headspace.
It looks like M70's only come in "short" and "long," with or without spacers for medium-length cartridges.
There is no doubt JBelk knows more than I do about it, but this is what my gun measures. Doesn't seem cost-effective to produce the safari mag in two length actions for 458WM or 375/416.
08 February 2003, 13:53
<JBelk>
My experience is with pre-64 M-70s. They could have changed something but the fact is that the Lott is on an H&H case and the 458 Win is a 2.5" case.

My advice would be to make sure the magazine is long enough before committing to a re-chamber job.
11 February 2003, 06:28
FourTails
Thanks guys. I think I will leave it well enough alone since it is a custom job and I don't want to destroy the intregrity of it. Time to dig down in the sock again I guess. Mike