.458Win. vs .458 Lott
I am thinking about geting either a 458 Lott or .458Win.I have never shot either one. but I do know that you can shoot the 458win in the Lott action.I was just wondering about what people thought about them.
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The horror stories about the failings of the 458 Winchester on big game was a result of a bad run of bullets early on. Some loads weren't reaching advertised velocity but that's true with most any round. The Lott will drive bullets faster ....the price being more recoil. Any quality 500gr. bullet moving at 2000 to 2200 fps is enough for dangerous game. Look at all the old English rounds that have been thumping game for a century.....the bullet just got heavier with increased caliber but they all moved in the 2150 fps range. It's a toss up really...either one in the rifle you like will work. 0 -
I personally don't shoot either but a close hunt'n & shoot'n friend has remarked to me, a number of times, that if his 458winmag wasn't an original collectable african plain rifle he would bore it out to 458lott in a heartbeat. He also tells of the 458winmag and his 470NE shaking his fillings loose, for real. The latest issue of "Rifle" has an artical on just this topic. You might want to nip over to your local book/mag store and see if they have it. The artical boiled down to that the 458winmag works more then adequately on all of Africas dangerous big game. Especially now that superior bullets and powders are readily available. Also that someone who owns a 458winmag should leave well enough along. But if a person was out to buy a "new" rifle in one of these calibers then the Lott should really be looked at, because it does supply an extra 50/150fps real world velosity and that the 458winmag can be shot in it in a pinch. 0 -
the artical that ern98 is talking about is where it started.but i think i would go with the lott because i like the longer actions and cartigdes. 0 -
Hi 375HH,
You didn't say what you might do with either of these rifles in calibers 458 Winchester or 458 Lott. I think much of your choice would be your intention for these calibers.
I have two friends who have been to Africa on hunting expeditions. One uses a 458 Win. Magnum for dangerous game. He also has a 470 Capstick in a modified Model 70 that he has not used in Africa. The other uses a custom built 458 Lott. Both hunt and have dispatched Cape buffalo with their respective firearms to great affect. The friend with the 458 Win. Mag has used this caliber in a close situation with the Cape and downed it with one shot. he has downed Cape on multiple occasions. He said the the impact of the bullet was devastating and has no reservations about using it exclusively on dangerous game.
The 458 Win. Mag had a bad problem early in its life because of powder deterioration and its use in 22 inch or less tubes. Much of the supply of 458 Win. Mag. cartrdiges used in Africa were stored in unconditioned environments and the powder deteriorated in those cases. This caused severely underpowered loads under trying conditions. Velocity from these cartridges was estimated at less than 1900 fps which was far too underpowered for dangerous game.
The condition of cartridges has been cured with more modern powders which resist deteriortation due to temperature and humidity and the 458 Win. Mag is now certainly adequate for any dangerous game in the world. The 458 Win. Mag. is also more flexible than the Lott and can be downloaded to 45-70 type performance if needed. Factory loaded ammo is full-house stuff. 458 Win Mag ammo usually delivers about 2040 fps with a 500 grain bullet.
458 Win. Mag ammo is much more commonly encountered than the 458 Lott even though the Lott is now commercially manufactured by Hornady. Previously the Lott was strictly a handloading proposition.
Jack Lott developed the 458 Lott as extra insurance after he was trampled by a twice shot (with a 458 Win. Mag) Cape buffalo due to the condition mentioned above. His cartridge provides that extra bit of insurance. Velocity is not the key to the effectiveness of his cartridge though.
Maximum energy of the 458 Lott is on the order of 6020 ft-lb at 2330 fps in a 24 inch barrel. Energy of the 458 Win. Mag is on the order of 4900 ft-lb at 2040 fps from a 24 inch tube. Using a 22 inch tube will slightly lower the energy and velocity. Therefore, the Lott will develop over 1000 more ft-lb than the 458 Win Mag. This is the difference between the two cartridges. Rifles are generally more expensive for the Lott.
As stated in the beginning, the choice of caliber depends on your intended used use of the rifle and the hunting conditions you expect to encounter.
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
I would be useing it in africa on dangerous game. 0 -
if you're looking for one I know a shop that has a couple of Ruger #1 in 458 lott and win mag. and they also have a Krieghoff SxS Big five in 470 Nitro express ,,, I don't have any thing to do with the shop but would pass along their phone number if you want it 0 -
thanks any way gskyhawk but i am looking for a good bolt rifle. 0 -
That friend of mine, to who I refered in my earlier reply, originally had one of the Ruger M77mkII safari rifles in 416Rigby. It was a really nice rifle and if he hadn't picked up the Wessly Richard's 458winmag he would have kept it and taken it to Africa for cape buffalo. I only bring this up to say you should make a point see, feel and hopefully shoot one of these in your quest. They are available in the 458 Lott and look to be alot of rifle for the money. 0 -
ye Ruger makes some great guns at great prices 0 -
This is what you do. Buy a Winchester M70 in 458 Win. If after shooting it as a 458 Win you find that you don't like that cartridge, have it rechambered to 458 Lott. Still cheaper in the long run instead of buying a Ruger M77 RSM in 458 Lott.
AlleninAlaska
Delta Firearms & Supplies
http://www.galleryofguns.com
aglore@gci.net0 -
If you have a .458 Lott you can always shoot .458Win. out of it.
Dean
If they don't trust us with guns, how can we trust them with the government?0
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