Feeding of 458 Win Mag in 458 Lott actions?

[klover]

I was wondering if a CZ 550 in .458 Lott would reliably feed 458 Win Mag? I see the cartridge is about .5 inches shorter.

The savings is about $1.70 per shot until I get a chance to set up some reloading.

Thanks.

 

[Gryffydd]

I have to say, this sounds a bit like complaining about the gas mileage on a Bugatti Veyron. If you're spending $2.7M on the car (aka any hunt needing a 458 Lott) you're not going to care that it gets 8 MPG (cost per round).

That said, why delay reloading? The price difference between 2 boxes of handloads vs. 2 boxes of factory 458 Lott would pay for a decent reloading setup.

 

[MachIVshooter]

That's a lot of freebore with a very powerful cartridge. Don't think I'd do it...........

 

[StrawHat]

To answer your question, yes a 458 should feed and fire in a Lott chamber. I did not think the difference was .5 inches. As I recall, iwhen designed the Lott was about 1/4" longer and the idea was to enable the hunter to use 458 Magnum cartridges. The resulting "freebore" would give better ballistics to the Magnum round. Weatherby and others have put freebore to good use. H&H used to offer rifles with nearly 25 inches of freebore and they were fine hunting rifles.

 

[Curator]

Some .458 lott rifles will feed the .458WinMag cartridge fine, others have problems with the shorter rounds moving forward under recoil and becoming difficult to feed. Some African countries also have rules about importing ammo not expressly marked for your hunting rifle. If your CZ is marked .458 Lott they will confiscate your ammo head stamped .458 WinMag at customs. Of course, .458 WinMag can sometimes be bought locally but at a significant premium.

 

[klover]

I was hoping someone with the same CZ550 could say.

I bought one box with the rifle at around $75 per 20. I wouldn't mind having a slightly weaker loading if I could still stop Yogi reliably. I can get 20 in 458 Win Mag for less than $50 per 20. As far as I know, 458 Lott is not offered in power levels as for the 300 RUM.


I do know, gryffydd, that the cost savings is very significant, but right at this moment, time is very valuable to some of us, ie, some of us work for a living.
Sometimes at work, I am forced to thrash a lot to save a little solely on the basis of allotted time for a job.

Thanks.

 

[Hizzie]

It is less than .3" difference.
COAL WM = 3.340"
COAL Lott = 3.600"

It is no different that shooting 38Special in a 357Magnum.

Individual rifles may or may not feed the shorter WM rounds. That is no different that an off the shelf rifle not feeding a certain brand or shape of bullet. Check out Wisconsin Cartridge Corp and Hunting Shack Munitions. They both offer non-premium 458WM loads starting at about $2.00/round. The WCC 405gr RNSP @ 2200 is still a thumper but noticably more pleasant than full house 500gr slugs.

 

[klover]

Thanks Hizzie.

I am a little leary about a box $55 to the door, but will keep an eye out for a deal on 458 Win Mag in light of what you said.

Perhaps the way to test would be to put a shim in the front of the magazine to make sure the cartridge stays
to the rear?

StrawHat: I do believe you meant .25 meaning 1/4 inches?

Thanks

 

[GooseGestapo]

Like above poster stated, it's like shooting .38spl in a .357mag. The orginal intent was that if in a remote area like Africa that you got seperated from your .458Lott ammo, you could still use the .458mag. ammo locally sourced...

I don't see the .458mag ammo getting confiscated by authorities. It's when you load your .338/06 hand loads in ammo stamped .30/06 which is a military chambering that gets it confiscated. That, and not having it in a box marked as such....

Many of those countries prohibit private ownership of rifles and possession of ammo for "military" cartridges. That's where the headstamps get particular. Not a .458mag ammo vs. a .458Lott rifle......

 

[Jaxondog]

It has no problems feeding in mine. I reload and I still shoot more 458 mag than the lott. Plus, if anyone need's some jacketed or lead bullet's I have ton's. If you are close by, you are welcome to shoot all your shoulder will take.lol. I also have a reamer for 458 lott 450 watts if someone want to convert their's.

 

[StrawHat]

klover, nope I meant 25 inches. Wondered if anyone would notice. H&H built a Paradox gun that was smoothbore except for the last 2" at the muzzle. Using their conical bullets, it printed amazing groups at 100 yards and also handled shot. They made some single barreled guns but many doubles. Unfortunatley, many were destoryed as the loading gear for them was lost and folks tried to shoot Foster slugs or other such nonsense. With the proper bullets and loads, they are still shooters.

 

[MachIVshooter]

So, for those who seem to know better than I do..........

Are .458 Lott rifles typically chambered with more of a forcing cone than a throat to allow this practice of interchanging with .458 Win Mag? No pronounced shoulder where the case mouth meets the bore?

 

[klover]

Thanks everyone.

It never ceases to amaze me how diverse firearms knowledge can be!

I thought the Ruger mini 14 were to be avoided due to inaccuracies introduced by the free space they have.

What you just described, StrawHat, leaves me with awe and wonder.

Thanks Jaxon Dog!

In the worst case, I could have Lotts in the magazine, and the chambered round could be a Win Mag. I'll go with a trial box of Win Mag now.

 

[StrawHat]

H&H designed a system and it worked, with the components they provided. Only when other components were substituted by those who did not understand, did the system fail.

I will try to find an article for you.

 

[303tom]

All of the H&H magnum cartridges except for the .465 will chamber & fire in the .458 Lott, should you ? NO...................

 

[Hizzie]

All of the H&H magnum cartridges except for the .465 will chamber & fire in the .458 Lott, should you ? NO...................

When Jack Lott designed the .458 Lott he specifically designed it so that one could shoot .458 Winchester Magnum ammunition if .458 Lott ammunition was not available.

 

[klover]

303tom, look at Jaxon dog doing what you simply

say NO to.

In an intelligent forum, one would offer sources of information instead of emotional statements. Can you possibly further elaborate in order to insure the safety of other shooters willing to chamber other "calibers of .458"?

 

[303tom]

Yes you can shoot the .458 Win. Mag. in it, I did not say you could not..............