Wacky gun... Ruger No.1 in 458 Win Mag

[atek3]

So I was at the range teaching a newbie and these guys at the other end of the bench looked like they were getting ready for africa, I mean two x-frame smith and wessons and a ruger no.1 in 458 Win Mag. He asked me if I wanted to try so I said sure. The 500 S&W was pretty suprising... you definately know you're shooting a handful but it wasn't painful, and it was pretty accurate at 50 yards (from a rest). The Ruger on the other hand I was a little afraid of, the heaviest recoiling gun I'd fired to date was a tossup between a 45-70 and an NEF 10 ga. The guy said his wife had tried it, so of course I had to try it at least once.

So I shoulder it, lean into it, and letter rip... BOOM!

What a doozy. Not painful, but certainly not something I'd want to sight in

After watching me get violently contorted, my friend wouldn't try it... oh well, maybe next time.

atek3

 

[Bartkowski]

Man, some nice folks considering the price of ammo for those cannons.

 

[Kalashnikov]

I'd assume its like owning a Ferrari. If you can afford to buy one, feeding one probably wouldn't be much of a problem.

 

[atek3]

good point, the guy did have 3 S&W x-frames

atek3

 

[buttrap]

They are not that bad to get by on the ammo bill. Cast 500 grain slug and some 3031 puts the cost per round under 30-06 or 7mm mag. Easy on the shoulder too with cast lead loads and still way past a 45-70 down range.

 

[Fumbler]

My boss has a Ruger #1 Tropical in 458 Winmag.

We love handing it to curious young people at the range.
I've shot it enough that I can use a bench rest and put my left hand under the butt (the way I often shoot my 308). When a new shooter benches it the same way I get a lil concerned about the gun being dropped...but it's worth the chuckles.

I've measured the gun's movement when my boss shot it. With full magnum loads he moved about 14 inches back...
Oddly we both agree that shooting my short barrelled Mossberg 500 with 3" foster style slugs kinda hurts more.
I guess that gives you an idea of the recoil impulse. The 12ga is fast and violent while the 458 is smoother but reallllly heavy.

It's great fun
My boss is awaiting the day when two deer line so he can pop them both with 525 grains of hard lead.

He reloads (we both do, how else can you afford to shoot?) and casts his own bullets, so it's only a few cents a shot.

 

[browningguy]

To me the No. 1 in .458 is a real handful. I'm a wimp so my Mauser actioned .458 was built to be 10 pounds, and even that I don't like shooting from a bench.

 

[4fingermick]

My friend went on a real expensive guided red deer hunt when he retired some years ago. He used a 338WM and popped a stag and the bullet went straight through and grassed another stag as well. $3000.00 trophy fee x2!!! My friend was reallllllllllllll impressed. Sold the 338 as soons as he got home.

 

[Strongbad]

I'd blame that one on your friend. Not the gun. That falls under "Always know your target and what is beyond it."

 

[JesseL]

A friend of my Father-in-law has one of those in 458 Lott. He loads it with lightweight hollowpoints intended for 45-70 velocities and uses it on jackrabbits. He claims it only leaves messy craters. If this was anyone else I wouldn't believe him, but knowing Arn...

 

[Sunray]

"...nice folks considering the price of ammo..." I'll say. 30 years ago, the brass alone was worth $50Cdn per 20. They must be experienced with the .458 too.
"...afford to buy one..." Not really. The rifles aren't terribly expensive. The MSRP is a little over a grand for the Tropical. They don't list the .458 Win though.

 

[onewithgun]

Yeah I'd be nervous about shooting a .458 Win. or Lott.

Those are some serious clavicle-breaking-rifles. I bet there are plenty of documented injuries consisting of broken bones and severe hematomas.

Here is a guy shooting a .600 Nitro Express in a revolver.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...263&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3

This gun is known to injure people in the rifle. Just imagine if his face was directly behind the gun and it didn't just "skim" his face.

I hear they've built an .800 Nitro Express... Very Scary. Total overkill IMHO

Oh and FYI
You can shoot .458 Winchester Magnums out of .458 Lott chambers.

 

[SaxonPig]

I love the #1 and I have one in 458 WM. I have never fired any full-power ammo in it, only loads at 45/70 levels. My friend has shot this gun (he sold it to me) with full loads and he claims it kicks worse than my 460. Not sure why that would be since they weigh about the same and the 460 generates about 400 FPS greater velocity but that's what he says.

 

[onewithgun]

Sorry guys I had to add this one too.

The second shooter made me laugh so hard. Knocked off his head wear and I had to keep rewinding it over and over on him.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-272255642648022776

Funny stuff!

 

[cottonmouth]

.458 Win. Mag.

My enjoy shooting my No.1, I load 350 grain soft points in the 2400-2500 fps range. It does kick but I didn't buy it to shoot paper, it's a meat gun. I got it last year and killed two deer with it. I also shoot reduced loads in it, 420 grain LBT gas checks with a small charge of 2400.

J.B.

 

[def4pos8]

Those fellows should have opted for the #1H in .375 Hollands' Magnum. I used mine to take wild boar in Europe. A 300 grain Game King over 64.0 grains of 4064 gave a pleasant 2460fps over the screens, about 2 tons' energy and such tight groups as to be silly!

Most folks who are introduced to "die kannone" are intimidated right up to the point that they pull the trigger --- then it's all grins!

I feel that my .375 is more pleasant to shoot than any of my .30-'06s -- and I have a truly large trophy to show for it!