What do y'all think about the .458 Lott?

[Barrett93]

I have the opportunity to purchase a nice Ruger No.1 in .458 Lott. It's a damn fine looking rifle, stainless with the gray laminate furniture. It also comes with a set of Redding .458 Lott dies and enough cases and bullets to keep me shooting for a very long time.

What I don't know is much of anything about the cartridge. I do know that I can take off to Africa and take on the "Big 5" with the cartridge and not have to worry if it's man enough. However, I don't have any plans on a Safari anywhere in my foreseeable future (probably never in my future ). It's probably going to just be a toy to show off and let my buddies shoot. I just want any input from anyone who owns one, has owned one, has shot one or just generally knows something about it. Thanks guys!

 

[gazpacho]

It is a LOT of cartridge.

Jack Lott created the 458 Lott after he came out on the loosing end in a tussle with an Africa Cape Buffalo. Apparently the 458 Winchester Magnum wasn't enough to do the job.

I have a friend who owns that exact rifle. He scored a deal on the rifle, ammo, brass and reloading dies after the original owner gave up on it, after firing only 2 shots. My friend is a recoil junky, and routinely fires full safari loads. Cost wise, it is cheaper to shoot 50 BMG. Also easier to find that ammo. I have seen Force Recon Marines, and Self professed Navy Seals (disclaimer!) refuse a free shot on this rifle. On the other hand, I have seen some VERY beautiful women have a go at it, that have enjoyed the experience. At short range, I have watched it shatter a boulder.

Fired properly, it won't hurt you.

Don't put a scope on it.

 

[rskent]

A friend of mine has one. Lots of macho fun at the range. Good for a laugh not much else, at least around here.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have never shot a Ruger No. 1 but I've heard that felt recoil in them is more pronounced than other rifles.

I have a unbraked CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 458 Lott and I don't think the recoil is all that bad. Of course, it has a nice cushy recoil pad and is probably heavier than a Ruger No. 1. With mine, accuracy for 3 shots at 100 yards runs about an inch.

There is nothing in the U.S.A. that one need a 458 Lott for but if you want it get it. The only blood mine has drawn has been a rabbit.

 

[redneck2]

There is nothing in the U.S.A. that one need a 458 Lott for but if you want it get it. The only blood mine has drawn has been a rabbit.

Use enough gun Them rabbits can be tough and deadly.

I fail to understand why someone would get a firearm in a DG caliber, then be limited to a single shot. If you want a "hold my beer and watch this toy", guess it falls in that category. Interesting but not very useful.

This is the kind of stuff that would get traded back into the LGS when I worked there. Typically unfired.

 

[DM~]

.458 factory loads are over rated, Lott fixed that!!

With full power loads, it's a HIGH recoiling round, waaay more than I like shooting, but you can always load it down...

It has a good reputation in Africa, for those that can shoot it...

DM

 

[dirtyjim]

great cartridge, poor stock design on rugers increases the felt recoil.
shoot it from a standing rest and they aren't bad, from a bench they are more of a sucker gun.
if you or your range doesn't have a standing rest they are easy to make. its a car rim, two pieces of pipe that can fit snugly inside each other, a small piece of flat plate and one shooting bag. weld one piece of pipe to the rim, weld the piece of plate on the end of the other pipe then drill a hole in the larger pipe and weld a 3/8 nut over the hole. slide the two pipes together, set the height by putting a wing bolt into the welded nut, the zip tie the bag to the flat plate.
we shoot 40+ times off hand and off a standing rest at our big bore shoots and it aint bad.

 

[Elkins45]

Do you have a problem with feral velociraptors in your neighborhood?

I own a 375 Ruger lefty with the express sights. If there's ever a zoo escape I figure I'm good to go. Otherwise it's just a S&G rifle.

Keep in mind that any rifle can be downloaded with cast bullets. That's what i do with my Ruger. One day I might even hunt deer with it from a tree stand in the brush. I figure a .377 diameter 275 grain bullet doesn't need to be moving all that fast to drop a 150 pound whitetail.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

If it's needed, it's hard to surpass.

Or in many cases, even meet.

Absolutely not necessary in North America. Somewhat punishing and expensive to feed. Not a real easy "sell" (at a reasonable price) if you grow tired of it.

Todd.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I fail to understand why someone would get a firearm in a DG caliber, then be limited to a single shot. If you want a "hold my beer and watch this toy", guess it falls in that category. Interesting but not very useful.

That's how I see it -- if the critter is big enough and dangerous enough to warrant a .458 Lott, he's big and dangerous enough to warrant a fast follow-up shot.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

That's how I see it -- if the critter is big enough and dangerous enough to warrant a .458 Lott, he's big and dangerous enough to warrant a fast follow-up shot.

The follow up shot would classically be the fella behind you and off to the side. But, I get your point.

Todd.

 

[natman]

This is the kind of stuff that would get traded back into the LGS when I worked there. Typically unfired.

More typically with a box of 19 cartridges.

I once bought a 375 H&H No. 1 exactly that way. It was a foul kicking beast, I can't imagine what it would be like in 458 Lott.

If the 458 Lott recoil gets to be too much you can always use 458 Winchester as a practice load.

 

[dvdcrr]

We were shooting water filled milk jugs at 25 yds int a headwind. Big cartrdges. After about 15 rounds watching water go 15-20 in tge air, we were all a liitle soaked. Good times.

 

[tark]

I would grab that thing in a heartbeat. So ....you don't see a practical need for something that powerful in this country....? Not much practical need for a 200 mile per hour Corvette Z06 either.....but I still want one!

Because it's FUN!! You don't have to shoot planet wrecker loads in it all the time. If you want to really have fun shoot it with 500 gr cast bullets and a case full of black powder. It will make a wonderful boom, and it won't kick any more than a light twelve gauge load. The kiddies will love the smoke cloud and you can invent new curse words cleaning up the mess afterwards!!

There are plenty of cast bullet loads in lots of loading manuals that can be used to hunt everything from rabbits to Rhinos. Get the thing and have fun1

 

[Bullet Bob]

My thoughts:


Ow ow ow.

Yes, I'm not very manly (or young)

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

No one 'needs' a gun like the OP is considering. But to be fair, no one 'needs' most of the guns that gun enthusiasts buy. We buy them because we want to, we like to own them, and we like to shoot them - sometimes often, sometimes rarely.
The OP should buy the gun so long as he is satisfied that he will be able and interested in shooting it as often as he wishes. Thinking carefully, so long as neither the cost or firing or more likely the challenge of firing it doesn't make it a burden, then go for it.
B

 

[dakota1911]

I sold mine to a No. 1 collector that just had to have it. It was SS also. I realized I am getting old enough I will not be going hunting in Alaska or Africa. There was also a lot of felt recoil. I mean a Lott. I figured right after I sold it an elephant would break out of a circus or the zoo or something and come rampaging down the street and I will be left with my wimpy little 375H&H to shoot it with.

 

[natman]

Single shots, on dangerous game, would be verboten for me. In fact, I insist on having a rapidfire repeater (Lever, pump, or auto) not a bolt action for such work, Autoloading rifles are illegal in most African countries. I"m not the type to care about such regulations, nor would I use a guide who cared about them.

I'm sure that's just fine with the guides. Personally a bolt action is plenty fast enough for me especially since there are few lever, pump or semi autos chambered for true dangerous game cartridges. Besides I'd rather avoid spending time in an African jail.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

a big cartridge, and in a Ruger No. 1....well, hope you don't detach your retina with this one. Ruger No. 1s (and I do own a few) are not meant for rounds like this, but apparently people buy them cause Ruger keeps putting them out.

 

[kudu]

I took a #1 to South Africa on a plains game hunt. It was chambered in .338 Win Mag. Before it was comfortable to shoot I had it Magna-Ported, world of difference in muzzle flip and felt recoil. Went from 12-14" of muzzle flip to about 2". I put over 500 rounds down range working up a good accurate hunting load before ever going to hunt. My buddy had a .416 Weatherby on a 700 action that you would only shoot once without the muzzle break on it, with it is was very controllable.

If you want it for your collection as an occasional shooter get it, if it's going to cause second guessing 'why did I buy this' let it go. I personally love the lines of Ruger #1's, and with practice can get a second and third shot off almost as fast as a bolt rifle.

 

[PowerG]

Well if you should ever wander into an unexpected rhino charge at least you won't be undergunned. Isn't this the round that is "recommended for men of exceptional physique"?

 

[Barrett93]

Thanks for all the help guys. The deal I was looking into fell through. So I'm in the market for one if anybody happens to have one