458lott or 460 weatherby

[tazmansports]

just throwing this out again---not sure which one is better, I was told that recoil is much higher on the weatherby, but with the accubreak on it, it does not kick anymore that a 338 rum with no break--if that is true, would the xtra firepower be better? thought this might be better here for this, than the big bore section?

[Dusty Miller]

JJ has stated a number of times here that when hunting dg one must consider the ability of the rifle to cycle reliably.  I think the Lott has it all over the WB in that regard.  When a large nasty animal is charging you after you've wounded it you don't want to have a round jammed unless your idea of going out in style is to fill your drawers right before some critter cancels your ticket.  The 375 H&H is such a PROVEN dg killer that if I were to win the lottery and actually go to Africa to hunt it'd be the only gun I'd consider (my age and small stature would preclude the use of a 40 caliber gun).

[kciH]

Have you any experience shooting the 338Rum or 340 Weatherby without a brake?  My .340 easily has more recoil than my .375 H&H.  If the brake on the .460 is anything like the ones I have used it would cause permanent hearing damage for you and your PH if you where not wearing hearing protection.

[msorenso]

I have a 338 Rum and isnt that bad.. If you can handle a 340 weatherby you can hand the 338 rum..  With weaterby giving ballistics with a 26 inch and remington giving theirs in 24 its tough to tell but I beleive the 338 rum with a 26 has a bit more power than the weatheby, but I don't  think you can tell the difference.  To be completly honost there is a difference between my 375 rum and 338 rum but not much, just enough to tell there is one.

[JJHACK]

Man my typing is hidious, I have gone over this mess and fixed it sorry for the 2nd grade typing quality!

The 460 weatherby is too fast for currently produced bullets. Bullet break up and failue is common on the big species it's designed for. Mike LaGrange who has killed mor elephants then any man alive today (over 5000) wrote a book called Ballistics in Perspective. In that book he describes and shows photos of the bullets that have failed with the 460 weatherby cartridge. The cartridge is fine, it's limitation is the bullets ability to hold together and not bend or rupture at impact.

The ideal speed for a 500 grain bullet in the .458 diameter is about 2100-2300 fps. Anything faster then that will comprimise the bullets integrity. The 460 shoots in excess of 2600fps which will not allow the available bullets to perform as we would like.

The Recoil from the 460 Weatherby is significant. It comes with a stock designed for a scope which is a poor choice for recoil control. The best recoil control comes from a low stock like a double rifle or shotgun would have. If I remember correctly from the book I read about Roy Weatherby, it was this 460 that detatched his retna from the massive recoil.

As far as muzzle blast enhancers, not for me or any professional I know. They are fine for bench work and targets but in the field they will cause permanent damage. Unless I end up with shoulder bursitis or some horrible problem that requires one I would never EVER ruin my rifle with that kind of non-sense.

[Grumulkin]

I had at time been plagued with doubts about my 458 Lott thinking I should have gone for the 460 Weatherby or perhaps a 378 Weatherby instead...I feel much better now.

[K.K]

The 460 Weatherby is a vicious rifle to shoot.  The Lott is no picnic either, but consider the fact that one can safely shoot 458 Win Mags in the Lott in a pinch.  Might save the safari if your ammo didn't show up for the Weatherby.