458 Lott

[ronangelia7]

           I know that the 458 lott would be a good caliber for DG. Would it also work for plains game when loaded down in 458 win mag.Also I think the montana arms barreled actions look good and are reasonably priced. What do you think about the CZ 550 USA rifles. Can the 458 be loaded down to work in the States as an all around rifle without to much recoil and destroying smaler game. Looks like the 458 Lott may be a good all around caliber. Thanks

                                                   Ron

[JJHACK]

No sub 2500fps bullet is going to destroy meat like those that are over 3000 fps.

The Lott is no anywhere near what I would call a meat destroyer, Shoulder destroyer ..........yes.

There must be some kind of misconception in what causes excessive damage to meat. Let there be no doubt about that.........it's velocity

[ronangelia7]

     

               I understand about velocity,I have never shot the big bores,so I have no real experience of what they do or dont do in the field.  Would the 458 Lott be a wise caliber choice that would work well in Africa and then also work in U.S. What about the CZ 550 rifles. Thanksw

                                     Ron

[JJHACK]

A 458 Lott if your not familiar with it should be shot first before you ever consider the investment to own one. If you cannot find a 458 Lott then shoot a 458 Win Mag, or a 338 or 378 Weatherby to get the idea of what your recoil investment will be to shoot the 458 Lott. If you can handle any of those three the Lott will not be a problem for you.

As far as hunting with it...........well I suppose you could look at it as 200 yard to 250 yard scoped rifle with excellent performance on any living thing. Meat damage is minimal and if the gun is built properly it's a tack driver. Mine will shoot hole touching groups from the bench until I'm too beat up to continue.

I don't hunt with my Lott, It's stricktly life insurance for my work. If I'm gonna hunt any living thing on this earth that will fight back and/ or has thick skin it will be with a 375HH. I don't consider my Lott a hunting rifle, but it's not scoped and really does not suit me for sport hunting. I like it's massive crumple power, but I prefer the extreme precision of the scoped 375HH.

Personally I see absolutely no reason for any sport hunter to need a rifle that big. It's a work rifle for a PH, parks board security staff, zoo security, wildlife park security, Alaskan Brown bear Guide, or just for "fun" in the USA. It's not going to allow the kind of shooting practice that will allow anyone to be an expert with it. It's a wicked powerful rifle on both ends. I don't care how "tough" anyone claims to be and how recoil resistant they say they are. Cartridges that big when shot frequently will cause physical problems for any human being. Detatched retna's, bursitis in the joints, serious scope eye, and jarring of your brain, equal to a boxer.

Many of the guys who claimed that they could shoot these kinds of guns endlessly without issue find that when they are 50 years old they are paying the price. It's an accumulated problem over years of pounding. No different then guys who were too tough to wear hearing protection to run a chain saw, or shoot a rifle. Then at 50 they cannot hear well any more.

I shoot my Lott with greatly reduced loads about 50 times before my season starts, then a few at full power and I don't shoot it unless needed for the rest of the season. Thats typically another 10 times or so. I shoot it through the year then randomly but only a few shots at a time. It's certainly not a plinker!

CZ rifles are very heavy and somewhat rough. However they provide one of the worlds great platforms for building a great rifle. It's not gonna be a Kimber or Montana out of the box, but if you have skills or know somebody with those skills you could have a hella nice rifle with some work.

[nasem]

If your not familur with the big bores, take JJ's advice and try them out first before you buy them....

2 fridays ago, I placed an order for my first ever "large" bore rifle, CZ 550 in 416 rigby (american safari mag)
I NEVER thought of buying a big bore UNTIl I knew I was ready for its recoil.  About a year ago, I bought my 375 h&h and been practicing with it for a while.  I have fired close to 180-200 rounds of those remington 270 grs in the last 12 months. And even before I placed an order for the 416 rigby, 2 days before, I went and tried a few rounds in it (standing, not off the bench), i'll tell you what, it wasn't so bad the first and 2nd round, but at the 3rd, i was like "whoa.... yeh this is starting to hurt"

I knew that if I EVER wanted to get into the big bore world, I had to first learn to accept their recoil. 
First recoil caliber I ever purchased was a 30-06,
then, 3 years later, 300 RUM (but the rifle along the scope weight more than 10 lbs), recoil was similar to 300 win mag in a lighter rifle.  Then about 1 year ago, I bought my 375 h&h in winchester classic stainless, with the scope the rifle only weight bairly 9 lbs.  Shooting them 270 gr at about 2700 fps, gives you about 39 ft-lbs of recoil. 

Now, I "think" I might be ready for the rigby recoil.  Not to plink, but to shoot about 3 to 4 rounds every time I go to the range for the first couple weeks.

[ronangelia7]

             Thanks for the good advice. I think what I will do is consider a montana arms barreled action with a good stock in 300 win mag,30-06 or 7mm rem mag. Those are calibers that I am familiar with and can place a decent shot in a hunting situaton. When I am ready to book a trip.I will give you a call  and work on all the details and go hunting for Plains game to start with. If that works out good and then I will look at 375 HH and go from there. I appreciate your advice and have a Happy Holiday.

                               Ron

[Grumulkin]

I have a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 458 Lott.  The cushy recoil pad and weight makes it pretty easy on the shoulder even from the bench.  When shooting, I use ear plugs plus ear muffs since I still want to be able to hear when I'm 70.  I don't load mine down at all.  If I didn't want (notice I didn't say need) so much power, I'd shoot a 45-70.  The stock design also seems to keep the scope away from my face during recoil unlike my Encore in 375 H&H Mag.

It also works well on rabbits.  There isn't much meat lost if you shoot them in the head as I did with a Speer 350 gr. Hot Core.

[Dusty Miller]

Golly, a .375 H&H works on rabbits?!!  Gee, ain't that amazing!!  What OTHER dangerous game do you shoot with this gun?

[K.K]

Elmer Keith would be proud of that rabbit gun!

[GEMSBUCK]

I shot a 90# whitetail doe with my 458WM and 500 gr casts a few years back at 75 yds. She ran at the double lung shot and I found her 50 yds away with a broken rib on the entrance side of the rib cage and another at the exit.