Author Topic: .458 win mag on a Mark X action (Read 2692 times)

shootercochran · « **on:** May 21, 2009, 09:26:17 AM »

I have an Interarms Mark X rifle that is ok but not perfect. It's currently in .300 win mag and it needs a new stock, plus I wanting a higher caliber. The current barrel has some pitting and is a little rusted.
I want to put a .458 win mag barrel on it.

I want this gun exclusively for brown bear defence and hunting, along with some moose hunting. Also for the cool factor of the .458 win mag. I know it's too much gun for moose.

My question is, can I simply take the gun to a gun smith and have him remove the existing barrel and put a 458 win mag barrel back on? Can I maybe use the existing stock, and if not, where can I find another?

I'm sure the magazine capacity and fiting of cartridges will be fine. Can the action handle the higher pressure?

I found a barrel on here for $131 I think. But it's stainless, my action is blued.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=809570B&chrSuperSKU=809570&MC=

You'll have to go down to almost the middle to find it.

What do you think?

Any other place to buy a barrel?

Can I keep the same bolt, UNMODIFIED! No headspaceing or other problems. I know the 458 and .300 win mag have the same head exactly.

HOW MUCH WILL REBARRELING COST ME?

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:01:54 AM »

I'm probably not the best person to be answering this but let me give it a shot anyway.

First are you sure you'll be comfortable with the recoil level of the .458 Winny Mag to hunt with it? Too much recoil means poor shot placement and a bad shot is a bad shot no matter what you're shooting. A .338 Win. Mag would really be a better choice as would a .375 H&H both of which could just as easily be fitted to your action I'd think and have less recoil and really perhaps be more effective.

The .458 is best left to guides as a back up rifle than used as a primary hunting arm by hunter clients.

Pressures are actually higher with the .300 than the .458 I think.

Magazine should work fine likely with no adjustment needed for the .458 or .338 but might need work for the longer H&H round.

Yeah it can be as simple as unscrewing your barrel and installing a new one and setting the headspace. Unless you get a barrel with same contour HIGHLY UNLIKELY you'll need the barrel channel opened up some and have it properly bedded. If the rifle needs a new stock why are you even thinking of using it? Don't understand?

I'd sent it off to someone like a barrel maker and let them install one of their barrels on it. Shaw is good and reasonably priced and would likely be a good choice. I wouldn't want a shade tree gunsmith who is only used to swapping out parts to repair guns doing this job if it were me.

shootercochran · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:12:10 AM »

^ your probuly right! However I didn't see any .375 H&H barrels.

And I'm not sure it would properly hold cartridges in the magazine, (to long)

COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME A LINK OR EMAIL ADRESS FOR SOMEONE WHO COULD PROPERLY REBARREL FOR ME?

The stock can be made to work, just something tempory though.

shootercochran · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2009, 10:19:40 AM »

Is this place good?

http://www.cliogunshop.com/barrelfitting.htm

I could likely here get it done for less than 300 dollars.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2009, 11:08:25 AM »

I would look at 338 WM or 358 Norma as an up grade. Or even a 416 Taylor (458 WM necked to 416) if you want to make your own brass,
the Action may be able to handle the recoil of the 458 but I am not sure of the stock.
Most heavy magnum cations have a reinforced stock.
Also I am not sure the 375H&H will fit in the standard action. The over all lenght of the 300 Win, 338 Win, 358 Norma, and the 458 are all the same as 30-06. the 404 Jefferies, 416 rigby, 416 Remington, 375 H&H, 8mm Rem Mag, and 300 H&H are all longer and while they may be able to be used as a single shot they are too long for the mag you already have.
375 Ruger may be an option if you want a 375 as it too is 30-06 length.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2009, 11:09:25 AM »

I honestly know nothing of them. Clio is a tiny little town here in Bama but who knows they might have the best gunsmith around. Personally I kinda doubt it tho.

E. R. Shaw is the outfit I suggested. http://www.ershawbarrels.com/

Of course I'd probably be remiss if I failed to mention a couple of GBO Sponsors who also do such work but likely at higher costs than Shaw. Both SSK Industries www.sskindustries.com and Match Grade Machine http://www.matchgrademachine.com/ do this type work among lots of other things they do.

There are litterally hundreds perhaps over a thousand shops up to the task. These are just the ones I'm most familiar with.

shootercochran · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2009, 11:24:06 AM »

I finally got in contact with shaw barrels. Maybe I'll get a response later.
I've already been thinking of getting the current stock replaced with a Bell and Caralson synthetic black stock. I think that would probubly work ok.

I really want the 458 win, but i'm considering the .338 win mag.

shootercochran · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2009, 11:42:06 AM »

Well the place other than SHAW wanted about 600 dollars to do it.

Will SHAW be cheaper than that?

mauser98us · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2009, 02:15:25 PM »

I had Shaw do a couple for me Great barrels great price. If you fire that 458 in the standard stock WITHOUT a metal lug on the bottom of the barrel and without proper reinforcing bolts on the stock,plus proper glass bedding after a few full power loads, you will have a stock that you can use for matchsticks. That assuming you dont get hurt when the stock splinters on you

AtlLaw · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2009, 03:34:25 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on May 21, 2009, 11:09:25 AM

E. R. Shaw is the outfit I suggested. http://www.ershawbarrels.com/

+1

They used to have a "build your barrel" program on their web site that will tell you what it will cost after you put your desires/specs in.

I'm gonna have them put a 250/3000 barrel on a M7 action when I get around to it.

Should be a lot less then $600! $:-\$

shootercochran · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2009, 04:28:11 AM »

Hmm I haven't got an email back from them.

I"ll post when I do.

How would one of the Bell and Carolson black synthetic stocks hold up with out any aditional work on it?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:22:24 AM »

Don't know.
Are you still looking to go 458?
I would e-mail B&C and tell them what you want to do and see what they say and reccomend.

shootercochran · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:34:21 AM »

Ok I'll give the stock maker an email.

Shaw will do all the work I want done for $260 dollars.

That's an in the "White" barrel fitted to the action and properly headspaces, and test fired.

I can blue it and cut of a huge amout of cost.

Here was the email.

------------------------------------QUOTE
Good morning
All you have to do, when your ready, is ship in the barreled/action with the complete bolt and trigger and a letter including the following info:
name
address
phone number
and a breakdown of the work to be done, this would include:
barrel contour, we offer the #3, the #3.5 and the #5 contours with a .458 bore
barrel material, 4140 steel in the "white"
barrel length
caliber, .458 win
gunsmithing services
finish
along with any other info you feel is necessary to pass on. The cost for a 4140 chrome moly steel barrel, threaded and chambered for your action in the "white" (not blued) is $155.00. The cost to fit the barrel, headspace and test-fire is $75.00 and return shipping is $30.00, total for the work you have requested is $260.00. There are a couple of areas on an action that we go over and check before we re-barrel an action, they are as follows:
bolt lugs, these are checked for proper engagement
bolt and receiver faces, these are checked to make sure they are true across their surfaces
if any of these 3 area would need attention or work we would advise you as to what we have found and what needs to be done along with the costs before we would do anything. You had indicated you would take care of the bluing, no problem due to the fact that barrels are all furnished in the "white", bluing is done after we install the bbl to the complete barreled/action. The approx. turnaround time to re-barrel an action is in the 20 to 24 week area. Please do not send a stock with the bbl/action, we do not offer any form of stock work. You indicated you would take care of that. I hope this info helps, please visit our web site @ www.ershawbarrels.com and go to the contour page to see the 3 contours we offer along with their dimensions along with the gunsmithing services and related costs
Thanks
Chris QUOTE

Skunk · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:40:32 AM »

Sounds like a good deal SC.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2009, 05:59:21 AM »

Quote from: shootercochran on May 22, 2009, 05:34:21 AM

Shaw will do all the work I want done for $260 dollars.

That and all the good reports I've heard about them is why I'm going to use them!

shootercochran · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2009, 06:07:50 AM »

Shaw has made me a believer! I'll be getting the work done from them, and recomending them!

When I get my rifle back, I'll post results and a review.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2009, 06:09:25 AM »

Post a pre picture as well.

Skunk · « **Reply #17 on:** May 22, 2009, 06:13:19 AM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on May 22, 2009, 06:09:25 AM

Post a pre picture as well.

Good idea.

shootercochran · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2009, 07:27:37 AM »

Here is one pic

shootercochran · « **Reply #19 on:** May 22, 2009, 07:29:25 AM »

Here is the whole rifle. The scope was since removed. It was junk.

shootercochran · « **Reply #20 on:** May 22, 2009, 07:45:19 AM »

Hard to believe I can have a .458 win mag for less than 500 dollars.

I'll be gone for a few days, so I won't be able to reply.

thxmrgarand · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2009, 08:13:24 AM »

I don't know if this is helpful but I have an Interarms Mark X in .458. The rifle points and shoots well. Recoil is no more than the Weatherby Mark V in .300 Weatherby that I usually use but the Mark X is about 3 pounds heavier. Neither is unpleasant. The Weatherby is much louder. I like the .458 but don't see it as an everyday hunting rifle. I bought it because the price was extraordinary.

shootercochran · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:15:48 AM »

This rifle would not be an everyday hunting rifle. Most of the year it would be a Brown Bear defence gun.

Then in hunging season it will be for moose, carobou, bear.

Graybeard · « **Reply #23 on:** May 22, 2009, 11:36:06 AM »

Unless you have a hot blue dip tank available I'd suggest you let them do the blue job or better yet get a stainless barrel. With the .458 I'd get the heavier contour barrel as well. More weight helps tame recoil. Cold blue jobs aren't gonna hold up well in rainy weather and I believe you have more than your fair share of that don't you?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #24 on:** May 22, 2009, 06:00:14 PM »

+1 on what Bill said. Shaw's prices are downright reasonable compared to my 'smith's!

Let them do it all! I'm gonna have them do the metal work and finishing on my M7. That is, as soon as I decide if I want to pay for a M70 type 3 position safety for it!

Mikey · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2009, 01:22:20 AM »

Hmmmm, let's see - Brown Bear defense, moose hunting, cool factor, shoulder damage, hospital and surgeon bills - naw! The Boss is right - go with one of the 33 calibers, they will suffice for what you want/need and at lower pressures with less shoulder damage. Also, if you are dead set on a big bore you can always think of the 45-70...there are at least 3 different power levels for that cartridge and the Mark X will handle the heaviest loads you can find in that cartridge, so you have many options. jmtcw.

shootercochran · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2009, 06:21:44 AM »

I'll see if I can get shaw to do it all.

I've been haveing a few second thoughts though now.

Do I really need to do this???

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:11:21 AM »

OK.
Custom rifles have nothing, repeat NOTHING to do with need. The 300 is a good round but the puny 308 size and light 220 grain bullets are just not enough. you need to think 350 grain bullets are light and that 500's are normal.

It is all about want. Do you want the 458? Do you have the spare $ to get what you want? Then I say go for it.
I still think you will be better off with a 338 WM but that is just me.
I also have three 45-70's that will handle the bottom end of 458 WM as well as a 375H&H so who am I to tell you what you need or want.

shootercochran · « **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2009, 06:34:42 AM »

Well my problem is I want this, but I have to much other stuff I actually NEED to get.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2009, 06:57:03 AM »

Pull a quarter out of your pocket.
Flip it.
Heads you get the rifle
Tails you flip again!

If you need other stuff then get the stuff you need.