So I bought a 458, with a 20 inch barrel today....

[illini]

This might be awesome or a dumb acquisition, im not sure yet, but I liked it and threw down on a Remington 1917, 458 win mag with a 20 inch tube today. From what I read the shorter barrels don't always kill this round. We will see.

 

[cash_tx]

At the distances most 458 WMs are fired, I cant imagine that two less inches will make a noticeable difference.

That's some good looking wood on that rifle; and if I'm reading the tag correctly, you got a solid working rifle for a solid price. Congratulations!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yeah, beautiful tiger maple wood FULL length stock and peep sight. The brass (I’m assuming) cap at the end of the stock under the barrel is interesting. I would’ve paid the price tag too even with the 20” barrel. Congrats on a fine rifle!

 

[Tug]

Find a safe handload that uses the fastest-burning powder, which is normally the powder load with the least amount of grain weight. Then you will suffer the least amount of performance drop from your short barreled rifle.

 

[1dirthawker]

beautiful rifle, and you stole it!!

 

[mark-hunter]

It is a beauty! Let us know what velocity can it produce?
Congrats

 

[illini]

When I get it I will put a few factory round down it to see what she will produce. I don't reload anymore so I will probably have superior ammo roll up some round for it also. I will report back on velocity and accuracy. We are planning on a buff hunt in 27 or 28. Should I do anything else to the gun? New springs or Timney trigger? I'm new to old guns. Always had modern rifles. I'm also interested to see how I like the peep site. My eyesight is still pretty good but I'm not against having it drilled and taped for a scope. We shall see.

 

[Luvthunt]

Yes, good find.

 

[mark-hunter]

Should I do anything else to the gun?

Install a scope to it.
If you get a situation of buffalo in thick cover, with only the hole in the bush, at 50 yards, you will want to visualize every branch and every leaf obstructing bullet path, and you will have to aim small to hit small.
With iron sights this is impossible.
Shooting paper targets with iron sights is fun and one thing, but real thing is real thing. I would strongly suggest to install scope with QD mounts, with illuminated reticle.

 

[Riflecrank]

If you get tired of it send it to me.
Best factory ammo for consistently meeting factory claimed MV: Hornady 500-gr DGX for
2140 fps from a 24" barrel.
As long as you have a SAAMI-satisfying .458 WIN MAG chamber and barrel of .458" to .459" groove
and .450" bore,
you will probably get 2060 to 2080 fps from your 20" barrel.
It could easily be handloaded back to 2140 fps with 20" barrel.
+2200 fps with 500-grainers is quite easy with the .458 WIN MAG handload in a 24" barrel,
all at 3.340" COL or less and 60,000 psi or less.
Below 20" length you start losing more MV-per-inch of length chopped.
My take on some old .425 WR data from WR compared to .458 WIN MAG new data:

My SWAG is also that with faster powder and heavier bullet you will get less loss than with slower powder and lighter bullets.
We usually use the faster powder with a lighter bullet
and the slower powder with a heavier bullet for best-practice-loads,
so it is pretty much a wash.
But if given the choice of powders for a given bullet weight, go with the faster powder for the shorter barrel.

Tim Sundles has an 18" custom rifle that shoots three fps faster than his 22" factory rifle.
2250 fps for 18" custom barrel, 2247 fps for his 22" factory barrel.
Short throat will do that, with increased pressure. Other specs can be blamed too.

His Buffalo bore ammo that he rated at 2250 fps (400-gr TSX) gave 2333 fps MV in my factory 24" Ruger No. 1.

Some Federal Premium .458 WIN MAG factory ammo does over a 100 fps faster than they claim,
both being for 24" barrels.

The .458 WIN MAG rifle loaded with factory ammo is like a box of chocolates.

 

[Riflecrank]

Your rifle looks good to go, but yes a QD scope and the peep arm in your pants pocket would be even nicer.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This might be awesome or a dumb acquisition, im not sure yet, but I liked it and threw down on a Remington 1917, 458 win mag with a 20 inch tube today. From what I read the shorter barrels don't always kill this round. We will see. View attachment 685828View attachment 685829View attachment 685826

@illini
What does it weigh
A mate had one similar that came with 18 rounds of loaded ammo and two empty cases.
When he sold it it had 4 empty cases and 16 loaded round. At around seven and a bit pounds his was rather lively in the recoil department to say the least.

 

[1dirthawker]

Some Federal Premium .458 WIN MAG factory ammo does over a 100 fps faster than they claim,
both being for 24" barrels.

my interarms 458 shoots 2314 fps with the 400gr trophy bonded bullet. that is 65 fps faster than the box claims. fyi

 

[illini]

@illini
What does it weigh
A mate had one similar that came with 18 rounds of loaded ammo and two empty cases.
When he sold it it had 4 empty cases and 16 loaded round. At around seven and a bit pounds his was rather lively in the recoil department to say the least.

Not exactly sure yet. It ships today. If I had to guess I would think 8.5 lbs based on other 1917 rifles but I won't know till it gets here. If it's too light I considered adding merc recoil reducer in stock if necessary.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not exactly sure yet. It ships today. If I had to guess I would think 8.5 lbs based on other 1917 rifles but I won't know till it gets here. If it's too light I considered adding merc recoil reducer in stock if necessary.

@illini
Even at 8.5# it will be a handful. That's about 2# lighter than I would like, but that's me
Bob

 

[franzfmdavis]

This might be awesome or a dumb acquisition, im not sure yet, but I liked it and threw down on a Remington 1917, 458 win mag with a 20 inch tube today. From what I read the shorter barrels don't always kill this round. We will see. View attachment 685828View attachment 685829View attachment 685826

It’s really purty!!

 

[ftrovato]

When I get it I will put a few factory round down it to see what she will produce. I don't reload anymore so I will probably have superior ammo roll up some round for it also. I will report back on velocity and accuracy. We are planning on a buff hunt in 27 or 28. Should I do anything else to the gun? New springs or Timney trigger? I'm new to old guns. Always had modern rifles. I'm also interested to see how I like the peep site. My eyesight is still pretty good but I'm not against having it drilled and taped for a scope. We shall see.

I dont think the the Buff are going to know the difference with modern bullets.

Have Superior pick a powder with a little faster burn and I suspect you will notice little to know difference in a 22".

 

[PerH]

The .458 with camo stock also a 20 inch barrel but weigh 7.5 pound . Ghost ring sigjt is sold , I want a safari type open one , and I want a different magazine solution , otherwise than that it’s a compact handy one . ( haven’t shot it yet but will cope with it )

 

[illini]

@illini
Even at 8.5# it will be a handful. That's about 2# lighter than I would like, but that's me
Bob

It is a concern. Guess we will see in a few days. I'm not opposed to adding weight to a gun. My 375 is 10.5 lbs scoped and it's about perfect. If this guns was 10.5 lbs empty it wouldn't hurt my feelings. Full wood stock should help I would think.

 

[Nhoro]

My Lott is 9.5 lbs without a scope and is a pleasure to shoot. I think good balance has a lot to do with recoil. Front heavy and tail heavy and they spin up and smack you in the chops. I just added about a pound of lead in the butt under the recoil pad. I melted it into a couple of old 458 cases.

That sure is a pretty rifle, I always like a full stock.