.458 B&M

[Nyati]

Rifle looks great, shoots true, and doesn t kick too much. Congratulations !

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Beautiful rifle Phil! Don't ya just love it when a rifle turns out to be a "shooter"!!!

Thanks again all for the compliments. Buff, at first it was more like relief. By far this is the most money I've ever spent on a rifle and never thought I ever would. I have read way too many stories about significantly more money than I spent on this one being put into full custom rifles only to have them be functionally junk, perhaps very pretty junk, but junk for shooting.

As pretty as I think that stock is, it really would have been a bummer if it didn't shoot well. But now things are already different and am looking forward to more work with these screaming 260's and seeing how they shoot over longer ranges.

I came across these pictures of the myrtle blank and a Claro Walnut blank that I was considering. The Claro is obviously the darker one. I think it's interesting how much the stock changed from blank to finish.

 

[enysse]

An interesting pick for the stock, I know I wouldn't have had the guts to select it, I would have picked a dark piece of wood like #244.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

An interesting pick for the stock, I know I wouldn't have had the guts to select it, I would have picked a dark piece of wood like #244.

You have no idea how much I agonized over that decision. I was worse than a new bride trying to pick out her wedding dress!

 

[Buff-Buster]

You have no idea how much I agonized over that decision. I was worse than a new bride trying to pick out her wedding dress!

You did good Phil! I have to admit though....I'm like enysse, I would have picked the Claro (no guts either! LOL) The Myrtle sure turned out beautiful and makes your "baby" a sure-nuff "one-of-a-kind"!!

 

[458mack]

Hi Phil, that sure is one beautiful rifle, all the best with it, I bet you can't wait to use it on DG.

I've also been really excited about my final decision to purchase a .50 B&M with an 18" barrel from Michael recently. Like you, it's also been the most that I've spent on a rifle. I've never regretted it for one moment, even though I had to part with a few rifles to finance the deal.
You can't explain what it's like to shoulder a short and light B&M rifle for the first time, it's just so quick to shoulder and point, you just feel that it's part of you.
I am now sorting out loads with the CEB 500gn solids and 480gn Non-Con hollow points for Northern Territory buffalo later this year as well as 300gn loads for pigs and also having some fun.
The recoil from this little 50 cal. 9lb rifle ( all up inc. scope,sling and 4 rounds) is not as sharp as the CZ 550 Lott that I just sold. The .50cal B&M let's you know it's there, so you just have to hold on tight and treat it with respect and at the moment I'm shooting around 24 .500gn cartridges from the bench and then move on to something else. When the loads are sorted out, then I will start using the sticks.

Phil, the.458 may not be the last B&M that you own.

Regards, Bob

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hi Phil, that sure is one beautiful rifle, all the best with it, I bet you can't wait to use it on DG.

I've also been really excited about my final decision to purchase a .50 B&M with an 18" barrel from Michael recently. Like you, it's also been the most that I've spent on a rifle. I've never regretted it for one moment, even though I had to part with a few rifles to finance the deal.
You can't explain what it's like to shoulder a short and light B&M rifle for the first time, it's just so quick to shoulder and point, you just feel that it's part of you.
I am now sorting out loads with the CEB 500gn solids and 480gn Non-Con hollow points for Northern Territory buffalo later this year as well as 300gn loads for pigs and also having some fun.
The recoil from this little 50 cal. 9lb rifle ( all up inc. scope,sling and 4 rounds) is not as sharp as the CZ 550 Lott that I just sold. The .50cal B&M let's you know it's there, so you just have to hold on tight and treat it with respect and at the moment I'm shooting around 24 .500gn cartridges from the bench and then move on to something else. When the loads are sorted out, then I will start using the sticks.

Phil, the.458 may not be the last B&M that you own.

Regards, Bob

Welcome to AH Bob! You need to keep that talk about another B&M on the down low, the wife might hear ya. In all seriousness, I don't think I'll buy another. Of the regular B&M's, only the 50B&M is a step up and I really have no interest in stepping down. I already have a M70 in .375H&H that will serve as a backup DG rifle. I'd really hate having the investment into another B&M and relegating it to back up duty.

As far as going to the .50, well there's not enough of a step up in the ballistics to make me think it's really offering something of significant improvement over the .458. Michael has just posted a report on another website from his hunt in Zim using the .458 and it was quite impressive.

The only other rifle I'd consider would maybe be the 500MDM, that's definitely a step up. That one will push a 500gr bullet the same velocity as the 420's in the .458. But even then, is more better or is it just more?

 

[458mack]

Welcome to AH Bob! You need to keep that talk about another B&M on the down low, the wife might hear ya. In all seriousness, I don't think I'll buy another. Of the regular B&M's, only the 50B&M is a step up and I really have no interest in stepping down. I already have a M70 in .375H&H that will serve as a backup DG rifle. I'd really hate having the investment into another B&M and relegating it to back up duty.

As far as going to the .50, well there's not enough of a step up in the ballistics to make me think it's really offering something of significant improvement over the .458. Michael has just posted a report on another website from his hunt in Zim using the .458 and it was quite impressive.

The only other rifle I'd consider would maybe be the 500MDM, that's definitely a step up. That one will push a 500gr bullet the same velocity as the 420's in the .458. But even then, is more better or is it just more?

Thanks Phil, I understand totally about the wife, I read this quote somewhere;

"When I'm gone, I hope that my wife doesn't sell all my guns, for what I told her, that they cost".

That would tragic.

Seriously, that fabulous 458 B&M of yours, will serve you well for any DG that you might hunt, and when you do, please post some pic's and a story.

Cheers, Bob

PS, I recently informed my wife that I needed another hobby when I wasn't away hunting or reloading, she wasn't impressed at all when I bought a radio controlled Nitro Monster Truck. It's a real blast at 45 Mph. I'm just trying to enjoy myself at 60yrs.old, besides

"little boys never grow up,they just get more expensive toys"

ain't that the truth, Cheers Bob

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

"little boys never grow up,they just get more expensive toys"

ain't that the truth, Cheers Bob

Indeed and there's nothing wrong with that! It may be a little while before I get to chase Buff with it though. How about a few stories from Oz?

 

[Royal27]

Since I saw the rifle at DSC last year I knew how beautiful it is, but I don't think I've ever read the report before.

This needs a bump so that some of the newer guys can see this beauty too.

 

[bassasdaindia]

Okay, so finally back home this evening to continue. So as mentioned I just used Michael's info to create a load using AA2520 powder. With powder being in short supply I chose this one just because that's what was available. First experience using a ball powder. It meters well, but is kind of a pain to work with. But it has proven accurate.

In this post are a couple of pics. The tighter group is 4 shots at 50 yards, the latter is 100 yards. The 100 yard target was 4 shots on a warm morning fired as quickly as I could.

View attachment 21186View attachment 21187

great looking rifle , congrats , the grouping is even more impressive !

 

[Bruce Fletcher]

Phil, all I can say is awesome. I am a real newby to big bore rifles. However, I am in the midst of ballistic studies for DG rifles.(making a decision on a gun and the ways & means of procurment without "precious" finding out)
From my reading the fps on the 460 gr bullets more than passes the threshold of what the "pro's" feel is adequate for a DG rifle. My only experience with a DG rifle was with a 458 win mag off the bench at my club and although it kicked hard, I was surprised it didn't kick harder. I was only bleeding from one place when I finished the 5 rounds I was alloted by the rifles owner. The Myrtle is beautiful. Congrats, there is nothing like a new hunting rifle. Those targets say it all. Time to go hunting.