458 Win Mag vs 458 Lott....The facts

[ldmay375]

In Toby's post, the attachment picture is of my CZ 458 Winchester / 458 Lott, MRC 458 Lott, Interarms 458 Winchester, and 458 Winchester M70 Classic Super Express - with my measurements using the 450 TSX. This is COL touching the lands, of my rifles.

Edit: my CZ is a CZ 550 Safari Classics, with the CZ-USA Kansas City, KS stamping.

 

[ldmay375]

In the case of my MRC 458 Lott compared to my 458 Winchester Model 70, at equal COL with the same bullet; the Winchester is going have / provide an additional .1" bullet jump. Which I suppose can be your friend or foe, depending on what bullet and how you are loading it. A plethora of choices.

 

[arniet]

One thing missing in the discussion is that SAAMI is voluntary. No obligation to follow the standards. C.I.P is mandatory, in countries that are member states.

Comparing a SAAMI 458 win mag, using non spec ammunition is just silly, while requiring the Lott to conform to both chamber and ammo specs. Follow the rules or not it's up to you. In a rifle to be used in the boonies for big game I would chamber it loose, so darn near any ammo might work. Give me a mile long throat, just get me 2 inches or so at 100 yards. For a target rifle, tighter the better.

My 458 is a Lott from MRC, and the throat is long. I work from the other way. The bullet is picked first, then function, and then the velocity. I wanted those sweet CEB 450/420 grainers. I wanted 2400 fps. First I tried filling the magazine with dummies. It wouldn't feed. I called CEB, they suggested dropping one band. Yes, grass through a goose. Now I shoot, 2400 without pressure signs, I am done. It worked nice on a Cape Buff in October.

I have had a trip where my ammo didn't make it for a few days. So, I choose a Lott, to help with the beg, borrow, or steal to obtain ammo. And I do think about punching it out to the 450 Ackley so I would at least have a single shot for most 458 ammo.