Best rifle for 458 WM?

[cajunchefray]

Interarms/Whitworth rifles have M98-type CRF actions, classic lines, express sights, and run from $750-$1500 on the used market. Not sure how the chamber is cut as far as throat length…

This is mine in .458

View attachment 640314


Ed Z

@Axle2010, I concur with the recommendation of an Interarms Whitworth .458 Win Mag.
I've owned 3 of these rifles, keeping the last one with best wood and smooth action. Never will sell it, like I have many other rifles.
This rifle just fits me very well, and the recoil is very manageable. I am a fan of the Winchester Model 70, (not a bad choice at all), but these Whitworth rifles are proper fit for me.
The magazine, and action, are the "lengthened" H&H Mag Mauser M98 commercial actions for the 3.6" cartridge. FN Herstal Belgium manufactured these post WWII.
Whitworth actions were made in Yugoslavia, by Zastava, on FN procured machinery and tooling. Zastava arsenal has built a lot of military, and sporting Mauser actions since WWII. The steel is proper.
No problems with the action modification, very many sold and used in Africa. Don't believe the commentary that this H&H modification of the M98 action weakened the action.

All said, you can find a Whitworth Mauser .458 Win Mag, if patient for few months at a very reasonable price. Stay with the Whitworth style (African) versus the Alaskans (ugly Monte Carlo blonde European stocks).

Winchester Model 70, with a proper fitting stock, is also a good choice!

 

[Riflecrank]

My considered attempt at answering the OP question follows.

My Whitworth Mk X .458 WinMag did not have the action opened up to H&H length.
Maybe some did, but not my late 1980's model, which also had excellent walnut.
It had the standard/short magnum action.
So are all Pre-'64 Win M70 actions, standard length, so also have to be opened up to accept H&H/long magnum cartridges.

The Whitworths are a true Mauser M98 regarding the extractor that is beveled on the dovetail foot
that runs in the groove circumferentially at the bolt's breechward end.
This makes the extractor claw pull inwards toward the center axis of the bolt as the bolt is retracted rearward.
I call that CRE, Controlled Round Extraction, which goes above and beyond mere CRF, Controlled Round Feeding.
The CZ 550 Magnum/Medium, BRNO ZKK 602 and original FN Browning Safari also have this true Mauser feature, like a Mauser Banner or milsurp M98: CRF+CRE

The Winchester Model 70 Pre-'64/Classic/FN, Ruger M77 Mk II/Hawkeye, Dakota 76, etc. CRF rifles are CRF only, not CRE.
Still good choices that probably won't get you killed.

The Winchester M70 Classic from CT and the FN from SC (even if by way of Portugal)
are long actions that have magazines blocked at the back and bolt stops and ejectors
stretched forward to properly time ejection and shorten the bolt throw.

I like all of them mentioned above for a .458 WinMag and could not possibly choose only one action.
That is why I have more .458 WinMags than any other chambering and need one more to make it an even dozen:

.458 WinMags X 11 (ten bolt actions and one Ruger No. 1)
.458 Elko Magnum X 2 (single shot flanged versions of the .458 WinMag, both Ruger No. 1)
.458 B&M+ X 1
.458 Lott X 1
.458/.416 Ruger X 1
.450 Barnes Supreme X 1
.458/.338 Lapua Magnum X 1
.450 Dakota X 1

I traded one Wby Mk V .460 WbyMag for a BRNO ZKK 602 (CRF+CRE like its CZ offspring).
Another .460 WbyMag CZ 550 Magnum got bobbed and rechambered to .458/.338 Lapua Magnum.
I call that wildcat a ".458 Ted Williams Thumper" for no particular reason.

If I had to pick just one particular factory rifle to come as close to perfect as any .458 WinMag factory rifle, it would be the Whitworth Mark X ...
or the FN Browning Safari.
Both are true CRF+CRE like a true M98.
Both could use some improvements, like a Winchester M70-style safety,
and switch the Browning Safari's aluminum alloy floor plate for the all steel one on the Whitworth.
The entire one-piece steel bottom metal on the Whitworth (mag box, trigger guard and floor plate)
fits perfectly on the FN Browning Safari.
That is how it is with the two specimens I have, I have swapped bottom metal between them as a try.
Both "Short Magnum."

I could use another Whitworth Mk X to make the even dozen of .458 WinMags.
But I would also be a sucker for another Ruger No. 1 in .458 WinMag.

 

[hoytcanon]

Make whatever you want... I keep making my .458's in carbine form. I like the quick and balanced handling of carbines for the .458 WM cartridge.

My latest is a Ruger M77 Mark II that started life as a 7mm Rem Mag. It is a stainless model, with a #4 20" Bob Jury barrel in a Bell & Carlson stock, with NECG iron sights and a Leupold VX-R 2-7X33 IR scope mounted... the scope pops off quickly when I want to revert to irons, which is almost never.

 

[Riflecrank]

Yep, I liked Odonata's .458 WinMag so much I had to get one similar.
Mine has some of the tendencies of hoytcanon's cannon too.

I hope to get some engraving done on it yet.
And a front sight to go with a peep rear.
IT'S ALIVE !
It's a growing and changing thing.
I like a Ruger M77 MK II/Hawkeye anytime.

Some accessories available for it:

Feel free to copy the pattern of the McGee Paladin .458 WinMag,
a sort of elegy to a Gunsmith with a capital G who has been my primary enabler for over two decades of wildcatting etc. But he is having some health challenges currently slowing him down.

I think those Alaska Arms rings should work well on a .458 WinMag if you do not go crazy with scope weight.

 

[Riflecrank]

The Weig-A-Tinny might tolerate a 2-oz. red dot sight and the most powerful .458 WinMag loads.
With a usual scope you are supposed to keep the rifle down to to moderate recoil
like a 250-grainer at 2700 fps: CEB SOCOM Raptor or Hornady GMX.
Don't push them to +3000 fps MV, even though you can.

A 400-grainer at 2500 fps produces 1,000,000 Grains-FPS, exceeding the 700,000 limit.
250-grainer at 2700 fps is only 675,000. Nice.

 

[Don458]

There is a Whitworth .458 on GB New with box and manual Nos.

 

[Axle2010]

Yep, I liked Odonata's .458 WinMag so much I had to get one similar.
Mine has some of the tendencies of hoytcanon's cannon too.View attachment 643767

I hope to get some engraving done on it yet.
And a front sight to go with a peep rear.
IT'S ALIVE !
It's a growing and changing thing.
I like a Ruger M77 MK II/Hawkeye anytime.

Some accessories available for it:

View attachment 643768View attachment 643769

View attachment 643770

View attachment 643774
View attachment 643775

Feel free to copy the pattern of the McGee Paladin .458 WinMag,
a sort of elegy to a Gunsmith with a capital G who has been my primary enabler for over two decades of wildcatting etc. But he is having some health challenges currently slowing him down.

I think those Alaska Arms rings should work well on a .458 WinMag if you do not go crazy with scope weight.

Hey RC first that's a sharp rifle, second which models/years of the Rugers were crf besides the RSM's? Is there a way to tell other than serial number searches?

 

[Riflecrank]

A Burris FastFire3 on the Weig-A-Tinny might be just fine.
Iron sights for if the Weig-A-Tinny goes fly-away from recoil, carry the peep in your pocket:

 

[ldmay375]

Yep, I liked Odonata's .458 WinMag so much I had to get one similar.
Mine has some of the tendencies of hoytcanon's cannon too.View attachment 643767

I hope to get some engraving done on it yet.
And a front sight to go with a peep rear.
IT'S ALIVE !
It's a growing and changing thing.
I like a Ruger M77 MK II/Hawkeye anytime.

Some accessories available for it:

View attachment 643768View attachment 643769

View attachment 643770

View attachment 643774
View attachment 643775

Feel free to copy the pattern of the McGee Paladin .458 WinMag,
a sort of elegy to a Gunsmith with a capital G who has been my primary enabler for over two decades of wildcatting etc. But he is having some health challenges currently slowing him down.

I think those Alaska Arms rings should work well on a .458 WinMag if you do not go crazy with scope weight.

Cannot speak to the 458 Winchester in regards to the Alaska Arms rings. But have used them for several years on a 416 Ruger with a 20 plus ounce scope. No issues, with quite a few 350 grain rounds through it, and Argo miles. One CZ 458 Lott, with not that many rounds with a 17 ounce or so scope, no issues noted. Several minor calibers including a 375 Ruger with a variety of 17-20+ ounce scopes. Quite a few rounds and Argo miles on the 375. Definitely my Ruger rings of choice.

 

[Riflecrank]

Glad to hear that Larry.
I will order those rings.

To continue the "Elegy" to a slowed-down Gunsmith, here is the M70 Winchester Classic LA prototype,
the McGee Ronin model .458 WM+, weight is without scope and rings and no front sight, later added:

This one is another M70 Winchester Classic, but a SA/WSM for the compactness of the .458 B&M:

Built by Brian Albertson of the original SSK outfit to B&M specs, and then I went and added a .458 WinMag throat to it.
Same case capacity as the .458 WinMag, so now with a .458 WinMag throat, it can handle .458 WM+ loads of all types, except with COL of 0.26" less than the corresponding .458 WM+ load.
3.00" magazine limit, but at 3.34" COL it beats the SAAMI .458 Lott in same barrel length, heh-heh-heh.

 

[Riflecrank]

One more M70 Winchester Classic featuring a JES re-bore of a .375 H&H stainless barrel swapped onto another M70 Classic action and some fantastic wood,
A friend with more refined taste than I built this and I unburdened him of it after he took it to Africa and slew buffalo at 30 yards and plains game at close to 200 yards,
using the 404-gr Hammer at +2500 fps, all one shot kills:

 

[Riflecrank]

The plain Jane version of this Browning FN Safari Olympian .458 WinMag
probably culled more elephant than any other rifle, doing a great service in preserving elephant habitat for future elephants:

Olympian
OLYMPIAN GRADE BOLT ACTION RIFLE IN 458 WIN MAG. Cal. 458 Win. Mag. S# 55963L70. The 24" medium weight round barrel is fitted with open sights and has all correct factory markings. Foliate scroll engraving is at breech end. French gray action is engraved with matching scroll on side wall and bridge. Receiver ring is engraved with scenes of trumpeting elephant on left and running rhino on right. Both of theses scenes are signed "L. Cortis" (only visible when metal is removed from stock). Bottom metal with hinged floorplate is engraved with matching scroll surrounding a charging buffalo on floorplate and head of a roaring lion on trigger guard bow. Buffalo scene is signed "L. Lambert" and lion is signed "L. Cortis". Pistol grip buttstock of stump and fiddle figured Claro walnut measures 13-3/4" over brown Browning pad. Stock features Monte Carlo comb with swept right hand cheek piece, recoil bolts, sling eyes and rosewood grip cap and forend tip, both of which have white line spacers. A gold diamond is on bottom of grip cap. Fancy pattern closely spaced checkering at grip and around forend is flanked by relief carved acanthus scroll and stippling. CONDITION: very fine showing light use. Metal retaining nearly all factory blue and gray finishes. Wood finish shows some minor marks and some light rubs. No salt damage is noted (not tested). Bore is bright and shiny. Mechanically fine. (24-2220/MGM). CURIO. $8,000-14,000.

 

[Riflecrank]

Compare the circa 1989 Whitworth Mk X to a 2011 Winchester M70 Super Grade,
the latter being the one that was passed around at the Western Ky DR&BB Shoot put on by Backyardsniper.
I clocked 6.66 seconds for 4 shots at the cape buffalo target, using the Woodleigh 500-gr Hydro Federal factory load for .458 WinMag, and a red dot sight.
Yes, I need to practice.
And yes, the the fixed express leaf and folders can be removed for use of a Lyman receiver sight for speed trials with either rifle.

 

[Riflecrank]

My personal record speed-shooter weighs 9.0 lbs bare, empty, unloaded.
9 lbs 4oz with scope bases and Burris FF3 red dot added.
It is very comfortable to shoot with the Hornady 500-gr DGX&DGS factory loads delivering an honest 2140 fps MV:

The Whitworth MK X Mauser .458 WinMag pictured in preceding post is a half pound lighter, 8 lbs 8oz bare, empty, unloaded.
My plain Jane Browning Safari FN Mauser .458 WinMag weighs 7 lbs 13.5 oz bare, empty, and unloaded.
Very trim and lively.
It feeds the 500-gr TBSS just great at a COL of 3.275" and 2200 fps MV.
If the COL gets over 3.300" it has a problem feeding the second cartridge in the magazine (3-down) with that FN nose shape.

 

[Riflecrank]

The previous owner of my Browning FN Safari .458 WinMag
independently verified some spectacular performance.
It feeds the 500-gr Nosler just great at 3.340", and MV is about 2300 fps,
from the 24" barrel:

LocTite needed on hood:

One hole at 100 yards with scope.

For uncorrected 5-yard chrono that is over 2300 fps MV.

Express sight at 50 yards likes the 500-gr TBSS at 2200 fps with 76 grains of AA-2460.
Fantastic !
Who in his right mind needs anything more ?

 

[Riflecrank]

Hey RC first that's a sharp rifle, second which models/years of the Rugers were crf besides the RSM's? Is there a way to tell other than serial number searches?

The first year of the Ruger M77 Mark II it was still pushfeed, so call it a Mark 1-1/2.
That was funny, had the boltface slotted for the fixed ejector like M98 Mauser and Winchester M70
and the usual claw extractor, but the bolt face fully enclosed the case rim like a pushfeed (tang safety) M77 Ruger and the Rem M700.
Must have been around 1990 to 1992 off the top of my head.
They soon milled the weak sister portion enclosing the bottom side of the bolt face off to make it like a Mauser/M70 CRF.
Ever after the Mark II was CRF, since about 1992, IIRC. Then came the M77 Hawkeye very like a M77 MK II in functional regards, in early 2000's.
My first Hawkeye did not come until 2006-2007 with the .375 Ruger African, IIRC.

 

[Riflecrank]

There is a Whitworth .458 on GB New with box and manual Nos.

I have never seen one new in the box with the plastic sleeve taped up like that.
Sort of like a bread tie on a loaf of bread.
I guess I need to get out more.

 

[ldmay375]

That Browning FN Safari, is a beauty to my eye. I really like the looks and feel of those rifles. Locally I have not seen a decent condition one in 458 Winchester in a very long time.

 

[HWL]

...Find a M-70 and be done with it.

Find a Mannlicher-Schoenauer and be done with it!!!

HWL

 

[Don458]

I have never seen one new in the box with the plastic sleeve taped up like that.
Sort of like a bread tie on a loaf of bread.
I guess I need to get out more.

When I bought mine in 1987 that’s how it was packaged