Custom Left Hand .458 Lott Build - Opinions

[NIGHTHAWK]

I am at the point of having a custom LH .458 Lott built and I hope to draw from your experience and knowledge. What ever I glean will be most appreciated!

I’m right handed, I shoot left. Always have since I was a boy. My dad was left handed, so I naturally do some things left hand, including: shooting rifles and shotguns, shooting pool, batting either hand, riding a skateboard as a kid, etc... I wished someone would have forced me to right hand with rifles and shotguns, but no one did. At the point I could afford to, I switched to LH rifles. I now have several LH customs, with the exception of an off the shelf LH SAKO 85 Hunter in .375 H&H which shoots and functions flawlessly.

I have two .375 H&H rifles. I will gift one (Right Hand) to my younger brother if he will commit to hunting with me or I’ll just sell it. I will retire in 2 years and start spending more time fulfilling my dream of DG hunting and I want a .458 Lott to use or have available to. I will hunt Big 5, Hippo, and Croc using factory ammo. I plan on doing extended stays in Africa as hunting opportunities present in different countries.

I have a custom builder that specializes in Long Range Hunting rifles that can build a .458 Lott in Left Hand. MOA Rifles built, as well as upgraded/customized several LH rifles for me. I’ve known Bob Beck for several years and appreciate what he, and MOA, does in terms of quality and accuracy. They are not a DG rifle builder and I’m (obviously) not intending for this rifle to shoot at any great distance with the accuracy of my custom 300 RUM…

That said, they will build exactly the spec I ask for. There in lies the challenge for me; as I don’t know exactly what I need or want. So please offer, in detail, what you think I should consider, and if you have the time, let me know why you think is important in a custom rifle or at least in the approach to building one.

I’ll have a scope as my primary and iron sights as back up…

In no particular order - Questions/Opinions:

1. Action (Extractor type/brand).

2. Bottom metal - magazine type - capacity.

3. Barrel Length.

4. Barrel type.

5. Barrel Maker/Blank.

6. Barrel Coating vs Blued.

7. Twist Rate.

8. Sights (Fixed -Type/Brand).

9. Barrel Band (Type/Brand).

10. Stock: I’m leaning toward synthetic to help keep some cost down, but I’m open to suggestions.

11. Trigger (Type/Brand).

12. Scope mount.

13. Scope Rings.

14. Scope brand/model.

15. Ideal overall weight (with & without scope)

I realize there are several items I haven’t listed, so feel free to give points of reference or guidance. Please add links and pictures to anything you may feel will help with this build!

Here’s a good point of reference:

Custom-Built Rifle Checklist

Thanks in advance for your opinions and/or contributions.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Several years ago, I talked with the folks at Granite Mountain Arms about making a custom 404 Jeffery. The cost was more than I wanted to spend and I ended up buying a Winchester Mod 70 Super Grade and modifying it.

Granite Mountain Arms, at the time, was selling barreled actions. They were using Krieger barrels. Krieger will tell you what twist rate you need. I don't think you can go wrong with this setup for a custom rifle. It does take a long time, 6-8 months, to get a custom barreled action.

Granite Mountain Arms - M98 Actions

 

[Hunter-Habib]

1. Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser Left Handed Action
2. Rigby type III extended steel floor plate (4+1 magazine capacity)
3. 24”
4. Octagonal
5. Douglas Premium
6. Blued
7. 1:10
8. Wide V backsight & uncovered ivory bead foresight
9. New England Custom Guns
10. French Walnut or anything except Claro
11. Timney
12. New England Custom Guns
13. Warner
14. Leoupold
15. 11LB (with telescopic sight)

All the best

 

[RLL]

I’m the process of doing the same right now. Left hand 458 Lott.

I found a left hand Dakota 76 action in the white. Shilen .458 barrel 1:14 twist. NECG front sight, green fiber bead. and flat barrel band. NECG Island sight with ghost ring peep. DLC matte black. Polished bolt DLC on extractor. Working on stock with Accurate innovations currently, Turkish walnut. Shooting for 11lbs finished with scope.

 

[TarponBum]

Several years ago, I talked with the folks at Granite Mountain Arms about making a custom 404 Jeffery. The cost was more than I wanted to spend and I ended up buying a Winchester Mod 70 Super Grade and modifying it.

Granite Mountain Arms, at the time, was selling barreled actions. They were using Krieger barrels. Krieger will tell you what twist rate you need. I don't think you can go wrong with this setup for a custom rifle. It does take a long time, 6-8 months, to get a custom barreled action.

Granite Mountain Arms - M98 Actions

I went through a similar process deciding to do a pre-64 action build to do a 404J. But found a safari express with a super grade stock and super grade floor plate and sling studs and upgraded front sight. What’s mods did you do to your Super Grade? Any pictures?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I went through a similar process deciding to do a pre-64 action build to do a 404J. But found a safari express with a super grade stock and super grade floor plate and sling studs and upgraded front sight. What’s mods did you do to your Super Grade? Any pictures?

I joined the 404 Jeffery Club today

For the last couple of years, anyone that's a regular on this site knows there has been a lot of positive comments and chatter on the 404 Jeffery. To be fair, that same statement can be made for..........pick a caliber. However, the 404 seemed to have a special place in African history and...

www.africahunting.com

The only thing I would have done different is I wish the two crossbolts matched. One was original and another one was added.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I went through this process a few years ago… wanting a custom, left hand DG rifle built to my specs.
I turned to Reto Buehler to build this rifle and he was able to provide a bit of guidance. This was not my first rodeo with custom rifles, but I had never commissioned a DG rifle. As I have a .375 H&H I wanted a 40 plus caliber and choose the 404 Jeffery - a classic African cartridge, which is proven on DG.
I chose the Granite Mountain action- it has many advantages…
- It is built to fit the cartridge selected
- it is the proven Mauser 98 design, with all the features, including integral magazine (designed to fit the specific cartridge selected), one piece bottom metal, 1909 type floor plate release, and with a M70 type three position safety. It also includes a very good adjustable trigger and is the double square bridge design.
- it is a totally integrated action designed to work properly with the cartridge selected and is available in four sizes for everything from 7 X 57 to 505 Gibbs.
We paired this action with a 23” PacNor chrome moly barrel with custom contour based on Rigby designs but very slightly slimmer. 1:14 twist.
We added a bolt mounted, flip up aperture sight and a standard express sight with three folding leaves for 50, 100, and 200 yards that Reto filed in shooting 400 grain bullets from the bench.
The front sight was a ramp style with folding ivory bead for low light shooting.
Stock was made from a nice French walnut blank which I had been hoarding for about 40 years, shaped to my dimensions without a cheek piece and styled to resemble an English rifle but with a better forend design.
The metal was blued with color case hardened action, bottom metal, and Teto’s QD rings.
I was very pleased with the rifle and it is a tack driver.
I took it to Tanzania and took two nice buffalo bulls and an excellent eland bull.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I went through this process a few years ago… wanting a custom, left hand DG rifle built to my specs.
I turned to Reto Buehler to build this rifle and he was able to provide a bit of guidance. This was not my first rodeo with custom rifles, but I had never commissioned a DG rifle. As I have a .375 H&H I wanted a 40 plus caliber and choose the 404 Jeffery - a classic African cartridge, which is proven on DG.
I chose the Granite Mountain action- it has many advantages…
- It is built to fit the cartridge selected
- it is the proven Mauser 98 design, with all the features, including integral magazine (designed to fit the specific cartridge selected), one piece bottom metal, 1909 type floor plate release, and with a M70 type three position safety. It also includes a very good adjustable trigger and is the double square bridge design.
- it is a totally integrated action designed to work properly with the cartridge selected and is available in four sizes for everything from 7 X 57 to 505 Gibbs.
We paired this action with a 23” PacNor chrome moly barrel with custom contour based on Rigby designs but very slightly slimmer. 1:14 twist.
We added a bolt mounted, flip up aperture sight and a standard express sight with three folding leaves for 50, 100, and 200 yards that Reto filed in shooting 400 grain bullets from the bench.
The front sight was a ramp style with folding ivory bead for low light shooting.
Stock was made from a nice French walnut blank which I had been hoarding for about 40 years, shaped to my dimensions without a cheek piece and styled to resemble an English rifle but with a better forend design.
The metal was blued with color case hardened action, bottom metal, and Teto’s QD rings.
I was very pleased with the rifle and it is a tack driver.
I took it to Tanzania and took two nice buffalo bulls and an excellent eland bull.

That is a very nice rifle

 

[JD Noblin]

1. Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser Left Handed Action
2. Rigby type III extended steel floor plate (4+1 magazine capacity)
3. 24”
4. Octagonal
5. Douglas Premium
6. Blued
7. 1:10
8. Wide V backsight & uncovered ivory bead foresight
9. New England Custom Guns
10. French Walnut or anything except Claro
11. Timney
12. New England Custom Guns
13. Warner
14. Leoupold
15. 11LB (with telescopic sight)

All the best

I own several GMA-action rifles in different action sizes....I may be wrong so someone correct me if I am.....the African Magnum is for 416 Rigby and up and usually has a bolt face that is .589 or larger. The 458 Lott is .532. I think the GMA Express Magnum is made for the 458 Lott, per GMA's website. Unless John at GMA has one laying on the shelf, lead time will be many months....my last order took over one year.

 

[JD Noblin]

One action option that would not be very expensive is the Montana Rifle Company long action, left hand. I sold many many lefty Montana rifles with probably 50 or more in 375 H&H and 458 Lott. You can probably buy the entire rifle for $1200 or less and then part out the stock and barrel for a few bucks and just use the action. Ask the seller to confirm the bolt face size before you buy though.

 

[Nevada Mike]

That is a very nice rifle

Thank you.

 

[RLL]

One action option that would not be very expensive is the Montana Rifle Company long action, left hand. I sold many many lefty Montana rifles with probably 50 or more in 375 H&H and 458 Lott. You can probably buy the entire rifle for $1200 or less and then part out the stock and barrel for a few bucks and just use the action. Ask the seller to confirm the bolt face size before you buy though.

If you can find one…those are pretty rare these days.

 

[JMM]

I went through this process a few years ago… wanting a custom, left hand DG rifle built to my specs.
I turned to Reto Buehler to build this rifle and he was able to provide a bit of guidance. This was not my first rodeo with custom rifles, but I had never commissioned a DG rifle. As I have a .375 H&H I wanted a 40 plus caliber and choose the 404 Jeffery - a classic African cartridge, which is proven on DG.
I chose the Granite Mountain action- it has many advantages…
- It is built to fit the cartridge selected
- it is the proven Mauser 98 design, with all the features, including integral magazine (designed to fit the specific cartridge selected), one piece bottom metal, 1909 type floor plate release, and with a M70 type three position safety. It also includes a very good adjustable trigger and is the double square bridge design.
- it is a totally integrated action designed to work properly with the cartridge selected and is available in four sizes for everything from 7 X 57 to 505 Gibbs.
We paired this action with a 23” PacNor chrome moly barrel with custom contour based on Rigby designs but very slightly slimmer. 1:14 twist.
We added a bolt mounted, flip up aperture sight and a standard express sight with three folding leaves for 50, 100, and 200 yards that Reto filed in shooting 400 grain bullets from the bench.
The front sight was a ramp style with folding ivory bead for low light shooting.
Stock was made from a nice French walnut blank which I had been hoarding for about 40 years, shaped to my dimensions without a cheek piece and styled to resemble an English rifle but with a better forend design.
The metal was blued with color case hardened action, bottom metal, and Teto’s QD rings.
I was very pleased with the rifle and it is a tack driver.
I took it to Tanzania and took two nice buffalo bulls and an excellent eland bull.

I went thru this same process and chose a left hand GMA action, Pacnor barrel, exhibition grade Turkish walnut, express sights, Smithson rings with quick release, etc... I had Todd Ramirez build mine. He was fairly close to me and I was able to go out several times for fittings, final adjustments.