From what I understand, you'll need to use a 375 H&H or 416 Rem magazine box. The 458 magazine box has a block in it I believe, to work with the shorter 458 WM. But all of the loading manuals that I have read indicate all you'll gain from going to the Lott is around 75-100 fps. And by many accounts the 450 grain bullets are so good these days, they will do all that's ever needed in any 458 cartridge. And since the 458 WM will produce 2250 fps with that bullet weight, why do you need more?
@michael458 has done a lot of testing with the 450 gr bullets on Elephant and Buffalo, and he has had excellent results.
Good Morning Gentlemen....... and good Morning Toby. Very excellent, I see that some of my efforts to lend a hand are indeed not completely wasted. Some of you are picking up a few things.
Toby is 100% Correct. Todays Bullet Technology is the path to increased Effectiveness in the field!
15+ years ago as hunters/shooters we did not have the Bullet Tech we have today, for us to increase our effectiveness in the field, we had to go in other directions, such as Larger Case Capacity. Although even then I question some of that, with the bullets available to us at that time. Even then, increased case capacity and increased velocity was not always our friend in the field, with various bullets available in those days.
I have been to the field with both 458 Lott and 458 Winchester, and I currently own both, although I have thinned the herd down a little these days, I found I no longer needed 1/2 dozen to a dozen 458 Lotts and or 458 Winchesters, especially with my coveted 458 B&Ms on hand, and the knowledge that I will never go to the field again with either 458 Lott or Winchester, even though I have a love for both.
Todays Bullet Technology, and rest assured, it is incredible Tech and not BS hype, is the path to increased effectiveness and increased success for you in the field.
There is absolutely NO NEED for one to require more than what a 458 Winchester can achieve if you choose the right Bullet Technology. What is the right Bullet Technology? Todays modern CNC Machined bullets, such as those from Cutting Edge Bullets. I mention CEB because I am most familiar with those, and they were developed, designed, and tested completely here on my range. Along side at the time with North Fork bullets. There are others as well, not so recently Lehigh has perfected some designs that JD Jones and I worked with and began studies 15 years ago.
In 458 calibers it is no longer required to have 500 gr or heavier bullets to achieve success. In fact, much lighter bullets will give you far more than you have ever been able to achieve. None of this is more evident than todays Solids. One can easily achieve more with a proper designed 325 gr Solid today, than yesterdays Old RN 500+ gr Solids. Trauma inflicting bullets, that are capable of being used on the Mighty Buffalo, today you can achieve those goals with 350-425 gr bullets, and they are far far more effective than the old 500+ grains that was common in the day.
Recently, and I mean in the last two weeks, a good friend of mine just returned from hunting two successful buffalo, one was a bang flop, the other was that wonderful Buffalo Battle. Two bullets brought my guy home safe and successful, 420 CEB Raptors and 450 #13 Solids. Incredible damage done by the Raptors, and end to end bone crushing penetration by the Solids. Using a 20 inch 458 B&M, velocities ran from 2350 with the 420 Raptor, and 2300 fps with the 450 Solids.
The same can be achieved with the 458 Winchester as well.
But going a step further, even if one decides one just has to have 458 Lott, then I would use the exact same bullets in that cartridge as you would in 458 B&M or 458 Winchester. There is zero need to have a heavier bullet, and in fact, the 420/450 combination is more effective in some areas than even heavier bullets with the same Technology. The 420 Raptor is FAR FAR more effective in destruction of tissue, and damage inflicted than any 450-500 gr Woodliegh, Swift, Nosler or any other conventional expanding bullet, regardless of weight or velocity. I know, I have used them all in the field, on buffalo and other various missions. I have dug the bullets out of flesh, and I have observed animal reactions to taking these bullets.
Solids are the same, I have used the old RN solids and the modern far more effective FN Solids on buffalo, elephant and hippo. Solids are an extremely important component of your success in the field. I see where some of you people do not think so, if you do not think a Solid is important, or if you think solids are created equal, or one comment I saw recently here, "It's just a solid, it really does not matter"...... is completely foolish, idiot, or inexperienced in the area. Many years ago, a Solid become an intricate part of every hunt. Of course I never loaded up Solids for impala, but rest assured when the mission was larger, if there was a solid available I had it on hand. A solid can save the mission if things go wrong, and not just a SOLID, but a Properly designed Solid. I stated, When Things Go Wrong....... remember that. The Solid can save the hunt.
But that is far more than the question....... Do You NEED to go to 458 Lott if your rifle is 458 Winchester? NO NO NO......... Time, efforts and Money are better spent looking at and adopting Bullet Technology. But, what does NEED have to do with anything. If one WANTS a LOTT, then by all means do so, you don't need to, but want overcomes Need much of the time. If you go with the Lott, the same applies, use Bullet Tech to your advantage.
How does one Increase the effectiveness of ANY CARTRIDGE/Rifle........... Bullet Tech!
And, Don't forget Your Properly Designed Solids.............................................................
