Let's see if we can't lure
@michael458 back on to AH for a comment or two.
HEH HEH......... I don't get over here a lot, but was here this morning doing some research on another matter, and here we are...... LOL..... Hi Phil and Paul........ Good Morning Toby, and Jake..... Jake knows Billy.... But I don't think I know Jake. I assume Jake has been down to visit Billy and done some shooting since nearby in NC.....
Well Good Morning all.....
I have several "Favorite Rifles", and when ONE of them is in hand at any given time, then it is My Favorite Rifle of all time, UNTIL I put it down, and pick up another favorite, then it is the Favorite of all time..... HEH...............
I have a 18 inch 458 B&M, Very Nice Accurate Innovations Bastogne Walnut Stock, finish is GunKote Matte Black. It came in light, by 1/2 lb better than most in that same category with wood. It is an absolute dream to hunt with, it is short, light, extremely handy, and extremely fast on target. No doubt, it is a Favorite Rifle........
I carried it on two major hunts, 2011 and 2013 in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and it accounted for itself extremely well............on everything from Impala to Elephant and a hell of a lot in between.
The 458 B&M is a 2.240 inch RUM case, and rifle is Winchester M70 WSM action, a perfect match. It is Optimum between 18 -20 inches, and 18 is damn handy. With the 18 inch barrel I run the 450 CEB Solids at 2215 fps and the matching 420 Raptors at 2260 fps, both in the same hole at 50 Yards. In addition, this gun will run the 250 Socom at 2900 fps and is a hammer on ANYTHING less than buffalo. And I even shot one buffalo with success with the 250 Socom. With this, you can have one rifle and hunt everything that walks the planet, with success, pick and choose the bullet required for the mission at hand.................The 250 Socom from CEB has been extremely successful on everything from deer/impala, right up to moose and Lion even, bears and everything in between. I have a friend that has a 458 B&M and used the 250s for the biggest moose I have ever seen, I believe it was over 200 yards, and the moose dropped where he stood, and the base of the bullet exited broadside....... Not bad...... I have shot several buffalo with the 420 Raptor with extreme success, and of course, anyone that knows me, knows I love SOLIDS........ You simply must have a solid to complete the mission......... The 450 CEB Safari #13 does that with ease. At over 2200 fps it does the job, I shot a good bull elephant broadside heart shot at 12-15 yards in 2013 and the solid burned thru the elephant like it was butter, nice big hole in the heart, and it was down in 20-25 yards, and bullet exited far side, how much more do you want..... I was lined up for a frontal brain, but the last second he got a whiff of us and turned, I dropped down and took the heart shot............
We were hunting croc, skirting Lake Kariba about 75 yards inside of shoreline we woke up a large bull hippo that was taking a nap, on the other side of us. Leaving us between Mr. Hippo and the water... not good. I had a 250 Socom up the spout, and did not wish to draw too much attention to ourselves, there was no time to change rounds out. At 15 yards I took the shot between the eyes with the 250 at 2900 fps, and the bull dropped like a sack of rocks. Upon inspection brain matter had squirted out both ear holes 6 feet. Skull was cracked all to hell, and impact of that bullet was devastating........ None the less, I loaded quickly, and put a solid through the shoulder for insurance before approach, that bullet went all the way to the far rear hip after completely traversing the hippo, and busting heavy bone all in between......
I ended up with a good croc later, again a 250 Socom thought the neck anchored him to the spot..............
This rifle is for sure a great one. It is one of the rare guns that will shoot multiple bullets to or very near the same POI at 50 yards.... I had the 250 Socom Raptor, 450 #13 Solid and 420 Raptor all in or within 1/2 inch POI at 50. I was able to pick and choose (if Time Allowed) which bullet for the mission.
The 458 B&M was on the the board and in progress right behind the first 50 B&M built. I knew I could take that same 50 B&M case and drop it to .458 without issue, and it was actually being built before the first 50 B&M arrived.......... 20 inch guns you will gain about 50-60 fps with any given bullet. I personally like the 18 inch versions since they are so easy to handle in the field, and still have plenty of juice behind them for anything that walks, or in some cases, crawls. A good compromise is 19 inches I suppose. Which there have been a few of those done.
Before B&Ms I carried your standard 458 Win, 458 Lotts and such M70s..... LONG MUSKET Barrels of 24 inches, basically 10 lbs or better, for many years...... From 2005 forward, the first B&Ms, I never carried anything like that again, and never would. OMG, even going to the range to do test work, which is only a few steps outside, I wondered how in the hell I carried such a thing many many miles of bush? Never again. I recently sold off many of my beloved 24 inch musket barreled Winchesters, I kept only the ones that had any true sentimental value, all the rest found new homes. Since 2005 they have all been in the safe anyway, occasionally dragging one out to do various test work with, load data, pressure data, that sort of thing...... But never ever would they go back to the field. And, my standard test for everyone that walks in the door, is for them to handle a standard 24 inch Win M70 458 Winchester, and then to handle my Favorite 458 B&M, and then I let them tell me which one they want to go to the field with and everything ballistically equal. I have never once had anyone choose the 24 inch M70s........ HEH.................
We also worked very hard with North Fork for various different bullets in 458, some specifically for the 458 B&Ms. These bullets, the Solids in particular are every bit the equal to the #13 Solids we did with CEB. We even did a different band configuration from normal North Fork bands, and the bullet is damn good looking. I will see if I can find a pic of those...........
You would be very hard pressed to beat the 458 B&M overall............. I have another that is set up for Alaska, Snow Camo Ultimate stock, 18 inch Stainless, and shoots nothing but the 250 Socom Raptor......... and weighs in at 6.5 lbs...............
Well, Phil, you did it, you brought me out......... HEH HEH......
I will watch for a few days to see if I can help anyone with anything......
Michael
