Montana Rifle Co. 458 Lott Stainless Rifle

[gizmo]

A mercury recoil reducer in the stock can do wonders.

 

[TOBY458]

I figured this one would get mixed reviews! I agree that 8lbs seems mighty light for a 458 of any sort. Especially shooting 500-550 grain full tilt loads. I was thinking that a 450 grain bullet at around 2250fps would be somewhat acceptable to shoot, and plenty of power for buffalo, while keeping pressure low.

 

[TTundra]

I figured this one would get mixed reviews! I agree that 8lbs seems mighty light for a 458 of any sort. Especially shooting 500-550 grain full tilt loads. I was thinking that a 450 grain bullet at around 2250fps would be somewhat acceptable to shoot, and plenty of power for buffalo, while keeping pressure low.

I truly think that is the key, along with stock design. You don't need to shoot hot rodded loads all the time, and if you work up/down your load to what the intended use if for (usually can then be used effectively on any smaller game if the need arises) and something you're comfortable practicing on and hunting with, thats the winning combination.

I'm right there with you. I'd like a lighter weight big bore rig for some future plans. That B&M thread has my attention as well.

 

[TOBY458]

I truly think that is the key, along with stock design. You don't need to shoot hot rodded loads all the time, and if you work up/down your load to what the intended use if for (usually can then be used effectively on any smaller game if the need arises) and something you're comfortable practicing on and hunting with, thats the winning combination.

I'm right there with you. I'd like a lighter weight big bore rig for some future plans. That B&M thread has my attention as well.

The B&M thread is the reason for my reinvigorated interest in a 458 Carbine weight rifle. In all honesty, for my purposes, I'd just a soon the montana rifle be a 458 Win Mag instead of a Lott. I feel like the new 450 Grain bullets and newer powder we now have make the Lott unnecessary for anything other than shooting the most powerful loads for Elephant hunting.

 

[ve7poi]

Just load it to 458 mag velocities and if you ever need Lott speed just up your load best of both worlds

 

[CTDolan]

Excellent point about loading it down for range time. You could even do cast and get by for cheap.

I'm a huge proponent of shooting one's rifles a lot (not at a bench but on sticks, freehand, kneeling, etc.). It's really the only to get to know a rifle really well, to become an absolute master in its use. I watch a lot of videos of guys hunting in Africa. The PH will set up a shot for them, one they're clearly uncomfortable taking, usually having to do with Cape buffalo, and the client will botch the shot. I remember one wherein the bull was facing straight on to the shooter. The client was instructed to place the bullet dead center in the chest, right at the base of the neck (a chip shot, really). Well, the bullet entered the bull on the bridge of its nose. Thankfully, the animal went down. We all know things could have ended very differently. That's just one example. I am certain the PH's that peruse these forums have many a horror story regarding clients who clearly lacked trigger time (many of whom likely carried a rifle far more powerful than they were capable of mastering).

 

[TOBY458]

I feel like if a person can handle a 416 Rigby, Remington or Ruger, the 458 Win Mag level loads should be no problem. Especially with the lighter bullets at moderate velocities. But then you have to ask yourself, why not just use a 416? But since I'm currently lacking a 458 caliber rifle (other than a 45/70) I feel like I need to remedy the situation! Of course I have been looking at a Winchester 70 push feed 458 Win Mag as well......You know....just to play with.....

 

[TTundra]

I sent a PM to Ron the other day about the MRC African and a few specific questions and hope to hear back shortly on it.

There is something about a 18" 458 that just makes me smile though...

 

[Scott CWO]

My Lott is just over 9 lbs with scope. It's about 1.5 lbs lighter than my 375. It definitely gets your attention when the trigger is pulled but it's manageable.

Here is the question that you should ask yourself, and the one I asked myself. Do you want to shoot it or do you want to hunt it? If you want to shoot it get something heavier. If you're buying it to track buffalo or elephant then it's a great weight. And I assure you, when I shot my elephant with it there was no recoil at all.

+1
I have a CZ with a synthetic stock with the full treatment by Wayne at AHR and the recoil isn’t an issue for me. It’s not a problem to get sighted in at the range. A .458 Lott or other big bores are obviously not the type of rifle you take to the range just to plink or fool around with anyway. I use the rifle in Africa and as a backup stopper when guiding brown bears in Alaska and I have never felt it much or had a problem in the field. You carry a big bore rifle a lot more than you shoot it. The loads I use are 500 grain at about 2300 FPS. I also wouldn’t load a Lott down to .458 Winchester ballistics because that just defeats the purpose of having a Lott.

 

[BnC 04]

Couldn't accurately remember the weight of my Lott so tossed her on the scale.
9lbs 4oz scoped

 

[TOBY458]

I have a V2 in 416 Rem Mag and love it. I like the fact that it is so light for packing. It is pleasant to shoot in that chambering. I have a Kimber Caprivi in 458 Lott that is very light, 8 pounds, 8 oz I believe. It fits me well and is not a brutal rifle to shoot even off of the bench. It is damn sure lively but not something that is hard to manage. My M70 458WM is flat punishment, not sure why but it hurts me and I’m certainly not a stranger to recoil nor a big ole puss. All I can figure is the stock design doesn’t jive with me. That rifle sends a pain into my hip when I shoot it! So I just don’t shoot it! Problem solved

I thought long and hard about a V2 in 416 Rem as well. But, if I did that, then my other 416s would get jealous, and I'd never hear the end of it!
I think if the 416 Rem mag is decent to shoot in the V2, then the Lott should be ok with Win Mag level loads. That is....500 grains at 2150fps, or 450 grains at 2250fps. I've also had a total of 3 of those Winchester 70s in 458 Win Mag. I wish I had kept one of them, but they all found new homes for some reason or another. My Winchester 70 416 is the same rifle, just a different cartridge, and it is kind of punchy to shoot off the bench! But, in the field or off of sticks, it's not bad. I'm not one that shoots competitions, so my practice with big bores rarely goes over 10 rounds in a session.

 

[TOBY458]

Couldn't accurately remember the weight of my Lott so tossed her on the scale.
9lbs 4oz scoped

View attachment 269010

What kind of rifle is that?

 

[BnC 04]

What kind of rifle is that?

Toby, It's a M70 with a Bansner stock.

 

[TOBY458]

Toby, It's a M70 with a Bansner stock.

My M70 416 RM comes in at 9lbs 13oz with a Leupold VX3 1-5×20 scope in Leupold QRW rings, and a McMillan stock. Your Bansner stock must be a little lighter than the McMillan. Or it may just be the bigger hole in the barrel that makes it lighter!

 

[BnC 04]

My M70 416 RM comes in at 9lbs 13oz with a Leupold VX3 1-5×20 scope in Leupold QRW rings, and a McMillan stock. Your Bansner stock must be a little lighter than the McMillan. Or it may just be the bigger hole in the barrel that makes it lighter!

Great setup ya got, pretty dang close weight wise. I'm using the same scope with Talley QDs.

 

[Milehighshooter]

Every time I check this forum you're buying a new DG gun....

I like your line of thought of running the Lott on the slow side for performance balance with pressure and recoil. However, loading down doesn't always work. That's still a big case. Unless you plan on using a filler to keep your powder in place. Generally, I've found *very* few guns that ever shot best at the bottom of a performance window. Almost every gun seems to shoot best near max, ime. The B&M rounds are at max in those little cases.

If, you can find a good load with 4895 you're golden, but that's a big if. I've had numerous people say buy X gun and load X bullet and powder, your good to go. But, my rifle didn't like that combo, it lived something else. You're taking a big gamble in hoping you luck into a good combo with very limited components.

Regardless, you could easily add a much heavier scope and creep closer to 10lbs. Heavy steel rings, a 30mm scope, voila

 

[TOBY458]

Every time I check this forum you're buying a new DG gun....

I like your line of thought of running the Lott on the slow side for performance balance with pressure and recoil. However, loading down doesn't always work. That's still a big case. Unless you plan on using a filler to keep your powder in place. Generally, I've found *very* few guns that ever shot best at the bottom of a performance window. Almost every gun seems to shoot best near max, ime. The B&M rounds are at max in those little cases.

If, you can find a good load with 4895 you're golden, but that's a big if. I've had numerous people say buy X gun and load X bullet and powder, your good to go. But, my rifle didn't like that combo, it lived something else. You're taking a big gamble in hoping you luck into a good combo with very limited components.

Regardless, you could easily add a much heavier scope and creep closer to 10lbs. Heavy steel rings, a 30mm scope, voila

I'm only looking! Not buying! Right?
Anyway, adding weight is not an option for me, as I would rather stay with a 416 in a lighter weight rifle than buy a 458 that has to be heavy and bulky. The B&M thread is what had me interested in a lighter 458. But just not sure I'd want a custom caliber that is basically a handloading proposition only. That's why I think a 458 Win Mag could possibly fill the bill for such a rifle. I saw this Lott was also lightweight, and figured it might do what I want. But my gut tells me to just stick with my 416 Ruger Alaskan for this purpose. It weighs 8lbs without a scope, has a 20" barrel and feeds really well. I just ordered an H-S Precision stock for it today to spruce it up a bit. I'm hoping that will get this 458 thing off my mind! Lol!

 

[ronp]

The question is, how proficient do you want to be with the rifle? If you want to get good with it, damn good, then you will need to shoot it a lot.

As a suggestion, when I was preparing for a Buff hnt I wanted to shoot my 375 a lot to get used to the gun, caliber, recoil etc.
I "down loaded" 200 rounds of 375 ammo- made basically a low recoil load fr practice. When ready for the hunt simply move to factory Norma ammo and transition was in-significant!

I have attended many big bore shoots including the world championships and guess what- they are all shooting less recoil loads- practice makes perfect- only change at hunting is scope sight!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Hey Toby,
Here is my MRC 416 Rem I mentioned earlier. I have really enjoyed this rifle.

 

[ronp]

first, my experience with montana rifle company has been extremely bad. you can do a search on this forum to find my thread on it.

second, an 8 pound 458 Lott is going to be very uncomfortable to shoot! the 458 Lott has similar recoil to a 500 NE and the standard weight for a 500 NE is 11-12 pounds. i would say the minimum weight for a 458 Lott should be around 10+ pounds with 11 pounds being ideal for regular practice. i would love to see someone with an 8 pound 458 Lott compete in any of the large bore competitions where you are often required to fire 20-30 rounds in rapid succession from a variety of positions.

-matt

Matt
Still trying to get your info. I think it was handled pretty well!