Test driving a new to me .458Wm

Altitude sickness said:
More importantly it likes the first factory ammo I fed it. And the irons appear to be dead on. I’m confident that someone with better eyes and skill could squeeze a better group.
Click to expand...
This rifle is more accurate than it needs to be for its intended purpose. That's a nice bonus plus it saves you from more bench shooting of a big gun, which often leads to bad habits.
 
Yep, you can tell the era the rifle left the factory partially by the screws on the left rear of the receiver to mount a peep sight.

Whoever built that rifle did a fine job.
 
Ok, I launched 3 more Barnes TSX from 50 yards standing with a solid rest. Between my average eyesight and shooting skills I’m happy.

I may need to drift the rear sight. I will be mounting a leupold VX 6 1x6-24 on it so hope to shrink the group a little with the scope.

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IMG_3677.jpeg
 
And also shot the Dakota shown above for the first time. Waiting for my Talley bases and rings. So used irons also. I’m not a fan of the complete black front bead. I need to put a chunk of diamond or brass on it. It’s tiny and hard to see.

But I won’t be selling it any time soon. It shot well.

Can’t wait to get a scope on it and stretch its legs.
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You could drift the sight a bit but I would just leave as is. It's plenty good for field use with irons.
 
I agree Green Chile. I would most likely never stretch past 100. I’m not the best with irons so a scope should help a little. It’s appears that it’s regulated at 100. So will move the rear sight in case I ever need to pull the scope fall back on them.
 
Your approach is similar to mine...large caliber bolt gun for DG with irons and a scope. I use an illuminated reticle on something like a 1-6x. It's interesting how often some magnification is useful to sort out the black buff in the thorns with other buff milling around. I would say that scenario for me has easily been 50% of the time and often it's low light at first or last of day.
 
Do the factory loads pictured chronograph at the advertised speeds? If so, then you are set for whatever comes your way.

To me, it's definitely a custom build. Love the oak leaf engraving on the grip cap. Look forward to learning more about the builder.
 
The Labradar crono is the next step. Primarily to work up an elevation card for the .338
 
Both are nice rifles. I like the 458 the best of your two being test driven.

But with the pair you have PG and DG covered:A Way To Go:
 
With the front sight, see if you can get a piece of warthog tusk and get that fitted, they tend to stay white and not yellow off. Relatively easy to fit as well.
Gumpy
 
Good looking rifle and congratulations!

Regarding your first picture of the rifle's grouping, I know the feeling. This is the last group I fired with the 1909 Argentina Mauser in 458 Win Mag that I inherited from my late father, and clearly I flinched and pulled that third shot. :)

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I would love to have an original pre 64 super grade .458 but I’d also take that custom you got if I came across one.

As for the ring lapping & alignment, thank you for showing that, I don’t have that precision tool like yours, just the standard set and lapping bars.

It’s been a game changer for me and my scopes no longer have ring marks.

Morris from Alaska Arms turned me on to a good trick…

“After lapping the rings, paint a THIN layer of liquid electrical tape on the inside of the rings. Then mount the scope and torque to spec, let it dry and use a match stick to scrape away any excess that came out and that scope is going Nowhere!”
 
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deewayne2003 said:
I would love to have an original pre 64 super grade .458 but I’d also take that custom you got if I came across one.

As for the ring lapping & alignment, thank you for showing that, I don’t have that precision tool like yours, just the standard set and lapping bars.

It’s been a game changer for me and my scopes no longer have ring marks.

Morris from Alaska Arms turned me on to a good trick…

“After lapping the rings, paint a THIN layer of liquid electrical tape on the inside of the rings. Then mount the scope and torque to spec, let it dry and use a match stick to scrape away any excess that came out and that scope is going Nowhere!”
Click to expand...
Yep, but if you DON'T put something, that scope is going to slide, in my experience.
 
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