458 Win Mag

[DelRock83]

Hello guys I've been doing research on the zastava m70's in 375 and 458....conventional firearms wisdom would tell me that the 375 would be a better choice due to less recoil and ammo availability but I'm intrigued by the stories of the horsepower and knockdown capabilities of the 458, even though I know shot placement is PARAMOUNT ......but I'm feelings like it may be YEARS b4 I can even go on a hunt and I was planning to take 2 guns ANYWAY....does it get better the more you shoot it and get comfortable with it, cause I'm a pretty solid guy at 6'1 220 pounds but I'm stubborn and if the recoil rocks me the first few rounds I'm coming back for more lol....with a PAST pad probably....LMAO

 

[Creigh]

Purely my opinion, but I've had a look at the grain size energy and recoil numbers of all of the bigger calibres. None of what I'm about to say has to do with any real world experience, Although, I do own a 404 Jeffrey and have a 500 Jeffery on order.
It looks like the 458 wm is a great compromise among them all.
404J probably too slow for some. I don't think so, I get good energy with the most comfortable recoil of the big guns.
416 Rigby has more case capacity and can reach out more.
The 500J has recoil numbers in the 90 ft-lbs, which makes it a non starter for most.
If I remember correctly, the 458 had recoil in the 60s, With the ability to shoot 400 grain bullets and upwards.

Let me put it this way. I'm always going to feel like I need 416, but if I was allowed to buy only one large bore, it would be a 458 wm.

 

[Throwback]

Following with interest as I have not settled on which caliber above the 375 is most appropriate for me and would like to one day.

I can shoot a 375 all day long, and I own a 500/465NE that I definitely cannot shoot all day long. Unless I became more comfortable through a lot of practice I would not take the 500/465NE on a DG hunt. That would be plain foolish for me, irresponsible.

If you can afford to have buy a 375 and 458 and shoot them in practice enough to figure out what works for you, I say go for it. That will be first hand experience. You can always sell the 458 if it does not work out.

Cheers

 

[RLL]

Yes, it’s gets better with shooting. I’ll grab my 458 over the 375 majority of the time. And I’m a lighter guy at a buck 60 and have no issues shooting 260grainers up to 450 CEB solids at velocity.

I’m sure rifle crank will come along shortly to expound upon the virtues of the 458 win mag for you.

 

[Bonk]

I once owned a Win M70 458Win. Excellent rifle. I took it in trade for a Springfield M1A. I’d been enamored with 458Win since I was a pre-teen. It was the big dog in all the gun catalogs I read over and over again. I never thought I’d own or need one but then I accidentally acquired one and it started me on a journey of exploring big game caliber rifles. I could shoot 500gr 458 ammo but not much more than a box at a time. That M70 458 was the gateway drug for calibers bigger than the ubiquitous American .30 cal rifles. Next up was a CZ550 375 and I instantly became a fan of the most popular caliber outside the USA. Then came 9.3x62, 9.3x74R and finally 404J. I sold the 458 a few years ago and don’t miss it but that’s more a comment on how much I like the other calibers I mentioned. I’ve settled on 404J as my big bore rifle and I keep the medium bore 375/9.3 rifles simply because they’re so iconic and fun to shoot.

I strongly encourage you to pursue and experience 458Win. You won’t know whether you like and appreciate it until you’ve owned and shot one for a while. You may decide it’s too much or not enough. If you find it’s not your perfect big bore cartridge you won’t have any trouble recouping your investment.

 

[DelRock83]

I mean I'm the gun guy that RARELY spends more than 1500 USD dollars on a firearm unless it's SPECIFICALLY needed for a certain task I know the 375 is the standard for most DG, I've read where at times many would consider it underwhelming against some bigger critters, I know shot placement is the ticket, but I'm looking at it from the sense that in a perfect world if an elephant hunt fell into my lap i've already got enough gun I won't have to hustle at the last minute to find a suitable rifle, basically a end all be all rifle for any DG wherever i go because I work with some guys who hunt EVERYWHERE for EVERYTHING, i don't mind putting in the work to get comfortable with the recoil and bullet trajectories

 

[dhughes66]

First let me say I have never been to Africa or hunted dangerous game. It is a dream one day, but I do have a 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, and a 458 Lott. All are Ruger m77 RSMs that I have collected over the years. I am a little guy at like 5ft 7in and around 130lbs. I have no issue shooting any of those free hand. To both me and my wife, they kick less than a 12ga slug out of a 870 pump. Recoil is very subjective though. Warning, big bores are addictive if you can handle the recoil. I would not want to shoot a whole box of 458 Lott in on outing, but 10 shots or less is fun. Just make sure and roll with the recoil. My advice is to go for both!

 

[DelRock83]

As far as optics which way did you go red dot, lpvo, or another low power scope cause that recoil would probably punish an ordinary rifle scope

 

[dhughes66]

Currently my 375 and 458 just have their open express sights. The 416 I have has a Leupold 1.75x6 scope on it. It came with the rifle when I purchased it. I would get other peoples opinions on optics, but I would put a LPVO on the 375 and maybe a red dot on the 458.

 

[375Ruger416]

Watching. Have a Blaser R8 that I’m enjoying in 375 H&H and 300 wm. Looking at adding a 416 or 458 barrel to it, but it is just shy of 9 lbs with optic so I am pondering the pros and cons.

 

[RLL]

As far as optics which way did you go red dot, lpvo, or another low power scope cause that recoil would probably punish an ordinary rifle scope

I’ve been through a few optics by choice and not from failure. All have had anywhere from 80 to 300 rounds on em. Multiple 458 wm, Lott and B&M rifles, all in removable Talley mounts. All mounted by me. Swaro 1-6, trijicon 1-6, hawk optic 1-4 turkey scope, Nikon African 1-4. And my personal favorites… because they have the best red dot in a scope period, plus glass, durability, etc, is Schmidt and Bender zeniths, 1-4x and 1.5-6x. I will get an S&B Exos 1-8x when I find a good deal on a used one and add to the battery.

 

[odonata]

I wanted a left-handed rifle but finding them in the larger African calibers can be a challenge so I opted for an affordable Ruger 77 MkII in 7mm Rem Mag & then upsized it. This made the 458 Win Mag a great choice since it fit in a readily-available action & it would kill anything I ever intended to point a rifle at. Since it was my first foray into firearms of this size & power, I just wanted something I could start practicing with without breaking my budget. As luck would have it, I really like shooting this rifle with a Leupold 3x20mm Big Bore scope. Lately I've been plinking with some Hornady 500gr DGS Superformance rounds that someone was offloading in the classifieds. The more I shoot, the more comfortable it gets.

As much as I enjoy this rifle, I really like my LH Winchester Safari Express in 375 H&H a lot. If I was currently looking to buy a 458 Win Mag, I would also consider the 2025 models that they just released in that caliber. I've seen them recently on GunBroker in the $1,650 range with a Buy It Now option. My solution to every choice dilemma is usually resolved by buying both options.

 

[Foxi]

Hello guys I've been doing research on the zastava m70's in 375 and 458....conventional firearms wisdom would tell me that the 375 would be a better choice due to less recoil and ammo availability but I'm intrigued by the stories of the horsepower and knockdown capabilities of the 458, even though I know shot placement is PARAMOUNT ......but I'm feelings like it may be YEARS b4 I can even go on a hunt and I was planning to take 2 guns ANYWAY....does it get better the more you shoot it and get comfortable with it, cause I'm a pretty solid guy at 6'1 220 pounds but I'm stubborn and if the recoil rocks me the first few rounds I'm coming back for more lol....with a PAST pad probably....LMAO

The .458 really isn't that bad.
I'd say it's like a 12-gauge shotgun.
I shoot mine almost every week at the moment.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

I really need to stay off of this site.

Just ordered one off of GUNPRIME.com for USD$1725 shipped

Winchester Model 70 Safari Express 458 Win Mag 24" Barrel 535204144
Winchester Model 70 Safari Express .458 Win Mag Bolt Action Rifle - 24" Barrel, Satin Wal...

Now for dies, brass and bullets.

 

[One Day...]

Numbers don't lie...

There is truth to the good old "figures lie, and liars figure", and we all know that energy does not kill, and we all know that ergonomics influence perceived recoil, and we all know that nobody feels recoil on a game shot, and we all know etc. etc. but the bottom line is that numbers often do not lie...

Case in point:

• .375 300 gr @ 2,500 fps = 4,200 ft/lbs energy
• .458 500 gr @ 2,100 fps = 5,000 ft/lb energy

No, energy does not kill, but does a 20% increase in delivered energy make a difference when it comes to DG rifles? Not really in killing power, the .375 will perfectly kill Buff and Elephant. But stopping power is a very different thing, and the 20% increase in delivered energy makes a stunning (pun fully intended) difference in knock down power. Never mind the increased sectional area too...

• .375 300 gr @ 2,500 fps in 9 lbs rifle = 42 ft/lbs recoil
• .458 500 gr @ 2,100 fps in 9 lbs rifle = 65 ft/lbs recoil

No, you will not feel recoil when shooting at game, but does a 55% increase in delivered recoil make a difference? You bet it does! And often it translates in lesser accuracy due to poor recoil control...

But .458 Win remains very shootable with practice. Just do not shoot off the bench once the rifle is sighted; mount the scope as forward as possible away from your face, so that it does not cut you in hurried shooting; and shoot regularly.

This being said, bringing a .375 and .458 on a first safari is not what I would recommend. You will most likely hunt PG on that first hunt. Make one of these Zastava M70 a .300 Win Mag. As to the other, .375 or .458, it is all a matter of personal choice. Sure, the .375 is more versatile, but the .458 will do anything the .375 does on DG, and then a lot more if things turn nasty...

The traditional rationale is that the .375 has a flatter trajectory and can also be used on PG. While this is true, again numbers do not lie! Check ballistic charts: the .375 trajectory soon runs out of steam compared to a .300, and the .458 will still reach 200 yards easily when resting the horizontal crosshair on top of the Impala's back.

Which is best? This one is easy (not always the case): the one you really want

 

[coreydb]

Shoot both and select from there. My bias is the .375 just because I can handle the rifle recoil. I'm not a macho man anymore, being 100% military disabled. I'm forced to modify my rifles just so my shoulders stay connected when I pull the trigger. I'm forced to port my barrels or attach muzzle brakes and just live through the snide comments.

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

Hello guys I've been doing research on the zastava m70's in 375 and 458....conventional firearms wisdom would tell me that the 375 would be a better choice due to less recoil and ammo availability but I'm intrigued by the stories of the horsepower and knockdown capabilities of the 458, even though I know shot placement is PARAMOUNT ......but I'm feelings like it may be YEARS b4 I can even go on a hunt and I was planning to take 2 guns ANYWAY....does it get better the more you shoot it and get comfortable with it, cause I'm a pretty solid guy at 6'1 220 pounds but I'm stubborn and if the recoil rocks me the first few rounds I'm coming back for more lol....with a PAST pad probably....LMAO

I’m about your size, 5’11” 220, and in my opinion the 458 recoil is comparable to but smoother than 00 buck from a mossberg 500. That being said, a bench session leaves me sore. Sight it in, then shoot off sticks after that. I don’t have any experience with 375

 

[Creigh]

I really need to stay off of this site.

Just ordered one off of GUNPRIME.com for USD$1725 shipped

Winchester Model 70 Safari Express 458 Win Mag 24" Barrel 535204144
Winchester Model 70 Safari Express .458 Win Mag Bolt Action Rifle - 24" Barrel, Satin Wal...

Now for dies, brass and bullets.

I was thinking this yesterday. This is the wrong site to ask if you should buy a .458 WM.