The 460 G & A

[nztimb]

I mentioned this cartridge in another thread so here is the article here from the original article by TomSaitos in the 1971 Guns and Ammo magazine

 

[nztimb]

 

[CTDolan]

The 460 G&A is a great cartridge (as was its namesake, Guns & Ammo, back in the day).

 

[Panielsen]

I never heard of that cartridge. I loved the article though, thanks for sharing! I wonder why it never caught on in the main stream though? I mean midway between .458 WM and .460 Weatherby Mag seems like a great idea seeing as how the Weatherby entry pushes most .458 cal. bullets beyond the design velocity range. I know the .458 Lott has a large following but is really only 200 fps faster and generates approx. 872 foot pounds of energy more than the Winchester apples to apples. This would have been a great caliber in the mainstream in my humble opinion.

 

[nztimb]

I know Jaques Lott thought it was about the best balance for the 458 cartridge but in all honesty I think that is was the dual use of the Lott chamber to fire the 458 Win Mag that became the overriding factor in his change of allegiance. I had one guy here in NZ quite some time back who had chambered his rifle for the 460 G&A and was really best pleased with it. I know that if I was to look at a heavy rifle in this bore size it would get my attention over any win mag or lott chambering.

 

[CTDolan]

There was/is a 460 G&A Short, too (basically the same, shortened to work in a standard action).

 

[southernidahohunter]

It's a shame that the .460 G&A never became mainstream, but with the resurgence of the .404 Jeffery, loading should not be to much of a problem. I don't think the article mentioned specific numbers but the chamber pressure should run a good bit lower than the .458 Lott, combine that with the beltless case with good taper and the .460 G&A should feed and extract very smoothly. Looks very similar to the newer .450 Rigby (and .450 Dakota)that offers about the same performance but is based on the .416 Rigby case instead of the .404 Jeffery.

 

[matt85]

an interesting cartridge, thanks for posting the article.

the idea isn't bad and im betting the main reason it didn't stick around longer is because the 404 Jeffery was such a rare critter. the 458 Lott won out for the same reason the 300 WM, 7mm RM, 338 WM, and the 416 RM have stuck around. the 375 H&H case is widely available and is easily modified to bores ranging from .264" all the way up to .474".

-matt

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Ruger Number 1 460 G&A Guns & Ammo, 24" barrel, African Tropical Rifle 1975

Ruger Number 1 460 G&A Guns & Ammo, 24" barrel, African Tropical Rifle 1975 for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

Two thumbs up for the 460 G&A!! Great cartridge.

EJ

 

[grand veneur]

I am a big fan of cartridges caliber 45 for hunting in Africa and in particular the cartridge 460 WBY-Magnum that I have been using regularly for more than 20 years for hunting Big but also sometime Plain game.

Due to some disadvantages of the cartridge 460 WBY-Magnum, I could well imagine the cartridge 460 G&A as an alternative. Unfortunately, this cartridge never made a breakthrough on the market, at least as far as Europe is concerned and where the cartridge 450 Rigby is rather more likely to find.

 

[geoff rath]

A (sort of) follow up to the G&A is the 458 Howell, a slightly shorter, improved G&A; that leads on to the 458 (African) Express, in short (2.5" 404 case, blown out, improved, sharper shoulder) and a longer 2.65"case version. Both could be done by rechambering the barrel, and mebbe adjusting magazine length. I've debated about having one (of the three) built. Match 450 Rigby performance in a standard-length action, at somewhat higher pressure, but not stupidly so. My "favourite" 'smith has reamers and dies for the latter two...

 

[PerH]

Col Cooper' "Baby" is a ghost ring sighted .460 built by Hoenig

This one is Tom Siatos his personal .460 that started it all

Brevet Mauser - .460 G&A cal.

 

[PerH]

And one double rifle https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-...ade-side-by-side-double-rifle-460-ga-cal.aspx

 

[Frederik]

Had a look through Pierre vd Walts African Danbgerous game cartridges and if you can find a 460 G&A with cases and Dies great otherwise if building custom a 450 Rigby makes more sense unless you have one and want to collect more 458 calibers.

 

[Thomas Rutledge]

I keep hearing critical references to 460 WM. Is there something deficient about a 500 gr quality bullet hitting an animal at 2450-2500 FPS?

 

[Frederik]

I take it you are talking about WBY not Win Mag.

Most people struggle to handle the rifle and recoil at those speeds.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Von Gruff
I know this is an older post but it seems a crying shame this cartridge was never put into production. Seems to be ideal. The old M17s and P14s are truly greats actions that are suitable for a wide range of big calibers.
Bob

 

[Lance Hopper]

I am just a chamber reamer away from having 1. I already have brass and dies and the rifle, a ZkK602 in 458 lott. Ream that chamber out and I'm in business.

 

[Thomas Rutledge]

I am just a chamber reamer away from having 1. I already have brass and dies and the rifle, a ZkK602 in 458 lott. Ream that chamber out and I'm in business.

I would consider Ken Owen for the job.