458 Lott vs 458 wm vs 45-70

thumper1

thumper1

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Looking at buying one of the following 3 but can't make up my mind :confused: between the 458 Lott, 458 win mag, or 45/70 I know the 45/70 can be bought at any store but thats not a deciding point I'm just looking for a good Bear/ Moose rifle so lets hear your 2cents.
 
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Handloading, 45 70 hands down. With the 458 Lott, you can shoot 458 win out of it too, but the 45 70 will kill anything that they will with less aggrivation. Sold my 458. Expensive to feed, nasty recoil and totally unnecessary. Critters couldn't tell which one was used.
 
Well, if it is just a bear and moose rifle then I would say get a 45/70. If I was the type that would want to take a trip over the pond to Africa and shoot some big mean and knarly animals, I would by a Lott. People will argue, but the Lott is the better choice for Africa. In NA, the 45/70 and a 400 hard cast is brilliant.
 
All 3 should handle the same cast bullets for hunting or plinking, likewise with most jacketed.
It probably comes down to how much pain you want to inflict on yourself recoil-wise...
 
unless you're specifically looking for a lever gun, there's no reason to consider the 45-70: you can load either the Lott or 458 to do anything the 45-70 can, and a lot more too if you need. Nobody ever wishes they had less gun, in that moment when things are hairy...
 
prosper said:
unless you're specifically looking for a lever gun, there's no reason to consider the 45-70: you can load either the Lott or 458 to do anything the 45-70 can, and a lot more too if you need. Nobody ever wishes they had less gun, in that moment when things are hairy...
Click to expand...

The rifle is a Ruger #1 I do alot of hunting in grizz country (McBride BC) So those are my thoughts excactly more is better.
 
brobones said:
... Expensive to feed, nasty recoil and totally unnecessary....
Click to expand...

For .458 Lott, all of the above x2. Put Dentu-Creme in your range bag/pack. Retinal adhesive optional but recommended.:p No N.A. game needs the extra whack of a Lott.

If you handload, a .458 Win. would be very versatile as you can load down to healthy 45-70 levels (350-405 gr. @ 1800-2000 fps.) or up to full throttle if you ever hanker after the big bears. If you prefer a bolt rifle, this would be a good way to go. Otherwise a Marlin 1895 45-70, maybe stoked with some serious cast bullets from Ben Hunchak here on CGN or from The Bullet Barn in B.C.

I think Alaskan big game outfitter Ed Stevenson carries either a hot-loaded 45-70 and/or a .475 Turnbull; Phil Shoemaker's lic plate. reads "458 Win" so no prizes for guessing his choice of backup rifle. But they're facing Alaskan brown bears.

:) Stuart
 
458 lott

The Lott is a very verstile cartridge and does eveything from factory 45-70 ballistics to full throttle elephant devastating ballistics. I love the 450 Ackley/458 Lott. The 458 Win lacks powder capacity if you really want to throttle up. Owned and shot all three a lot and as said before 45-70 is for lever guns when you step up to bolts or SS I highly recommend the Lott or Ackley
 
I would go with the Lott, cus it rocks my world! :eek:

Just kidding, I couldn't handle the wack it provides! :redface:

Although, if a grizzly was charging me, I might not even know I fired it! ;)
 
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They are all very capable, but it depends on the type of rifle you want, if you want a single shot or levergun, the 45/70 would be best prolly. If you want a bolt gun then either of the other two would work. Note that the 45/70 would prolly be the lightest and easiest to carry.
 
The Ruger 45/70 is much lighter then the 2 others, but i think the big advantage is in the light, quick handling leverguns. When you get into the heavy boltguns(or Ruger #1), the .458s can be loaded down to 45/70 levels, but not vice versa, that's why those .458s have to be so heavy, recoil.
 
I bought my .458 Win with the intention of makeing it into a Lott if I wasn't happy with the speeds. 10 buffalo later its still a Win. 74 grains of H4895 under a 450gr A-frame produces 2200 fps on my CED. A2230 gets the same bullet up to 2350 fps and takes a 500 partition up to 2200 fps.

I can't think of a NA hunting situation where I'd pick a big .458 over something else, imaginary bear defense scenarios notwithstanding.
 
Go with the lott if you ever had to deal with a moose that runs into the water and dies, its not fun. I like to see them go down on the spot. But I like powerfull cartriges. Just me.
 
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