Big Bore Rebore

[Buckmastr]

Ive had a Model 70 Stainless Classic in 375H&H for a while now. It was a good shooting gun but was too front heavy to be useful in a 375 IMO.
I was originally looking to get it rebored to a 416 Rem but the 458 Lott seemed like an even better way to drop weight.
So I sent it off to Ron Smith for a rebore and barrel chop to 22".
He did a great job on a 22 to 12 gain twist rebore to 458.
The gun weighs 9.4lbs scoped now and is properly balanced to feel even lighter.
Shot it to get the iron sights on and then took it out again today.
It shot the 450 TSX pretty well for the first try
Also, I recovered a couple TSX's from the earth/gravel berm with recovered weights at 400gr and 340 gr each. Tough bullets!

 

[GMC403]

Thats a great looking setup!, thanks for sharing.

What was the turnaround time for Ron to do the work?

 

[Slamfire]

Nice stomper! I have a custom Sako AV Hunter 458 Lott. It has a 23" 1:14 barrel. My hunting load is the 300gr TSX at 2600 fps. I also load the brush-busting () Hornady 500gr RN (using 458 WM brass and a compressed charge of Re19) at 1900 fps which is dead-on at 100 meters sighted with the 300gr TSX 3.5" high at 100 meters.

 

[BigUglyMan]

That's a lot of rifle. Fortuitous pun not intended.

 

[Buckmastr]

Thats a great looking setup!, thanks for sharing.

What was the turnaround time for Ron to do the work?

Youre welcome.
He did it quickly. But I'm not sure that's representitive of his wait times, best to give him a call if you have a project.

 

[Ardent]

Nice setup Buckmastr. A proper use it rifle.

 

[jjohnwm]

Nice gun...how much weight did you cut by means of this surgery?

 

[double gun]

Nice job

 

[Buckmastr]

Nice gun...how much weight did you cut by means of this surgery?

Thanks.
Lost just over a half a pound off the end of the gun. If you have ever handled a M70 classic stainless, you know how badly balanced it is.
Its no lightweight but the balance point is at the front screw and feels much better now. I wouldn't want it much lighter given the recoil.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

View attachment 92417
Beauty rifle that be in .458 Lott, which makes for a more flexible chambering than a .458 Win. for folks that like to toss big lead from 'em. That twist rate would be nice for launching hard cast crowding 600 gr from 458 Win. brass to fit the magazine proper.

Sure can't go wrong basing a build on an M70. I sure love my one in 458 Win.

 

[BigUglyMan]

View attachment 92417
Sure can't go wrong basing a build on an M70. I sure love my one in 458 Win.

That could become a Lott so easily. Sooo easily.

 

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Nice rifle! can you shoot 458win in the 458lott?

 

[Ardent]

Yep.

 

[sherlockbonez]

Should have called this " turning your half ton into a big rig".

 

[Slimbo]

Beauty rifle. Too much of a good thing for me, but I can relate to it's practicality and esthetics.

 

[buckbrushoutdoors]

any plans to go back to Africa or after the big bears? would seem like a fitting rifle for it

 

[Buckmastr]

any plans to go back to Africa or after the big bears? would seem like a fitting rifle for it

Nothing booked but I have had my eye on a Zim elephant hunt for a while.
Maybe get out a blast some porcupines with it this spring. That's likely as dangerous as it will get until things turn around here in Alberta.

 

[Buckmastr]

Pushed some more powder into it and had some encouraging 100 yrd results. This cannon is lots of fun to shoot.

 

[Slamfire]

Nice shooting. Can sure burn up a pound of powder in no time.

 

[medvedqc]

Nothing booked but I have had my eye on a Zim elephant hunt for a while.
Maybe get out a blast some porcupines with it this spring. That's likely as dangerous as it will get until things turn around here in Alberta.

legally you cannot as a Canadian having your own firearms even shortly (temporly) exported/imported there ...